A hospitality industry guru who turned his father’s root beer (soda) stand into a global hotel empire is stepping down. Marriott International announced Tuesday that 79-year-old J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr. will leave his post as chief executive next year, after 39 years at the head of the company. He will be replaced by chief operating […]
Somali Lawmakers Trade Punches, Kicks in Speaker Dispute
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
A fistfight erupted in the Somali parliament Wednesday, a day after a group of lawmakers voted to oust Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan. The fighting began after the anti-Adan lawmakers tried to elect a replacement for the speaker, who is in Italy. The speaker’s supporters shouted objections and soon, the sides were trading punches and […]
Egypt Begins Second Round of Voting
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Egyptians jammed polling stations in a third of the nation’s provinces Wednesday in the second round of parliamentary elections as Islamist parties hoped to extend their electoral gains. Polls opened in nine areas Wednesday, including Aswan, Beni Suef, Giza, Ismailia, Suez and Sohag. More than 18 million Egyptians are eligible to cast ballots in the […]
Rights Activists Say Syrian Army Defectors Kill 8 Troops in Retaliatory Attack
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
Gunmen thought to be army defectors killed at least eight Syrian troops Wednesday in a retaliatory attack after security forces killed a group of civilians. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the defectors ambushed a military convoy traveling through the village of al-Asharna, near Hama. Hours earlier, rights activists said Syrian security forces […]
US May Freeze $700 million in Aid to Pakistan
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 9:40 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Congress is expected later this week to pass a measure that would freeze up to $700 million in aid to Pakistan because of fears that Islamabad is not doing enough to combat the spread of homemade bombs. U.S. lawmakers are concerned that militants in Afghanistan are using fertilizer produced in Pakistan to develop […]
Panetta: US Winning War in Afghanistan
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 9:25 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday that the U.S.-led coalition is winning the war in Afghanistan as foreign troops continue to transfer security of the country to Afghan forces ahead of a 2014 deadline. Panetta told U.S. troops stationed in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika that they face significant challenges in the “very […]
ICC Refers Chad For Not Arresting Sudan’s Bashir
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 8:55 am (UTC-5)
The International Criminal Court says Chad failed to cooperate by not arresting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a visit to Chad in August. The ICC said Tuesday it is referring the matter to the U.N. Security Council, marking the second such action this week. The Hague-based tribunal said Monday that Malawi is being referred for […]
Chinese Police Surround Southern Village Following Protests
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Villagers in China’s southern Guangdong province said Wednesday that riot police have sealed off their village in an effort to silence protesters who have been holding demonstrations against alleged illegal government land grabs. Residents in the village of Wukan said food and water supplies are running low as a result of a partial siege that […]
Belgian Gunman Attacks Busy Town Square
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
A Belgian prosecutor has revised downward the number of dead following Tuesday’s attack in a busy town square in Liege in eastern Belgium. In a Wednesday news conference the prosecutor confirmed two victims died as a result of the attack. Another five people remain hospitalized in critical condition. Police say they have also found the […]
China Imposes New Tariffs on US Auto Imports
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 8:00 am (UTC-5)
China has announced that it will impose new taxes on certain U.S.-made vehicle imports, in the latest move to test the strained U.S.-China trade relationship. China’s Commerce Ministry said Wednesday that it will impose duties from 2 percent to 2.5 percent on imported passenger cars and sport utility vehicles with engines larger than 2.5 liters. […]
