Month: November 2011

November 30, 2011

Largest project in Haiti nears reality

THE biggest international project aimed at helping Haiti rebound from the 2010 earthquake eased closer to reality at a ceremony Monday. Former US President Bill Clinton and Haitian President Michel Martelly broke ground for an ambitious US$224…

November 30, 2011

S&P downgrades credit rating of major banks

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's has downgraded the long-term credit grades of a string of major financial firms. Wall Street titans Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, along with Barclays, HSBC, and some firms in Germany and France were affected.…

November 30, 2011

EU plans new consumer watchdog for disputes

Shoppers who get into disputes with European traders should find it easier to get an out-of-court settlement in future, under new EU proposals. The European Commission proposes an EU-wide online platform for consumers to "solve contractual…

November 30, 2011

Public sector strike to be ‘largest for a generation’

Public sector workers are staging a strike over pensions in what unions say is set to be…

November 30, 2011

Britain Withdraws Some Diplomats from Iran After Embassy Assaults

Britain says it is withdrawing some of its embassy staff from Iran following Tuesday's mob assaults on British diplomatic compounds in the capital, Tehran. In a statement Wednesday, the British foreign office says the safety of British embassy…

November 30, 2011

Biden Says US Pullout from Iraq Marks New Phase in Relations

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has told Iraqi leaders in Baghdad that the two countries are embarking on a “new path” as the United States prepares to complete a troop pullout by the end of December. Biden was speaking Wednesday in a meeting with…

November 30, 2011

Turkey Imposes Asset Freeze, Other Sanctions on Syrian Leaders

Turkey says it is freezing the assets of Syrian leaders and taking other steps to pressure them into stopping a deadly government crackdown on an eight-month pro-democracy uprising. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced the sanctions…

November 30, 2011

Egypt’s Islamists Await Election Gains, Challenge Military Rule

Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood says the high turnout for parliamentary elections indicates a popular demand for civilian control, challenging the country's military rulers as Islamist parties prepared to dominate the freest polls in living…

November 29, 2011

Haitian president faces renewed pressure for Duvalier trial

The administration is facing renewed pressure to bring former dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc”…

November 29, 2011

American Airlines files for Ch. 11 protection

American Airlines' parent company is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it seeks…