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South Korean Leaders Hail US Approval of FTA

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 5:45 am (UTC-5)
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South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visits the White House Thursday, buoyed by U.S. approval of a free trade deal that is expected to be worth billions of dollars to both countries’ economies. Later Thursday, Mr. Lee will enjoy the rare honor of addressing a joint session of Congress, reflecting the growing economic and strategic importance […]

Tags: , Posted in East Asia Pacific, Economy

Japan’s Nikkei Stock Prices Rebound

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 5:35 am (UTC-5)
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Japanese markets closed higher Thursday, while the U.S. dollar is trading lower against the Japanese yen. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained one percent to finish at 8,823. The dollar was selling at 76.88 yen, a loss of more than one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday. Gold is trading at $1,677.20 an ounce.

Tags: , Posted in Economy

Greek Public Transit Strike Underway Thursday

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 5:20 am (UTC-5)
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Greek public transportation workers began another strike in Athens Thursday to protest government austerity measures. Train, buses and trolleys are expected to remain idle in the capital for through Friday. In a separate demonstration, Greek power company workers are occupying a government building to stop bills containing a new property tax from being sent out. […]

Tags: , Posted in Europe

Bus Crash Kills 38 in Nepal

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 5:10 am (UTC-5)
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At least 43 people were killed in eastern Nepal after their bus swerved off a mountain road and plunged into a river. The accident occurred Thursday in Sindhuli district located east of the capital, Kathmandu. Reports say that so far the bodies of 43 people have been recovered with more feared swept in the river. […]

Tags: , , , , Posted in South Asia

Indonesian Court Sentences Key Figure in Aceh Terror Plot

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 5:10 am (UTC-5)
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One of Indonesia’s most-feared terrorists was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison for his part in a plot to attack Western hotels and embassies in Jakarta. Abu Tholut is one of about 120 militants who have been killed or arrested since authorities uncovered a terrorist training camp last year in the westernmost province of […]

Activists Say Clashes in Northwestern Syria Kill 3

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
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Syrian rights activists say clashes between government security forces and armed men believed to be army defectors have killed three people near the Turkish border. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting Thursday came as government troops raided the northwestern town of Binnish in Idlib province. The activists say there were reports […]

Tags: Posted in Middle East

Asian Stocks Mostly Higher

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
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Asian stock markets closed mixed Thursday. Tokyo’s Nikkei index gained one percent to finish at 8,823. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose over two and one-quarter percent to finish the day’s trading at 18,758. Share prices were higher in Manila, Shanghai, Sydney and Taipei, but lower in Wellington. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar was […]

Tags: , , Posted in Economy

IMF Lowers Asian Growth Forecast, Citing US, European Troubles

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 4:40 am (UTC-5)
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The International Monetary Fund says near-term risks to Asia’s economy are rising because of financial turbulence in Europe and a possible slowdown in the United States. In a twice-yearly report released Thursday, the IMF lowered its forecast for economic growth in Asia to 6.3 percent this year and 6.7 percent in 2012. It had previously […]

Tags: , Posted in East Asia Pacific, Economy

US Envoy in Pakistan as Drone Strike Kills Four in Northwest

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 4:35 am (UTC-5)
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Pakistani intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. drone strike has killed at least four militants in the country’s North Waziristan tribal region. Thursday’s strike targeted suspected members of the Haqqani network — a militant group affiliated with the Taliban and al-Qaida fighting coalition forces in neighboring Afghanistan. Officials say a logistics coordinator for the group, […]

Tags: , , Posted in South Asia

Liberian Officials Expected to Announce Provisional Election Results Thursday

Posted October 13th, 2011 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
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Liberian officials on Thursday are expected to announce the preliminary results of the country’s hotly-contested presidential election. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf held an early slight lead over her main rival Winston Tubman in unofficial polling data released Wednesday by the independent Liberia Media Center. The Monrovia-based organization said it compiled the data from tallies posted […]

Tags: , Posted in Africa