Major Asian stock markets closed mixed Tuesday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained two-thirds of one percent to finish at 9,443. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost one-third of one percent to finish the day’s trading at 22,869. Share prices were higher in Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei, but lower in Bangkok, Manila, Seoul, Sydney and […]
New Zealanders Mourn Death of Once-Fugitive Sheep
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
New Zealanders are in mourning the loss of Shrek, a marino sheep who became a beloved national hero after it was discovered in 2004 that he had evaded the shearing sheds for six years. John Perriam, Shrek’s owner, says the 16-year-old sheep was euthanized Monday because of several age-related illnesses. Shrek broke away from the […]
Chemical Spills Contaminate Drinking Water in Eastern China
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
Schools are closed and stores have been stripped of bottled water in eastern China after a pair of incidents contaminated drinking water used by hundreds of thousands of people. In the first incident, a traffic accident late Saturday caused 21 tons of carbolic acid to spill into the Xin’an River, the main source of drinking […]
Explosions Hit Libyan Capital as NATO Pressure Continues
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
Witnesses say several explosions have hit Libya’s capital, Tripoli, as NATO continues to pressure Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The witnesses said they saw smoke in the area of Mr. Gadhafi’s compound following the explosions, as NATO carried out rare daytime airstrikes. Diplomatic efforts also continued Tuesday, as a special envoy sent by Russian President Dmitry […]
Russian, NATO Anti-Terror Exercise
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
NATO and Russia are conducting an unprecedented joint anti-terrorism exercise. The first ever cooperative exercise began Tuesday morning with a Polish plane simulating a hijacked civilian aircraft. Russian jets have never taken part in such a NATO exercise. The aerial exercise will test the NATO-Russia Council Cooperative Airspace Initiative (CAI) aimed at preventing the type […]
Lagarde Visits India to Boost IMF Leadership Bid
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has traveled to India in the latest stop of a tour to seek support to become the next head of the International Monetary Fund. Lagarde is set to meet Tuesday with officials in New Delhi as part of a global tour that has included a stop in Brazil and expected […]
Syria Pledges “Firm” Response to Reported Police Killing
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
Syria is pledging to mount a “firm and decisive” response to what state television called the “massacre” of 120 security personnel in the northwestern city of Jir al-Shughour. The report Monday could not be confirmed since foreign journalists are not allowed in the country. Syrian opposition activists are disputing the casualty count, suggesting it will […]
Japan’s Nikkei Posts Solid Gains
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 5:30 am (UTC-5)
Japanese markets closed higher Tuesday, while the U.S. dollar is higher against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained three-quarters of one percent to finish at 9,443. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.21, a gain of just over one-tenth of a yen from Monday. Gold is trading at $1,547.40 an ounce.
Greece Awaits IMF Loan
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 5:10 am (UTC-5)
An envoy from the International Monetary Fund says European countries must decide how to plug potential funding gaps for Greece next year before the IMF can release the next batch of loans. The European leaders have tough decisions to make on the issue at a summit late this month.. The next loan payment is an […]
Aviation Industry Introduces New Hi-Tech Security Measures
Posted June 7th, 2011 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
The aviation industry has unveiled a new airport security system that uses iris scanners and other devices to move passengers through checkpoints more quickly. The system was demonstrated Tuesday at the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Singapore. Data obtained in an eye scan at an automated checkpoint is matched with information […]
