3xwy Blog

The opium trade in Afghanistan is a key source of income for the Taliban. The group uses the money to carry out suicide bombings and other attacks. But a team of Afghan police commandos is working around the clock to cut off this dangerous funding source.

Tens of thousands of red-shirted protesters rallied in Thailand’s capital Sunday to press their demand that the government dissolve Parliament or face massive demonstrations at key locations in the city.

Thousands of red-shirted anti-government protesters converged on the Thai capital Saturday, giving the government an ultimatum to dissolve Parliament or face mass marches on key spots in the city.

AP – Turkey says it and the International Monetary Fund have mutually agreed to call off talks for a loan.

PR Newswire – WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz delivered the keynote address yesterday at the inauguration of the annual session of the Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council). His speech addressed a variety of issues, including employment, education, counterterrorism, women’s rights, economic policies, oil prices, the Arab-Israeli conflict and humanitarian aid. The audience included members of the Saudi royal family, foreign diplomats, ministers and senior government officials.

AP – A key lawmaker says he is working with banks, regulators and the Obama administration on ways to boost the government’s struggling foreclosure prevention effort.

The move came minutes after the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution declaring the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I “genocide.” Turkey, a NATO ally, had warned that the resolution’s approval could jeopardize U.S.-Turkish cooperation and set back talks aimed at opening the Turkey-Armenia border.

AP – Greece has announced a new euro4.8 billion (US$6.5 billion) austerity package to deal with the financial crisis. Here is a summary of some of the key measures:

Reuters – Toyota Motor Corp President Akio Toyoda sought to ease quality concerns during a low-key visit to China on Monday, fresh from a grueling hearing in the U.S. Congress over his company’s biggest safety crisis.

Reuters – Two key Republicans are urging the House of Representatives to speed up a public hearing to investigate the administration’s bailout of home funding giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.