Spartan Echo

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — One of Smithfield Foods Inc.’s largest shareholders says a $4.72 billion takeover bid from China’s largest meat producer falls short of what the company would be worth if sold off piece by piece. In a letter to the Smithfield, Va.-based pork producer’s board of directors on Monday, June 17, the [...]

  MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Two people died early Friday, June 14,  after their ferry sank in Philippine waters, but 54 passengers and crew were saved when rescuers pulled them to safety. The ferry was going from Albay province in the center of the Philippines to the nearby province of Masbate when it sank. Coast [...]

  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns into a convoy carrying goods to the Afghan capital on Monday, June 17,  killing three drivers and wounding two others, an official said. Two of the container trucks caught fire and burned from the grenade blasts at about 2:30 a.m. on the [...]

  TEKANI, Bangladesh (AP) — Moushumi’s family now has one of the largest homes in their village — two bedrooms plus a living area with walls made of sturdy brick. Her father and brother will soon have a small business out front, selling furniture her dad will make. There will be money to pay for [...]

  WAYNESBORO, Va. (AP) — The smell of rubber rises into the air as the smoke bellows out. The roar reverberates through the chests of spectators as each car speeds off from the finish line. Little children grip their ears and follow with their eyes and the souped-up cars whiz by. Jim Southern’s favorite part [...]

    NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State volleyball program will hold a pair of summer camps from July 9-11 for players going into grades 6-12, an advanced skills camp as well as a camp stressing setting and defense. The advanced skills camps will take place July 9-10, and the setters and defense camp will [...]

  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s president landed in Qatar Sunday,  June 9 to discuss his country’s stalled peace process and the possible opening of a Taliban office in the Gulf state, officials said. Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai said President Hamid Karzai will not hold any talks with Taliban representatives now in Qatar. He will [...]

  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Seven Taliban fighters with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns launched a rare assault on NATO’s operational headquarters at the military section of Kabul’s international airport on Monday, June 10. All seven militants were killed. Their failed attack showed that despite an asphyxiating security blanket around the capital, Afghanistan’s insurgency is [...]

    BANGKOK (AP) — Thai police found 14 albino lions imported from Africa and hundreds of other protected animals in a warehouse near Bangkok and have arrested a pet shop owner. Birds, meerkats, tortoises, peafowls, capuchin monkeys and other species from overseas and Thailand were found at the warehouse, police Col. Ek Ekasart said. [...]

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — As someone who knows chickens, talks to them — yes, talks to them and listens — and is a great advocate for what they mean to the food supply, the environment and human health, Pat Foreman is somewhat underwhelmed by Richmond’s new backyard poultry regulations. The much-talked about regulations do [...]

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The courts have spoken, and former Navy SEAL trainee Dustin Turner remains locked up for a 1995 slaying that another man has confessed to committing alone. Not content to let the Virginia Supreme Court have the final word, a Richmond filmmaker and former Navy special warfare operator is putting the [...]