U.S., Japan Release Joint Defense Posture Statement
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2012 – The United States and Japan have agreed to “delink†two aspects of the planned relocation of U.S. forces in Japan, according to a statement released today.
Most workers in Afghan brick kilns are bonded child laborers
8 February 2012 – A new United Nations-backed survey has found that most workers in Afghanistan’s brick kilns are bonded child labourers, and calls for a strategy that will both provide relief to bonded families and help them escape the cycles of debt, dependence and poverty.
Meet the Obscure Federal Regulator Who's Not Helping Homeowners
Last week, ProPublica and NPR raised questions about a risky investment strategy at Freddie Mac that would pay off if homeowners stayed trapped in expensive mortgages. It's just the latest example of how government-owned Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have frustrated many by not putting homeowners first.
Europe's Deadly Cold Snap Should Ease from Last Week
The current cold spell that has paralyzed much of Europe and reportedly killed almost 300 people over the past week should start to ease slowly from next week, a senior official at the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said today.