Afghan Women Fear the Loss of Modest Gains

Those who have gained a measure of freedom and financial independence see little effort by officials to look out for their future.

U.N. Removes 5 Taliban From Its Sanctions List

The move ? though those removed were not seen as a threat ? was a nod toward the kind of reconciliation that President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has been calling for.

From Germany to Radicalism for Young Muslims

A growing number are traveling to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, ending up in the camps of groups affiliated with Al Qaeda or the Taliban.

Army Broadens Inquiry Into WikiLeaks Disclosure

Investigators were focusing on a group of Pfc. Bradley Manning?s friends and acquaintances in Massachusetts.

July?s Toll Worst for U.S. Troops in Afghanistan

The 63 deaths have made July the deadliest month for American troops in the nine-year war in Afghanistan, according to a Web site that tracks casualties.

Berlusconi Splits With Ally, Fini, in Italy

The break significantly weakened the Italian prime minister?s governing majority, raising the prospect of early elections.

Leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia Discuss Hariri Tribunal

The visit, five years after the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister, showed that Syria?s influence over Lebanon was rising again.

Rocket From Gaza Hits Israeli City

There were no injuries, but the explosive damaged buildings and brought panic to the streets of Ashkelon on Friday after more than a year of relative calm.

Fires and Storms Kill at Least 28 in Russia

Wildfires burned down several villages in the central part of the country as forests and swamps turned into tinderboxes under a record-breaking heat wave.

Death of a Mexican Drug Lord May Not Make People Feel Safer

The coordinated raid that led to the death of Ignacio Coronel Villarreal on Thursday may make way for a competing cartel.

Deadly German Stampede Gets Its Villain

Adolf Sauerland, the mayor of Duisburg, has received death threats since 21 people where trampled to death at a music festival.

China Imprisons 3 Men Who Maintained Uighur Web Sites

The sentences are the latest indication that Beijing is intensifying its crackdown on any dissent that questions Chinese rule in Xinjiang.

Brazilian Goalie Is Charged in Ex-Lover?s Killing

Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza is accused of murder in a gruesome case that has fascinated much of Brazil.

Expert Says China?s Oil Spill Figure May Be Much Too Low

Rick Steiner of Greenpeace said that the figure of 11,000 barrels of crude released into the Yellow Sea after an explosion in Dalian could in fact be more than 430,000 barrels.

400 Killed in Flooding in Pakistan, Officials Say

Hundreds of thousands of people were believed to be unable to evacuate to safer ground.

Recovery Effort Resumes in Pakistan After Plane Crash

Teams continued the search for body parts and the aircraft?s black box under clear skies on Friday. The crash on Wednesday killed 152 people.

Voice on Phone Is Lifeline for Suicidal Veterans

Critics call it a Band-Aid, but supporters say a suicide hot line is a gateway into government services.

2 Tested at U.S. Embassy in Paris After Handling Suspicious Mail

Two United States Embassy employees in Paris were being examined on Friday after handling an envelope, but officials said its contents did not appear to be harmful.

Homework for E.U.'s Top Diplomat This Summer

Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief, will be missing out on time at the beach to grapple with French irregular verbs.

World Briefing | Europe: Greece: Truckers and Police Clash Over Plan to Extend Strike

Truck drivers are striking over plans to cut the price of licenses to own and operate trucks in an effort to open up their historically closed profession.

World Briefing | Africa: South Africa: Students Are Fined for Racist Video of Black Workers

A court ordered four white former students to pay a fine of $2,720 each for a video they made humiliating black university employees.

World Briefing | Africa: Sudan: Violent Clashes Erupt Over Peace Talks for Darfur

The fighting, which pitted supporters of peace talks against opponents of reconciliation, left about 10 people dead.

World Briefing | Europe: Russia: Chairwoman Steps Down From Human Rights Council

Ella Pamfilova apparently resigned after growing disenchanted with the political situation in Russia.

World Briefing | United Nations: Families of Hikers Jailed in Iran Mark First Anniversary With Rally

A protest rally on Friday outside the Iranian Mission to the United Nations was the first of around 30 similar protests organized by friends of the three in cities around the world.

