Syrian forces have opened fire on anti-government protesters, killing at least six people. Rights activists say Friday’s deaths occurred in areas includinge flashpoint central province of Homs. Activists say they are protesting under the banner of “death rather than humiliation” as they renew calls for President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation. One rally took place outside of […]
US Gulf Coast Bracing for Rain as Storm Approaches
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. state of Louisiana has declared a state of emergency as a powerful storm approaches from the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression is located less than 400 kilometers southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River, with maximum winds of 55 kilometers an hour. Forecasters expect it to […]
US Job Growth Stalls
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 9:30 am (UTC-5)
Job growth stalled in the U.S. economy in August, leaving the unemployment rate at a relatively high 9.1 percent. Friday’s report from the Labor Department shows no net gain of jobs in August, compared to an estimated net gain of 85,000 in July. Most economists had predicted the figures would show at least some gains […]
Protesters Rally in Syria, Despite Security Force Presence
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
Anti-government protesters have staged rallies in Syria although security forces surrounded some mosques in an effort to prevent demonstrators from taking to the streets after Friday prayers. Activists say they are protesting under the banner of “death rather than humiliation” as they renew calls for President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation. The French News Agency says one […]
Alaska Earthquake Shakes Aleutian Islands
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
An earthquake with an initial 7.1 magnitude has struck the Aleutian Islands in the far northwestern U.S. state of Alaska, prompting a tsunami warning that was later canceled for the remote region. The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean early Friday at a depth of about 35 kilometers. The epicenter […]
US Job Growth Stalls
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Job growth stalled in the U.S. economy in August, leaving the unemployment rate at a relatively high 9.1 percent. Friday’s report from the Labor Department shows no net gain of jobs in August, compared to an estimated net gain of 85,000 in July. Most economists had predicted the figures would show at least some gains […]
Sri Lanka Survey Finds More Elephants Than Expected
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 8:10 am (UTC-5)
A new survey finds that Sri Lanka’s elephant population remains healthy, despite decades of fighting during the island nation’s civil war. Wildlife Conservation Department Director H.D. Ratnayake said Friday that Sri Lanka has some 5,879 wild elephants. The previous population estimate was 5,350 elephants. Ratnayake told reporters the new figure shows that the country’s elephants […]
European Markets Lower in Midday Trading
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 7:55 am (UTC-5)
European stock prices are lower in midday trading Friday. London’s Financial Times index is down one and one-half percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is down 2.3 percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is down more than two and a half percent. In New York, the S&P futures contract is down 9 points, […]
Asia Markets Close Mostly Higher
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 7:35 am (UTC-5)
Asian markets closed mostly lower Friday, while the U.S. dollar is trading slightly lower against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index lost nearly one and one-quarter percent to finish at 8,951. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost just over one and three-quarters percent to finish the day’s trading at 20,213. Share prices were higher in […]
August Unemployment Rate Expected to Remain Steady
Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 7:30 am (UTC-5)
Analysts believe the U.S. unemployment rate will remain stuck at 9.1 percent when the government releases its monthly jobs report Friday. Most economists predict the figures will show at least 90,000 jobs were added to the anemic U.S. economy last month. If the forecasts hold true, it would be well below the 250,000 jobs that […]
