China’s state broadcaster is silent on why it aired the U.S. patriotic song, “America the Beautiful” during the gala live broadcast of the country’s latest space launch. Strains of the soaring tune rang out following the launch Thursday of the Tiang Gong-1 experimental space station module. It was not clear why the song had been […]
Chinese Launch Set to US Patriotic Song
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
Radical US-Born Cleric Killed in Yemen
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
Yemen’s Defense Ministry says radical U.S.-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has been killed. The ministry says Awlaki, who is linked to al-Qaida forces in the country, was killed along with several other suspected militants. It did not release any additional information on the circumstances of his death. But tribal sources and security officials say the U.S.-born […]
Greek, French Leaders to Discuss Greek Financial Crisis
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 5:25 am (UTC-5)
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou plans to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris Friday for talks on Greece’s financial crisis. Their meeting comes as auditors from the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Union are in Athens looking at Greek efforts to slash its huge debt. The inspectors will recommend whether […]
Tokyo Stocks Steady, Dollar Up
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
Japanese share prices were steady Friday, while the dollar inched up against the yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index was unchanged , to close at 8,700. In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 76.88 yen, up slightly from late Thursday. Gold was trading at $1,632.82 an ounce.
Dozens Arrested at US Military Aircraft Factory
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 5:10 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Justice Department says three dozen current and former workers at a Boeing factory in the northeastern state of Pennsylvania have been arrested for illegally selling or buying prescription drugs. Agents from the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration raided a plant Thursday owned by U.S. aviation giant Boeing that builds aircraft for the U.S. […]
Human Rights Watch Urges South Africa to Allow Visit by Dalai Lama
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
A leading human rights group is urging South African authorities to allow the Dalai Lama to visit the country next week, saying the government should not block his visit because of alleged Chinese pressure. Human Rights Watch says South Africa’s reluctance to issue an entry visa for the Tibetan spiritual leader “has no objective basis” […]
New Zealand Credit Rating Downgraded
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 4:50 am (UTC-5)
Two of the world’s three major credit rating agencies downgraded New Zealand’s credit rating Friday amid concerns about high debt burdens. Fitch and Standard and Poor’s both downgraded New Zealand from an AA-Plus to AA. The downgrade caused the New Zealand dollar to slide 1.5 percent. New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English defended the country’s […]
US Reduces Indonesian Debt, Supports Forest Conservation
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
The United States has forgiven almost $30 million in Indonesian debt in return for forest conservation. The United States says the so-called debt-for-nature swap is the second such deal with Indonesia, aimed at reducing deforestation and climate change. The U.S. State Department says it will reduce Indonesia’s debt payment to the U.S. government over the […]
Asian Markets Mixed
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 4:30 am (UTC-5)
Asian stock markets were mixed in early trading Friday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index was unchanged , to close at 8,700. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped 2.32 percent , to end at 17,592. Elsewhere, share prices were lower in Shanghai. Markets in Taipei, Sydney, Wellington and Manila closed higher. The dollar was selling at 76.78 yen […]
Japan Boosts Intervention Funds
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
Japan’s finance minister said Friday that Tokyo will reserve another $195 billion in funds for currency intervention to respond to the yen’s upward trend. Jun Azumi added that the finance ministry will require currency traders to report daily their trading positions for another three months beyond the end of September in an effort to deter […]