The Saturday Profile: An Unabashedly Sexy Celebrity Gets Political

Since returning to Indonesia, Julia Perez has quickly become one of this nation?s most sought-after celebrities. And now, she?s seeking office.

Calif. wildfire jumps aqueduct, approaches homes

A huge wildfire in the high desert wilderness north of Los Angeles jumped an aqueduct on Friday, rushing toward hundreds of houses as firefighters ...

Obama urges a dialogue on race after Sherrod case

President Obama said Thursday that Americans should spend more time talking about a sensitive subject he has addressed sparingly: race.

Strategy: Fight hard but be a good guest

Winning hearts and minds in Afghanistan is slow work. It's also hot, dirty, frustrating and dangerous.

Could drinking alcohol help ward off rheumatoid arthritis?

Drinking alcohol may help keep rheumatoid arthritis at bay, possibly because it dampens the body's immune response, new research suggests.

Woman saves her own life by losing 200 pounds

Marci Williams, at 332 pounds in 2005, had diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Her cardiologist told her it all came back to ...

Kids who get mom's affection less stressed as adults

The more a mother showers her infant child with warmth and affection, the less anxiety, hostility and general distress the child will ultimately ...

Close friend, family relationships boost survival

Family and friends may do more than provide companionship: They also may boost your longevity, making as much of a difference as not smoking, ...

Pittsburgh diocese sued after suicide of priest abuse accuser

The estate of a man allegedly abused by a priest in the 1980s is suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, alleging he committed suicide ...

Catholic pilgrims must pay to attend 2 pope events in U.K.

Pilgrims will have to pay as much as 25 pounds ($39) to attend one of the two public events in England to be led by Pope Benedict XVI during ...

Televangelist Benny Hinn asks for $2M in donations

Televangelist Benny Hinn has posted a plea for $2 million in donations on his website.

College students may get break on textbook expenses

College students will be able to shop around more for deals on textbooks, thanks to a new law that took effect this month.

87% of Hispanics value higher education, 13% have college degree

"Aspirations for higher education are very strong among Hispanics, but there is a yawning discrepancy between aspirations and actual attainment," ...

Obama defends education policies to critics

Challenging civil rights organizations and teachers' unions that have criticized his education policies, President Obama said Thursday that minority ...

Gulf oil spill released toxic, tough-to-track chemicals

Under the water is where the oil is, say environmental chemists such as Jeffrey Short of the conservation group, Oceana, and not just ...

Scientists say global warming is continuing

Scientists from around the world are providing even more evidence of global warming.

Spanish juniors shocked by late France winner

Magic of Hansen lifts Wigan in stormy affair

Lemaitre double denies Malcolm's brave bid at the last

Sir John and team to visit Iraq to hear 'Iraqi perspectives'

Christina Patterson: We can try to live without the past but we'll always fail

Top 10 paid iPhone apps

Iceland: The bare bones of a beautiful island

Mario Borghezio MEP

The 50 best baby products

My Life In Travel: Sean Hughes, comedian

Chic chambres: Paris's best boutiques

My Secret Life: Josie Long, comedian, 28

Spanish secrets uncorked: The delights of Rioja are ripe for discovery by wine-lovers and foodies alike

Traveller's Guide: Irish lakes

The 10 best-selling games

48 Hours In: Rio de Janeiro

Super Sava: Find beauty, wildlife and history on the shores of this mighty river

John Kampfner: Witnesses bent on self-exoneration

Teen spirit: The 'Skins' sensation sweeping France

How the proms turned populist (without offending the purists)

A A Gill's lesbian jibe provokes complaint from BBC star

A tour of the jail within a jail that houses Britain's most dangerous convicts

Under the cover of darkness, Nato troops draw Taliban into their trap

Robert Elms: End bullfighting and you give in to the neutering forces of accepted taste

The Saturday quiz answers

Coalition more radical than Thatcher, says senior Tory

WikiLeaks 'has blood on its hands'

Berlusconi in peril as ally deserts him

Potters Bar criminal case reopens

Rights groups target EU over Roma

Slowdown fuels US double dip fears

Al Gore cleared of assault allegations

India moves to restrict surrogacy

Iran stoning woman's reunion hope

Prescott doubted Iraq 'tittle-tattle'

Couple jailed for making children beg

Speranta Mihai amd Gheorghe Mihai plead guilty to child cruelty and benefit fraud for activities across south-east England

A Romanian couple who exploited their seven children as beggars and thieves in and around London have been jailed at Reading crown court for two and a half years for child cruelty.

