Taiwan’s High Court has sentenced a Taiwanese businessman to 18 months in prison on charges of spying for China. Lai Kun-chieh was arrested earlier this year after attempting to buy information about Taiwan’s missile technology from an army officer who was also a former classmate. The military officer reported the incident and officials said no […]
Canada Orders Libyan Diplomats Out
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
Canada has ordered all remaining Libyan diplomats at the embassy in Ottawa to leave the country, in an effort to “isolate and delegitimize” the government of Moammar Gadhafi. Foreign Minister John Baird called the Libyan diplomats persona non grata . He said they have five days to vacate the embassy and leave the country. He […]
Conservationists Boycotting Sri Lankan Elephant Count
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Sri Lankan conservationists are withdrawing their support for a census of the country’s wild elephant population. A coalition of wildlife groups announced their opposition Tuesday, accusing the Sri Lankan government of using the count as a cover to capture the animals. Conservationists began pulling out of the census after Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandransena said 300 […]
Somali Gov’t Offers Amnesty to Insurgents in Mogadishu
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 11:00 am (UTC-5)
The Somali government has offered a general amnesty to insurgents in the capital, Mogadishu, following the withdrawal of the Islamist group al-Shabab. The government announced the offer Tuesday, three days after most al-Shabab fighters left the city. A statement said the amnesty is for insurgent fighters remaining in Mogadishu who give themselves up and renounce […]
Yemen Dismisses Report that Saleh Will Not Return
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
Yemen’s state-run news agency says wounded President Ali Abdullah Saleh plans to return to the country after his recovery period in Saudi Arabia. SABA news said Tuesday there was “no truth” to a report to the contrary. It said the president, who was injured during a June attack on his presidential compound, would return to […]
US Worker Productivity Falls
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
The productivity of U.S. workers dropped at a three-tenths of a percent annual rate in April, May, and June. Tuesday’s report from the Labor Department says it is the second quarter in a row for falling productivity. The data measures how much an individual worker turns out in one hour. Businesses watch productivity closely because […]
Japan to Ease Restrictions Around Damaged Nuclear Plant
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
Japan’s government has decided to lift evacuation advisories for some areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, paving the way for thousands of people to return to their homes. The March 11 earthquake and tsunami knocked out cooling systems at the plant, causing meltdowns at three of its six reactors. Engineers have been struggling ever […]
US Stocks Open Sharply Higher Tuesday
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stock indexes jumped sharply in early trading Tuesday after the huge sell-off on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is ahead 2 percent, the broader S&P 500 2.5 percent and the NASDAQ more than 3 percent. European markets were falling in afternoon trading. London’s Financial Times 100 index is down one-half of one percent. […]
India Hopeful on African Trade Pacts
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
The battle for economic influence in Africa may be heating up, with India saying it expects to complete at least one new trade deal with African countries before the end of the year. Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said Tuesday he was confident New Delhi is close to a preferential trade agreement with the Southern […]
Sri Lanka Seeking Stonger Economic Ties With China
Posted August 9th, 2011 at 10:25 am (UTC-5)
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese leaders, as his country seeks greater economic ties with China. During his state visit, Mr. Rajapaksa is set to meet with President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and to attend an international sporting event in Shenzhen. China is Sri […]
