The European Union has banned the importation of some seeds from Egypt after concluding that a single shipment of fenugreek seeds from the country is the most likely source of the virulent E. coli bacteria that has killed at least 49 people. The EU imposed the ban Tuesday after its food safety agency said that […]
French Boat Heads to Gaza, Eludes Greek Flotilla Crackdown
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Activists trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza scored their first gain in days when a small French pleasure boat slipped out of Greek waters Tuesday bound for Palestinian shores. The “Dignite al Karama” is the only boat in a planned flotilla organized by pro-Palestinian activists to make it out of Greek ports in […]
U.S. Repatriates Some 120 Migrants to Cuba, Haiti
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Coast Guard has repatriated more than 120 Cuban and Haitian migrants picked up at sea. The Coast Guard says it intercepted 82 Haitians aboard a sailing vessel northwest of Great Inagua, Bahamas, on Friday and returned them on Monday to Cap-Haitien, Haiti. It says it also returned 15 Cubans to Bahia de Cabanas, […]
Egyptian Court Acquits Mubarak-Era Ministers
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC-5)
An Egyptian court has acquitted three former ministers from ex-President Hosni Mubarak’s administration of corruption charges. The court, on Tuesday, cleared the former ministers of information and finance of charges of squandering public funds. In a separate ruling by the same court, the former housing minister and the chairman of a development project were found […]
EU Bans Some Egyptian Seed Imports
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
The European Union has banned the importation of some seeds from Egypt after concluding that a single shipment of fenugreek seeds from the country is the most likely source of the virulent E. coli bacteria that has killed at least 49 people. The EU imposed the ban Tuesday after its food safety agency said that […]
UN Calls for Doubling Food Production
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations warns the world’s farmers will have to double the amount of food they produce to keep up with a rapidly growing population. The U.N.’s latest World Economic and Social Survey, released Tuesday, says global food production will need to jump by 70 to 100 percent by 2050 to feed an an anticipated […]
IOC Set to Vote on 2018 Winter Olympics Host
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
The International Olympic Committee will take a vote on Wednesday in Durban, South Africa to decide the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics. The three cities in the running are Munich, Germany; Annecy, France; and Pyeongchang, South Korea. This is the Korean resort city’s third successive bid after close defeats for the 2010 Games to […]
Bells, Ceremonies to Mark Birth of South Sudan
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
The government of south Sudan has unveiled plans for the ceremonies that will mark the new country’s independence on Saturday. The government is urging its citizens to gather in churches and public squares Friday evening to light candles and say prayers for the new nation. It says at midnight, bells will be rung across the […]
Sri Lanka Lifts Ban on Foreigners Visiting Former War Zones
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Sri Lanka has lifted travel restrictions that barred foreigners from visiting former war zones in the Tamil-dominated north of the country, two years after the government defeated Tamil rebels in a three-decade long conflict. The Sri Lankan government said Monday it removed the restrictions on foreign passport holders with immediate effect. Colombo had barred international […]
US Stocks Open Lower
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
The major U.S. stock market indexes slipped lower in Tuesday’s early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell two-tenths of a percent. The S&P 500 index slid three-tenths of a percent. And the NASDAQ was down less than one-tenth of a percent. European stock prices were mixed in midday trading Tuesday. London’s Financial Times index […]