Speranta Mihai, a Roma who lived in Slough and took her children, now aged between two and 16, begging and stealing across south-east England in a systematic operation, was sentenced by Mr Recorder Whittaker alongside her husband, Gheorghe Mihai, who pleaded guilty to child cruelty, benefit and tax fraud and money laundering.

The Mihais were arrested in a dawn raid by officers from Operation Golf, the Metropolitan police's investigation into what it believes is Europe's largest human trafficking ring. It is centering on the small Romanian town of Tandarei from which as many as 1,000 children have been trafficked across Europe for the purposes of benefit fraud, begging and theft.

In the year preceding his arrest, Gheorghe Mihai, 36, passed £47,000 through his bank accounts, including £35,000 in tax credits, housing and child benefit that he defrauded from the state.

When the police arrived, most of the children were found sleeping on the floor of the sparsely furnished house in the Berkshire town with little food.

Four required dental treatment and three suffered from infestations of headlice. One of the youngest children was later found to have scarring consistent with cigarette burns and another with a lesion. The injuries happened while the children were in their parents' care, the court was told.

The prosecution said the evidence added up to a general pattern of "neglect and cruelty" and that – despite defence denials that the children were trafficked from Romania for exploitation – the children had been brought to the UK expressly for that purpose.

Speranta Mihai, thought to be aged around 33, would take her children begging in Luton, Wembley, Southall, Soho, Hyde Park, Edgware Road and Oxford Street, as part of what the court heard was the Mihai "family business".

"It is an act of cruelty to bring children up in a life of crime," said Gareth Branston for the prosecution. "The Mihai family business is begging or stealing and that is the education they gave their children."

None of the children were in school and the couple were both convicted of child cruelty for failing to educate them. Speranta Mihai was convicted on a second count of child cruelty for "causing her children to be engaged in begging".

She was warned repeatedly by the authorities not to beg, but that turned out to be pointless, the prosecution said.

One day she was stopped by police at Edgware Road and placed on a train at Paddington back to Slough. Three hours later she was found begging with her children outside Bayswater underground station in London.

It was part of "a relentless pattern of movement to exploit their children as tools for begging and stealing", the prosecution said.

Members of the Mihai family were stopped by law enforcement agencies for begging and theft 99 times, following their arrival in the UK in 2007.

Their behaviour was consistent with "complex grooming and behaviour patterns that keep children locked in a cycle of exploitation", according to a statement read out in court from child trafficking expert, Christine Beddoe, the chief executive of ECPAT UK, the anti-trafficking charity.

The children are now in local authority care.

Officers from Operation Golf said the traffickers' own estimates suggest each child can earn as much as £100,000 a year in the UK. In recent years, as many as 100 lavish new homes have sprung up alongside the shacks and mud tracks of the Roma enclave in Tandarei, eastern Romania, thought to have been built with the proceeds of child exploitation.

In April, officers from Operation Golf made 18 arrests in Tandarei during dawn raids with Romanian police and senior members of a gang suspected of having trafficked 272 children, many to the UK. They found dozens of guns, including AK-47s, pump-action shotguns and rifles, travel documents, thousands of pounds in £50 denominations, and bundles of euros and local currency.

Ian Huntley sues prison service

The rise and rise of rap star Rascal

Belle et Sébastien writer remembered

Sweet revenge for Catalonia

Travel solo, never alone

'My life stopped that night'

Ferrari can't escape controversy

How to dress: Say it with flowers

The new wave of literary events

'Neutrality is not possible'

Book review: C by Tom McCarthy

Anne Rice 'quits being a Christian'

Duisburg holds Love Parade memorial as mayor faces removal

A memorial service is taking place in Duisburg for the Love Parade tragedy victims, with relatives and politicians present. The city's mayor, who faces a challenge to remove him from office, will not be present.

