Dubai Debt ‘Standstill’ Raises Alarms About Image DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Just a year after the global downturn derailed Dubai’s explosive growth, the city is now so swamped in debt that it’s asking for a six-month reprieve on paying its bills — causing a drop on world markets Thursday and raising questions about Dubai’s reputation as a magnet for international investment. Barbara Surk, AP NEWS - 2 minutes ago
Ex-Soccer Standout Gets 33 Years for Killing Dad A 23-year-old Oklahoma man has been sentenced to 33 years in prison after acknowledging he killed his father three years ago and hid his body in a freezer. Staff, AP NEWS - 6 minutes ago
Saudi Floods Kill 77 While Muslims Perform Hajj Muslim pilgrims holding white umbrellas against the blazing sun clambered up a rocky desert hill for prayers Thursday during the annual hajj, a day after torrential rains that killed at least 77 people. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Tunisian Court Hands Journalist 6-Month Sentence A journalist known for his critical stance toward Tunisia’s government was sentenced to six months in prison Thursday for what his lawyer called a trumped-up assault charge. Staff, AP NEWS - 20 minutes ago
Couple Slips Though Security to Crash State Dinner Michaele and Tareq Salahi like a good party, an attorney who knows them said Thursday, and maybe that’s why the couple from Virginia’s horse country didn’t look out of place at the White House state dinner for the Indian prime minister. Douglass K. Daniel, AP NEWS - 26 minutes ago
Swiss Ministry Agrees to Polanski Bail Roman Polanski came closer to being freed on bail after the Swiss justice ministry decided Thursday it would not challenge a court’s decision to accept his bail offer of 4.5 million dollars and restrictions on his movement. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Saudi Floods Kill 77, Leave Scores Missing Saudi Arabia’s civil defence said Thursday that 77 people were killed in intense flooding in Jeddah and nearby areas, and that scores could still be missing. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
China and US Leaders Boost Climate Summit US and Chinese proposals for tackling greenhouse gases were hailed Thursday while confirmation their leaders will attend next month’s climate summit boosted hopes for a global-warming accord. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Iran Sentences Leading Reformist to Six Years An Iranian court has sentence leading reformist Behzad Nabavi to six years in prison for his part in June demonstrations but freed him on bail pending a possible appeal, his lawyer told AFP on Thursday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
World Stocks Dive on Dubai Default Fears Global stock markets fell sharply Thursday on mounting fears of a debt default by Dubai and tighter lending conditions in China, analysts said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Hamas Frees 150 Gaza Prisoners for Muslim Holiday The Islamist Hamas movement ruling the Gaza Strip released 150 prisoners on Thursday, including what it calls security detainees, in honour of the Muslim feast Eid al-Adha. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Dubai Default Threat Rattles World Stocks Global stock markets tumbled Thursday on mounting anxiety over a debt default request by Dubai and tighter lending conditions in China, analysts said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
US Reaches Deal on Troops in Poland: Spokesman The United States and Poland have agreed terms for stationing US troops in Poland so that the deployment of US Patriot missiles can start next year, an official said on Thursday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Prosecutor Asks Court Permission for Kenya Probe The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Thursday he had asked judges to allow a formal probe of Kenya’s 2007-08 post-election violence with a view to trying those responsible. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
India Remembers Deadly Mumbai Attacks India on Thursday marked the first anniversary of last year’s deadly attacks on Mumbai with a show of security strength and prayers for the dead, as the government vowed a tough line to curb terror. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
India Remembers Deadly Mumbai Attacks India marked the first anniversary Thursday of last year’s attacks on Mumbai with a show of strength and ceremonies to honour the 166 victims killed in a deadly rampage by 10 heavily-armed Islamist gunmen. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Rebels Claim Ndele in Central African Republic Rebels in the Central African Republic claimed Thursday they had taken control of the key northern town of Ndele after an attack which was confirmed by an army source. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 31 minutes ago
London Stock Exchange Resumes Trading After Hitch The London Stock Exchange resumed trading on Thursday after a technical hitch had put it out of action for three-and-a-half hours. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Anglo-Saxon Treasure Worth Over 3 Mln Pounds A record hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure found in a field in Staffordshire was valued Thursday at more than three million pounds, to be split equally between the man who found it and the owner of the land. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Heavy Drinkers ‘Exercise to Burn off Alcohol’ More than a quarter of drinkers in England who exercise regularly do so in an attempt to make up for bingeing on alcohol, according to a survey published on Thursday. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Blair’s Role, US Tensions in Spotlight at Iraq Probe Tony Blair may have swung behind US calls for regime change in Iraq after meeting President George W. Bush at his Texas ranch in 2002, a top diplomat told an inquiry into the war on Thursday. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 31 minutes ago
China Unveils Plan to Limit Carbon Emissions China unveiled on Thursday what it called an ambitious plan to boost energy efficiency and curb its carbon footprint in the most detailed indication yet of its stance heading into a world climate summit. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Freed Canadian Journalist Leaves Somalia A female journalist from Canada and a journalist Australia flew out of Somalia on Thursday at the end of a 15-month hostage ordeal during which they were tortured and shackled in windowless rooms by their captors. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 31 minutes ago
Lawyers: Government Misconduct in Blackwater Case Defense lawyers are alleging misconduct by Justice Department prosecutors in the case against one of five Blackwater security guards accused in the killings of 17 Iraqis in Baghdad. Pete Yost, AP NEWS - 32 minutes ago
China to Dramatically Slow Emissions Growth China announced plans Thursday to cut its carbon emissions by up to 45 percent as measured against its economic output — a commitment from the world’s largest polluter that builds momentum ahead of a widely anticipated climate conference in Copenhagen next month. Cara Anna, AP NEWS - 32 minutes ago
Thanksgiving Day Kicks off With Slew of Parades The 83rd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has kicked off in New York City with a 60-foot-tall Kermit the frog hovering over holiday revelers. Deepti Hajela, AP NEWS - 35 minutes ago
German General Quits in Afghan Row Germany’s top military chief quits over allegations of a cover-up of civilian deaths in an airstrike in Afghanistan. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 38 minutes ago
Dubai Debt Fears Hit World Markets Hard World stock markets fell sharply Thursday as investors fretted over the debt problems at Dubai World, a government investment company, and the continued fall in the dollar. Pan Pylas, AP NEWS - 40 minutes ago