Japanese markets closed higher Thursday, while the U.S. dollar is lower against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish at 9,816. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.40, a loss of more than one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday. Gold is trading at $1,508.56 an ounce.
Thousands on Strike Across Britain
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 5:30 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of British teachers and civil servants Thursday are participating in a 24-hour strike, protesting proposed changes to pension plans calling for higher contributions and longer working lives. Many schools across Britain were closed and travellers delayed due to the estimated 750,000 workers participating in the labor walkout. The UK Border Agency encouraged travellers to […]
Nigeria Imposes Curfews in Abuja
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
Nigeria has imposed curfews on nightclubs, bars, movies theatres and parks in the capital, Abuja, following several deadly bombing attacks. The Federal Capital Territory Administration has ordered parks and gardens to close by 6 pm while nightclubs, bars, and movie theatres are allowed to stay open until 10 pm daily. The agency says the curfew […]
3 U.S. Service Members Killed in Iraq
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 5:15 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. military says three American soldiers were killed in southern Iraq Wednesday, in the deadliest month for U.S. service members in two years. A statement issued Thursday gave no other details, but officials told Western news agencies that the soldiers were killed in a hostile attack. The Associated Press reports a rocket attack blamed […]
Russian Paper Cites Security Concerns For Canceled Kim Summit
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Russian and East Asian media provided conflicting accounts Thursday of the reasons for the apparent cancelation of a secret summit between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Neither government has confirmed that a meeting was in the works, though several news outlets quoted Russian sources saying the two were to […]
China Disables Film Rating Systems for Propaganda Extravaganza
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 5:05 am (UTC-5)
Chinese authorities are taking no chances on negative reaction to a star-studded film about the founding of the Communist Party, released to mark the party’s 90th anniversary this week. Viewer rating systems and comment fields have been removed without explanation from entries for the movie on Chinese entertainment websites. Readers still are able to give […]
Asian Stocks Higher
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
Asian stock markets closed higher Thursday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish at 9,816. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose just over one and one-half percent to finish the day’s trading at 23,398. Share prices were also higher in Manila, Shanghai, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington. In currency trading, the dollar […]
Shares in Chinese Automaker Surge in Stock Exchange Debut
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
Shares in innovative Chinese automaker BYD rose 44 percent Thursday in the company’s debut on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. BYD, maker of the world’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid car, raised $220 million in a share offering aimed at financing a research and development center. It ended the morning trading session at $4 a share. The […]
Arrest Halts Ordination of Catholic Bishop in China
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 4:10 am (UTC-5)
Church-oriented news organizations say a Catholic priest in China has been arrested shortly before he was to have been ordained as a bishop. Vatican-linked Asia News and others say Joseph Sun Jigeng was arrested on Sunday in northern Hebei province, and is believed to be in custody at a guest house in the provincial capital. […]
3 U.S. Service Members Killed in Iraq
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 3:50 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. military says three American soldiers were killed in southern Iraq Wednesday, in the deadliest month for U.S. service members in two years. A statement issued Thursday gave no other details. The U.S. is withholding the names of the killed soldiers until their families have been notified. Fifteen U.S. troops have died this month […]