Cologne gears up to play and party as host to Gay Games

Cologne is home to one of the largest and most active lesbian and gay communities in all of Germany. And starting on Saturday, the city will play host to thousands of more gays and lesbians from all over the world.

UN says dialogue with Israel on human rights is 'difficult'

Reviewing the performance of four members of a global rights covenant, the UN Human Rights Committee has criticized Israel's handling of the occupied Palestinian territories - areas Israel says don't apply to the deal.

Kremlin human rights advisor quits amidst retrograde rights climate

The Kremlin's top human rights advisor has stepped down in the face of hostility from a pro-Kremlin, nationalist youth group. Ella Pamfilova had fought to make Russia more just, but often came up against a brick wall.

Hundreds of German-financed Somali police officers go missing

Almost 1,000 Somali police have gone missing after their training was financed by the German government. It is feared these officers will now join forces with the Islamist militants Al-Shabaab.

Berlin cultural centers become casualties of gentrification

Berlin's edgy artist communities are being squeezed out by shiny new hotels, trendy bars and designer stores. It's a phenomenon common to big cities - but should Berlin do something to stop gentrification?

European Commission says standard mobile chargers coming in 2011

The new charger will be for all smartphones and all “data-enabled” phones, and not older models. Major companies, including Apple, Samsung, Sony Ericcson, Nokia and others have agreed to the deal.

Bundeswehr recruits sworn in against backdrop of protest

Police have dispersed one of a dozen anti-military protests in as army recruits take their oath in Stuttgart for the first time in 11 years. Around 1,000 police are on the scene to ensure the safety of 650 new soldiers.

Leaks trigger new debate in US about partition or other options for Afghanistan

After the revelations in Wikileaks, the taboo-breaking ideas of several experts are suddenly under the microscope as Washington looks for an exit strategy that will work.

Postcard from Europe: Love Parade - the end of an era

The Duisburg tragedy is just another black mark against techno; a genre which was once king in Germany but which is now rapidly falling from favour. Neale Lytollis, sent us this postcard on the end of an era.

University grads of foreign decent bid Germany farewell

University graduates of foreign descent tend to turn their backs on Germany. Despite being as qualified as German applicants, their career prospects are not as good. Especially many Turks consider going to Istanbul.

Nigerian president draws a new online following on Facebook

President Goodluck Jonathan has attracted over 144,000 Facebook fans in just a few short weeks, and he writes his own posts every day, in English, drawing thousands of comments.

Berlusconi insists that he still has a majority in parliament

Italy may be facing early elections following a dramatic falling out between Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and a powerful political ally. Berlusconi has rejected speculation that his government is at risk of collapse.

US group pressures Deutsche Bank to maintain rundown properties

The financial crisis has left thousands of homes vacant in the US city of Milwaukee. Residents there are placing part of the blame for the mess at Deutsche Bank's door.

EU registers provide no clues to BP lobbying UK officials over Libya

BP's lobbying of the UK government over a prisoner deal with Libya is under investigation by the US Senate. But while the oil giant had to disclose its lobbying efforts in the US, it didn't have to in the EU or the UK.

Google cleared of privacy breach in UK, German inquiries continue

British authorities said there is no evidence that Google has caused "individual detriment," but experts say this will have little influence on ongoing investigations in Germany

Minister encourages companies to pay skilled migrants a welcome bonus

As German companies face a shortage of skilled labor, Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle announced plans for a recruitment drive and suggested businesses start appealing to migrant workers' wallets.

Striking truckers clash with police, Greek military to provide fuel relief

Truckers in Greece continue to defy an emergency back-to-work order from the government. Meanwhile, Greek military trucks and vessels were dispatched Friday to relieve the country's growing fuel shortage.

Naked lunch, Berlin style

For some Berliners, summer means ditching the clothes and strutting around without a care in the world. There's nothing wrong with that per se, but for bashful ex-pat Brits, it can be a truly miserable experience.

Two golds for Germany

Running her personal best, Verena Sailer took home one of Germany's first gold medals at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona on Thursday. In the women's javelin, Germany won both gold and silver.

