Court officials in India say the only surviving gunman from the deadly 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to have his death sentence overturned. A Mumbai court convicted Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Kasab last year on a number of charges, including murder, waging war against India, and terrorism, and […]
Bahrain’s Reform Plan Draws Opposition Fire
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
Government and opposition groups in Bahrain are weighing recommendations Friday from a controversial committee set up by the kingdom’s Sunni rulers. The national dialogue committee, boycotted by the main opposition group, was set up to investigate the kingdom’s suppression of anti-government protests that left more than 30 people dead. King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa Thursday […]
Pakistani Taliban Claim They Have Swiss Hostages
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani Taliban militants say they are holding a Swiss couple kidnapped earlier this month as they traveled through the country’s restive southwestern province of Baluchistan. The deputy head of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , Wali-ur Rehman, told media outlets Friday that the couple was in good condition and that his group would release them in exchange […]
U.S., North Korean Diplomats Arrive for Second Day of Talks
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
U.S. and North Korean diplomats have arrived to start a second day of talks in New York Friday. Neither delegation spoke to journalists as they entered the U.S. mission to the United Nations. After the first session Thursday, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, the head of the North Korean delegation, called the atmosphere good. […]
Former Kenyan Minister to Face Trial on Corruption Charges
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Kenya’s High Court has ruled that former industrialization minister Henry Kosgey should face trial over charges he illegally imported cars into the country. Kosgey has denied the charges. He is one of four ministers in the Kenyan government to either step down or resign since 2010 over graft charges. Kosgey is also chairman of Kenyan […]
US Senate to Vote on Democrat Debt/Deficit Plan
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid says he will call for a vote Friday on his plan to cut government spending by $2.4 trillion while raising the legal limit on borrowing enough to fund the government through the end of 2012. President Obama is scheduled to make remarks on the issue within the hour. U.S. stock […]
US Economic Growth Slower Than First Thought
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. economy grew at a slower rate than economists had estimated in the first half of this year. Friday’s updated report from the Commerce Department says the gross domestic product expanded at just a 1.3 percent annual rate. The GDP is the sum of all the goods and services produced in a nation and […]
UN Says One-Third of Somalis Needing Aid Are Children
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations children’s agency says about one-third of Somalis in need of aid in the drought-struck southern part of the country are children. UNICEF said Friday that some 1.25 million children are among the 3.7 million Somalis in urgent need, as the country experiences its worst drought in 60 years. Also Friday, a second […]
Roadside Bombs Kill 17 Civilians in Southern Afghanistan
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 9:25 am (UTC-5)
Afghan police say separate roadside bombs killed at least 17 civilians in southern Helmand province Friday. Officials said at least 16 civilians — including children — died when their minivan hit an explosive device in Nahri Saraji district. Another blast in Garmsir district killed one civilian and wounded four others when the farm tractor they […]
US Republican Leaders Looking for New Debt Plan
Posted July 29th, 2011 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are meeting Friday to once again revise their plan to raise the U.S. borrowing limit and cut government spending, just four days before the government faces a possible default on its financial obligations. Republican leaders were forced to delay on a vote Thursday night on a plan crafted […]
