March 16, 2011
Oil Prices Drop on Fears for Japan’s Economy
World oil prices are dropping because of fears the earthquake and…
March 16, 2011
Portugal hit by debt downgrade from ratings agenc
International ratings agency Moody's has downgraded Portugal's sovereign debt rating, citing the country's need to cut debt and its poor growth prospects. Meanwhile Portugal's main opposition party has announced it will oppose the government's…
March 16, 2011
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rebounds as economic concerns ease
Japanese stocks rebounded as concerns over the long-term impact of Friday's earthquake and tsunami on Japan's economy ease. The Nikkei 225 index gained 4.3% by midday Wednesday. On Monday and Tuesday, the index dropped more than 16%, its biggest…
March 16, 2011
The BOJ injects $43bn to shore up the financial markets
The Bank of Japan has pumped an extra 3.5 trillion yen ($43bn; £27bn) into the financial markets on Wednesday. The injection comes after the central bank announced a cash input of 23tn yen ($284bn) on Monday and Tuesday. The Bank of Japan has been…
March 16, 2011
Cuba devalues currency to match US dollar
Cuba is devaluing its currency by about 8% compared to the US dollar as part of efforts to revive the economy. The hard-currency convertible peso used mostly by tourists and foreign firms will now be on a par with the dollar. The central bank said…
March 16, 2011
Official: Remaining Workers Evacuated From Stricken Nuclear Plant
Japanese officials have suspended operations aimed at preventing a stricken…
March 16, 2011
Fire in Japan’s Troubled Nuclear Power Plant
A new fire has broken out at a troubled reactor of northeast Japan's quake-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, says the new fire started early Wednesday in the same reactor that had been on…
March 16, 2011
Prosecutors: Berlusconi Had Sex with Teenage Girl 13 Times
Italian prosecutors say Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and a suspected teenage prostitute engaged in sex acts at his house 13 separate times. The prosecutors wrapped up their investigation into allegations that Mr. Berlusconi paid an underage…
March 16, 2011
Moderate Earthquake Shakes Uganda
A moderate earthquake shook parts of Uganda Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The U.S. Geological Survey says the preliminary magnitude of the quake was 5.0. Its epicenter was in the Lake Albert region of the country, about 200…
March 16, 2011
Petraeus positive about US Afghanistan progress
The US commander in Afghanistan has said the Taliban's momentum has been halted in key areas, keeping the US on course to start withdrawing in July. Gen David Petraeus, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, was giving his first formal assessment…