A major financial services company says that Italy faces a “significant chance” of having its credit rating cut soon, but that it has no plans to downgrade France’s top credit standing. Fitch Ratings said Tuesday it is confident that the 17-nation European bloc that uses the euro will not break apart. But its sovereign ratings […]
Italy Facing Credit Rating Cut, but Not France
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
Suicide Bombers Storm Afghan Government Building
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Suicide bombers have stormed a government building in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least seven people. Tuesday’s attack took place in Sharan, the provincial capital of Paktika province. The interior ministry says three bombers tried to take over the building, which houses the government communications office. Officials had earlier put the number of attackers at four. […]
Syrian President Says No Orders to Shoot Civilians
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to crackdown on “terrorists” with an “iron hand” and is blaming a “foreign conspiracy” for the 10-month-old anti-government uprising in his country. From the Syrian capital, Damascus, Mr. Assad made a rare 100-minute address Tuesday on state television. He praised the work of his security forces and said he […]
Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi Confirms Run for Parliament
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has confirmed that she will run for parliament in the country’s highly anticipated April by-elections. A spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party said Tuesday the Nobel laureate will compete for a seat in her home district outside of Rangoon. ” The General Secretary […]
Suicide Bombers Storm Afghan Government Building
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 9:10 am (UTC-5)
Suicide bombers have stormed a government building in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least two police officers. Tuesday’s attack took place in Sharan, the provincial capital of Paktika province. The interior ministry says four bombers tried to take over the building, which houses the government communications office. All four attackers and two police officers were killed […]
Voting Begins in First Primary of 2012 US Presidential Election
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 9:00 am (UTC-5)
Voters all across New Hampshire are heading to gymnasiums, town halls and even churches, casting their ballots in the state’s presidential primary. Most of the northeastern state’s polling locations have opened their doors and will stay open until Tuesday evening but at least in one small town the voting is done. The nine registered voters […]
Geithner to Discuss Iran Sanctions in Beijing
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has arrived in Beijing for talks aimed at convincing Chinese officials to support U.S. sanctions against Iran’s oil industry. Geithner is seeking Chinese cooperation with recently enacted U.S. legislation that calls for sanctions against financial institutions that deal with Iran’s Central Bank, which is its main clearinghouse for oil exports. […]
Britain Approves High-Speed Rail Network
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Britain’s government has approved construction of a controversial high-speed rail network aimed at cutting in half the travel time between the country’s two largest cities. The 150-kilometer long rail line is projected to shorten the travel time between London and Birmingham to 49 minutes. The government says the $50 billion project will generate about $70 […]
Indian Muslim Group Urges Ban on Author Salman Rushdie
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 8:35 am (UTC-5)
Prominent Muslim clerics in India are urging the government to ban author Salman Rushdie from entering the country to attend a literary festival. Rushdie’s 1988 book The Satanic Verses was considered blasphemous by many Muslim leaders. The Indian-born author spent years in hiding after Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for his […]
China’s Trade Growth Slows in December
Posted January 10th, 2012 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
New trade figures released by the Chinese government indicate economic growth in the world’s second-largest economy is slowing. Monthly data released Tuesday by the Customs Bureau indicates growth rate for imports was 11.8 percent in December, about half the 22.1 percent increase in November. Exports increased 13.4 percent last month, compared to the 13.8 percent […]
