The world at a glance . . . International

last updated 8 January 2015

Moscow

Kalashnikov honored: The man who invented the AK-47 assault rifle has won Russia’s highest honor. Mikhail Kalashnikov, who invented the sturdy, easy-to-use weapon during World War II, was made a Hero of the Russian Federation on his 90th birthday. Presenting the award, President Dmitri Medvedev said the Kalashnikov rifle was “a national brand that makes each citizen proud.” But Kalashnikov himself expressed mixed emotions, saying he regretted that his rifle was “sometimes used where it shouldn’t have been.” The Kalashnikov is the weapon of choice for guerrilla groups, because it is easy to take apart and won’t jam in sandy or wet conditions. More than 100 million have been sold worldwide—although the inventor never got a single royalty check.

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Korean navies exchange fire: The simmering hostility between South and North Korea erupted this week when their two navies exchanged fire in the Yellow Sea. South Korea said a North Korean patrol boat strayed a mile across the maritime border and ignored radio messages telling it to turn around. A South Korean boat then fired a warning shot. When the North Korean boat fired back directly at the South Koreans, the South Koreans opened fire, inflicting heavy damage. In North Korea’s version, South Korean warships surrounded its patrol boat in North Korean waters and fired for no reason. No injuries were reported. The last time the two nations clashed at sea was in 2002, when a North Korean patrol boat sank a South Korean boat, killing six sailors.

Tehran

Americans charged with spying: Iran has filed espionage charges against three Americans captured in July near the Iraqi border. Family members said the three—Shane Bauer, 27; Sarah Shourd, 31; and Joshua Fattal, 27—were hiking to see a waterfall in northern Iraq when they unintentionally strayed into Iran. “We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But prosecutors in Tehran said their investigation is continuing. With Washington and Tehran deadlocked in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, some diplomats fear that the three could become bargaining chips.

Baghdad

Elections in sight: After months of wrangling, Iraqis have set a January date for national elections, which would clear the way for U.S. troops to exit. The final snag involved bickering over who would be eligible to vote in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk. Kurds, who were kicked out of the region by Saddam Hussein, have been moving there in vast numbers to boost their claim that it should be part of Iraqi Kurdistan, the autonomous region governed by the Kurds. But ethnic Arabs and Turkmen say far more Kurds are there now than were expelled. In a compromise, lawmakers created a special committee to review Kirkuk’s voter rolls. Elections are now set for Jan. 21. Plans call for the U.S. military to withdraw all combat troops by the end of August.

West Bank

Abbas to step down, maybe: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced last week that he won’t run for re-election in January, but many don’t believe him. Abbas, who cited frustration over the lack of progress toward peace, soon had Israeli and Palestinian officials pleading for him to run again. “I turn to you as a colleague,” said Israeli President Shimon Peres. “Don’t let go.” Analysts said Abbas’ announcement was probably a bluff meant to pressure the U.S. Officials from Abbas’ Fatah party say they expect Abbas to retract his statement, and that they hope in return, the U.S. will support making East Jerusalem the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Sahara Desert, Egypt

Persian army unearthed: Italian archaeologists believe they have found the remains of 50,000 Persian soldiers killed in a freak sandstorm 2,500 years ago. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the lost army of King Cambyses II, sent to conquer Egypt in 525 B.C. “A wind arose from the south, strong and deadly, bringing with it vast columns of whirling sand,” Herodotus wrote, “which entirely covered up the troops and caused them wholly to disappear.” Most modern historians thought the story was fanciful. But archaeologist twins Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni announced this week that they had found hundreds of skeletons, along with ancient Persian arrowheads and artifacts, in the Sahara. “In the desolate wilderness of the desert,” said expedition member Dario Del Bufalo, “we have found the most precise location where the tragedy occurred.”