Cashflow problems risk deflating further progress for Borussia Dortmund

After steadily improving in the last few seasons, Borussia Dortmund and its fans are desperate to make the next step. But the club will have to sell before it can buy any more new players.

Audiobox: Al Qaeda terror in France

France has declared war on al Qaeda in North Africa after a French citizen was kidnapped and killed.

France launches long-delayed online anti-piracy agency Hadopi

A new French law creates a "three strikes" rule to go after those who illegally download copyrighted content. But a Brussels-based EU digital rights expert says it will be ineffective in protecting intellectual property.

From food to flights: The discount business model

Theo Albrecht, co-founder of the Aldi discount supermarket chain Aldi, died this week, but the business model he helped create is here to stay, and its success has already spread far beyond the grocery sector.

Videobox: Afghanistan ISAF

The ISAF is highly critical of the leak of thousands of classified documents on the Afghan conflict.

SPIEGEL Pub Quiz: Rabbits, Storks and an Octopus, Oh My!

It seems suddenly that nothing is sacred, with autobahns being shut down for hours, angels getting the Bobbitt treatment, birds poking fun at neo-Nazis and a teacher bringing her own student to court. To get your head around this blizzard of odd, plunge into the latest SPIEGEL Pub Quiz.

Iraq's Garden of Eden: Restoring the Paradise that Saddam Destroyed

Saddam Hussein drained the unique wetlands of southern Iraq as a punishment to the region's Marsh Arabs who had backed an uprising. Two decades later, one courageous US Iraqi is leading efforts to restore the marshes. Not even exploding bombs can deter him from his dream.

Paul the Pitchman: Psychic Octopus Begins Advertising Career

Paul the psychic octopus may have retired from predicting football matches, but his advertising career has just begun. The eight-legged oracle recently appeared in an advertisement for a German supermarket chain and has received more than 160 endorsement offers, including a book deal, according to the mollusk's agent.

A Quarter Century after Chernobyl: Radioactive Boar on the Rise in Germany

As Germany's wild boar population has skyrocketed in recent years, so too has the number of animals contaminated by radioactivity left over from the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown. Government payments compensating hunters for lost income due to radioactive boar have quadrupled since 2007.

The World from Berlin: Full Employment Could Be in Germany's Future

Germany's latest unemployment figures indicate that the country could soon have under 3 million people out of work, a new low. While some media commentators praise the German economic model, which has helped the country ride out the recession, others warn that vital labor market reforms are still required.

Picture This: Go Fly a Kite

Anarchy in Dagestan: Islamists Gain Upper Hand in Russian Republic

Nowhere in Russia is the situation so explosive as in the autonomous republic of Dagestan. An ongoing Islamist insurgency has plunged the corruption-plagued region into near civil war. Some high-ranking Russian officials believe it will take years to defeat the extremists, if it can be done at all.

Opinion: The Consequences of a 'Conceptual Withdrawal' in Afghanistan

After the WikiLeaks publication of classified military documents, the pressure on Western countries to withdraw from Afghanistan has become even greater. But unrealistic transition deadlines have damaging repercussions, argues Andrew Small of the German Marshall Fund.

SPIEGEL Interview with Craig Venter: 'We Have Learned Nothing from the Genome'

In a SPIEGEL interview, genetic scientist Craig Venter discusses the 10 years he spent sequencing the human genome, why we have learned so little from it a decade on and the potential for mass production of artificial life forms that could be used to produce fuels and other resources.

Picture This: Sailing Cats

Phytoplankton's Dramatic Decline: A Food Chain Crisis in the World's Oceans

It is the starting point for our oceans' food chain. But stocks of phytoplankton have decreased by 40 percent since 1950, potentially as a result of global warming. It is an astonishing collapse, say researchers, and may have dramatic consequences for both the oceans and for humans.

WikiLeaks Fallout: David Cameron's Remarks Arouse Fury in Pakistan

British Prime Minister David Cameron has caused a furor in Pakistan by claiming it supports terrorists. Islamabad vehemently rejects the charge and accuses the West of blindly believing the WikiLeaks war logs.

