The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday asked a federal court to force HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC, HSBA.LN, 0005.HK) to reveal the names of U.S. customers suspected of having secret bank accounts in India.
The move opens up a new front in the U.S. crackdown on tax evasion and comes days before the April deadline for taxpayers to file individual returns. Previous cases focused on Americans with Swiss bank accounts.
In court documents, the Justice Department said HSBC bankers told prospective clients that, as a foreign bank, HSBC's India operations wouldn't disclose their accounts to the Internal Revenue Service. Armed with that knowledge, U.S. customers 'have been able to maintain these foreign accounts with reasonable confidence that the IRS would not discover them,' government lawyers alleged.
Thousands of U.S. taxpayers of Indian origin have opened up accounts with HSBC in India since 2002, when the bank allegedly began soliciting their business, according to the U.S. government. It asked a San Francisco court to allow the IRS to serve a so-called 'John Doe' summons against the U.K.-based bank's U.S. unit, HSBC USA, to get the names of its U.S. clients with Indian accounts.
U.S. law requires U.S. taxpayers to declare their global income and any foreign bank accounts with more than $10,000 during that tax year.
According to court documents, HSBC informed the IRS last September that at least 9,000 U.S. 'premier' clients-high-net-worth customers-had deposits with HSBC's Indian bank. The government said 2009 bank figures showed that U.S. resident premier clients had Indian deposits of nearly $400 million.
U.S. officials said that as of 2009, U.S. taxpayers had only disclosed 1,921 accounts in India. The IRS is seeking client information on premier accounts as well as standard accounts maintained for less-wealthy customers.
The government's long-running probe against secret bank accounts led Swiss banking giant UBS AG (UBS, UBSN.VX) to admit in February 2009 to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government of billions in taxes by helping wealthy Americans hide assets. The bank paid $780 million in a deal to avoid prosecution and eventually released the names of more than 4,000 U.S. clients.
In February, the IRS announced a new leniency program that offers reduced penalties to tax scofflaws that voluntarily report their offshore accounts. The agency offered a similar one in 2009 in the wake of the U.S. case against UBS that brought in more than 15,000 disclosures.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
China Skims Milk Producers
China is ordering half of its dairy producers to close shop in effort to tidy up the country's tainted milk industry and to usher in a new era of consumer safety. After a recent nationwide inspection of matters milk-related, China's top quality control body รข ' the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine -- is pulling operating licenses from 426 dairy producers and suspending operations for 107 more, state-run China Daily reports.
The closures and suspensions account for nearly half of China's 1,176 domestic dairy producers, the China Daily said, though the newspaper did not cite specific reasons for license termination.
Nearly 80% of the country's 145 producers of infant formula, large quantities of which were found to contain the industrial chemical melamine in 2008, passed inspection.
Tighter supervision of dairy production comes as China's safety regulators attempt shore up an industry that has suffered crippling safety problems.
The 2008 melamine scandal killed at least six children and caused illnesses in nearly 300,000 others. Chinese consumers responded by avoiding locally-produced milk products. Dairy imports jumped from 120,000 tons in 2008 to 600,000 in 2009, according to state media. Nearly three years after the incident, consumers continue to flock to import dairy products on the assumption that they are safer.
The fears go beyond dairy. A recent survey conducted by Insight China, a magazine, and Tsinghua University's Media Survey Lab found that 70% of consumers fear food safety in China. Many are suspicious of meat quality and even materials used in food packaging. Around 50% of consumers feel the government should increase its oversight, the survey said.
The central government is making a broad push to respond to those fears. In February it announced a campaign to improve oversight of food processing, circulation, service, and additives.
But many believe China has a long way to go in its effort to protect consumers. Despite frequently threatening food safety violators with the death penalty and having executed two milk producers in the melamine scandal, problems persist.
In late-March a supplier of the country's largest meat processor found that pigs it had purchased had been fed clenbuterol, an illegal additive that helps pigs develop lean muscle but causes nausea and headaches in humans. Meanwhile, despite all the crackdowns and criminal penalties, melamine continues to pop up in the country's dairy supply.
The closures and suspensions account for nearly half of China's 1,176 domestic dairy producers, the China Daily said, though the newspaper did not cite specific reasons for license termination.
Nearly 80% of the country's 145 producers of infant formula, large quantities of which were found to contain the industrial chemical melamine in 2008, passed inspection.
Tighter supervision of dairy production comes as China's safety regulators attempt shore up an industry that has suffered crippling safety problems.
The 2008 melamine scandal killed at least six children and caused illnesses in nearly 300,000 others. Chinese consumers responded by avoiding locally-produced milk products. Dairy imports jumped from 120,000 tons in 2008 to 600,000 in 2009, according to state media. Nearly three years after the incident, consumers continue to flock to import dairy products on the assumption that they are safer.
