Saturday, February 19, 2011


Bahrain unrest: Protesters

 enter symbolic Pearl Square

Protesters in Manama, 19 Feb 2011Protesters brought banners and flags as they returned to Pearl Square once the army and police left
Thousands of anti-government protesters in Bahrain have entered Pearl Square, the focal point of protests in the capital Manama.
Jubilant protesters returned after riot police fired tear gas and shotgun rounds before leaving. Reports say some 60 people may have been injured.

Obamas to make state visit to the United Kingdom

Carney said the trip would be Obama's first European state visit, illustrating "the strength of the special relationship between our two countries, and of the United States' enduring commitment to its European and NATO allies and partners."

Thursday, February 17, 2011


Explosions at munitions depot rock district near Dar es Salaam airport

By the CNN Wires Staff
February 17, 2011 -- Updated 0208 GMT (1008 HKT)
Shock waves could be felt in neighborhoods more than six miles (10 kilometers) away from the airport in Dar es Salaam.
Shock waves could be felt in neighborhoods more than six miles (10 kilometers) away from the airport in Dar es Salaam.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: A witness to depot blasts takes pictures of orange-red glow in the sky
  • Several explosions rattled an area around the airport in Tanzania's largest city.
  • U.K. High Commission said an army ammunition bunker exploded
  • Eyewitnesses say fireballs could be seen from homes in nearby neighborhoods
RELATED TOPICS
(CNN) -- Witnesses who heard explosions in Tanzania's largest city Wednesday night said they first thought the blasts were thunderclaps, until they saw the night sky glowing red and orange.
Sandip Patel grabbed his camera and ran to the top of his apartment building. He snapped away as a series of explosions shook neighborhoods around Dar es Salaam's Julius Nyerere International Airport.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011


UK consumer price inflation hits 4%

By Norma Cohen, FT.com
February 15, 2011 -- Updated 1254 GMT (2054 HKT)
A shopper searches for clothing bargains at Bolton Market in the UK as figures show another rise in inflation.
A shopper searches for clothing bargains at Bolton Market in the UK as figures show another rise in inflation.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • UK consumer price index rises to 4% in January, in line with forecasts
  • Reading puts pressure on Bank of England to raise interest rates
  • Biggest monthly rise came from the alcohol and tobacco sector
  • Some economists expect inflation to rise further in the next few months
(FT) -- UK price inflation hit 4% in January, in line with economists' expectations but double the Bank of England's target of 2%.
The latest reading triggered yet another round of letters between Mervyn King, the Bank's governor and George Osborne, the chancellor, with Mr King forced to explain why prices are rising so quickly and what the Bank intends to do about it.

Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Iranian lawmakers denounced Monday's protests in Tehran and called for the execution of two opposition leaders for inciting the demonstrations, Iran's state-run Press TV reported Tuesday.
Members of the Iranian parliament issued fiery chants against opposition leaders and former presidential candidates Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi.
Press TV aired video Tuesday of lawmakers chanting "Moussavi, Karrubi ... execute them."
Lawmakers also named former President Mohammad Khatami in some of the death chants.
The calls for the leaders' executions come after a particularly deadly month in Iran. At least 66 people were executed in January, according to Iranian media reports. Most of the executions were reportedly carried out for drug offenses, although at least three involved political prisoners, a U.N. statement said.