New York - Massive US insurance firm AIG is beginning to consider the sell-off of its assets following the Federal Reserve's 85-billion-dollar rescue loan, the New York Times reported on Thursday.
The Federal Reserve moved dramatically on Wednesday to rescue American International Group, taking on 80 per cent of the firm's shares in return for the loan. AIG is the world's largest insurance group.
The firm has received the loan in order to buy time for an orderly sale of assets, rather than dump them at fire sale prices, the newspaper said.
Nouakchott - The al-Qaeda terrorist network on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack on a Mauritanian military unit three days ago.
In a letter published on Islamist websites, al-Qaeda claimed the "jihadist brigades of Yahya Dshawadi, Prince of the Desert" had assaulted the soldiers near Zouerat in northern Mauritania and taken two of them hostage, among them a captain.
Initially, 12 soldiers had been reported missing after the attack.
Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday declared his readiness to have a televised debate with the two US presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain.
"I have no intention to officially meet American officials in New York, but I am ready for a televised debate with the two US presidential candidates at the UN," Ahmadinejad said at a press conference in Tehran.
"I had the same intention with [President George W] Bush," he said, referring to his two requests for such an encounter. They were rejected by the White House as propaganda.
Washington, Sep 18 : Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Vayalar Ravi has assured Christian leaders here that the government is keeping a close vigil on the recent spate of violence against the community in some parts of the country.
“The Government of India is in touch with the state government and has advised it to take strong measures to protect minority groups... and to suppress these brutal attacks,” said Ravi said while assuring the leaders.
“The Government of India is monitoring every day with the State Government so that there is no repeat of the incident,” he said.
Nouakchott - The al-Qaeda terrorist network on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack on a Mauritanian military unit three days ago.
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