U.S. stock market indexes fell sharply in Friday’s midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost eight-tenths of a percent, the S&P 500 dropped one percent, while the NASDAQ lost 1.2 percent. European stock markets were mixed at the close of trading. London’s Financial Times 100 index advanced four-tenths of a percent to end at […]
US Lawmakers Reject Measured to Support Libya Mission
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has rejected a measure authorizing ongoing U.S. military action in Libya. The vote of 295 to 123 has no immediate effect on the U.S. role on the NATO-led operation in the country, but is rather a direct criticism of President Barack Obama. House lawmakers will vote later Friday on […]
Former Ukraine Prime Minister Goes on Trial
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 12:45 pm (UTC-5)
The trial of Ukraine’s former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko opened Friday with her accusing President Viktor Yanukovych of using the proceeding to keep her out of politics. Ms. Tymoshenko, now a top Ukrainian opposition leader, is on trial for alleged abuse of power. The former prime minister denounced the trial as a pre-arranged farce and […]
Croatia Likely to Join EU in 2013
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
European Union leaders are set to welcome Croatia as the 28th member of the bloc, offering new hope for other Balkan nations working to join the EU. Officials said in Brussels Friday they had approved Zagreb’s membership, concluding six years of tough negotiations. EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he hoped everything would be […]
Michelle Obama Visits HIV/AIDS Clinic in Botswana
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 12:20 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama helped paint an HIV/AIDS clinic on her first stop in Botswana on Friday. Mrs. Obama and family members traveling with her painted a mural at the Botswana-Baylor Adolescent Center of Excellence in the capital, Gaborone. The mural is part of a facility that is being constructed to support children and […]
Obama Urges Business & Science Partnership To Boost Jobs
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 12:20 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama is urging top universities and companies to work together to develop new products and companies that boost manufacturing and create jobs. Mr. Obama visited Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center on Friday and looked at robots that find sewer leaks, and a military vehicle designed far faster than usual with […]
Protesters, Security Forces Face Off in Syria; 7 Dead
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 12:05 pm (UTC-5)
At least 11 people were killed Friday when Syrian security forces fired on crowds as thousands of protesters took to the streets nationwide in another round of demonstrations aimed at overthrowing President Bashar Assad. The demonstrators gathered throughout the north and around the capital, Damascus, despite a heavy military presence and the fear of the […]
Afghanistan Protests Pakistani Shelling
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
Afghanistan is urging neighboring Pakistan to put an end to cross border attacks. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Friday expressing its concern about the “continuing Pakistani artillery shelling in Afghan villages.” The Afghan government says four children were killed late Thursday when artillery shells hit the Sarkano area of northeastern Kunar province, […]
Armenia, Azerbaijan pressured to agree over Nagorno-Karabakh
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
The United States and Russia are urging the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to come to an agreement in their long and often violent dispute over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh at a summit hosted by Russia. Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan and his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev meet Friday in the Russian city of Kazan, hosted […]
New York Senate Again Delays Vote on Same-Sex Marriage
Posted June 24th, 2011 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
Lawmakers in the U.S. state of New York have yet to decide whether to vote on legalizing same-sex marriage. State senators had been expected to vote on the bill Thursday but ended their session without doing so. The Senate’s Republican leader said members of his party are meeting privately Friday to take up the issue […]
