The crews aboard the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station will spend Monday moving the 12.5-ton Raffaello multi-purpose module from the shuttle cargo bay to the space station. The module is packed with more than 8,000 pounds of spare parts, equipment, food and other supplies that will sustain space station operations through […]
Space Shuttle, ISS Begin Equipment Transfer
Asian Markets Lower
Asian stock markets were lower in early trading Monday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index dropped seven-tenths of a percent to close at 10,070. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 1.69 percent , to end at 22,343. Elsewhere, share prices were lower in Sydney, Wellington, Taipei and Manila. Shanghai markets edged up slightly The dollar was selling at […]
Chinese Express Gratitude, Sadness at Yao’s Impending Retirement
Chinese fans of Yao Ming are expressing gratitude and sadness ahead of his expected announcement next week that he is retiring from American professional basketball. The 2.25-meter Yao boosted the National Basketball Association’s popularity in China and Asia by excelling at the highest level after the Houston Rockets made him the top overall pick in […]
Ugandan President Calls for Expanded Somali Campaign
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called for an expanded military campaign against militants in Somalia, saying the country is a threat to the economies of East Africa and the “exporter of terrorism” in the region. In remarks posted on his presidential website, Mr. Museveni said the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia needs air and […]
Obama, Congressional Leaders Meet for Debt Reduction Talks
U.S. President Barack Obama called for more budget talks Monday at the White House after having failed to reach a deal with Republicans. President Obama also will hold a news conference Monday focusing on the status of the deficit and debt negotiations. Mr. Obama met briefly Sunday with top congressional leaders at the White House […]
South Korean Marine Commits Suicide, Bullying Suspected
South Korea’s military says a 19-year-old marine has hanged himself in the latest incident to raise questions about discipline in the ranks. Officials said Monday the conscript was found Sunday evening in a barracks shower room. They said they are investigating to determine whether the man, identified only as Jung, had been bullied by fellow […]
Indonesia to Evacuate Hundreds Living Near Active Volcano
Indonesian officials said Monday they will evacuate hundreds of people living near Mount Lokon on Sulawesi island after raising the volcano’s danger status to the highest level – red alert. A government volcanologist said there had been a significant rise in volcanic activity in the past few days. He said the volcano spewed ash 500 […]
Russian Boat Sinks on Volga, 9 Confirmed Dead, 100 Remain Missing
Russian authorities say there is little chance of finding any more survivors from an overloaded tourist boat that sank Sunday in the Volga River, leaving at least 100 people missing. Nine bodies have been recovered so far. About 80 people were rescued or swam to shore. Officials say they fear many of the missing passengers […]
Senior International Figures Push to Revive Mideast Peace Talks
A group of senior international diplomats is set to meet Monday in Washington to discuss ways to revive stalled peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Friday the group, known as the Mideast Quartet, wants to assess where the process stands and “plot a course forward.” The talks will […]
4 Killed, 15 Wounded in Pakistan Blasts
Officials in northwestern Pakistan say a blast at a political rally has killed at least four people. Officials say at least 12 people were wounded in the explosion Monday in the Batgram district. Authorities say a senior member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q Party was scheduled to attend the gathering, but was not at the […]