Japan’s embattled prime minister will not visit the United States next month at the invitation of U.S. President Barack Obama. Japan’s top government spokesman told reporters of the decision Friday, saying such a visit was impossible given Japan’s political situation. Spokesman Yukio Edano also said Tokyo had already informed the U.S. ambassador to Japan , […]
Indian Anti-Corruption Activist Promises ‘Revolution’
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Indian activist Anna Hazare told followers Friday that they are launching what he called a new “revolution,” as he began a 15-day hunger strike aimed at forcing officials to adopt tougher anti-corruption legislation. Hours earlier, thousands of his supporters had greeted the bespectacled 74-year-old activist clad in white as he was released from jail. As […]
US Stocks Fall in Early Trading Friday
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stock indexes fell in early trading Friday, mirroring more losses on Asian and European markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down nine-tenths of one percent, while the broader S & P 500 index is off eight-tenths of a percent. The NASDAQ is down seven-tenths of a percent. In afternoon trading in Europe, stock […]
Global Stocks Drop Again on Economy Fears
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Stock markets continued to fall across the globe on Friday, as investors showed new concern about the struggling U.S. economy and the stability of the European banking system. Asian stock indexes dropped sharply, European exchanges followed suit and U.S. stock indexes retreated in early trading in New York. Analysts said that fear had overtaken stock […]
Militants Storm British Council in Afghan Capital
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Suicide bombers have stormed Britain’s cultural center in the Afghan capital, triggering hours of fighting that killed at least eight people, including a NATO soldier. The Taliban claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, which took place as Afghanistan celebrated the 92nd anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain. The siege of the British Council offices in […]
Militants Storm British Council in Afghan Capital
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 9:59 am (UTC-5)
Suicide bombers have stormed Britain’s cultural center in the Afghan capital, triggering hours of fighting that killed at least eight people, including a NATO soldier. The Taliban claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, which took place as Afghanistan celebrated the 92nd anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain. The siege of the British Council offices in […]
Russia Marks 1991 ‘Coup’ That Led to USSR Breakup
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 9:20 am (UTC-5)
Russia is marking the 20th anniversary of the failed coup attempt that hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union. On August 19, 1991, a small group of Communist hardliners placed Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev under house arrest at his vacation home in the Crimea. Their aim was to block the Kremlin chief’s program of broad […]
PKK Hits Back after Turkish Strikes
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 9:15 am (UTC-5)
Members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party launched new attacks against Turkish soldiers as Turkey vowed to keep up the pressure on the terror group. PKK rebels struck at least two military positions in Siirt province in southern Turkey on Thursday. Turkish media reported the attacks killed at least two soldiers and wounded three civilians. The […]
Syrian President Continues Crackdown Despite Resignation Calls
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have opened fire on anti-government demonstrators, amid mounting calls for his resignation over Damascus’ crackdown on dissent. Rights activists say at least two people were killed in the southern Dara’a region on Friday after forces fired shots at protesters. The violence comes on the heels of their reports that security […]
Turkish Prime Minister Visits Refugees in Famine-Hit Somalia
Posted August 19th, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited refugees in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Friday, bringing aid and international attention to the famine-stricken country. Mr. Erdogan arrived Friday with family members and Cabinet ministers for the one-day trip to witness the devastation caused by the Horn of Africa’s worst drought in six decades. The […]
