Two French journalists held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for 18 months have returned to France after being freed by their captors. France-3 television videographer Stephane Taponier and reporter Herve Ghesquiere were greeted by relatives and French President Nicolas Sarkozy when they arrived Thursday at a military airport near Paris. Looking healthy and jubilant, […]
French Journalists Kidnapped in Afghanistan Return Home
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
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US Senate to Cut Recess Short for Budget Talks
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:45 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the Senate is canceling a holiday recess next week, as lawmakers consider whether to raise the U.S. debt ceiling or face possible default on the nation’s loans. Reid said Thursday lawmakers will take a holiday July 4 for Independence Day, and return to work Tuesday, rather than taking […]
German Banks Ready To Ease Greek Payback
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:45 am (UTC-5)
A top German official says German banks are ready to contribute to the Greek bailout. Thursday, Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said some German banks are willing to offer new loans to Greece instead of demanding immediate payment when repayment is due on billions of dollars worth of existing loans. The voluntary plan was announced […]
Bangladesh Abolishes Caretaker Government for Elections
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:45 am (UTC-5)
Bangladesh’s parliament has repealed a constitutional provision for a caretaker government to take over power for three months while the country holds elections. The system had been in place since the mid-1990s to try to prevent election fraud, but lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Thursday to abolish it. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the vote. Politicians […]
US Stocks Rise
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes rose in Thursday’s early trading, as progress on the Greek debt issue encouraged investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced one percent, the S&P 500 rose seven-tenths of a percent and the NASDAQ gained eight-tenths of a percent. European stock markets were higher in afternoon trading. London’s Financial Times 100 index […]
Clinton Says US to Renew Contact With Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that the Obama administration will renew limited contact with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. The Islamist movement recently joined with 17 Egyptian political parties to establish what they call a pro-democracy platform for parliamentary elections scheduled for September. The coalition pledges to push for equality and democratic freedoms. The […]
Security Forces Spread Through NW Syria
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
Activists say Syrian security forces continue to spread through villages in the country’s northwest, a day after allegedly killing at least seven civilians during the ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Human rights activists said on Thursday that Syrian forces worked to consolidate their hold on several villages between the Turkish border and Syria’s second largest […]
Greek Parliament Approves Details of Austerity Plan
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
The Greek parliament has approved the details of its new austerity plan, clearing the way for release of more international aid for the debt-ridden government. Lawmakers in Athens on Thursday voted for the specific measures proposed by Prime Minister George Papandreou in his $40 billion plan to raise taxes, cut spending and sell state-owned assets. […]
Indian State Probes 17 Infant Hospital Deaths
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
A state in eastern India is investigating the deaths of 17 infants at a government-run hospital. Authorities say all of the babies died in the last 48 hours at the B.C. Roy Hospital in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. The state’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, on Thursday called the deaths a “very sad” and […]
UN Warns of Deepening Food Crisis in Somalia
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations says a food crisis in Somalia is rapidly growing due to rising food prices and an ongoing drought in the region. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowen, warned Wednesday that many may die of malnutrition unless something is done to address the problem. Bowen said food prices in Somalia have […]
