0 Easy Fed Softens Fiscal Policy Punch on Economy

The Federal Reserve’s aggressive easing of monetary policy is proving surprisingly effective at blunting the blow to the US economy from tighter fiscal policy, according to economists who have been scrambling to raise their growth forecasts. Economists had feared higher taxes and deep government spending cuts would stunt growth in the first quarter, but a string of strong economic data has so far proven them wrong. And they mostly blame the Fed. “Monetary policy is beginning to gain some traction here,” said Tom Higgins, global macro strategist at Standish Mellon Asset Management in Boston. According to Higgins, if it were not for the monetary...

0 France's Sarkozy Charged in Probe of Illegal Party Funding

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with taking financial advantage of France's richest woman, as part of a probe into illegal party funding that could shatter his hopes of a political comeback. His lawyers said they would appeal against the decision to formally investigate Sarkozy over allegations he took advantage of elderly L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt when she was weakened by poor health.  He was unexpectedly summoned on Thursday to the Bordeaux offices of Jean-Michel Gentil, the judge in charge of the case, for face-to-face encounters with at least four former members of Bettencourt's staff. The surprise confrontation...

0 Southeast Asia Human Rights 'Stagnating': US Officials

US officials voiced concern on Thursday about human rights in fast-growing Southeast Asian nations, pointing to a lack of progress in many places and a worsening situation in some. As the United States (US) pursues its rebalance toward Asia, it is also paying greater attention to human rights in many countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, State Department officials told lawmakers. "Human rights is one of the more difficult issues we raise with our partners, but we must raise them," Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian Affairs Joseph Yun told a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee.  In November, Southeast Asian leaders...

0 Football: After Boateng, Italy Looks to Long Fight with Racism

It took a defiant gesture to reignite the debate on one of Italian sport's biggest demons, but the fight to rid football of racism in Serie A could be just beginning. On Friday Kevin-Prince Boateng, a German-born Ghanaian who plays for Serie A giants AC Milan, will hold talks with FIFA president Sepp Blatter. However football tactics or Ghana's recent showing at the Africa Cup of Nations are likely to give way to discussion of one of the scourges of the modern game.  In a January friendly against Pro Patria, Boateng and two other black teammates suffered racist abuse from a small group of fans of the side from Busto Arsizio outside Milan....

0 Hospitality Panel Names Best Hotels in Indonesia

A panel of hospitality industry leaders and consultants has revealed the nine best hotels in the country under the inaugural Hospitality Investment World Indonesia Hotel Awards competition. The awards were grouped under three main categories and the winners were decided by a panel that evaluated 61 nominations, a statement from the organizers obtained in Jakarta on Friday said. In the hotel brands category, Accor was named best global hotel chain, Santika Indonesia Hotels & Resorts won best local hotel chain, Harris Hotel took home best mid-range hotel chain and best economy hotel chain went to Fave Hotel.  In the individual property...