CUDDALORE, Sri Lanka, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels claim nearly 10,000 people in areas under their control are dead from Sunday's tsunami, and have requested international relief.
MADRAS, India, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Medical teams in southern India are vaccinating thousands of survivors of Sunday's tsunami disaster in an effort to prevent the spread of diseases.
SYDNEY, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The city of Sydney has called on its residents to observe a minute of silence for Asia's tsunami victims during Friday night's New Year's Eve celebrations. The silence will be observed at 9:00 p.m. local time, The Australian reported Thursday.
KIEV, Ukraine, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President-elect Viktor Yushchenko has said he plans to select political ally Yulia Tymoshenko as his prime minister, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
TBILISI, Georgia, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity may meet this week, Interfax news agency reported Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Thousands of Americans were yet to be accounted for four days after the devastating tsunamis struck Indian Ocean countries in Asia.
KIEV, Ukraine, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Ukraine's new president will give higher priority to developing closer relations with Europe than with Russia, one of his top aides said Wednesday.
GAZA, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Three Palestinian militants were killed early Thursday as an Israeli army unit backed by tanks stormed the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, medics said.
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Starvation loomed Wednesday for thousands of tsunami survivors sheltered in tents across Aceh, Indonesia, who were still waiting for humanitarian help.
BANGKOK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Forensic experts in Thailand were racing against time Wednesday to identify the bodies lining the streets in Phuket even as more were being recovered.
SINGAPORE, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Internet technology is being harnessed by Asian governments, disaster relief and aid groups in the recovery process after the tsunami disaster.
OSAKA, Japan, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A Japanese university student was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stabbing and killing his mother following an argument over his mobile phone bills.
INABE, Japan, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A baby girl died in a car in Japan as her parents played pachinko, a slot machine-pinball like game, all day without feeding the infant, police said.
CLEVELAND, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Ohio authorities say a self-styled venture called Santa's Helpers used toys to smuggle $7.8 million worth of cocaine from Los Angeles to Cleveland.
GAZA, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Israeli officials say they aren't concerned about tough talk from the Palestinian presidential candidates and will wait to see what they do after the election.
RENO, Nev., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A federal court ruled that a Reno, Nev., bartender who was fired for not wearing makeup has no legal recourse to challenge her employer's actions.
NEW YORK, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A report by U.N. foreign policy experts says the international community must increase its efforts to curtail the spread of nuclear weapons.
HAYWARD, Wis., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A Hmong immigrant from St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday pleaded not guilty in Wisconsin to charges of killing six deer hunters last month.
LINCOLN, Calif., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The discovery of three unexploded bombs at a California construction site this week has brought federal terrorism investigators to the scene.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The Israeli government seems to take in its stride tough election talk by the leading candidate, former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.
HOUSTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A Texas woman will replace her husband in the Legislature while he is serving with the Army National Guard in Afghanistan. Melissa Noriega said the tough part will be leaving their 7-year-old son with relatives in Houston when the session begins Jan. 11 i
Contestants (L-R) Cooper Barth of West Long Branch, New Jersey, Eboseremhen Eigbe of Galloway, New Jersey, Jacob Bayly Hunter of Sante Fe, New Mexico and Massound Sharif of Albany, New York, all await their turns to compete during the 3rd round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 30, 2012, in National Harbor, Maryland. UPI/Mike Theiler