The fears go beyond dairy. A recent survey conducted by Insight China, a magazine, and Tsinghua University's Media Survey Lab found that 70% of consumers fear food safety in China. Many are suspicious of meat quality and even materials used in food packaging. Around 50% of consumers feel the government should increase its oversight, the survey said.
The central government is making a broad push to respond to those fears. In February it announced a campaign to improve oversight of food processing, circulation, service, and additives.
But many believe China has a long way to go in its effort to protect consumers. Despite frequently threatening food safety violators with the death penalty and having executed two milk producers in the melamine scandal, problems persist.
In late-March a supplier of the country's largest meat processor found that pigs it had purchased had been fed clenbuterol, an illegal additive that helps pigs develop lean muscle but causes nausea and headaches in humans. Meanwhile, despite all the crackdowns and criminal penalties, melamine continues to pop up in the country's dairy supply.
Monday, March 21, 2011
China will launch a space laboratory by 2016
A Chinese senior space technology expert said Thursday that China is expected to launch its first space laboratory before 2016.
A Chinese senior space technology expert said Thursday that China is expected to launch its first space laboratory before 2016.
"With the technological program ready, the lab's research and development are going smoothly," Qi Faren, former chief designer of Shenzhou spaceships, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
As the second phase of China's manned space program, the lab, likely to be named Tiangong-2, will gradually be developed into the core module or experiment module, said Qi.
China is to launch its first unmanned space module, Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace, in the second half of 2011, serving as a platform for spacecraft to rendezvous and dock - allowing for the building of the space station.
China will have its own space station before 2020, said Qi, a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, before the annual session of the country's top political advisory body, which is scheduled to open Thursday.
A Chinese senior space technology expert said Thursday that China is expected to launch its first space laboratory before 2016.
"With the technological program ready, the lab's research and development are going smoothly," Qi Faren, former chief designer of Shenzhou spaceships, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
As the second phase of China's manned space program, the lab, likely to be named Tiangong-2, will gradually be developed into the core module or experiment module, said Qi.
China is to launch its first unmanned space module, Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace, in the second half of 2011, serving as a platform for spacecraft to rendezvous and dock - allowing for the building of the space station.
China will have its own space station before 2020, said Qi, a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, before the annual session of the country's top political advisory body, which is scheduled to open Thursday.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Apple iPhone: China Telecom Next?
The Apple rumor mill will not be silenced by the mere appearance of an actual announcement on the next step for the hot-selling Apple iPhone in the states.
Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White writes Monday “in the past, we have indicated that we believe China Telecom is likely to carry the iPhone shortly after a deal is struck with Verizon. With 88 million wireless subscribers on its CDMA network, China Telecom is nearly the size of Verizon.”
China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. is currently only network operator in China to offer the iPhone, The Wall Street Journal’s Owen Fletcher reported back in September. The iPhone 4 went on sale in China about three months after its introduction in the U.S. and several other countries in late June. That compares with a lag of 28 months between the original iPhone’s U.S. introduction and the first authorized iPhone sales in China.
Apple was China’s fifth-largest smartphone vendor in the third quarter with a 5.9% share of unit sales, but the iPhone 4 is likely to boost its fourth-quarter sales, said Beijing research firm Analysys International. Nokia Corp. had the largest share of China’s smartphone market in the third quarter at 23.5%, according to Analysys, The Journal reports.
As The Journal’s Loretta Chao reported back in June, China’s three state-owned mobile operators, China Mobile Ltd., China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. and China Telecom Corp., are beginning to gain 3G subscribers after a long regulatory delay. According to government statistics, China as of April 2010 had 786.5 million mobile subscribers, the most in the world.
Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White writes Monday “in the past, we have indicated that we believe China Telecom is likely to carry the iPhone shortly after a deal is struck with Verizon. With 88 million wireless subscribers on its CDMA network, China Telecom is nearly the size of Verizon.”
China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. is currently only network operator in China to offer the iPhone, The Wall Street Journal’s Owen Fletcher reported back in September. The iPhone 4 went on sale in China about three months after its introduction in the U.S. and several other countries in late June. That compares with a lag of 28 months between the original iPhone’s U.S. introduction and the first authorized iPhone sales in China.
Apple was China’s fifth-largest smartphone vendor in the third quarter with a 5.9% share of unit sales, but the iPhone 4 is likely to boost its fourth-quarter sales, said Beijing research firm Analysys International. Nokia Corp. had the largest share of China’s smartphone market in the third quarter at 23.5%, according to Analysys, The Journal reports.
