Posts Tagged ‘Politics’
Russian tanker reaches ice-bound Alaskan port
By Alissa de Carbonnel MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian tanker escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard reached the frozen Alaskan port of Nome with emergency fuel supplies on Friday after a 10-day voyage through ice-choked seas, the Russian company that owns the vessel said. The mission to Nome is the first mid-winter marine delivery to western Alaska and comes as oil and gas development and climate change increase commercial traffic along trade routes in the Arctic. The Russian ship, the Renda, got an exemption last month from U.S. maritime law for the journey after the city of 3,600 missed its final scheduled barge delivery before winter when one of the worst storms in decades swept the northwest coastal town. "The Renda has reached Nome. It has stopped 8 miles out at the edge [...]
Obama Asks Congress for Debt Ceiling Hike
President Obama formally notified Congress on Thursday of his intent to raise the nation’s debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion, two weeks after he had postponed the request to give lawmakers more time to consider the action.Congress will have had 15 days to say no before the nation’s debt ceiling automatically is raised from $15.2 trillion to $16.4 trillion.In a letter to House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), Obama wrote that ”further borrowing is required to meet existing commitments.”Obama had sought to make the request at the end of last month, when the Treasury came within $100 billion of its borrowing limit. However, with Congress on recess, lawmakers from both parties asked the president to hold off. The House is out of session until Jan. 17, and the Senate until Jan. 23.Since [...]
SANTORUM PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 13 – 15
Mt. Pleasant, SC – Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum will continue his South Carolina campaign swing Friday, January 13. Open press events are noted below, all times are local. Friday, January 13:10:00am ET: Senator Santorum will host a “Faith, Family and Freedom” Town Hall in Rock Hill, SC. Location:The Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek4017 Laurel Creek DriveRock Hill, SC 12:30pm ET: Senator Santorum will meet-and-greet with patrons at Popes at the White House in York, SC. Location:Popes at the White House1712 York HighwayYork, SC 2:30pm ET: Senator Santorum will host a cookout in Gaffney, SC. Location:1513 West Floyd Baker BoulevardGaffney, SC 6:30pm ET: Senator Santorum will attend the Spartanburg GOP Bronze Elephant Dinner [...]
Japan’s PM reshuffles Cabinet to win tax support
Tweet Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda replaced five members of his Cabinet on Friday in a bid to win more cooperation from the opposition to raise the sales tax and rein in the country's bulging fiscal deficit.Two of the removed ministers had been censured by the opposition for making comments that were deemed inappropriate. Twelve posts were unchanged, including finance and foreign minister.Noda, who took office in September, says Japan urgently needs to take steps to reduce its debt burden as the nation ages and its labor force shrinks, putting a greater burden on the social security and tax system.He has promised to submit a bill in the next parliamentary session to raise the 5 percent sales tax [...]
Official: NKorea test-fired short-range missiles
Tweet A South Korean official says North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles earlier this week in an apparent routine test of its technology.The Defense Ministry official said the North fired three KN-02 missiles into its eastern waters on Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office policy. The missiles have a range of about 75 miles (120 kilometers).Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper first reported the tests.North Korea regularly conducts short-range missile tests. The latest come as North Korea tries to consolidate new leader Kim Jong Un's grip on power after his father Kim Jong Il's Dec. 17 death.North Korea conducted a short-range missile test hours after [...]