The United Nations has declared a famine in two areas of southern Somalia, amid the worst drought to hit the country in more than 50 years. Speaking in Nairobi, U.N. spokesman Mark Bowden said famine exists in the Nakool and Lower Shabelle regions. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement expressing deep concern […]
UN Declares Famine, US To Supply Additional Aid
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 4:15 am (UTC-5)
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Obama Says “Gang of Six” Plan is Balanced Approach to Deficit Reduction
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 4:00 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama is urging Republican and Democratic lawmakers to continue searching Wednesday for a last-minute compromise on a budget deal tied to raising the nation’s borrowing limit. A possible breakthrough emerged on Tuesday when a bipartisan group of senators known as the “Group of Six” unveiled a deficit reduction plan that calls for […]
Taiwan Hails “Historic” Upgrade of Hong Kong Diplomatic Status
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 3:50 am (UTC-5)
Taiwan has upgraded the status of its diplomatic representation in Hong Kong and Macau, marking a major easing of tensions with China. The chairwoman of China’s Mainland Affairs Council was in Hong Kong Wednesday for a ceremony renaming the island’s diplomatic office in the Chinese territory. Formerly known as the Chung Hwa Travel Service, it […]
Taiwan Hails “Historic” Upgrade of Hong Kong Diplomatic Status
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 3:50 am (UTC-5)
Taiwan has upgraded the status of its diplomatic representation in Hong Kong and Macau, marking a major easing of tensions with China. The chairwoman of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council was in Hong Kong Wednesday for a ceremony renaming the island’s diplomatic office in the Chinese territory. Formerly known as the Chung Hwa Travel Service, it […]
Nigerian Workers Suspend Strike After Pay Talks
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 3:40 am (UTC-5)
Nigeria’s main labor union called off a nationwide pay strike early Wednesday, after it said a last minute deal was reached with the government. The acting general secretary of the Nigerian Labor Congress, Owei Lakemfa, said the agreement will implement a new national minimum wage. The new minimum wage is to go into effect August […]
Afghan Taliban Denies Leader’s Reported Death
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 3:40 am (UTC-5)
The Afghan Taliban has denied that its leader Mullah Omar has died, saying a text message announcing his death was a fake. A Taliban spokesman said Wednesday the message was sent after the group’s phones and website were hacked, and blamed U.S. intelligence agencies. Omar has been reported dead before, including in March when an […]
Rights Group Fears Syrians Tortured After Mass Arrests
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 3:20 am (UTC-5)
A prominent human rights group says it fears Syria is torturing dozens of men detained last Saturday and Sunday after mass arrests outside of the capital, Damascus. Amnesty International says Syria is holding the men incommunicado after arbitrarily arresting them in raids in the suburb Qatana, southwest of the capital. The group has demanded that […]
Chinese Basketball Icon Retires from NBA
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 3:10 am (UTC-5)
Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming has retired from America’s top league, bring an end to his groundbreaking but injury-plagued professional career. The 2.29 meter Yao, who turns 31 years old in September, announced his retirement in his hometown of Shanghai Wednesday. Yao spent his entire eight-year career with the Houston Rockets, who made him their […]
Philippine Lawmakers Visit Disputed Island, Defying China
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 3:10 am (UTC-5)
Five Philippine lawmakers flew to a disputed South China Sea island Wednesday in an action China had warned would “sabotage” relations between the two countries. The legislators, including two members of President Benigno Aquino’s party, said the trip was intended to assert Philippine sovereignty in a section of the potentially oil- and gas-rich Spratly Islands. […]
Japan’s Nikkei Rises, Dollar Falls
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 3:05 am (UTC-5)
Japanese markets closed higher Wednesday, while the U.S. dollar is lower against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained nearly one and one-quarter percent to finish at 10,006. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 78.97 yen, a loss of nearly one-quarter of a yen from Tuesday. The Taipei market closed at 8,706, a […]
