Multiple Bomb Blasts In Kano!

Bombs kill at least two Nigerian police officers in Kano.

Nearby residents are frightened, a pastor says The region has been the site of religious violence. At least two police officers died and others were injured Friday when bombs exploded at three locations in the northern Nigeria city of Kano, authorities said.

At least one of the bombs exploded at a police barracks and another near the…

Iran sentences American ‘spy’ to death

An Iranian court finds Amir Hekmati “corrupt on Earth,” state media says NEW: His parents are “shocked and terrified” He was arrested in August while visiting relatives Prosecutors allege he was hired to deliver information to Iran Tehran, Iran.

Iran has sentenced an American ex-Marine to death for espionage. A court convicted Amir Mirzaei Hekmati of “working for an enemy country,” as well as membership in the…

‘Anonymous’ hackers hit security group

A Twitter account associated with “Anonymous” celebrated the Christmas-Day hacking of security group Stratfor.

‘Anonymous’ hackers hit security group. Apparent hack is part of promised Christmas week web attacks One report says plan is to steal $1 million and give it to charity ( Mashable ) —

Hacker group Anonymous began its promised week of Christmas hacks, assaulting a long list of targets. The first Anonymous…

N. Korea is ‘world’s least democratic’

Kim Jong Il votes in North Korea’s 2009 parliamentary elections at a polling station in Pyongyang.

Norway is listed as the most democratic nation in the British report The United States ranks 19th, down two spots from 2010 Canada is eighth and the United Kingdom is 18th.

North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong Il died over the weekend, is the least democratic nation on Earth, according to…

U.S. officially ends Iraq mission

U.S. forces end Iraq operation

Many Iraqis worry the United States wants to disengage completely, a journalist says NEW: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Iraq can “govern and secure itself” The flag of the command is cased, officially marking the end of the U.S. mission 4,500 American troops died in Iraq since 2003.

American troops lowered the flag of command that flew over Baghdad Thursday morning, carefully…

Tunisia swears in new president

Moncef Marzouki has been sworn in as Tunisia’s new president. He is well-known for his firebrand style and his opposition to the old regime.

The presidency is more of a ceremonial role Marzouki is the founder of a center-left party The new president had lived in exile The Arab Spring started in Tunisia Tunis, Tunisia.

Tunisia has sworn in a new president, a milestone in the North…

Obama to Iran: Give us back our drone aircraft

Iranian officials display what they say is an unmanned U.S. spy plane brought down in Iran last week.

“We’ve asked for it back. We’ll see how the Iranians respond,” Obama says An Iranian military general says Iran won’t send back “the spying equipment”

Iran says that it downed an American drone on December 4. The Pentagon says it lost contact with a drone and has not…

Cyber Monday outlook: Big deals, record sales

Sales for the Cyber Monday shopping event are projected to hit a record $1.2 billion this year, experts say.

Sales are projected to hit a record $1.2 billion Survey: 39 percent of shoppers will do so on Cyber Monday New York (CNNMoney) — Did you skip the lines on Black Friday? There’s still Cyber Monday — and analysts are expecting an abundance of deals to bring…

Polls open for Egypt’s historic vote

A man prepares flags for sale at an entrance to Tahrir Square on Sunday in Cairo, Egypt.

Campaign fliers are illegally handed out as voters head to the polls “This is the first time in 55 years that I (can) vote,” one man says.

Throngs line up in Cairo to vote in parliamentary elections Several stages of voting will take place between now and March.

Egyptians headed to…

Future travel could be on ‘moving platforms’

The ‘Moving Platforms’ concept envisions city-wide tram networks that are integrated with a high-speed rail service.

“Moving Platforms” is an integrated tram-to-train concept Passengers would cross between tram and train without either vehicle stopping. It’s the work of British designer Paul Priestman.

A designer has come up with a unique and futuristic solution for speeding up rail travel: he doesn’t want to change the engines, or…