Northern Ireland officials say rioting erupted early Tuesday on the streets of west Belfast, before the start of a major Protestant march. Police say they fired plastic bullets at the nearly 200 rioters who responded by throwing rocks, bricks and gasoline bombs. Police said at least seven officers were injured. No civilian injuries were reported. […]
Southern Chinese Province Seeks Relief From One-Child Policy
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 3:30 am (UTC-5)
Officials in China’s most populous province say they have applied to Beijing for relief from a 30-year-old law that limits most couples to only one child. Officials with the Guangdong Population and Family Planning Commission say they are seeking permission to mount a pilot program under which families would be allowed a second child if […]
At Least Five Dead in Suspected U.S. Drone Attack in Pakistan
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
Pakistani officials say a suspected U.S. drone strike in northwest Pakistan has killed at least five militants. Officials say the attack happened early Tuesday in the mountainous South Waziristan tribal area close to the Afghanistan border. The attack comes less than 12 hours after Pakistani officials reported that a suspected unmanned U.S. aircraft killed up […]
Riot in Belfast Before Protestant March
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
Northern Ireland officials say rioting erupted early Wednesday on the streets of west Belfast, before the start of a major Protestant march. Police say they fired plastic bullets at the nearly 200 rioters who responded by throwing rocks, bricks and gasoline bombs. Police said at least seven officers were injured. No civilian injuries were reported. […]
North Korean Olympic Officials Visit Japan Despite Ban
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 2:35 am (UTC-5)
Three North Koreans are in Tokyo for a meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia. They are the first North Korean officials admitted to Japan in five years. Japanese officials granted special visas to the three on Monday, granting an exception to a ban imposed on North Korean nationals in October 2006. Two more members […]
Japan’s Nikkei Closes on Low Note
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 2:30 am (UTC-5)
Japanese markets closed lower Tuesday, while the U.S. dollar is lower against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index dropped nearly one and one-half percent to finish at 9,926. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.11 yen, a loss of a tenth of a yen from Monday. The Taipei market finished at 8,491, a […]
Sarkozy Announces Withdrawal of 1,000 Troops from Afghanistan
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 2:20 am (UTC-5)
France says it plans to withdraw a quarter of its combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said during an unnanounced visit to Afghanistan on Tuesday that 1,000 troops will leave the country by the end of next year. He said the remaining 3,000 French troops will be based […]
Chinese Foreign Currency Reserves Grow, Feeding Inflation
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 2:15 am (UTC-5)
China says its foreign exchange reserves have risen to a record $3.2 trillion, boosting liquidity and contributing to the nation’s inflation headache. The government’s attempt to tighten the monetary supply and lower inflation suffered another blow when new bank loans rose faster than expected last month. The People’s Bank of China said Tuesday the country’s […]
China Reports Massive Spending in Tibet
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 2:05 am (UTC-5)
China says it has spent almost $50 billion on hundreds of development projects in Tibet since taking control of the region in 1951. The figure appears in a white paper published in Chinese newspapers Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of Chinese rule in Tibet. China describes the event as the “peaceful liberation” of the […]
UN Condemns Killing of Afghan De-miners
Posted July 12th, 2011 at 1:55 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations has condemned the killing of four Afghan mine clearance workers who were kidnapped in the southwest part of the country last week. U.N. officials say 31 workers were ambushed and kidnapped by unidentified gunmen while driving to a worksite in the Bala Buluk district on Wednesday. Afghan officials say at least four […]
