An anti-government strike shut down much of Bangladesh Wednesday, as opposition members protested a constitutional amendment they say will allow the ruling party to cling to power. Schools and businesses were closed throughout the country, and operations at Bangladesh’s main port in Chittagong were suspended. At least 20 people were injured Wednesday as security personnel […]
New Clashes Between Al Qaida and Mauritanian Army
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb is claiming responsibility for an attack on a Mauritanian army base near the border with Mali. An al-Qaida spokesman told the private Nouakchott news agency Wednesday two of the group’s fighters died in Tuesday’s attack – one from Algeria and another from Mali. The Mauritanian army confirmed the attack near […]
Cargo Plane Crashes North of Afghan Capital; 9 Feared Dead
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Officials in Afghanistan say an Azerbaijani cargo plane with nine crew members on board has crashed into a mountain in eastern Afghanistan. The crash happened late Tuesday in the Sayagred area of Parwan province, north of the capital, Kabul, as the plane was traveling to Bagram air base. Local sources say the bodies of eight […]
Bahrain Sentences 3 for Spying, Reportedly for Iran
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
A Bahraini criminal court has sentenced three people to prison for spying — foreign news reports say the spying was on behalf of Iran. The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported Tuesday that one Bahraini and two foreigners were given ten-year sentences and fined for collecting information on military and economic facilities. It said the two […]
US Stocks Lower at Market Open
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes were down slightly in Wednesday’s early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down a fraction, the S&P 500 dropped one-quarter of one percent and the NASDAQ was down nearly one-tenth of a percent. European stock markets were also lower in afternoon trading. London’s Financial Times index was down nearly three-quarters […]
Vietnam Jails Ex-Officials in Graft Scam
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
A Vietnamese court has sentenced a former transport ministry chief and seven others to prison, after finding them guilty of involvement in a string of corruption scandals. The court in Hanoi found chief defendant Bui Tien Dung and his accused accomplices guilty of siphoning more than $160,000 from a bridge construction project funded with Japanese […]
Congo Rape Inquiry Suspended After Reprisals
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
An investigation into mass rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been called off after some of the victims were attacked. The United Nations said Wednesday that a judicial inquiry had spoken to about 150 victims and witnesses but that some of those who spoke had suffered from reprisals. At least 387 women, men, […]
Pakistani Panel Bars Bin Laden Family From Leaving for Now
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
A Pakistani commission investigating the U.S. raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden says the terror leader’s family can not leave the country without its consent. Three of bin Laden’s wives and several children have been in Pakistani custody since the May 2 raid. Pakistani officials have said the wives — one from Yemen […]
At Least 22 Reported Killed in Flashpoint Syrian City
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 8:55 am (UTC-5)
Rights activists said Wednesday that the death toll from violence in the central city of Hama is at least 22 after Syrian security forces opened fire on civilians. Activists say that more than 50 people were wounded during an assault Tuesday when forces that had surrounded the city pushed through improvised barriers and roadblocks set […]
Britain to Withdraw 500 Troops from Afghanistan
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
Britain says it will withdraw 500 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012. British Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament Wednesday that he will reduce the size of its force from 9,500 to 9,000. Mr. Cameron says the reduction reflects progress made by the Afghan national security force. He said the decision was not […]
