Showing Archived Posts

First US Troops Begin to Leave Afghanistan

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Several hundred American soldiers left Afghanistan this week, the first group of about 10,000 U.S. troops to be withdrawn from the country by the end of the year. U.S. military officials confirmed Friday that around 650 U.S. army troops serving in the northern Afghan province of Parwan left for the United States on Wednesday. Military […]

Tags: , Posted in South Asia

Syrian Forces Fire on Protesters

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 8:15 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Activists and witnesses in Syria say security forces have used live ammunition and tear gas against protesters in several cities. Thousands of anti-government demonstrators poured into the streets following Friday prayers, and there are reports of at least three deaths. Activists had urged citizens to protest against the imprisonment of hundreds of people in the […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Budget Deal to End Minnesota Government Shutdown

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 7:30 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

The Democratic governor of Minnesota has reached a budget agreement with leaders of the Republican-controlled legislature that would end a two-week-old state government shutdown — one of the longest in recent U.S. history. Governor Mark Dayton announced the agreement Thursday, after a meeting with state House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch. […]

Tags: , , Posted in Economy, US

Delegates on Libya Meet in Istanbul as Rebels Advance Beyond Front Lines

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

International talks on Libya have started in Turkey, where the United States is expected to strengthen its ties with opposition forces fighting to overthrow Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Delegates of the Contact Group on Libya, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will lay out plans Friday to increase support to the North African country’s […]

Tags: , , Posted in Middle East

Activists Call for Friday Protests in Syria

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 7:05 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Syrian activists have urged citizens to demonstrate Friday against the imprisonment of hundreds of people in the government’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. Activists on the Syrian Revolution Facebook page called for protesters to mark a day of “freedom” for those jailed across the country. Meanwhile, the Associated Press has spoken to rights activists who say […]

Tags: Posted in Middle East

European Markets Lower at Midday

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

European stock markets were lower in midday trading Friday. London’s Financial Times 100 index was down slightly , to 5,842. The CAC-40 in Paris was down four-tenths of a percent , to 3,736. And the DAX in Frankfurt was down three-tenths of a percent , at 7,195. The S&P futures contract was up one point, […]

Tags: , Posted in Economy, Europe

British Executive of Murdoch Media Empire Resigns

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

A key British executive of Rupert Murdoch’s global media empire has resigned amid the firestorm over the phone-hacking and police bribery scandal that has triggered investigations on both sides of the Atlantic. Rebekah Brooks stepped down Friday as chief executive of News International, the British subsidiary of Murdoch’s News Corporation. Brooks was a former editor […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Economy, Europe

Asian Markets Close Mixed

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Asian stock markets closed mixed Friday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained four-tenths of a percent , to close at 9,974. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost three-tenths of a percent , to end at 21,875. Elsewhere, share prices were higher in Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul, Jakarta and Manila. Stocks closed lower in Sydney, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur […]

Obama to Address Debt Crisis

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 5:55 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

U.S. President Barack Obama will hold a news conference at the White House Friday morning to discuss his negotiations with congressional leaders over raising the national borrowing limit and decreasing the deficit. At the end of a fifth day of talks Thursday, Mr. Obama told negotiators it is “decision time,” and gave them until Saturday […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in Americas, Economy, US

Tokyo Stocks Up, Dollar Flat

Posted July 15th, 2011 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Japanese share prices ended higher Friday, while the dollar was flat against the yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained four-tenths of a percent , to close at 9,974. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 79.21 yen, up slightly from late Thursday. Gold was selling for $1,580.90 an ounce.

Tags: , Posted in East Asia Pacific