October 19, 2011
China cuts holdings of US debt after ratings downgrade
China has reduced its holdings of US debt to their lowest level in a year, after the US's credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor's (S&P). China sold $36.5bn (£23.2bn) in US Treasuries or bonds to cut its holding to $1,137bn in August,…
October 19, 2011
Apple full year profits rise 85%
The world's biggest technology company Apple has reported full year results, showing net profit for the year to 25 September at $25.9bn (£16.5bn), up 85% from the previous year. Even that was not enough to satisfy Wall Street, with the shares…
October 19, 2011
Moody’s cuts Spain’s debt rating
Moody's has downgraded the rating of Spain's government bonds. The ratings agency cut Spain two notches, two days after Standard & Poor's took the same decision. Moody's said it had cut the rating because there had been no credible resolution to the…
October 19, 2011
Turkey Taps Arab World For Tourist Dollars
Hard economic times in Europe is hitting the tourist industry in Turkey. But the country is enjoying a rather surprising dividend in the growing popularity of its prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan across the Middle East. It is proving an…
October 19, 2011
Britain, Canada Freeze Assets Over Alleged Iranian Plot
Britain and Canada have joined the United States and frozen the assets of five men in connection with the alleged Iranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States. U.S. authorities froze the assets of the five one week ago. Canada…
October 19, 2011
Analysts: Prisoner Exchange Could Boost Hamas
Some Middle East analysts say the release of an Israeli soldier and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners could have a significant effect on security in Israel and the Mideast. It is a rare day in the Middle East when Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the…
October 19, 2011
US Republican Candidate Cain Under Fire From Competitors
Republican presidential contender Herman Cain faced attacks on his tax reform plan from nearly all of his competitors at the party's latest debate on Tuesday at a Las Vegas casino. The heated discussion Tuesday evening in Nevada highlights Cain's…
October 19, 2011
Clinton Thanks Oman for Help Freeing US Hikers
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Oman, where she will thank Sultan Qaboos for his country's help in securing the release of three American hikers who were held in Iran. Clinton arrived in the capital, Muscat, on Wednesday…
October 19, 2011
The Cost of Thailand Flood Growing
The financial cost of Thailand's worst flooding in 50 years is growing, as waters have submerged many industrial centers, halting production and forcing workers and residents to flee. The floods caused by heavy rains since July have killed about…
October 17, 2011
Real Steel fights for US chart glory
Hugh Jackman film Real Steel is in a tight battle to hold on to the number one spot in the…