The U.S. central bank chief says the government’s huge annual budget deficits are “unsustainable” and pose “serious economic consequences” for the country. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a congressional committee Thursday that lawmakers need to make it a “top priority” to make certain the U.S. debt, now more than $15 trillion and growing daily, […]
US Central Bank Chief Says Deficits ‘Unsustainable’
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
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President Obama, Top Leaders Gather for National Prayer Breakfast
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama gathered in Washington with top leaders Thursday for the annual National Prayer Breakfast. In his speech, President Obama stressed that God can play a critical role in everyone’s life, no matter one’s religious beliefs. He said all people can benefit by listening to “our creator” and […]
Britain Names New Ambassador to Somalia
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Britain has appointed its first ambassador to war-torn Somalia in more than two decades. The announcement came Thursday, as British Foreign Secretary William Hague made a landmark visit to the Horn of Africa country, where he spoke with reporters after meeting with President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. “The first visit to Somalia by a British foreign […]
New Twists in Showdown Between Pakistan’s Top Court, PM
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Long-simmering political tensions are starting to boil again in Pakistan, where the country’s highest court appears closer to forcing the prime minister from office. The Supreme Court Thursday ordered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to appear February 13 to face charges of contempt. If found guilty, Mr. Gilani could be removed and sent to prison. […]
Pakistani Factory Faulted for Tainted Heart Drugs Closed
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
The Pakistani factory blamed for killing more than 100 people with tainted heart medication is closed. Pakistani officials shuttered the facility in Karachi Thursday after tests done in London showed the pills contained high levels of an anti-malarial chemical that poisoned the heart patients. All the victims were from Pakistan’s Punjab province. Authorities previously arrested […]
China Says It Could Help Rescue Europe
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
China says it is considering increasing its investment in Europe’s rescue funds for debt-ridden countries, and possibly providing aid through the International Monetary Fund. After meeting Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Beijing, Premier Wen Jiabao said China could invest in Europe’s temporary bailout fund or the new $656 billion permanent fund set to […]
Palestinian Protesters Throw Shoes at UN Chief During Gaza Visit
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 9:40 am (UTC-5)
Palestinian protesters angered by the policies of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon threw shoes, sticks and stones at his convoy as he entered the Gaza Strip for a brief visit on Thursday. About 40 protesters including relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails confronted Mr. Ban’s convoy as it drove through the Erez crossing on the […]
French Prosecutors to Investigate Italian Cruise Ship Disaster
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 9:15 am (UTC-5)
French prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause of last month’s Costa Concordia cruise ship grounding off the coast of Italy. The Paris prosecutors’s office said Thursday that it has asked police to question French survivors to establish criminal liability and establish psychological damage caused by the accident. More than 450 French people were […]
DRC: Kabila Party Loses Seats, Retains Majority
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC-5)
Official election results in the Democratic Republic of Congo show that President Joseph Kabila’s party lost ground in the November parliamentary polls. The figures, released Thursday by Congo’s Independent National Electoral Commission, show that the ruling DDRP party won 63 seats — down from 111 in the previous parliament. The DDRP remained the largest bloc […]
US Groundhog Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter
Posted February 2nd, 2012 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
Winter is here to stay for at least for six more weeks, according to a furry little resident of a small town called Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania. A groundhog dubbed Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his cozy tree stump home early Thursday, as he does each year, and he saw his shadow. Tradition has it that if […]
