U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a short-term budget measure that funds the federal government through November 18. President Obama signed the bill early Wednesday. The House of Representatives passed the legislation Tuesday. The Senate approved it last week. The legislation gives Congress and the White House more time to work out their differences on […]
Nigeria Moves to End Fuel Subsidies
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
Nigeria’s government has proposed phasing out fuel subsidies for consumers, a move critics say would further burden impoverished Nigerians and likely spark protests. In a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday, President Goodluck Jonathan said the action will give the government an extra $7.5 billion to invest on infrastructure and job creation. Mr. Jonathan also proposed […]
Turkey Threatens Syria Sanctions Despite UN Resolution Veto
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan says his government will impose its own sanctions on Syria, despite the failure of a European-drafted resolution at the U.N. Security Council. Russia and China vetoed the resolution Tuesday, sparking U.S. and European outrage. The measure contained possible references to sanctions against Syria if its leader pursues a crackdown […]
Greek Workers Strike Against Austerity Measures
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 9:30 am (UTC-5)
Thousands of Greek workers walked off their jobs Wednesday, shutting down public services in a massive protest against the government’s austerity measures aimed at securing more international aid for the debt-ridden country. The 24-hour strike called by Greece’s two major unions shut schools, courts, local and national governmental operations, and forced the cancellation of more […]
New Statue of Woodrow Wilson Unveiled in Czech Republic
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
A replacement statue honoring former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was unveiled in the Czech Republic’s capital Wednesday, nearly 70 years after Nazis destroyed the original during World War II. The first statue of Wilson was erected in front of Prague’s Central Station in 1928. It was erected to thank Wilson for his contribution to the […]
New Study Shows High Radiation 60 Kilometers from Japanese Power Plant
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
A new study shows high levels of radioactive contamination in the Japanese city of Fukushima, some 60 kilometers from the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in a quarter-century. Two groups who backed the non-governmental study linked the findings on Wednesday to radioactive leaks at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was battered and […]
Russia Detains Suspected Chinese Spy
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Russian security officials say they have detained a Chinese interpreter who was allegedly trying to gain access to sensitive Russian missile technology. The Federal Security Service said Wednesday the arrest was made in October of last year, but it did not explain why it took so long to report the incident. The announcement comes a […]
Karzai Reaches Out to Pakistan Following India Deal
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is seeking to ease any Pakistani concerns about his country’s newly-signed cooperation deal with Pakistan’s traditional enemy — India. Speaking in New Delhi at the end of his two-day state visit, Mr. Karzai described Pakistan as a “twin brother,” saying that the agreement signed with India will not affect the two […]
Bahrain Sentences More Pro-Reform Activists to Prison
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
Bahrain has sentenced more activists to prison for their roles in pro-reform protests, including some who were convicted of trying to burn down a police station. A security court gave 19 people jail terms on Wednesday — raising the total number of activists sentenced over the past week to at least 81. Thirteen activists received […]
Trial For Killer of Two US Airmen Continues in Germany
Posted October 5th, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
The Kosovo Albanian man on trial for killing two U.S. airmen at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport in March says he no longer believes in jihad, or holy war. While Arid Uka still prays and considers himself a Muslim, he said Wednesday he was duped by extremist propaganda and no longer believes his religion permits violence, except […]
