December 16, 2011
Italy’s Monti faces confidence vote over austerity
The government of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti faces a confidence vote in parliament as it seeks to pass crucial austerity measures. His government needs approval for a 33bn euro ($43bn; £27bn) package of cuts and reforms intended to…
December 16, 2011
US Republicans Hold Final Debate before Iowa Caucus
U.S. Republican presidential hopefuls debated Thursday in the politically influential midwestern state of Iowa, where the national nominating process begins in less than three weeks. Republican contenders used much of the two-hour debate to…
December 16, 2011
ICC: Gadhafi’s Death May Be War Crime
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor says there are “serious suspicions” that the death of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was a war crime. Luis Moreno-Ocampo made the comments Thursday at a press briefing at the United Nations.…
December 16, 2011
Lawmakers Agree on $1 Trillion Deal to Avert Shutdown
U.S. lawmakers say they have reached deal to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year, just a day before parts of the government would have been forced to stop operating. Lawmakers announced the $1 trillion deal late Thursday…
December 16, 2011
Lagarde: No country’s economy immune from rising risks
IMF head Christine Lagarde has said the world economic outlook is "gloomy" and no country is immune from rising risks. She said all nations, starting with Europe, needed to head off a crisis with risks of a global depression. "There is no economy in…
December 16, 2011
ECB chief Draghi: Governments must save themselves
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi says there’s “no external savior” for heavily indebted governments in the 17-nation eurozone and gave no indication the bank is ready to step in and support their finances. Investors had hoped the ECB…
December 16, 2011
Europe anxiety pushes oil prices lower
Oil prices continued to drop after Wednesday’s 5 per cent plunge, as Europe’s weakest economies failed to get more help from their central bank. Benchmark crude on yesterday fell 58 cents to US$94.37 per barrel in afternoon trading in New York.…
December 16, 2011
Bears’ Hurd arrested on federal drug charges following sting
Chicago Bears wide receiver Sam Hurd was locked up in federal custody Thursday as his stunned teammates learned he had been charged with trying to set up a drug-dealing network following his arrest with more than a pound of cocaine. U.S.…
December 16, 2011
Magic’s Howard says trade request has not been withdrawn
Magic center Dwight Howard has made it a point to avoid social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook as talk continued to swirl this week about his request to be traded to another team. But on Saturday fans will get their first opportunity…
December 16, 2011
Sir Viv critical of WICB’s treatment of Gayle
CHRIS Gayle can, for at least a few more days, rest easy – he still has at least one high-profile fan in the Caribbean. Former West Indies captain, Sir Vivian Richards, has come forward in defence of the embattled Jamaican opener and has…