Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s younger brother – a powerful figure in the country’s south – has been assassinated at his home, apparently by a trusted bodyguard. An unnamed Afghan intelligence official says Ahmad Wali Karzai was shot and killed Tuesday by a senior member of his security detail in Kandahar city. The gunman, who was […]
Nigeria University Shuts Due To Bomb Threats
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
A northern Nigeria university has closed indefinitely after officials say it received bomb threats from a radical Islamic sect. The University of Maiduguri in volatile Borno State shut down on Monday and officials say it will remain closed until the security situation improves. Officials say the university received a letter from the Boko Haram sect […]
Congo, India to Build Hydro Plant
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
The Democratic Republic of Congo and India have signed a deal to build a hydroelectric plant in southern Congo. Officials from both countries participated in a signing ceremony in the Congolese city of Kananga late Monday. Congo’s Energy Minister Gilbert Tshiongo said the plant, when completed, will have a capacity of 65 megawatts. The project […]
More Talks Three Weeks Before US Hits Debt Limit
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
U.S. congressional leaders will meet again with President Barack Obama Tuesday, with no signs of progress on a deal to reduce the deficit and raise the government’s borrowing limit. Tuesday’s talks come three weeks before the August 2 deadline, when the U.S. Treasury Department says the country will run up against the $14.3 trillion debt […]
European Stocks Lower in Midday Trading
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 7:50 am (UTC-5)
European stock prices are lower in midday trading Tuesday. London’s Financial Times index is down 1.7 percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is down 2.4 percent, and the DAX index in Frankfurt is down 2.2 percent. In New York, the S&P futures contract is down 14 points, indicating a lower opening. Tokyo’s Nikkei index dropped 1.4 […]
Astronauts Set to Complete Final Spacewalk of Shuttle Era
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 7:40 am (UTC-5)
Two American residents of the International Space Station are set to step outside the facility on Tuesday to begin the final spacewalk of NASA’s shuttle era. Astronauts Ron Garan and Mike Fossum will complete the mission, which involves retrieving a broken ammonia pump from outside the space station. They will also install a robot used […]
Iran Ready For Closer IAEA Relationship
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 7:40 am (UTC-5)
Iran’s foreign minister says his country is ready to work more closely with the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, but only if it drops its investigation into allegations Iran has developed a nuclear weapons program. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Tuesday both Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency should sit together and develop a new […]
Nigerian President Appoints More Cabinet Ministers
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 7:05 am (UTC-5)
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed several new cabinet ministers, including naming career diplomat Olugbenga Ashiru as Nigeria’s new foreign minister. Mr. Jonathan also appointed Bart Nnaji as power minister, as he continues to fill out his cabinet after being sworn in for his first full term as president last month. The Nigerian president has […]
Asia Markets Close Lower
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 7:05 am (UTC-5)
Major Asian stock markets closed lower Tuesday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index dropped nearly one and one-half percent to finish at 9,926. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index plunged over three percent to finish the day’s trading at 21,663. Share prices were lower in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington. In […]
Police Testify Before Parliament in British Phone-Hacking Scandal
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 7:00 am (UTC-5)
A British parliamentary committee Tuesday is to question senior London police officers about why they did not pursue a phone hacking investigation at the News of the World tabloid two years ago. Media coverage of Britain’s phone-hacking scandal is reaching a frenzied level. News reports allege Queen Elizabeth and former prime minister Gordon Brown were […]
