Bangladesh’s parliament has repealed a constitutional provision for a caretaker government to take over power for three months while the country holds elections.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 main opposition boycotted the vote. Earlier this month, […]
Bangladesh Abolishes Caretaker Government for Elections
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 7:15 am (UTC-5)
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Asia Markets Close Higher
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
Major 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 Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei […]
Pakistan Calls for US to Leave Base Used for Drones
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 6:45 am (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s defense minister has called for the United States to leave a remote air base in southwestern Pakistan that he says is used to launch drone strikes against Taliban and al-Qaida militants. Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar says Pakistan has told the U.S. to leave the Shamsi air base in Baluchistan province, as tensions between the […]
Iran FM: West is Exploiting Syria
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman says Western nations are exploiting Syria’s uprising to protect Israel. Ramin Mehmanparast says the U.S. and its allies are directing Syrians’ complaints against the government to “break the foundations of any opposition” to Israel. He also denied Iran’s role in helping to crackdown on Syrian protesters. The comments come as the […]
Hong Kong Police Arrest Owner of British Soccer Team
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung, the owner of British football club Birmingham City, has been arrested and charged with money laundering. The 51-year-old Yeung appeared in a Hong Kong courtroom Thursday to face five counts of dealing with property that had been obtained through a criminal offense. Prosecutors did not identify the property or Yeung’s […]
China Lifts Procurement Rules That Hurt Foreign Companies
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 6:30 am (UTC-5)
China says three regulations limiting the ability of foreign companies to bid on government contracts will be lifted beginning Friday. In a posting on its website, the finance ministry says that from July 1 it will no longer enforce the rules, which have long caused U.S. and European companies to complain of unfair discrimination. Beijing […]
Iran FM: West is Exploiting Syria
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
Iran’s foreign minister says Western nations are exploiting Syria’s uprising to protect Israel. Ramin Mehmanparast says the U.S. and its allies are directing Syrians’ complaints against the government to “break the foundations of any opposition” to Israel. He also denied Iran’s role in helping to crackdown on Syrian protesters. The comments come as the United […]
Greek Parliament Prepares for Second Austerity Vote
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
Greek police clashed early Thursday with protesters outside parliament ahead of a vote to approve a final austerity bill. The Greek parliament Wednesday approved the first step in sweeping new austerity measures aimed at securing international financing for the debt-ridden nation. Thursday’s parliamentary vote is needed to implement the plan approved Wednesday. The roll-call vote […]
Australian Publisher Convicted in Burma, Sentenced to Time Served
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
A court in Burma has convicted Australian publisher Ross Dunkley on simple assault charges but released him in recognition of time served while awaiting trial. Dunkley, the 55-year-old co-founder of the Myanmar Times, was arrested in February and spent six weeks in Burma’s notorious Insein prison before being released on bail. The court Thursday handed […]
Gates Set to Retire as US Defense Chief
Posted June 30th, 2011 at 5:50 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is retiring Thursday after leading the Pentagon for more than four years during key parts of the country’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He took office in late-2006 under then-president George W. Bush, replacing former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and oversaw a troop surge in Iraq that analysts say helped […]
