Spanish workers are staging a boisterous 24-hour general strike to protest the government’s sweeping labor reforms and a new round of austerity measures the government plans to unveil on Friday. Protests in Madrid Thursday disrupted public transportation and factories and sharply curtailed flights into and out of Spain. The country’s Interior Ministry said at least […]
BRICS Nations Call for Shared Development Bank
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 8:50 am (UTC-5)
Leaders from the world’s five largest developing economies — the so-called BRICS — are moving toward the formation of a shared development bank. The five-nation bloc consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa wrapped up its summit Thursday in New Delhi with calls for a more representative international financial structure. Indian Prime Minister […]
French Islamist Gunman Denied Burial in Algeria
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 8:25 am (UTC-5)
Algeria has refused to allow the family of a French gunman accused of killing seven people to bury the man in the family’s native Algeria. A Muslim leader in France said Thursday that Algerian authorities denied the request from Mohamed Merah’s family because of security concerns. He said Merah will instead be buried in a […]
Gunmen Kill Shi’ite Muslims, UN Worker in Pakistan
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
Gunmen have shot and killed five Shi’ite Muslims and a United Nations employee in two separate attacks in southwest Pakistan. Police say assailants on motorcycles opened fire on a passenger van in an apparent sectarian attack in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, on Thursday. A woman was among those killed and at least six […]
Romney Earns Endorsement of Two Major Republican Figures
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 8:10 am (UTC-5)
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush is planning to endorse Mitt Romney’s campaign for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. A spokesman for Romney says the former president will throw his support to Romney at an event Thursday in of Houston, Texas. Mr. Bush’s endorsement comes one week after his son, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, […]
Arab Leaders Weigh Syria Resolution
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 7:25 am (UTC-5)
Arab leaders are considering a draft resolution supporting special envoy Kofi Annan’s peace initiative for Syria, as they gather for a landmark summit in Baghdad. The measure drafted by Arab League foreign ministers for the summit’s approval calls for President Bashar al-Assad’s government to stop violent attacks on the opposition and allow peaceful protests. Mr. […]
US Commander Warns of Growing North Korean Threat
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
The top commander of U.S. forces in South Korea says he is concerned about North Korea’s growing capability to carry out attacks through nonconventional means, such as cyber warfare and chemical weapons. Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, General James Thurman said North Korea’s advances in computer hacking and biological weapons, combined […]
Struggling Japanese Utility to Seek Emergency Loan from Government
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
The operator of Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant will ask for $12 billion to keep it afloat, effectively putting the government in control of the private utility. In addition to the bailout money, Tokyo Electric Power, or TEPCO, will also ask a government-backed fund for another $9 billion that will be used to compensate the […]
Arab Leaders Weigh Syria Resolution
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 6:45 am (UTC-5)
Arab leaders are considering a draft resolution supporting special envoy Kofi Annan’s peace initiative for Syria, as they gather for a landmark summit in Baghdad. The measure drafted by Arab League foreign ministers for the summit’s approval calls for President Bashar al-Assad’s government to stop violent attacks on the opposition and allow peaceful protests. Mr. […]
Indian PM Highlights Capital Needs of Developing Countries
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 6:45 am (UTC-5)
India’s prime minister has highlighted the need in developing countries to find funding at the summit of the so-called BRICS nations — the world’s five largest emerging economies. Speaking in New Delhi, Thursday at the conclusion of the one-day summit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the leaders and delegates discussed how to expand the World […]
