Italy met its goal of raising more than $4 billion in a bond sale Monday. Though the interest rate for the five-year bonds was the highest since 1997, buyer response was good, indicating that economic worries have eased somewhat since economist Mario Monti was tapped to be the next Italian prime minister. Mr. Monti, said […]
Bomb Kills 10 in Burma’s Kachin State
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 9:05 am (UTC-5)
Sources in Burma say 10 people, some of them children, have been killed in a bomb blast in the capital of northern Kachin state. The sources, who spoke on condition they not be identified, said Monday the explosion late Sunday set fire to three houses and injured at least 23 people in the city of […]
Voters Backing Constitutional Change in Equatorial Guinea
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 8:55 am (UTC-5)
Officials in Equatorial Guinea say voters have given virtually unanimous support to proposed constitutional reforms. The government says about 99 percent of voters backed new presidential term limits and the creation of a vice presidency in Sunday’s referendum. The results Monday covered a little more than half of the vote. Final results are expected Wednesday, […]
North Korea Uses Social Networking Sites to Spread Propaganda
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
North Korea’s main government website has begun making it easier for readers to redistribute its criticisms of the U.S. and South Korea through Facebook, Twitter and South Korean micro-blogging services. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, which monitors the North’s media, reported Monday on the appearance of icons linking to the popular social networking websites. Pyongyang […]
UN Chief Urges Help for Poor Nations in Dealing with Climate Change
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
The head of the United Nations is urging richer nations to contribute to a global fund aimed at helping underdeveloped countries deal with the effects of climate change. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday that governments should find a way to donate to the $100 billion Green Climate Fund, noting that an “empty shell is […]
Ai Weiwei Lawyer Accuses Beijing of Blocking Tax Settlement
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 8:15 am (UTC-5)
A lawyer for world-renowned artist Ai Weiwei says Chinese authorities have thrown up new obstacles to a settlement of his client’s tax case. Lawyer Pu Zhiqiang told reporters Monday that tax officials are demanding that a $1.3 million deposit be paid directly into a tax bureau bank account, rather than a certificate of deposit as […]
Italy Sells Bonds in Monday Auction
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 7:55 am (UTC-5)
Italy met its goal of raising more than $4 billion in a bond sale Monday. Though the interest rate for the five-year bonds was the highest since 1997, buyer response was good, indicating that economic worries have eased somewhat since economist Mario Monti was tapped to be the next Italian prime minister. Mr. Monti, said […]
Researchers Warn of Climate Effects on African Rivers
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 7:35 am (UTC-5)
Researchers say climate change could have significant effects on the flow of water in Africa’s major river basins, and agriculture strategies should be reassessed to account for potential variations. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research said Monday that projected changes during the next few decades in southern Africa’s Limpopo River basin are “particularly alarming.” […]
Suu Kyi Welcomes Burmese Rights Progress, Calls For More
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 7:15 am (UTC-5)
Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says Burma’s government has taken positive steps toward reform in the year since she was released from house arrest, but needs to do more. Speaking to more than 100 journalists Monday on the anniversary of her release, the Nobel peace laureate said the past year had been “eventful, energizing […]
China to ‘Earnestly Study’ Trans-Pacific Trade Pact
Posted November 14th, 2011 at 7:05 am (UTC-5)
China says it will “earnestly study” whether to seek membership in a proposed free-trade zone spanning the Pacific. At press briefing in Honolulu Sunday, Chinese foreign ministry official Pang Sen said that Beijing always adopts an open attitude toward all regional arrangements that are conducive to strengthening regional economic integration. Pang said if China has […]