Hands Off the Bundeswehr: The Path Forward for the German Army

The German government is currently considering how to reform the German armed forces, with the country's defense minister even talking about abolishing conscription. Former Defense Minister Volker Rühe and retired Vice Admiral Ulrich Weisser argue that the Bundeswehr must remain strong if Germany is to fulfill its obligations to its allies.

The World from Berlin: Love Parade Blame Game Gets Ugly

With Germany still reeling from the tragic deaths of 21 people after a mass panic at last weekend's Love Parade, officials, politicians, organizers and police continue to foist the blame on each other. The German press is appalled.

Endangered Species: East German Trabants Heading for Extinction

The beloved Trabant, a trademark of communist East Germany, is dying out fast. The number rattling around on German roads has dwindled to 35,000 from close to one million shortly after reunification. Last year's cash-for-clunkers program appears to have persuaded many owners to ditch their brand loyalty.

Dodging the Draft: Conscription Debate Divides German Conservatives

Compulsory military service may be outdated, but Germany is finding it hard to give it up. The defense minister has made no secret of his desire to scrap conscription, but many conservatives see military service as a key part of their identity and are fighting to keep it.

Choc Finger's Big Bet: Speculators Rediscover Agricultural Commodities

With the financial crisis fading into the past, speculation on agricultural commodities markets has returned in force. Food prices are climbing once again as hedge funds rediscover the immense profits that can be made -- led by a British chocolate baron.

Picture This: Biking Brits

1977 Murder Revisited: Former RAF Terrorist to Stand Trial

A German court has ordered Verena Becker, a former member of the far-left Red Army Faction, to be put on trial for alleged involvement in the murder of Attorney General Siegfried Buback in 1977. The case was re-opened after new forensic technology revealed her DNA on a letter claiming responsibility for the killing.

The Dragon's Embrace: China's Soft Power Is a Threat to the West

China may have no intentions of using its growing military might, but that is of little comfort for Western countries. From the World Trade Organization to the United Nations, Beijing is happy to use its soft power to get what it wants -- and it is wrong-footing the West at every turn.

EDF reports 47-percent drop in profits in first half of 2010

EDF, Europe's biggest power producer, reported Friday a 47-percent drop in net profit for the first half of 2010. EDF's net income amounted to 1.7 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half, declining 46.9 percent from 3.1 billion euros the previous year. Meanwhile, net debt rose to 44.1 billion euros by June 30, up from 42.5 billion euros six months ago. The profit decline was caused mainly by the company's 1.1 billion euros provision for its North American activities d ...

EDF reports 47-percent drop in profits in first half of 2010

EDF, Europe's biggest power producer, reported Friday a 47-percent drop in net profit for the first half of 2010. EDF's net income amounted to 1.7 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half, declining 46.9 percent from 3.1 billion euros the previous year. Meanwhile, net debt rose to 44.1 billion euros by June 30, up from 42.5 billion euros six months ago. The profit decline was caused mainly by the company's 1.1 billion euros provision for its North American activities d ...

Moscow to allocate 200 million dollars for wind-power plant

Russia plans to spend 200 million U.S. dollars on construction of the largest wind-power plant in the Krasnodar region, RIA Novosti reported Friday. The plant, capable of producing 50 MW of energy per year initially, will be located near Yeisk on the coast of the Sea of Azov. The plant's capacity will be expected to rise to 100 MW a year. Research conducted in the Yeisk area has revealed the three best sites for the plant's wind power generators, said engineering specialist Adolf Chernyav ...

Moscow to allocate 200 million dollars for wind-power plant

Russia plans to spend 200 million U.S. dollars on construction of the largest wind-power plant in the Krasnodar region, RIA Novosti reported Friday. The plant, capable of producing 50 MW of energy per year initially, will be located near Yeisk on the coast of the Sea of Azov. The plant's capacity will be expected to rise to 100 MW a year. Research conducted in the Yeisk area has revealed the three best sites for the plant's wind power generators, said engineering specialist Adolf Chernyav ...

S. Korean stock market closes down on waning investor expectation

South Korean shares continued to close lower Friday with the end of earnings season approaching, local analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 11.55 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 1,759.33, according to the bourse operator Korea Exchange (KRX). With the earnings announcements of major market giants, investor sentiment grew weaker as no major favorable factors can be found in the market for the time being, analysts said. While foreigners made ...

