Putin Signs Decree Pardoning Jailed Oil Tycoon

Putin Signs Decree Pardoning Jailed Oil Tycoon
Philippine Mayor, 3 Others Killed at Airport
North Korea Warns South of Strikes Amid Turmoil
Head of Japanese Restaurant Chain Is Shot Dead
Japan Holds Steady on Rates
Drawn Into Syria’s War
Obama Weighing Security and Privacy in Deciding on Spy Program Limits
In Navy Billing Scandal, a Third Company Puts an Executive on Leave
Prosecutor Seeks Delay In Proceedings For a Kenyan
Putin, Secure in Power, Says He May Free Jailed Rival
Growing Corruption Inquiry Hits Close to Turkish Leader
Target Says Data for 40 Million Shoppers Was Stolen
An Easing of Rules on Charges by Amex
London Journal: Defying Winter’s Dreariness With an Arctic Embrace
Under Seattle, a Big Object Blocks Bertha. What Is It?
Part of Ceiling Collapses During Sold-Out Show at London Theater
Hagel Criticizes Chinese Navy, Citing Near Miss
New Mexico Becomes 17th State to Allow Gay Marriage
The Lede: Ceiling at Theater in London Collapses on Audience
DealBook: Hershey Goes to China for Its Biggest-Ever Deal
Movie Review: ‘The Past,’ With Bérénice Bejo, Directed by Asghar Farhadi
Dozens Injured at Partial London Theater Collapse
Theater Review: ‘La Divina Caricatura’ at La MaMa
News Analysis: Deal on Banking Union Will Test Goal of United Europe
City Room: A Pornographer’s Farewell

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 12:44 AM PST

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday signed a decree pardoning jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the Kremlin said.

Philippine Mayor, 3 Others Killed at Airport

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:56 PM PST

A mayor from the southern Philippines was fatally shot Friday in an attack at Manila's main airport that also killed his wife and two other people, officials said.

North Korea Warns South of Strikes Amid Turmoil

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:32 PM PST

The latest threat came amid concerns that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, might stage an armed provocation to raise tensions to consolidate power.

Head of Japanese Restaurant Chain Is Shot Dead

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:14 PM PST

Takayuki Ohigashi, who ran a fast-food chain called Gyoza no Ohsho, was gunned down outside the company's headquarters in Kyoto, and his killer was still at large.

Japan Holds Steady on Rates

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:55 PM PST

The central bank said it would maintain its aggressive monetary policy, saying the economy was recovering moderately.

Drawn Into Syria’s War

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 07:33 PM PST

The deaths of two Britons shows how the Syrian war has drawn outsiders into its maw only to destroy them, as the region has done on many previous occasions.

Obama Weighing Security and Privacy in Deciding on Spy Program Limits

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:18 PM PST

The president's choices in the next few weeks may define America's approach to national security long after his term is over.

In Navy Billing Scandal, a Third Company Puts an Executive on Leave

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:07 PM PST

Multinational Logistic Services, the Navy's largest ship supply company, placed Akbar Khan on paid leave, citing what it called "the seriousness of the allegations."

Prosecutor Seeks Delay In Proceedings For a Kenyan

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:04 PM PST

The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court said that the recent withdrawal of two crucial witnesses had left her without enough evidence to proceed against Kenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta, for crimes against humanity.

Putin, Secure in Power, Says He May Free Jailed Rival

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:00 PM PST

President Vladimir V. Putin said that Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the former oil tycoon, could soon be freed from prison, a reversal many saw as an attempt to quiet critics before the Winter Olympics.

Growing Corruption Inquiry Hits Close to Turkish Leader

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:54 PM PST

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan weathered a summer of protest, but a corruption scandal poses a greater challenge.

Target Says Data for 40 Million Shoppers Was Stolen

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:45 PM PST

The retailer said criminals had access to customers' credit card and debit card information from Nov. 27, ahead of one of the year's busiest shopping days, through Dec. 15.

An Easing of Rules on Charges by Amex

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:30 PM PST

Agreements with American Express, MasterCard and Visa have cleared the way for vendors to institute what is essentially two-tier pricing for shoppers.

London Journal: Defying Winter’s Dreariness With an Arctic Embrace

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:08 PM PST

In Britain, a growing number of people are defying the cold and wet by getting colder and wetter. Winter swimming's popularity has risen.

Under Seattle, a Big Object Blocks Bertha. What Is It?

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 04:51 PM PST

Something unknown, engineers say, has blocked the progress of the biggest-diameter tunnel-boring machine in use on the planet.

Part of Ceiling Collapses During Sold-Out Show at London Theater

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 04:41 PM PST

At least seven people were seriously hurt and another 81 lightly injured, according to fire and medical officials, when the ceiling of a tall Edwardian theater collapsed Thursday night during a sold-out performance.

Hagel Criticizes Chinese Navy, Citing Near Miss

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 04:19 PM PST

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Chinese Navy acted irresponsibly in allowing a warship to pass perilously close to an American warship.

New Mexico Becomes 17th State to Allow Gay Marriage

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 03:51 PM PST

The State Supreme Court rejected an argument that banning same-sex marriage was necessary to protect "responsible procreation and child rearing."

The Lede: Ceiling at Theater in London Collapses on Audience

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 03:45 PM PST

Videos of eyewitnesses from outside the Apollo Theater, where dozens of people were injured after part of the ceiling collapsed onto the audience during a performance.

DealBook: Hershey Goes to China for Its Biggest-Ever Deal

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 03:24 PM PST

Hershey announced on Thursday that it had agreed to buy an 80 percent stake in Shanghai Golden Monkey for about $584 million.

Movie Review: ‘The Past,’ With Bérénice Bejo, Directed by Asghar Farhadi

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 02:50 PM PST

"The Past," the new film from the Iranian director of "A Separation," looks at a range of personal struggles in suburban Paris.

Dozens Injured at Partial London Theater Collapse

Posted: 19 Dec 2013 02:27 PM PST

The roof or ceiling of a London theatre partially collapsed Thursday night, showering a packed audience of about 700 with heaps of plaster, wood and dust, authorities and witnesses said. More than 80 people were injured, including at least seven seriously, and several trapped theater-goers had to be rescued.