International

Jetstar, AirAsia form low-cost alliance

In a world first for low-cost airlines, Jetstar and AirAsia announced Wednesday they would form a new alliance that would reduce costs and pool expertise, ultimately resulting in cheaper fares for both. The carriers said in a statement they would focus on cost reduction and potential savings.The statement said the...

Mexico announces capture of alleged drug lord

Mexican police announced they captured alleged drug loard Carlos Beltran Leyva, media reported Sunday. The undated photo shows Carlos Beltran Leyva. The Mexican Department of Public Safety on Jan. 2, 2010 announced in a statement that police have captured alleged drug lord, Carlos Beltran Leyva. The capture, made in the Sinaloa provincial capital of Culiacan,...

Hopes fade for Brazil mudslide survivors

Hopes are fading to rescue more mudslide survivors from Brazil’s worst mudslides that have so far killed at least 64 people, rescuers said.  Rescurers carry a victim’s body in Ilha Grande of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jan. 2, 2010.The death toll on the Grande Island and at Angra dos Reis was put at 39 and the remaining deaths occurred elsewhere...

Obama summons intel chiefs for security talks

U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington December 14, 2009 President Barack Obama on Thursday summoned U.S. intelligence chiefs to a meeting next week at the White House to discuss how to prevent a repeat of the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner on December 25. Seeking to quell criticism of his administration...

North Korea calls for end to hostile relations with US

North Korean border guards are seen marching in the truce village of Panmunjom, last month North Korea has called for an end to hostile relations with the United States in a New Year message, the official news agency KCNA reported. “The fundamental task for ensuring peace and stability on the Korean peninsula...

CIA probes Afghan base security after bomber kills 7

Map showing provinces in Afghanistan where five Candians and eight Americans were killed in two separate attacks on Wednesday and Tuesday The CIA vowed on Thursday to avenge the deaths of seven officers in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan and to investigate security breaches that allowed the second deadliest attack in agency history. ...

Oil settles above $79 on inventory drop

Oil prices settled above 79 U.S. dollars a barrel on Wednesday as another weekly decline in crude and distillate supplies offset a strengthening dollar. U.S. Energy Department Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that during the week ended on December 25, crude inventories dropped 1.54 million barrels to 326 million barrels, slightly less than...

U.S. gov’t provides 3.8 bln dollars of new capital to GMAC

The U.S. government announced on Wednesday that it will provide 3.8 billion dollars of new capital to help ailing auto and mortgage giant GMAC. The U.S. flag flies at the Burt GM auto dealer in Denver June 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters, File Photo)“Treasury will commit 3.8 billion dollars of new capital to GMAC rather than the 5.6 billion dollars originally...

Dollar rises amid positive economic reports

The dollar rose slightly against major currencies on Tuesday amid a couple of positive U.S. economic reports. The 10-city and 20-city composite indexes both rose 0.4 percent in October, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price report. Seasonally adjusted prices increased for the fifth straight month in October. Prices are up about 3.5 percent from their...

29 al-Qaeda suspects arrested in Yemen

Yemen had arrested 29 suspected al-Qaeda members and will continue to hunt down other members of the terror network, government officials said Monday. This picture shows Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on the runway after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Amsterdam on Friday, Dec. 25, 2009. A passenger aboard the plane set off firecrackers Friday, causing...