Former St. Petersburg governor Valentina Matvienko has been elected speaker of the Russian Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament. Ms. Matvienko was the only candidate in the election and received 140 votes with no one voting against her. She replaces former speaker Sergei Mironov, who was ousted in May after criticizing Prime Minister […]
Valentina Matvienko Elected Speaker of Russia Council of Federation
Iran Set to Free Jailed US Hikers
Iran has released two American hikers who were detained in 2009 on charges of spying. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal walked out of an Iranian prison on Wednesday after a judge approved an order for their release. A car from the Swiss Embassy waited for them in the prison grounds. They were released after posting […]
India Sets Poverty Level At Less Than 50 Cents a Day
Indian authorities say those who earn at least 50 cents a day make enough to live on, and are not poor. The Planning Commission told the Supreme Court Tuesday that anyone with a daily income of over 50 cents in villages or 65 cents in cities should not be eligible for government assistance. The commission […]
European Stocks Lower in Midday Trading
European stock prices are lower in midday trading Wednesday. London’s Financial Times index is down just over one-half of one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is one and one-fourth percent lower, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is down nearly one and one-quarter percent. In New York, the S&P futures contract is up […]
Deadly Typhoon Bears Down on Northeastern Japan
Typhoon Roke is on course to hit northeastern Japan after making landfall in the center of the country Wednesday, threatening to add to the destruction caused by the natural disasters that struck the region in March. The Japanese Meteorological Agency says Roke made landfall in the central city of Hamamatsu on the main island of […]
Greece and Creditors Make Some Progress
After speaking with creditors for a second time Tuesday, Greek Finance Minister Angelos Venizelos stated, “Greece is and will always be a member of the eurozone.” Officials from the European Union and International Monetary Fund announced they will be back in Athens next month to resume inspections of the Greek economy and whether it should […]
Asia Markets Close Mostly Higher
Major Asian stock markets closed mostly higher Wednesday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish at 8,741. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost one percent to finish the day’s trading at 18,824. Share prices were higher in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Taipei, but lower in Jakarta, […]
Kenyan Tanker Explosion Kills at Least Four
Kenyan authorities say at least four people died when a fuel tanker exploded late Tuesday in western Kenya. Officials say at least 35 people were injured after the tanker overturned on the Kisumu-Busia highway. Local media report that the vehicle burst into flames after a man tried to steal the battery from the truck, sparking […]
Pakistani Killer Mob Members Sentenced to Death
A Pakistani court has sentenced seven men to death for the killing of two teenage boys last year that was recorded and broadcast on television. An anti-terrorism court in the city of Gujranwala, in Punjab province, issued the verdict late Tuesday. The court sentenced six others to life imprisonment, while 10 police officers were given […]
Opposition Activists Begin Three-Day Strike in Malawi
Businesses in many of Malawi’s main cities were closed Wednesday as police patrolled the streets at the start of a three-day anti-government strike that some fear could spark more deadly violence in the southern African nation. Civil society activists decided to call for the strike after abandoning their plans for street protests. Activists say local […]