Ever since Tycho Brahe suddenly died in 1601, there has been a mystery about whether the Dane whose celestial observations laid the groundwork for modern astronomy fell victim to natural causes or was murdered. Congo: Fighting resumes between M23 and army
A Congolese army spokesperson says that fighting between the army and the M23 rebels has resumed, ending a two-month ceasefire.
US, Afghanistan start talks on status of US troops
T he United States and Afghanistan are starting negotiations on an agreement that will shape America's military presence in the country after the withdrawal of most foreign combat troops at the end of 2014. Afghanistan, U.S. start tough talks on post-2014 troops
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan and the United States have started talks that will eventually define how many American troops stay in the country after most NATO combat forces leave at the end of 2014, and the scope of their mission. The bilateral security negotiations could take months, and are expected to be difficult. The round of talks that began on Thursday will cover the legal basis for U.S. soldiers to work in Afghanistan post-2014. “This document is intended to provide the legal authority for U.S. …
Top euro policymakers at odds over Greek debt fix
HELSINKI/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union's top economic official sought to rule out any write-off of Greece's debt to governments on Thursday after a European cent ral banker said for the first time that a "haircut" on part of it was probable. A row between euro zone governments and the International Monetary Fund over how to make Greece's giant debt mountain manageable is holding up the release of 31 billion euros ($39.5 billion) in emergency loans needed to keep Athens afloat. … Pakistan carries out first execution in four years
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistan executed its first prisoner in four years on Thursday, hanging a convicted murderer who was a former army serviceman, police said. Despite the execution of Muhammad Hussain in northwest Pakistan, activists do not expect the country’s moratorium on the death penalty to be lifted since this case involved someone in the military. The last execution, in December 2008, also involved the death of a soldier. Pakistan has more than 8,000 inmates on death row, but a moratorium on executions has been in effect for four years. …
Xi Jinping assumes leadership of rising power China as head of Communist Party and military
BEIJING, China – Xi Jinping succeeded Hu Jintao as China’s leader on Thursday, assuming the top posts in the Communist Party and the powerful military in a once-a-decade political transition unbowed by scandals, a slower economy and public demands for reforms.
Fertilizer maker Migao posts loss on weak demand
(Reuters) – Chinese fertilizer maker Migao Corp reported a second-quarter loss due to weaker demand for its products and lower selling prices. Toronto-listed Migao posted second-quarter net loss of C$8.1 million, or 15 Canadian cents per share, compared with a profit of C$6 million, or 11 Canadian cents per share, a year earlier. Sales plunged 82 percent to C$11.7 million. The company warned last month that weaker demand for fertilizer in China during the summer would weigh on its results. (Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bangalore; Editing by Don Sebastian)
Wal-Mart posts higher quarterly profit
(Reuters) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a higher quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by strong sales of back-to-school merchandise in the United States. The world's largest retailer said it had earned $1.08 per share in the third quarter ended October 31, up from 97 cents per share a year earlier . (Reporting by Brad Dorfman in Chicago and Jessica Wohl in Cincinnati; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Use research, genetics to improve help for mistreated children, study says
Governments need to do a better job of tracking and pinpointing which of a myriad of social programs would best help children cope with abuse in their early years, says a study released Thursday.
Humanists call for African age of "Enlightenment"
GENEVA (Reuters) – African Humanists — atheists, secularists and freethinkers — gather next week in Ghana, one of the world’s most religious countries, to look at ways to promote an “Enlightenment” they argue is vital to bring their continent into the modern age. But despite stirrings of dissent over the power of preachers and imams, they recognize they have an uphill battle to convince ordinary people to question faiths — Christianity and Islam — brought to Africa by missionaries and conquerors. …
National Grid understands anger after Superstorm Sandy blackouts
(Reuters) – National Grid Plc said it could understand the anger of thousands of U.S. customers still in the dark after Superstorm Sandy and was working to restore all its services on the east coast. “If you’ve not had your lights on for two weeks and your home’s been destroyed, you’re pretty angry,” Chief Executive Steve Holliday said on a conference call. “This damage is extraordinary. So any one of us can completely understand the anger of people, the frustration, the fact that many lives have been destroyed,” Holliday said. …
Eurozone back in recession in Q3
The 17-country eurozone has bowed to the inevitable and fallen back into recession for the first time in three years as a sprawling debt crisis took its toll on the region's stronger economies. 
No comments:
Post a Comment