Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has pleaded not guilty in a U.S. court to charges that he attempted to rape a maid in a New York hotel last month. Strauss-Kahn, who was accompanied by his wife and legal team, was greeted outside the court by a group of women in maid uniforms shouting […]
Former IMF Chief Pleads Not-Guilty to Sex Crimes
Nobel Laureate Abandons Quest For US Central Bank Post
Nobel Prize-winning economist Peter Diamond is giving up his bid to be one of the governors of the U.S. central bank. He was nominated for the U.S. Federal Reserve post by President Barack Obama, but now appears unlikely to win Senate confirmation. The Fed sets interest rates and other economic policies with the goals of […]
Crew Survives Cargo Plane Crash in Gabon
A cargo plane for transport company DHL crashed in Gabon’s capital on Monday but all four crew members on board survived. Witnesses say the plane, identified as an Antonov 26 turboprop, crashed into the sea not far off a Libreville beach. Bystanders and emergency services raced to the scene and helped the crew evacuate. The […]
Iran, Syria Denounced in UN Nuclear Talks Opener
The head of the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog says Iran may have carried out nuclear work with possible military purposes. Speaking at the start of a week-long board meeting on nuclear developments in Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano criticized Iran Monday for not cooperating with international nuclear experts. Western nations say Iran […]
India Approves $4 Billion Boeing Aircraft Deal
India’s Cabinet has approved a proposed $4 billion deal to purchase military transport aircraft from the U.S. aerospace giant Boeing, the largest defense deal ever made between the two countries. Sources say the deal to buy 10 C-17 aircraft was approved during a recent meeting of the Cabinet’s committee on security affairs. Indian officials say […]
Sprouts Test Negative for Europe E. Coli Outbreak
German officials say initial tests show that sprouts from an organic farm in the country’s north are not the cause of an E. coli outbreak that has left 22 people dead and infected more than 2,200 others. Lower Saxony state’s agriculture ministry said Monday that 23 of 40 samples taken from the suspected farm have […]
Portugal’s Victorious Center-Right To Push Austerity
Portugal’s expected new prime minister and Social Democratic Party leader Pedro Passos Coelho has pledged to move forward with tough austerity measures necessary to restore the country’s economic credibility. Passos Coelho said Monday he will form a coalition government with the conservative Popular Party, giving their bloc a majority in parliament and making it easier […]
Humala Claims Victory in Peru Presidential Runoff
Former Peruvian army officer Ollanta Humala claimed victory late Sunday in a presidential runoff, with a narrow lead over Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of imprisoned former president Alberto Fujimori. With just over 85 percent of the vote counted, official results put the former leftist officer ahead with more than 51 percent of the vote, while […]
Rains Ease Chinese Drought, Bring Flooding Fears
Several days of torrential rains in drought-stricken southern and eastern China has triggered flood warnings and the evacuations of tens of thousands of people. State television on Monday showed water roaring through towns in southwestern Guizhou province and hundreds of damaged or destroyed houses. The Ministry of Civil Affairs said some 200,000 people in the […]
Top Nigerian Lawmaker Arrested on Fraud Charges
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency has arrested a top lawmaker for allegedly defrauding the government of tens of millions of dollars. Authorities say they detained the outgoing speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, after a four-hour standoff at his home in Abuja on Sunday night. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission suspects Bankole misappropriated at […]