Bahrain is set to hold the first session in a national dialogue on reform demands made by majority Shi’ites who led mass pro-democracy protests earlier this year. The state-run Bahrain News Agency says the talks Tuesday are expected to include government ministers, political parties, labor unions and non-governmental organizations. They will discuss politics, strengthening the […]
Bahrain to Begin National Dialogue Following Protests
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
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US Secret Service to Investigate Twitter Hacking
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 4:40 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Secret Service says it is investigating the hacking of Fox News’ political Twitter account and posting false messages reporting the assassination of President Barack Obama. The Secret Service, which has the job of protecting U.S. presidents, says it will do an “appropriate follow-up” to the matter. Hackers broke into the Fox Twitter feed […]
Asian Stocks Close Mixed
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 4:35 am (UTC-5)
Asian stock markets closed mixed Tuesday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained a fraction of one percent to finish at 9,972. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost one-tenth of one percent to finish the day’s trading at 22,748. Share prices were higher in Manila, Shanghai and Taipei, but lower in Sydney and Wellington. In currency trading, the […]
India Health Minister: Homosexuality is a Disease
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
India’s health minister has called homosexuality a disease, saying it is “unnatural” and “fast-spreading” in the country. Ghulam Nabi Azad told a conference dealing with HIV/AIDS on Monday that homosexuality was only recently imported from “the developed world.” The comments enraged many gay activists in India, who say that homosexuals in the country are routinely […]
Mental Illness Suspected in South Korean Marine’s Rampage
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 4:20 am (UTC-5)
The South Korean military says a young marine who shot and killed four of his colleagues Monday had shown signs of mental illness before the incident. The 19-year-old corporal, identified only as Kim, also wounded one other marine when he opened fire at a barracks on Gangwha island, west of Seoul. He has been hospitalized […]
Chinese Firm Denies Cover-Up in Yellow Sea Oil Spill
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 3:50 am (UTC-5)
Chinese state media are warning of potential long-term environmental damage from a Yellow Sea oil spill that went virtually unreported for two weeks. A spokesman for China’s largest offshore oil and gas producer is quoted Tuesday in the Communist Party-controlled Global Times denying any attempt to cover up the spill off northeastern Shandong province. The […]
Chinese Security Efforts Questioned Two Years After Xinjiang Riots
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 3:10 am (UTC-5)
Chinese state media are questioning whether security forces have gone too far in cracking down on dissidents in western Xinjiang province two years after deadly riots that killed nearly 200 people. In an article marking the anniversary of the riots Tuesday, the Communist Party-controlled Global Times newspaper quotes a law professor saying the region is […]
UN Chief Welcomes ‘Orderly Conduct’ of Thai Election
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 3:00 am (UTC-5)
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is welcoming the “orderly conduct” of Thailand’s parliamentary election, as victorious Puea Thai leaders begin talks on forming a government. Mr. Ban issued his statement from New York late Monday, saying he hopes the voting will help “consolidate democracy, reconciliation and stability” in Thailand. A pan-Asian monitoring group, the Asian Network […]
Hong Kong Delays Legislative Action on By-Elections
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 2:50 am (UTC-5)
The Hong Kong government has abruptly postponed a controversial election-reform plan following a huge street protest last week. The legislation, backed by Chief Executive Donald Tsang, would end the practice of using by-elections to fill the seats of legislators who die or resign during their four-year terms. Vacant seats would instead be filled with runners-up […]
UN Mission Reintegrating Ex-Soldiers in Darfur
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 2:40 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations Mission in Sudan’s Darfur region says it has begun a campaign to disarm and reintegrate more than 400 ex-fighters from both sides of the long-running conflict between rebels and the government. The U.N. said it began the campaign Monday in El Fasher in North Darfur, with fighters from both the Sudanese Armed […]
