Showing Archived Posts

Facebook Shares Close Up Slightly

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 5:35 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Facebook, the world’s biggest social media website, started selling stock to the public on Friday, with an initial share price of $38. But contrary to some investors’ hopes, the stock price did not soar in the first day’s trading. After jumping more than 10 percent in the first few minutes of trading, Facebook shares closed […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in US

Malawi President Urges Repeal of Gay Ban

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Malawi’s President Joyce Banda says she wants to repeal the country’s laws against homosexuality, a move sure to be condemned by some religious and conservative groups. President Banda told parliament Friday that indecency and unnatural acts laws will be repealed. But repealing a law requires a parliamentary vote and it is not clear whether she […]

Tags: , , Posted in Africa

Syrian Protesters Rally in Northern Flashpoint City

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 4:30 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Syrian forces are reported to have fired tear gas and live ammunition into crowds of protesters in the northern Syrian city, Aleppo, in what opposition activists say is one of the biggest demonstrations since the anti-government uprising began 15 months ago. Reports say at least two people have been wounded in the violence, although details […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Middle East

Facebook Starts Public Sale of Its Stock

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 3:05 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Facebook, the world’s biggest social media website, started selling stock to the public on Friday, with its initial $38 share price edging above $40 in the first hours of trading. Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, signaled the start of trading on the Nasdaq exchange in New York by remotely ringing a bell from company headquarters […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in US

Greek Bank Credit Ratings Cut

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 2:45 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

The Fitch credit rating company has downgraded Greek banks, saying they could default on their financial obligations if the debt-ridden Athens government reneges on its debts and leaves the euro currency union. Fitch cut its rating Friday for the National Bank of Greece and four other institutions to the “speculative” range, so-called junk status. The […]

Tags: , Posted in Economy

French President Reaffirms Early Withdrawal From Afghanistan

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 2:20 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

French President Francois Hollande is reaffirming his pledge to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan a year earlier than planned. The newly-elected leader told U.S. President Barack Obama that he stands by his campaign pledge to pull out French combat forces by the end of this year. Following talks with President Obama in Washington, Mr. Hollande […]

Tags: , , Posted in South Asia

Obama Announces $3 Billion in Private Sector Pledges to Help Feed Africa

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

U.S. President Barack Obama has announced a new global partnership to involve the private sector in improving food security in Africa, as wealthy nations struggle with shrinking budgets. President Obama announced the effort in Washington Friday, as leaders of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations prepared to hold their annual economic summit at the […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in US

Syrian Protesters Rally in Northern Flashpoint City

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 1:50 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Syrian forces are reported to have fired tear gas and live ammunition into crowds of protesters in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, in what opposition activists say is one of the biggest demonstrations since the anti-government uprising began 15-months-ago. Reports say at least two people have been wounded in the violence, although details are […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Middle East

UN Nuke Watchdog to Make Tehran Visit

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 1:15 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

The United Nations’ top nuclear official will travel to Tehran on Sunday for talks with senior Iranian officials as speculation mounts about a possible breakthrough on Iran’s controversial nuclear program. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency announced the surprise visit Friday. An IAEA statement said Director General Yukiya Amano would travel to Iran “to discuss […]

Tags: , , , Posted in Middle East

Former Sri Lankan Army Chief Given Bail as US, Sri Lankan Officials Meet

Posted May 18th, 2012 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

A court in Sri Lanka has granted bail for Sri Lanka’s former army chief, paving the way for the president to grant him a full pardon. The high court Friday set bail at $8,000 on Sarath Fonseka in a case where he is accused of hiring military deserters. Fonseka was jailed last year and has […]

Tags: , Posted in South Asia