The final spacewalk of NASA’s 30-year shuttle program is underway. American astronauts Ron Garan and Mike Fossum stepped outside the International Space Station Tuesday to begin the walk, which should take about six and a half hours. The operation involves retrieving a broken ammonia pump from outside the space station and installing a robot used […]
Astronauts Conducting Final Spacewalk of US Shuttle Era
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
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US Stocks Mixed at Open
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes were mixed in Tuesday’s early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced less than one-tenth of a percent. The S&P 500 dropped less than one-tenth of a percent. And the NASDAQ slipped three-tenths of a percent. European stock markets were lower in afternoon trading. London’s Financial Times 100 index dipped 1 […]
Egypt’s Military Warns Cairo Protesters Against Further Disruptions
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Egypt’s military rulers say they will “confront” any actions that “harm public interests” as anti-government protesters occupy central Cairo’s Tahrir Square for a fifth day. In a statement Tuesday, the military council called for “all necessary measures” to prevent further disruptions after demonstrators in recent days blocked an entrance to a government building and staged […]
Sudan to Issue New Currency After Split With South
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
Sudan’s president says the country will issue a new currency following its split with South Sudan last week. President Omar al-Bashir announced the plan during an address to the National Assembly in Khartoum on Tuesday. South Sudan declared its independence on Saturday and on Monday announced plans to introduce its own currency. The new South […]
Syria Lashes Out at US Following Clinton Comments
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
Syria has sharply criticized U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, after she said President Bashar al-Assad had “lost legitimacy.” The state-run SANA news agency said Tuesday the government “vehemently denounces” Clinton’s remarks. The news agency quotes an official who calls her comments “further evidence” of “blatant U.S. interference” in Syria’s internal affairs. On Monday, Clinton […]
UN Chides Malaysia For Suppressing Protest
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations human rights office has criticized Malaysia’s crackdown on demonstrators calling for electoral reform. Rupert Colville, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Tuesday the U.N. is “very concerned” about Saturday’s use of tear gas and water cannons on tens of thousands of people rallying in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian authorities […]
France to Withdraw 1,000 Troops from Afghanistan
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:25 am (UTC-5)
France says it plans to withdraw 1,000 of its combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said during an unannounced visit to Afghanistan Tuesday the drawdown is necessary to end the war. He added that there was “never a question of keeping French troops in the country indefinitely.” France […]
US Trade Gap Widens on Pricey Oil Imports
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
Higher prices for imported oil have pushed the U.S. trade deficit to its highest level in three years. The U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday the official trade gap hit $50.2 billion in May, a 15 percent increase over the previous month. The report cited the high cost of imported oil as the main factor. Oil […]
Suspected US Drone Strikes Kill 38 Militants in Pakistan
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani officials say suspected U.S. drone strikes have killed at least 38 militants in Pakistan’s northwest in the last two days, in one of the heaviest barrages on suspected militant compounds in recent months. The strikes targeted three suspected compounds late Monday and early Tuesday in the North and South Waziristan tribal areas, which border […]
Michelle Obama and Past Presidents, First Ladies Gather for Betty Ford Funeral
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and former President George W. Bush are among those gathering at Tuesday’s funeral for former first lady Betty Ford, who died Friday in California at the age of 93. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a former first lady herself, is attending with her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Former first […]
