Efforts continued in Washington Friday to forge a political agreement to prevent the United States government from running out of money before an August 2 deadline, while also slashing spending. Democrats in the Senate blocked a Republican-backed plan from the House of Representatives to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for large cuts in federal […]
Obama, Lawmakers Continue Debate on Debt Deal
India Says Preparing for Any Halt in Oil Supply by Iran
India says it is preparing to deal with any reductions in the country’s oil supply, after Iran threatened to stop crude exports unless India makes timely payments for the oil. Indian Oil Minister S. Jaipal Reddy told reporters in New Delhi Friday that the government was making every possible effort to make a payment to […]
Iran’s Guard Denies Spy Plane Downing Report
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Friday refuted a report from state media earlier this week that it shot down an unmanned U.S. spy plane . Instead, the Guard said in a statement that its air defenses hit a test target flying over a uranium enrichment site. The Guard reports contradicts a claim by an Iranian lawmaker […]
Blast Rocks Norway Government Headquarters, Killing One, Injuring Others
A large explosion in central Oslo rocked the Norwegian government headquarters on Friday, killing at least one person and injuring several others. The powerful blast also set the nearby oil ministry building on fire. Hundreds of windows in the 17-story government headquarters and other buildings as far away as 400 meters away were shattered. Smoke […]
Caterpillar, GE, & McDonald’s Report Rising Profits
The world’s largest construction and mining equipment company, Caterpillar, reported a 44 percent increase in profits Friday. While second quarter earnings grew, they fell short of Wall Street expectations and the stock price declined after the report. Caterpillar said its expected sales and profits were hurt by Japan’s multiple disasters and slowing demand in China. […]
Six Killed in Syrian Unrest
At least six people were killed in Syria on Friday where security officers have responded to mass protests with force. The deaths occurred after tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators rallied for President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation, in what has become the most serious challenge yet to his 11-year rule. Witnesses and activists say the deaths […]
UN Report: Congo Troops Blamed for Mass Rape
United Nations investigators say it appears Democratic Republic of Congo troops carried out a mass rape during a two-day rampage that terrorized villagers in North Kivu province. A report Friday by the U.N. human rights office says at least 47 women in the villages of Bushani and Kalambahiro were sexually assaulted and raped on December […]
US Senate Blocks Republican House Debt Plan
U.S. lawmakers and the president appeared no closer to a deal Friday to raise the country’s 14.3 trillion borrowing limit and slash spending ahead of an August 2 deadline. Democrats in the Senate Friday blocked a Republican-backed plan from the House of Representatives that would raise the debt ceiling in exchange for large cuts in […]
Bangladesh Hit By Deadly Floods
Officials in Bangladesh say floods triggered by monsoon rains in the country’s south have killed at least four people and displaced more than 10,000. Authorities say at least 200 villages have been flooded. The district of Cox’s Bazar was one of the worst affected. Officials say the displaced have taken shelter in schools, with local […]
Iranian Commander Killed in Clashes With Kurdish Rebels
Iran says a Revolutionary Guards commander and five force members have been killed in clashes with Kurdish rebels in the northwest. The semi-official Fars news agency said Friday that the commander, identified as General Abbas Asemi, died in an explosion. He had been overseeing operations in the province of Qom. The news agency did not […]