Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Syria as the international community ramps up pressure on the Syrian government to end its crackdown on opposition protesters. Saudi King Abdullah issued a statement Monday urging Syria to end the bloodshed. He said the situation is not in accord with religion, values or ethics. The Saudi king’s […]
Saudi Arabia Recalls Ambassador to Syria, Condemns Bloodshed
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
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Asian Markets Dive Despite Rating Agency’s Assurances
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 5:30 am (UTC-5)
Asian markets nose-dived Monday, despite assurances from credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s that its historic downgrade of the U.S. credit rating would have no immediate impact on Asia-Pacific sovereign ratings. South Korea’s stock market plunged by more than 7 percent before recovering partly to close down 3.8 percent. Shanghai’s market was down by a […]
Tokyo Stocks, Dollar Down
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
Japanese share prices ended sharply lower Monday, while the dollar dropped against the yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index fell nearly 2.2 percent to close at 9,098. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 77.73 yen, down two-thirds of a yen from late Friday. Gold was selling at $1,708.49 an ounce.
German Air Traffic Controllers Call Strike
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
The German air traffic controllers’ union has called for a strike Tuesday morning. The union is asking members to stay off the job for six-hours in a pay dispute. The union called the latest wage offer unacceptable and said there was no alternative to a strike. A similar planned walk-out was blocked last week by […]
Wartime Shell Kills 2 in Vietnam
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 5:00 am (UTC-5)
A Vietnam War-era artillery shell exploded Sunday, killing two men as they were attempting to cut it up. A similar incident killed three men a week earlier. Police say the latest blast occurred at an industrial park in the city of Danang, which was a major air base for U.S. and South Vietnamese forces during […]
Lao President Arrives in Hanoi on Friendship Visit
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
Lao President Choummaly Sayasone has arrived in Hanoi for a three-day visit at the head of a high-level delegation. Choummaly, who also serves as general secretary of Laos’ ruling Communist Party, is visiting Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang. He is accompanied by […]
S&P Cuts, Europe Debt Drive Mixed Markets
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 4:50 am (UTC-5)
Global markets continue to react to debt fears, including the first-ever downgrade of the U.S. credit rating by the Standard & Poors rating agency and moves by the European Central Bank to bolster Italy and Spain. Major indexes across Asia plunged between 2 percent and nearly 4 percent Monday, while stock futures in New York […]
Asian Markets Tumble
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 4:35 am (UTC-5)
Asian stock markets tumbled in trading Monday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index fell nearly 2.2 percent to close at 9,098. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also dropped nearly 2.2 percent to end at 20,491. Elsewhere, share prices dropped around three percent in Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington, Taipei and Manila. The dollar was selling at 77.83 yen in currency […]
Burmese Democracy Leader Marks Uprising Anniversary
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 4:35 am (UTC-5)
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has challenged the government by attending a ceremony honoring victims of a 1988 uprising against military rule. The ceremony Monday marked the 23rd anniversary of the failed uprising, which marked her emergency as a leader of Burma’s pro-democracy movement. At Monday’s event, she urged about 400 people not […]
China Battles to Save Chemical Plant from Storm
Posted August 8th, 2011 at 3:40 am (UTC-5)
Chinese official media report that workers are battling to save a chemical plant on China’s northeast coast, after waves from a severe tropical storm breached a dyke Monday morning. The Xinhua news agency says Tropical Storm Muifa is barreling toward the Fujiahua chemical plant in the city of Dalian. Residents are being evacuated, while soldiers […]