S. Korean stock market closes down on waning investor expectation

South Korean shares continued to close lower Friday with the end of earnings season approaching, local analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 11.55 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 1,759.33, according to the bourse operator Korea Exchange (KRX). With the earnings announcements of major market giants, investor sentiment grew weaker as no major favorable factors can be found in the market for the time being, analysts said. While foreigners made ...

Nikkei closes down 1.64% as U.S. recovery fears loom

Tokyo stocks retreated Friday with the key Nikkei stock index falling 1.64 pct as growing concerns about the U.S. economy's recovery and a strong yen negated the effect of upbeat domestic earnings. On the final trading day of the week the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 158.72 points from Thursday to 9,537.30, while the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 11.77 points, or 1.37 percent, to close at 849. 50. Analysts said that James Bullar ...

Nikkei closes down 1.64% as U.S. recovery fears loom

Tokyo stocks retreated Friday with the key Nikkei stock index falling 1.64 pct as growing concerns about the U.S. economy's recovery and a strong yen negated the effect of upbeat domestic earnings. On the final trading day of the week the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 158.72 points from Thursday to 9,537.30, while the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 11.77 points, or 1.37 percent, to close at 849. 50. Analysts said that James Bullar ...

British HSBC eyes Russia for heavy investment

HSBC bank announced Friday that it would invest heavily in the Russian economy. "Russia is our favorite," said Nick Timberlake, HSBC's emerging markets chief. "We're being offered a huge opportunity. It is not quite as good as it was after Russia's debt default in 1998 but it's excellent value." HSBC's Russian portfolio has grown to 30 percent of the bank's total assets of 113.5 billion U.S. dollars. The British bank said it will not invest in Russian companies in the energy sector. Rat ...

British HSBC eyes Russia for heavy investment

HSBC bank announced Friday that it would invest heavily in the Russian economy. "Russia is our favorite," said Nick Timberlake, HSBC's emerging markets chief. "We're being offered a huge opportunity. It is not quite as good as it was after Russia's debt default in 1998 but it's excellent value." HSBC's Russian portfolio has grown to 30 percent of the bank's total assets of 113.5 billion U.S. dollars. The British bank said it will not invest in Russian companies in the energy sector. Rat ...

Japan's largest brokerage says quarterly net profit falls 80% (3)

&$

【1】 ...

Japan's largest brokerage says quarterly net profit falls 80% (2)

&$

&$ A man is reflected on a window outside Nomura Securities' branch in Tokyo July 30, 2010. Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest brokerage, said its quarterly net profit fell 80 percent on a slide in trading revenue and underwriting fees. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) &$ 【1】 Japan's largest brokerage says quarterly net profit falls 80%

&$

&$ A man walks past a logo of Nomura Securities outside its branch office in Tokyo July 30, 2010. Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest brokerage, said its quarterly net profit fell 80 percent on a slide in trading revenue and underwriting fees. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) &$ &$【1】 &$Japan's largest brokerage says quarterly net profit falls 80%

&$

&$ A man walks past a logo of Nomura Securities outside its branch office in Tokyo July 30, 2010. Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest brokerage, said its quarterly net profit fell 80 percent on a slide in trading revenue and underwriting fees. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) &$ &$【1】 &$U.S. economic growth slips to 2.4 percent

The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2.4 percent in the second quarter, slower than the previous two quarters, according to the preliminary estimate released Friday by the Commerce Department. The figures represent a further slowdown in economic growth compared with a remarkable 5.6 percent surge in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a newly-revised 3.7 percent rise in the first quarter of 2010. Economists had expected a 2.5 percent rise in the three months ended in June. The U.S. govern ...

U.S. economic growth slips to 2.4 percent

The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 2.4 percent in the second quarter, slower than the previous two quarters, according to the preliminary estimate released Friday by the Commerce Department. The figures represent a further slowdown in economic growth compared with a remarkable 5.6 percent surge in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a newly-revised 3.7 percent rise in the first quarter of 2010. Economists had expected a 2.5 percent rise in the three months ended in June. The U.S. govern ...

