Japan says it will provide $60 billion in loans to the International Monetary Fund to boost its efforts to contain the European sovereign debt crisis. Finance Minister Jun Azumi revealed the plan Tuesday during a news conference in Tokyo, making Japan the first non-European country to commit additional resources to the IMF. Eurozone countries have […]
US Senate Republicans Block Millionaire Tax Plan
Posted April 17th, 2012 at 12:40 am (UTC-5)
Republicans in the U.S. Senate have blocked a bill that would have imposed a new minimum tax rate on millionaires, a plan President Barack Obama has pushed as both parties present election-year proposals on taxes and the economy. The Senate voted 51-45 largely along party lines Monday, with majority Democrats not able to get the […]
Pentagon: Haqqani Network Likely Behind Afghan Attacks
Posted April 17th, 2012 at 12:25 am (UTC-5)
The Pentagon says the Pakistani-based militant Haqqani network was likely behind the coordinated attacks across Afghanistan that claimed the lives of four civilians, 11 Afghan security personnel and 36 insurgents. Fighting in the Afghan capital and three eastern provinces began Sunday afternoon and ended nearly 18 hours later early Monday. The Taliban claimed responsibility for […]
UN Security Council Toughens N.Korea Sanctions
Posted April 17th, 2012 at 12:05 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned North Korea for its attempted launch of a long-range rocket last week, and agreed to impose new sanctions on the increasingly isolated nation. The council unanimously adopted what is known as a “presidential statement,” which called Friday’s launch “a serious violation of existing Security Council resolutions” aimed at […]
Australian PM Sets Early Date for Afghan Pullout
Posted April 17th, 2012 at 12:05 am (UTC-5)
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her country’s troops will withdraw from Afghanistan in mid-2013, one year earlier than previously planned. Ms. Gillard announced the accelerated withdrawal Tuesday. She said the pullout will begin after Afghan President Hamid Karzai declares that Afghan forces will assume security responsibilities in Uruzgan province, where 1,550 Australian troops are […]
