World briefs

Afghanistan

Embassy area under fire

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul was hit by indirect fire before dawn on Christmas Day but no Americans were hurt, officials said. Two rounds, either mortars or rockets, struck the sprawling embassy compound but it was not immediately clear which part of the complex. The Taliban promptly claimed they fired four rockets at the American Embassy yesterday and said they inflicted heavy casualties. But the insurgents often exaggerate.

israel

Construction in settlements

Israel likely will announce new plans for construction in Jewish settlements next week, an official said yesterday, a move that is likely to trigger an international uproar and threaten peace talks with the Palestinians. The timing would coincide with the expected release of Palestinian prisoners. Israel has announced settlement plans during previous prisoner releases to blunt domestic criticism.

Russia

Greenpeace crew's amnesty

Russian investigators have dropped charges against all but one of the 30 crew of a Greenpeace ship, who were accused of hooliganism following a protest outside a Russian oil rig in the Arctic, the group said yesterday. The criminal charges were closed under an amnesty passed by the parliament earlier this month, seen by many as an attempt by the Kremlin to dampen the criticism of Russia's human rights record before the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February. The crew had already applied to the authorities for exit visas to leave Russia.

chile

Environmentalist found dead

A Mapuche Indian leader who became the face of Chile's environmental movement was found floating in a reservoir she spent a decade trying to prevent from being created. Authorities said yesterday they were awaiting autopsy results, although the death appeared accidental. Prosecutor Carlos Diaz said Nicolesa Quintreman, 73 and nearly blind, "apparently slipped, fell into the lake and died."