Indian authorities say at least 36 people have died after drinking toxic home-made liquor in a village in the country’s east. Officials say residents of Sangrampur in West Bengal state bought the cheap alcohol late Tuesday and became ill within hours, complaining of stomach aches and vomiting. In addition to the fatalities, at least 135 […]
Toxic Alcohol Kills 36 People in Eastern India
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 1:30 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
Putin Ally Resigns as Russia Parliament Speaker
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 1:20 pm (UTC-5)
A leading ally of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has resigned as speaker of the country’s parliament. Boris Gryzlov announced his resignation Wednesday in a statement posted to the ruling United Russia party website. Gryzlov, who was elected as speaker in 2003, said he would renounce his mandate as a member of parliament, but says […]
China Imposes New Tariffs on US Auto Imports
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
China says it will impose new taxes on certain U.S.-made vehicle imports, in the latest move to test the strained U.S.-China trade relationship. China’s Commerce Ministry said beginning Thursday it will impose duties from two to 2.5 percent on imported passenger cars and sport utility vehicles with engine capacities of 2.5 liters or more. In […]
Prices Fall For Key Commodities
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
Prices for oil and gold fell on world markets Wednesday, as some worried investors shunned euros and bought U.S. dollars. Concerns about the European debt crisis were a factor in pushing the value of the euro below $1.30. That brought the dollar to its highest level in 11 months. The stronger dollar means the greenback […]
Germany’s Merkel: No Simple and Fast Solutions for Euro
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says there are no easy or fast solutions to Europe’s economic crisis, but the agreement by eurozone countries last week for more fiscal discipline was a good step. Ms. Merkel’s comments at the German parliament came as financial markets indicated continued unease over the Europe debt crisis, driving the value of […]
Elizabeth Taylor Jewelry Auction Nets $116 Million
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
The jewelry collection of Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor has sold for nearly $116 million–a new world record for a private collection. Just one of the late actress’s necklaces alone brought in more than $11.8 million, setting a world record for the price of a pearl jewel. Taylor’s two-time husband, actor Richard Burton, bought the necklace […]
Nazi Hunters Launch Drive to Find Remaining War Criminals
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 12:30 pm (UTC-5)
The Jewish human rights organization, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, has launched a new campaign to find and prosecute missing Nazi war criminals while they are still alive. The director of the center, Efraim Zuroff, told a news conference in Berlin Wednesday the new operation will offer rewards of up to $32,000 for tips leading to […]
Obama ‘Unfavorable’ Rating Rises in New Poll
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
Negative views of U.S. President Barack Obama have hit an all-time high in a new public opinion poll. The ABC News/Washington Post poll puts the president’s “unfavorable” rating at 49 percent, while 48 percent view him favorably. President Obama has acknowledged his pursuit of re-election next year is not guaranteed. “We’re going to have to […]
Rights Activists Say Syrian Army Defectors Kill 8 Troops in Retaliatory Attack
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Gunmen thought to be army defectors killed at least eight Syrian troops Wednesday in a retaliatory attack after security forces killed a group of civilians. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the defectors ambushed a military convoy traveling through the village of al-Asharna, near Hama. Hours earlier, rights activists said Syrian security forces […]
Obama to Thank Troops for Iraq Service
Posted December 14th, 2011 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama is visiting a military base in North Carolina Wednesday to thank the troops who have served in Iraq, as the U.S. military presence there winds down. Mr. Obama, accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama, is expected to discuss the sacrifices Americans have made, while marking the continuing relationship between the United […]
