Indonesia says two suicide bombers carried out attacksJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — There have been no claims of responsibility for deadly bombings at two American luxury hotels in Indonesia's capital, but analysts say it's likely the suicide attackers came from Jemaah Islamiyah (jeh-MAH' is-lah-MEE'-uh), which has links to al-Qaida.Investigators say the bombings killed eight people and wounded more than 50. At least 18 foreigners are believed to be among the dead and injured.Indonesia's president is blaming a "terrorist group" and is vowing to arrest those responsible. He also suggested the bombings, the first terror attacks in Indonesia in four years, are related to next week's national election.Police say the attackers acted as guests at the hotels before detonating their explosives. They say the attack on the J.W. Marriott was carried out on the 18th floor. That blast went off first, followed moments later by a bombing at the Ritz-Carlton.US-INDONESIAUS official: At least 8 from US wounded in JakartaWASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. official says at least eight Americans were wounded in a pair of suicide attacks on luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital.The official said the count was still preliminary and could not say how many Americans were injured at each of the targeted hotels — the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta.The official spoke on condition of anonymity because information from the scene was still incomplete.HEALTH CARE OVERHAULBudget umpire: Health-care bills would raise costs; House committee passes measure with taxesWASHINGTON (AP) — There have been late nights and early mornings for some House members working on President Barack Obama's legislation to remake the health care system. They're trying to complete the package before lawmakers take off on their August break.Early this morning, the Ways and Means Committee approved a provision that would impose $544 billion in new taxes over the next decade on families making more than $350,000 a year.In the Senate, a small group of lawmakers continue to seek a deal that could win support from both political parties.But Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf says the Democrats' health-care bills won't meet the goal of slowing the ruinous rise of medical costs.White House officials call the budget director's assessment premature.WALL STREETUPDATE: Stocks open lower after latest earnings reportsNEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are slipping in early trading as investors receive more mixed signals on the economy from earnings reports.Bank of America and Citigroup became the latest banks to report big second-quarter profits, but both are showing weakness in their loan portfolios. General Electric beat earnings forecasts but revenue came up short.Investors have been keenly focused on earnings reports this week, hoping to find more concrete signs of life in the economy. Going in to Friday's session, major market indicators are up about 7 percent for the week.ECONOMYJune housing construction rises more than expectedWASHINGTON (AP) — Construction of new U.S. homes rose in June to the highest level in seven months, a sign builders are starting to regain confidence as they emerge from the housing bust.The Commerce Department says construction of new homes and apartments jumped 3.6 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 582,000 units, from an upwardly revised rate of 562,000 in May.That was better than the 530,000 unit pace economists expected, and was the second straight increase after April's record low of 479,000 units.In another encouraging sign, applications for building permits, seen as a good indicator of future activity, rose 8.7 percent in June to an annual rate of 563,000 units. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters expected an annual rate of 520,000 units.PAKISTANAlleged US missiles kill 5 in Pakistan's northwestDERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — Intelligence officials and a local resident say a suspected U.S. missile strike in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region has killed five alleged militants.Two officials and the witness say the strike Friday occurred in Gariwam village.Resident Ahmad Raza says he heard a loud bang and that Taliban in the area are saying five of their colleagues are dead.The two intelligence officials say the missile hit a house in the village. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to media on the record.Over the past year the U.S. has launched dozens of missile strikes in North and South Waziristan. Both are considered strongholds for the Taliban and al-Qaida.ITALY-POPEUPDATE: Pope leaves hospital after breaking wristAOSTA, Italy (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has left the hospital where he underwent surgery after breaking his right wrist in a fall in his Alpine vacation chalet.Benedict, 82, smiled broadly and waved to the crowd with his left hand as he climbed into his car outside the hospital in this northwestern Italian town. His right arm hung by his side, the cast hidden by his white vestments.Surgeons performed a 20-minute operation Friday to reduce the fracture, a procedure to realign the broken bone fragments. The surgery was performed under local anesthesia.A Vatican statement said the pope fell in his room in a nearby chalet overnight and despite the accident, celebrated Mass and had breakfast before going to the hospital.SPACE SHUTTLESolving the falling foam mysteryCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Space shuttle Endeavour will be docking with the international space station in a few hours. But first, the shuttle will have to perform a few maneuvers so the space station crew can take a series of photos.It's part of a routine effort to see if the shuttle suffered any damage from flying debris during Wednesday's launch.NASA is also trying to understand why a normally benign section of the fuel tank lost so much foam during liftoff.Shuttle program manager John Shannon says NASA needs "to understand what was going on for the next flight."Astronauts have already used the 100-foot robot boom to inspect the vehicle, but it doesn't reach everywhere.FLORIDA COUPLE SLAINFuneral today as investigation winds downPENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A slain Florida couple will be buried today, more than a week after they were shot during a home-invasion robbery.Byrd and Melanie Billings were the parents of four children and had adopted 13 others with special needs.Seven people have been charged in the murders. An eighth person has been charged with being an accessory after the fact.A state attorney says the case is mostly wrapped up, but the local sheriff says there are still people who investigators would like to interview.FLORIDA MANSION FIRENEW: Miami Beach 'castle' on fireMIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Miami Beach mansion is on fire.TV station CBS 4 is reporting that a home called the "North Bay Road castle" is on fire.Miami-Dade firefighters have been on the scene since about 8:30 a.m. and the home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. Because the home is on the water boats were assisting in fighting the fire.The home, built in 1925, has 10 bedrooms and more than 11-thousand square feet of living area.
No comments:
Post a Comment