Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda selected three key ruling party executives soon after being confirmed by parliament Tuesday. Mr. Noda appointed Azuma Kashiiki a top Democratic Party lawmaker in the Upper House as his secretary-general. He picked former chief Cabinet secretary Hirofumi Hirano as chairman of the Diet affairs committee. And he tapped his […]
Japan’s New PM Picks Key Ruling Party Executives
Posted August 30th, 2011 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
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Eid al-Fitr Marked Around Globe
Posted August 30th, 2011 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a three-day holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Observers of Islam in Egypt, Syria and several other Arab countries started marking the holiday Tuesday by crowding into mosques for prayers. Muslims in several non-Arab countries including Russia, Turkey and Afghanistan also began […]
US Authorities to Airlift Supplies to Flood-Hit Northeastern Communities
Posted August 30th, 2011 at 1:10 pm (UTC-5)
Authorities in the northeastern United States say they are preparing to airlift food and water to communities cut off by flooding from Hurricane Irene. Emergency workers in the state of Vermont said Tuesday they will use helicopters to provide supplies to residents whose homes were swept away or submerged by the floods. Irene first made […]
7 Killed in Syrian Protests During Holiday
Posted August 30th, 2011 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian forces have killed seven people after opening fire on protesters on the first day of the Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. Activists say the deadly crackdown on dissent Tuesday came after thousands of people poured onto streets across Syria with renewed calls for President Bashar al-Assad’s departure. The opposition’s local coordination […]
Libya’s Rebels Give 4-Day Ultimatum to Gadhafi Forces
Posted August 30th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Libya’s opposition Transitional National Council has announced a four-day deadline for forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi in his hometown of Sirte to surrender. TNC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil said Tuesday in the rebel-stronghold of Benghazi that rebels will resort to military action in Sirte if they get no indication by Saturday of a peaceful end […]
US Stocks Decline
Posted August 30th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
U.S. stock market indexes declined in Tuesday’s early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ lost three-tenths of a percent, while the S&P 500 fell four-tenths of a percent European stock markets were mixed in afternoon trading. London’s Financial Times 100 index gained 1.9 percent, the CAC-40 in Paris was essentially unchanged, and […]
Syrian Forces Kill 6 in Raids
Posted August 29th, 2011 at 8:35 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian rights activists say government security forces have killed six people while storming areas around the country in a renewed crackdown on political dissent. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday the worst violence was in Sarameen, in northern Idlib Province. The group said security forces killed five people there and wounded at least […]
Tropical Storm Strikes Taiwan, Heads for Chinese Coast
Posted August 29th, 2011 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
Tropical storm Nanmadol dumped as much as a half-meter of rain on Taiwan Monday, forcing mass evacuations and flooding homes, roads and farmland before heading toward southeastern China. The storm was downgraded from typhoon status early Monday. It struck with torrents of rain and winds over 100 kilometers an hour, as it began plowing through […]
Millions of US East Coast Residents Face Power Outages, Floods After Irene
Posted August 29th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
Millions of people on the East Coast of the United States faced power outages and flooding Monday after Hurricane Irene weakened and moved into Canada. Authorities reported at least 21 storm-related deaths in several eastern states, with damage amounts in the billions of dollars. U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday that recovery efforts will take […]
Libyan Rebels Move Closer to Sirte
Posted August 29th, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
Libyan rebel forces are drawing closer to Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte, as they continue to search for the embattled leader after seizing control of the country’s capital. Rebel commanders in Misrata say opposition forces pushing towards Sirte from the west on Monday moved within 30 kilometers of the coastal city, which is located 450 […]