Spain's unemployment up 7% in second quarter

Unemployment in Spain rose 7 percent in the second quarter as 32,800 people lost their jobs during the three-month period, the government said Friday. The number of people out of work has now reached 4.645 million, accounting for 20.09 percent of the active population, according to government data. The number of unemployed also has risen because the job market has not been capable enough to absorb newcomers, such as college graduates. There are now 1.308 million families in Spain that h ...

Spain's unemployment up 7% in second quarter

Unemployment in Spain rose 7 percent in the second quarter as 32,800 people lost their jobs during the three-month period, the government said Friday. The number of people out of work has now reached 4.645 million, accounting for 20.09 percent of the active population, according to government data. The number of unemployed also has risen because the job market has not been capable enough to absorb newcomers, such as college graduates. There are now 1.308 million families in Spain that h ...

Eurozone unemployment rate stable at 10% in June

The unemployment rate of the euro zone remained at 10 percent in June, unchanged compared with the previous three months, the European Union's (EU) statistical bureau Eurostat said on Friday. It was higher than the 9.5 percent registered a year ago. For the 27-nation EU, the jobless rate stood at 9.6 percent in June, which remained stable since February. It was 9.0 percent in June 2009. Eurostat estimated that 23.062 million men and women in the EU, of whom 15.771 million were in the eu ...

Eurozone unemployment rate stable at 10% in June

The unemployment rate of the euro zone remained at 10 percent in June, unchanged compared with the previous three months, the European Union's (EU) statistical bureau Eurostat said on Friday. It was higher than the 9.5 percent registered a year ago. For the 27-nation EU, the jobless rate stood at 9.6 percent in June, which remained stable since February. It was 9.0 percent in June 2009. Eurostat estimated that 23.062 million men and women in the EU, of whom 15.771 million were in the eu ...

Eurozone inflation rises to 20-month high in July

Annual inflation in the euro zone rose to a 20-month high in July, preliminary figures released on Friday by the European Union (EU)'s statistics bureau Eurostat showed. Consumer prices in the 16 EU nations that use the euro increased by 1.7 percent over a year ago in July, up from 1.4 percent in June, Eurostat estimated. It was the highest level since November 2008, when the index stood at 2.1 percent. The sharp increase was largely in line with analysts' expectations. Eurostat did not pr ...

Eurozone inflation rises to 20-month high in July

Annual inflation in the euro zone rose to a 20-month high in July, preliminary figures released on Friday by the European Union (EU)'s statistics bureau Eurostat showed. Consumer prices in the 16 EU nations that use the euro increased by 1.7 percent over a year ago in July, up from 1.4 percent in June, Eurostat estimated. It was the highest level since November 2008, when the index stood at 2.1 percent. The sharp increase was largely in line with analysts' expectations. Eurostat did not pr ...

Japanese PM calls for parliamentary cooperation on fiscal reform

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday pledged to fix the nation's fiscal woes and cooperate with opposition parties in a bid to ensure fiscal reform is achieved by the consensual passing of bills. Speaking at a press conference following Japan's parliament convening for an extraordinary session on Friday, the prime minister said he remained committed to fiscal reform despite his ruling party's defeat in this month's upper house election. "Regardless of who is prime minister or which ...

Japanese PM calls for parliamentary cooperation on fiscal reform

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday pledged to fix the nation's fiscal woes and cooperate with opposition parties in a bid to ensure fiscal reform is achieved by the consensual passing of bills. Speaking at a press conference following Japan's parliament convening for an extraordinary session on Friday, the prime minister said he remained committed to fiscal reform despite his ruling party's defeat in this month's upper house election. "Regardless of who is prime minister or which ...

S. Korea announces Woori Finance privitization plan

South Korea on Friday announced its plan to process a major stake sale in Woori Finance Holdings Co., kicking off the long-held privatization of the state-held financial company. PRIVATIZATION PLAN The Public Fund Oversight Committee said it reached a decision either to unload "a certain amount of share or more" in Woori Finance or to have it merged with other financial firms. Although the committee said it will later finalize the amount of shares to unload, market observers expected th ...