Egyptian troops forcibly cleared Cairo’s Tahrir Square of protesters Monday after nearly a month of demonstrations. The protesters seek speedier political reforms following the ouster of former leader Hosni Mubarak in February. Witnesses say security forces dismantled tents and sent hundreds of protesters fleeing. It is unclear how many people were arrested or hurt during […]
Pakistan Pledges to Support China in Fighting Xinjiang Militants
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan says it will support China in fighting Islamist militants whom Beijing blames for recent deadly violence in its northwestern Xinjiang region. In a statement Monday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry pledged cooperation with China in combating the East Turkestan Islamic Movement. Xinjiang authorities accuse the group of training militants who they say attacked a restaurant […]
Turkish PM, Army Meet to Appoint New High Command
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 2:20 pm (UTC-5)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has opened a crucial meeting to decide on key military appointments, after the country’s top four military commanders resigned last week. Mr. Erdogan Monday launched the four-day annual meeting of the Supreme Military Council in Ankara. He sat alone at the head of the table where normally he would […]
Afghan Officials: NATO Airstrike Kills 4 Afghan Police
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 2:20 pm (UTC-5)
Afghan officials say a NATO airstrike has killed four Afghan police officers and wounded two others in the country’s east. The governor of Nuristan province, Jamaluddin Badar, said Monday coalition forces also detained 12 police officers after NATO aircraft bombed the police post in the Wama district. Badar said the strike was based on wrong […]
Suspect Arrested in Argentina Tourist Murders
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 2:15 pm (UTC-5)
Authorities in Argentina have arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting deaths last week of two French women in northern Salta province. Investigators say the man was taken into custody early Monday, three days after the women’s bodies were discovered in a tourist area. The suspect’s identity was not made public. News reports say […]
Ex-Military Ruler to Run in Sierra Leone Election
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 1:40 pm (UTC-5)
Sierra Leone’s main opposition party has named a former coup leader as its presidential candidate. Retired Brigadier General Julius Maada Bio will lead the ticket of the Sierra Leone People’s Party in next year’s elections. Bio will run against incumbent President Ernest Bai Koroma, who plans to seek a second term. Officials have not set […]
US Stock Markets Fall
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 1:15 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes fell sharply in Monday’s midday trading after a report on U.S. manufacturing apparently disappointed investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was off eight-tenths of a percent, the S&P 500 lost 1 percent and the NASDAQ slid 1.2 percent. European stock markets fell sharply by the close of trading. London’s Financial Times […]
Kurdish Rebels Kill 3 Turkish Soldiers
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
Turkish officials say Kurdish rebels have attacked a military convoy in the southeastern part of the country, killing three soldiers and wounding several others. The convoy was traveling in Van province Monday when militants belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, opened fire. Fighting between rebels and the Turkish military has intensified in recent […]
Debt Deal Includes Compromise, Concessions
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
The deal to end the U.S. debt-ceiling standoff contains some important compromises. It allows the debt ceiling to rise by up to $2.4 trillion — enough to keep the country borrowing money until 2013. It includes spending cuts that could reach $2.5 trillion, to exceed the amount of the debt ceiling increase. It initally cuts […]
EU Expands Sanctions on Syria
Posted August 1st, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
The European Union expanded sanctions against the Syrian government Monday, imposing travel bans and asset freezes on five more officials associated with Syria’s bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton condemned Syria’s recent attacks on citizens and said the “brutal violence” risks escalating tensions and divisions in the country. The EU […]
