WORLD

Stimulus now, but is austerity even possible later?

Nancy Pelosi
The United States, which has not yet been punished by bond vigilantes for its enormous public debt, is keeping fiscal stimulus policies intact for the short-term. While many economists support this decision, the key question is if it will be able to enact necessary fiscal austerity measures in the future.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke listens to questions as he testifies before a House Financial Services hearing on the "Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy" on Capitol Hill in Washington

What exactly is QE2?

Michael Yoshikami, president and chief investment officer of YCMNET Advisors in Walnut Creek, Calif. discusses what exactly QE is, why it may be needed and its potential impact.
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Molycrop signs rare earth pact with Ames Lab

China denies blocking rare earth shipments to US, Europe

China's Commerce Ministry denied the New York Times report stating the government has extended block on shipments of rare earth to include the United States and Europe, other than Japan, a Bloomberg report said, citing a faxed response from the Ministry.
Employees at call centre provide service support to customers in the northeastern Indian city of Siliguri

The allure of outsourcing too powerful for U.S. companies to resist

One of the predominant economic issues of our day has to do with the “offshoring” or “outsourcing” of American jobs overseas, particularly to developing economies like India and China where costs of labor are significantly less, thereby undermining efforts to reduce the stubbornly high U.S. jobless rate (currently at 9.6 percent)
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee listens to a question during a news conference in New Delhi May 27, 2009. The government said on Tuesday it would seek again to reach agreement on a controversial increase in fuel prices to help improve its fiscal positio

Finance Minister Welcomes RBI's Decision

The Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee has appreciated that the monetary policy tightening by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its mid quarterly policy review by increasing interest rates.
Japanese 10,000 yen notes are spread out at Interbank Inc. money exchange in Tokyo

BOJ intervention: will it work?

Analysts generally think BOJ's intervention was well executed and will perhaps work in the short-run. The long-term effectiveness, however, is uncertain.
Elderly people visit a public garden in Tokyo

Why Japan 'allowed' deflation

To some degree, Japan allowed deflation, or at least they did not choose extremely aggressive policies to fight it. This is largely due to the influence of Japanese constituents who own fixed income, which would devalue in the face of inflation.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (L) and Aijalon Mahli Gomes (2nd R) talk before they leave Sunan airport in Pyongyang August 27, 2010.

Carter gets teacher released from North Korea

Former President Jimmy Carter procured the release of 31-year-old American English teacher, Ajilon Gomes, from imprisonment in North Korea. Carter and Gomes left Pyongyang, North Korea, yesterday and Gomes is expected to be reunited with his mother and other family members in Boston today.
A French High Speed Train (TGV) arrives at Marseille's railway station during a national strike.

U.S. high-speed railway: a matter of cost and demand

The federal government has committed at least $8-billion (and counting) for the development of a nationwide high-speed intercity passenger railway system in almost three-dozen states. Rail advocates have long dreamed of an extensive railway grid that will provide clean, speedy, energy-efficient travel.
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US, an enemy to most Pakistanis: poll

Most of the people in Pakistan view the US as an enemy and see a significant threat from India though extremist groups are active in the country, said a poll from Pew Research Centre
The Facebook logo is shown at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California.

Social media and the job hunt

The use of social media applications is becoming a popular tool for both employers and job seekers, especially those fresh out of college, to gather critical information and accumulate valuable contacts.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) speaks to the media

No unemployment insurance extension until at least July 12

The U.S. Senate went on Fourth of July recess Friday without passing an extension to unemployment insurance. The 1.2 million people who saw their unemployment benefits end on July 1 will have to wait until at least July 12, when the Senators return to Washington.
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Pope's shame and remorse over Irish child sex abuse

Pope Benedict apologized on Saturday to victims of child sex abuse by clergy in Ireland and ordered an official inquiry there to try to stem a scandal gripping the Catholic Church which has swept across Europe.
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Thai protests fizzle, but political row deepens

A mass anti-government rally in Thailand appears to be fizzling. Tens of thousands have returned to their farms. They drew nowhere near the promised million protesters. The premier rebuffed their demands for elections.

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