Gbagbo, leader of Ivory Coast, seems poised to fall
DAKAR, Senegal — The end of Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo’s rule appeared to be nearing Thursday as his rival’s troops approached the country’s main city of Abidjan, his own army chief of staff abandoned his post, and his opponents claimed substantial defections of his troops and police officers.
Geithner again urges China to adopt a flexible currency exchange rate
NANJING, China — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged China again Thursday to adopt a more flexible exchange rate policy, saying failing to do so could worsen inflation in China and impede growth elsewhere.
Fed emergency loans saved many banks during financial crisis
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve’s huge lending programs, which saved Wall Street in fall 2008, also benefited a wide range of other financial companies, including community banks, credit unions, and foreign banks, according to documents released Thursday by the Fed.
Facebook prepares for lobbying push in Washington
Facebook is hoping to do something better and faster than any other technology start-up-turned-Internet superpower.
Shorts (left)
DAMASCUS, Syria — The political crisis in Syria deepened Monday as the armed forces in the restive southern city of Daraa fired live ammunition in the air to disperse hundreds of pro-democracy protesters.
Libyan rebel advance halted outside Gadhafi’s hometown
BIN JAWWAD, Libya — The Libyan rebel forces’ westward charge was repulsed Monday by a barrage of tank and artillery fire from forces guarding one of Moammar Gadhafi’s most crucial bastions of support, while the U.S. military warned on Monday that the insurgents’ rapid advances could quickly be reversed without continued coalition air support.
Indiana Democrats end standoff and return to State
CHICAGO — The political standoff over union rights and school vouchers in Indiana ended Monday as House Democrats returned to the Capitol almost five weeks after they fled the state.
Pleasant week ahead, temperature set to rise
The huge snow pile on Briggs Field has started to melt and sports practices have moved outside, but if you just came back from somewhere tropical you might have noticed that Boston weather remains a bit chilly. Temperatures will linger below the springtime average but gradually increase over the next few days. A stationary high pressure system will keep the sun shining and the clouds at bay at least through Thursday. Get outdoors during the week if you can because a significant rainstorm may head our direction over the weekend.
Blast at Yemeni arms factory follows government’s retreat
SANAA, Yemen — Yemen’s political crisis deepened Monday when an explosion tore through a crowd of looters at an abandoned government weapons factory in the south, killing at least 110 people and underscoring an ominous collapse of authority after six weeks of rising protests.
Shorts (right)
Michigan, whose unemployment rate has topped 10 percent longer than that of any other state, is about to set another record. Its new Republican governor, Rick Snyder, signed a law Monday that will lead the state to pay fewer weeks of unemployment benefits next year than any other state.
Egypt’s military confirms Mubarak travel ban
CAIRO — Egypt’s military command said on Monday that the ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, was banned from leaving the country, and that it would soon lift a detested emergency law, among a number of announcements seemingly intended to shore up diminishing support for the armed forces’ council ruling the nation.
Shorts (right)
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. sued the former chief executive of Washington Mutual and two of his top lieutenants Thursday, accusing them of reckless lending before the 2008 collapse of what was the nation’s largest savings bank.
Shorts (left)
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council voted Thursday to authorize military action, including airstrikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery and a no-fly zone, a risky foreign intervention aimed at averting a bloody rout of rebels by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
US flights over nuclear plant gather crucial data
WASHINGTON — The first readings from U.S. data-collection flights over the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan show that the worst of the contamination has not spewed beyond the 18-mile range of highest concern established by Japanese authorities, but there is also no indication that another day of frantic efforts to cool nuclear fuel in the reactors and spent fuel pools has yielded any progress, according U.S. government officials.
A taste of spring
Yesterday the weather gods provided us with a gorgeous St. Patrick’s Day, with sunny skies and temperatures just above 60°F. The above-average warmth — normal highs are in the mid-40°Fs this time of year — will continue tomorrow, with temperatures pushing into the upper 60°Fs. These highs are due to strong warm air advection, aided by a low-level jet in front of an approaching cold front. Unfortunately, our taste of spring will not last, as the cold front will pass through early tomorrow evening, ushering in cooler, more seasonal air for the weekend. Associated with the cold front passage, we will see gusty winds tomorrow afternoon and evening. A high pressure system will keep our weekend dry before the next low moves in on Monday for the start of spring break.
Global economic agency sees need for retirement age to keep rising
PARIS — Retirement ages in advanced economies will have to rise more than currently planned if countries hope to cover the increase in costs caused by aging populations, a global economic organization warned Thursday.
Missiles fired from CIA drones kill civilians in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Several missiles fired from U.S. drone aircraft Thursday struck a meeting of local people in northwest Pakistan who had gathered with Taliban mediators to settle a dispute over a chromite mine. The attack, a Pakistani intelligence official said, killed 26 of 32 people present, some of them Taliban fighters, but the majority elders and local people not attached to the militants.
House votes to end money for NPR, Senate passes spending bill
WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday to cut off financing for National Public Radio, with Democrats and Republican fiercely divided over both the content of the bill and how it was brought to the floor.
Shorts (right)
How far will the financial shockwaves from Japan’s earthquake reach? Investors wrestled with that question on Monday as stock markets dipped across the globe and fears mounted about the impact of a partial shutdown of the world’s third-largest economy.
A gradual warm-up is coming next week
Sunny skies and seasonable temperatures are in store for today. These conditions are compliments of a strong high pressure area, which will move through New England and reach the ocean by evening. By tonight, clouds will move in as a developing low pressure center moves northward through the Mid-Atlantic states. This system seems plentiful with moisture, and umbrellas will be needed for Wednesday until the rain ends sometime at night. Minor river flooding in nearby areas may occur but is not likely since most of the winter snowpack has already melted. Temperatures will also be warmer as southerly winds sweep in moist air off the ocean. By St. Patrick’s Day, clear skies and an even warmer air mass will return. A large high pressure area forming near the Carolinas should push highs to near 60°F (16°C) by Friday as well. A steady breeze from the south will maintain the climb in temperatures by that time.