Japanese markets closed lower Thursday, while the U.S. dollar is slightly higher against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index lost one and one-quarter percent to finish at 8,944. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 76.66 yen, a gain of a fraction of a yen from Wednesday. The Taipei market closed at 7,615, a […]
Another Day of Losses for Japan’s Nikkei
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 2:35 am (UTC-5)
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Roadside Bomb Kills 14 in Minibus in Western Afghanistan
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 2:30 am (UTC-5)
Afghan officials say a minibus has struck a roadside bomb in western Afghanistan, killing 14 civilians. Authorities say the blast near the western province of Herat on Thursday wounded an unknown number of others. An Afghan spokesperson tells French news agency AFP that women and children are among the victims. Separately, Afghan officials say a […]
Australian Medical Community Calls for End of Refugee Detention
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 2:20 am (UTC-5)
The head of the Australian Medical Association has condemned the government’s policy of mandatory detention for asylum seekers as “inherently harmful” to the detainees’ physical and mental health. Dr. Steven Hambleton denounced the policy Wednesday evening during the AMA’s annual parliamentary dinner, which was attended by both Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony […]
Appeal Opens for Vietnamese Pastor, Land Rights Activists
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 2:15 am (UTC-5)
A Vietnamese court was scheduled to hear an appeal Thursday from pastor Duong Kim Khai and several other land rights activists who were convicted of subversion at a closed one-day trial in May. An eight-year sentence was handed on May 30 to activist Tran Thi Thuy, who was identified as a member of the banned […]
Officials: Explosion Hits US-led Base in Eastern Afghanistan
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 1:45 am (UTC-5)
Afghan officials say a truck bomb has exploded outside a U.S.-led military base in eastern Afghanistan. Police say a suicide truck bomber approached the heavily fortified entrance of the base early Thursday and detonated his explosives after being confronted by Afghan security guards. The Associated Press quotes NATO as saying that two Afghan guards were […]
Data Show Japan Nearing Pre-Disaster Export Levels
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 1:35 am (UTC-5)
New trade data show Japan’s export-oriented economy is gradually returning to levels from before the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The figures Thursday showed exports in July were just 3.3 percent lower than in the same month a year ago, despite power cuts and supply chain interruptions that have troubled the manufacturing sector since […]
Obama to Propose Deficit Cuts of More Than $1.5 Trillion
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 1:25 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama says he will present a proposal early next month to cut the nation’s massive budget deficit by more than currently planned. On a visit to his home state of Illinois Wednesday, President Obama told residents his proposed deficit reduction will exceed the $1.5 trillion target that a bipartisan congressional committee has […]
UN Chief Encouraged by Efforts to Resolve Malawian Conflict
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 1:20 am (UTC-5)
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has welcomed steps toward dialogue by the Malawian government and civil society organizations following last month’s deadly violence. A statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesman Wednesday said he is encouraged by the signing of a joint statement by the two sides in a U.N. facilitated meeting. Mr. Ban […]
US, Chinese Vice Presidents Open Formal Talks in Beijing
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 12:45 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. and Chinese vice presidents have opened their formal talks in Beijing with an admonition that better relations between their countries can benefit the whole world. Vice Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping retired for private talks Thursday after a red-carpet reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. China’s Xinhua news […]
UN Chief Expresses Alarm to Syrian President
Posted August 18th, 2011 at 12:25 am (UTC-5)
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that he is alarmed at reports of excessive use of force by government security forces against citizens and continued widespread violations of human rights. Mr. Ban spoke by telephone Wednesday with Mr. Assad, who said military and police operations had stopped. A spokesman for the […]
