American bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, whose unique banjo-playing style helped shape modern country music, has died. The 88-year-old Scruggs died Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee — known as the country music capital of the world. His son, Gary, said he died of natural causes. Friends and fans paid tribute to Scruggs Thursday and flowers were to […]
EU Launches Cybercrime Center
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
The European Union has announced a series of measures this week designed to crack down on the growing problem of cybercrime. A European Parliament committee on Tuesday proposed mandatory jail sentences across the EU for some computer crimes. Currently, each EU state has its own regulations. On Wednesday, the European Commission announced plans for setting […]
US Jobless Benefit Claims Near Four-Year Low
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 1:45 pm (UTC-5)
The number of unemployed U.S. workers seeking jobless assistance fell last week to the lowest level in nearly four years, a new sign the labor market is improving for the world’s largest economy. The government’s Labor Department reported Thursday that 359,000 jobless workers made new claims for financial aid, down 5,000 from the week before. […]
Romney Earns Endorsement of Two Major Republican Figures
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is picking up a major endorsement Thursday — that of former U.S. president George H.W. Bush. A spokesman for Romney says Mr. Bush will announce his backing at an event in of Houston . Mr. Bush’s endorsement comes one week after his son, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, pledged […]
Syrian Violence Kills 22 as Arab Leaders Back Peace Plan
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
Violence across Syria killed at least 22 people — most of them civilians — as Arab leaders in Baghdad backed a peace plan during a summit focused on resolving the year-long Syrian crisis. Syrian rights activists say forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed at least 16 civilians in assaults on opposition hubs in central […]
E. Guinea Says Concerned by French Arrest Warrant, Threatens Retaliation
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
Equatorial Guinea warns it will take action against French companies if judges in France issue an arrest warrant for the son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Two French judges on Tuesday requested the warrant for Teodorin Obiang on grounds that he acquired millions of dollars worth of French real estate and luxury goods by fraudulent […]
US Jobless Benefit Claims Near Four-Year Low
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
The number of unemployed U.S. workers seeking jobless assistance fell last week to the lowest level in nearly four years, a new sign the labor market is improving for the world’s largest economy. The government’s Labor Department reported Thursday that 359,000 jobless workers made new claims for financial aid, down 5,000 from the week before. […]
Obama Calls for End to Oil Company Subsidies
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 12:05 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama has called for an end to tax subsidies for oil companies, saying the firms are making record profits while Americans are struggling with rising fuel costs. At the White House Thursday, the president said Congress can either vote to spend billions of dollars more on oil subsidies that keep the country […]
Inquest Finds No Foul Play in Zimbabwe General’s Death
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 11:40 am (UTC-5)
An inquest into the death of Zimbabwe’s most decorated army general, Solomon Mujuru, has found there was no foul play, despite speculation to the contrary. State media Thursday published comments from Attorney General Johannes Tomana, who said he agrees with the investigation’s findings, and declared Mujuru’s case a “closed and completed matter.” Mujuru, who was […]
Azerbaijan Denies Giving Israel Military Air Access
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
Azerbaijan has denied a report that it granted Israel access to air bases near the Iranian border. A spokesman for the Defense Ministry in Baku said Thursday that the report in U.S.-based Foreign Policy magazine is inaccurate. On Wednesday, the magazine cited unnamed senior diplomats and security officers as saying the U.S. has concluded that […]
