European stock markets were lower in midday trading Friday. London’s Financial Times 100 index was down nine-tenths of a percent , to 4,995. The CAC-40 in Paris dropped 1.39 percent , to 2,743. And the DAX in Frankfurt fell 1.71 percent , at 5,076. The S&P futures contract was down 10 points, indicating a lower […]
US House Approves ‘Stopgap’ Government Spending Measure
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 6:45 am (UTC-5)
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has approved an emergency spending bill the Democratic-led Senate has vowed to defeat, setting up another threat of a government shutdown. The measure approved early Friday morning by a vote of 219 to 203 will fund the government through November 18. The measure includes $3.65 billion that will go […]
US House Approves ‘Stopgap’ Government Spending Measure
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 6:39 am (UTC-5)
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives have approved an emergency spending bill the Democratic-led Senate has vowed to defeat, setting up another threat of a government shutdown. The measure approved early Friday morning by a vote of 219 to 203 will fund the government through November 18, until a spending plan for the 2012 budget […]
Bomb Kills Five in Iraqi Capital
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 6:36 am (UTC-5)
Iraqi police says a series of bombs detonated across western Baghdad killing five people and wounding 11 others. Authorities say the bombs were planted around three houses and a road in the in the mostly Sunni neighborhood of Ghazaliya early Friday morning. Overall violence in Iraq has been down since its height in 2006 and […]
Asian Markets Tumble
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
Asian stock markets closed sharply lower Friday. Japanese markets were closed Friday for a national holiday . Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped 1.36 percent , to end at 17,668. Elsewhere, share prices were lower in Shanghai, Sydney, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Wellington, Manila, Taipei and Seoul. Only Jakarta markets closed higher. The U.S. […]
Afghan Ex-Leader Buried in Kabul
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of Afghans gathered in Kabul Friday for the funeral of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was killed by a suicide bomber at his home. Mr. Rabbani’s coffin, draped in the Afghan flag, was carried to a Kabul hilltop for burial. Speaking to mourners, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said it is “our responsibility” to act […]
Palestinians Prepare to Submit Statehood Bid
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 6:11 am (UTC-5)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to formally ask the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state as a full member of the world body, despite opposition from the United States and Israel. Mr. Abbas has rebuffed all appeals to drop the statehood bid, saying he would submit the application to U.N. Secretary General Ban […]
Pope Highlights Bond With Muslims
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 5:53 am (UTC-5)
Pope Benedict has met with German Muslim leaders and called for Christianity and Islam to grow together in “dialogue and mutual esteem.” He met with several Muslim leaders in Berlin Friday, on the second day of his trip to Germany. The pope stressed the importance of religion in modern society and said he believes there […]
Zambia to Swear in Opposition Leader as New President
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
Long-time Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata is scheduled to be sworn in as the country’s next president on Friday, in what will be the country’s second democratic transition of power since its independence from Britain. Zambia’s Electoral Commission announced early Friday that the 74-year-old populist leader defeated incumbent candidate Rupiah Banda following a tight presidential […]
Tokyo Markets Closed, Dollar Up
Posted September 23rd, 2011 at 5:11 am (UTC-5)
Japanese markets were closed Friday for a national holiday , while the dollar rose against the yen. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 76.27 yen, up slightly from late Thursday. Gold was trading at $1,736.45 an ounce.
