The U.S. Justice Department says it has “effectively ended” the operations of a drug gang responsible for trafficking massive quantities of marijuana, cocaine and other drugs. An indictment unsealed in federal court in New York City Wednesday charges 37 alleged members and associates of an international syndicate. U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said the syndicate, led […]
US Justice Department Busts Ethnic Albanian Drug Syndicate
Egypt Purges Hundreds of Police Officers as Protests Grow
Egypt has announced the dismissals of more than 600 senior police officers in a bid to meet the demands of thousands of protesters urging swifter justice for those involved in crimes under former president Hosni Mubarak. Interior Ministry officials said Wednesday that nearly 500 police generals and about 150 other senior officers would end their […]
Irish Report Condemns Catholic Church for Concealing Abuse
A government-sponsored report condemns the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland for what it describes as the church’s “inadequate” response to allegations of sexual abuse of children, and says high-ranking clergy helped conceal the abuse. The report by an independent commission Wednesday says the rural diocese of Cloyne in southern Ireland and its bishop, John Magee, […]
Indian Officials: Mumbai Blasts ‘Coordinated Terror Attack’
Three consecutive bomb blasts tore through India’s financial capital, Mumbai, Wednesday, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 100 others. The explosions occurred within 20 minutes of each other in crowded areas of the city during the evening rush-hour — two in the south and one in central Mumbai. No one has claimed […]
Pakistan’s PM Concerned Over US Aid Cut
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed concern about the U.S. decision to suspend $800 million in military aid to his country. Gilani said Wednesday that while the fight against militants on Pakistani territory is Pakistan’s war, the country’s efforts are benefiting the whole world. His comments came as Pakistan’s intelligence chief, Ahmad Shuja […]
US, Russia Agree on Adoption Safeguards
The United States and Russia are implementing stronger safeguards for child adoptions after a U.S. mother discarded her seven-year-old adopted Russian son, sending him back to Moscow alone on a plane. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the new bilateral agreement Wednesday in Washington, DC. Lavrov also met […]
Crude Oil Prices Rise
Here are the prices of some key commodities traded in New York on Wednesday: Crude oil prices rose less than $1 to to close at $98.05 a barrel. Coffee prices rose 6 cents to end at $2.63 per pound. Copper prices advanced 1 cent to close at $4.39 per pound. Cocoa futures rose $104 to […]
Indian Officials: Mumbai Blasts ‘Coordinated Terror Attack’
Three consecutive bomb blasts tore through India’s financial capital, Mumbai, Wednesday, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 100 others. The explosions occurred within 20 minutes of each other in crowded areas of the city during the evening rush-hour — two in the south and one in central Mumbai. No one has claimed […]
EU Offers to Help Libyan Rebels Build Democratic Institutions in Post-War Era
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has offered to help Libya’s rebels establish democratic institutions if they are able to defeat the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Barroso made the offer to a Libyan rebel delegation led by Mahmoud Jibril during talks in Brussels on Wednesday. The European Commission president said the EU is […]
US Stocks Close Higher
U.S. stock market indexes were higher at the close of Wednesday’s trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose four-tenths of a percent to end at 12,492. The S&P 500 jumped three-tenths of a percent to end at 1,318, while the NASDAQ gained half a percent to end at 2,797. European stock markets closed higher. London’s […]