China is reporting inflation at a three-year high, creating new worries for the troubled global economy. The government said Tuesday that prices in July were 6.5 percent higher than a year ago, driven by a 14.8 percent spike in politically sensitive food prices. That is the highest rate of inflation since a 7.1 percent rate […]
Chinese Inflation Hits 3-Year High, Limiting Policy Choices
German Air Traffic Controller Strike Averted
The German air traffic controllers’ union has called off a strike scheduled to begin Tuesday morning. The union called off the strike after the air traffic authority said it was ready for mediation to resolve the pay dispute. Germany’s Lufthansa airline announced it is expecting a normal operation schedule Tuesday due to the strike being […]
Global Markets Plunge
Global financial markets continue their plunge in reaction to an unprecedented downgrade of the U.S. government’s credit rating and lingering concerns about European debt problems and global economic growth. In early Asia trading Tuesday, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped more than 6 percent at the opening. Japan’s Nikkei index was down almost 5 percent […]
British Study: Spermless Mosquitoes May be Key to Fighting Malaria
British scientists say they may have found a way to stop the spread of malaria — create spermless mosquitoes. Researchers at London’s Imperial College say they found that female mosquitoes who mate with genetically altered male mosquitoes that produce no sperm lay unfertilized eggs that have no offspring. The scientists say female mosquitoes mate only […]
Report: South Korea Upset by U.S. Selection of “Sea of Japan” Name
South Korean news media say the country’s officials are criticizing the U.S. government’s decision to call the body of water between Japan and South Korea the Sea of Japan, instead of the East Sea, as preferred by Seoul. Koreans are campaigning for the international usage of the name East Sea, or at least both names. […]
London Riots Spread to Other British Cities
Violence has broken out in two more British cities, while London endures its third straight night of rioting. Police in Birmingham and in Liverpool report fires and looting. A Liverpool police spokesman says officers are taking swift and robust action to what he calls “isolated outbreaks of disorder.” British Prime Minister David Cameron cut short […]
Chinese Government to Promote More Women
China’s central government has pledged to promote the rights and interests of the country’s women, and to boost their numbers in leadership positions on the local level. China’s State Council, its cabinet, released a document Monday outlining measures and targets for the development of Chinese women over the next decade. China’s official media reported that […]
US Demands Belarus Free Jailed Human Rights Activist
The United States is demanding Belarus immediately free prominent human rights activist Ales Belyatsky, arrested last week for alleged tax evasion. State Department spokesman Mark Toner says Belyatsky’s arrest is another unfortunate sign of Belarus’ self-isolation and violation of global standards of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Belyatsky’s supporters say the charges […]
Markets Plunge; S&P, US Spar Over Rating Cut
Global financial markets continue to drop sharply in reaction to an unprecedented downgrade of the U.S. government’s credit rating and lingering concerns about European debt problems and global economic growth. In early Asia trading Tuesday, Japan’s Nikkei index was down almost 4 percent, and Seoul’s KOSPI index was down 4.4 percent. On Wall Street Monday, […]
Obama Offers $105 Million in New Drought, Famine Aid for E. Africa
U.S. President Barack Obama has approved $105 million in new drought and famine aid to East Africa. The White House says the United States will continue to help those who desperately need food, shelter, water and medicine. So far this year, the United States has sent about $565 million in aid to Somalia, Ethiopia and […]