As The Journal’s Loretta Chao reported back in June, China’s three state-owned mobile operators, China Mobile Ltd., China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. and China Telecom Corp., are beginning to gain 3G subscribers after a long regulatory delay. According to government statistics, China as of April 2010 had 786.5 million mobile subscribers, the most in the world.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
We Woof You A Merry Christmas
Laura Henderson's photo Christmas card shoot requires professional lighting, multiple poses in the living room couch and tries a bunch of dried chicken-strip.
A close-up shot in the head of Fozzy, Ms. Henderson retriever flat coat and border collie mix, is available in the 100 letters he wrote to his friends and family this month.
"People who know us know how Fozzy is the center of our lives," says Ms. Henderson, a fund of 39 years, funds for nonprofit organizations in San Jose, California Fozzy included his own greetings the pets of recipients, even cats, Ms. Henderson says. "I use my left hand so it looks like he did," he says.
Dogs and cats are joined in the annual ritual of sending greetings of the season. card manufacturers are deploying designs that allow people to send letters of their pets to celebrate almost every occasion humans.
"Pets have become important spokespeople for us within our families," says Rochelle Lulow, editorial creative director of American Greetings Corp. He gets to see and hear what everyone is doing and have their own thoughts and , -. We would like to think that's what these smart cards "
A new card this year says American Greetings' Christmas Meowy - It only takes a moment to meow, 'I love you', but I'll have nine lives to show how much! Another says: "You're the one who fills my empty bowl, which always has time to throw my ball and scratches behind the ears", illustrated with a picture of a bone attached tape.
"They are saying what they want to hear," says Ms. Lulow. "We like to think about what they are thinking and what they would like to tell us."
Cards are also available for shipping to domestic animals, such as Hallmark Cards Inc., which says: "For a large cat." Inside is the sentiment: "This Christmas, I hope all your dreams come true"
Get-and dogs cards to send to each other are big sellers in Godfrey's "Welcome to the store in dogdom Mohnton, Pa." We have a playground here, so dogs really meet other dogs, " Store owner Barb Emmett. "If a dog is injured or ill you want to send letters to each other."
Thank you cards are also popular. "The dogs sent to your hairdresser, trainer, veterinarian and caregiver, especially during the holidays," says Ms. Emmett. "I have a selection of Mother's Day and Father's Day cards from the dog, but I want it to be bigger next year."
Label specialists Tiny Prints stationery online usually take calls on how to properly address wedding invitations. But lately, the company is getting calls from pet owners seeking advice on appropriate ways to include animals in their holiday cards.
"It is recommended to put the name of dog or cat in parentheses to be playful," says Anna Fieler, president Tiny Prints' marketing vice. But if the dog has been a member of the family for a long time, many people do not feel the need to qualify and only list the name of the pet.
Dealing cards to pet a receiver can relieve potential minefield of blended families with multiple surnames, Ms. Fieler says a recommended client. "Pets do not have surnames, so you can deflect any type of stress.
Tiny Prints begun to take specific pet greetings after realizing the adaptation of the human card customers for their dogs and cats. Now, the Sunnyvale, California-based company sells pet birth announcements and party invitations. Valentine's Day cards from pets are in the works for next year.
Dog Speak Cards, based in Wilmington, North Carolina, sold their holiday cards in November, says Connie Hillmann, owner and assistant general manager, who is his dog, Kirby. The 'Tips for holiday dogs' card includes advice like "act like you enjoy kissing families" and "avoid drooling during Christmas dinner."
50% of dog Speak cards are written in the voice of a dog, including misspellings like "birfdaaa Happee. Mrs. Hillman said that the company's sales have doubled in each of the five years he has been in the business.
Creation of personal pet costume often includes ambitious. Sandy Groth Dorchester, Wisconsin, spent three weeks sewing elf and Santa Claus outfit for her three cats, but refused to wear dresses with boots attached. Now, with Christmas fast approaching, 55 years old, Ms. Groth is cut up elf and Santa hats instead. "I'm at my wits end," he says.
Ms. Groth horse will wear the same suit as last year. "No reindeer antlers cares," she says.
Bark Pet Photography in Los Angeles seeks to provide a minimum dogs look for their photo sessions' Howliday. "We avoid the dog in a basket with elf ears," says co-owner and photographer Kim Rodgers. "We prefer to focus on personality in place."
Hallmark also encourages pet costumes to include photos of them in the designs shown on their website, where consumers create their own cards. Dressing up pets sometimes brings benefits beyond the humor. "Costumes for pets can help integrate interfaith families - maybe a dog or cat has a menorah in the head," says Olivia Cytrynowicz, editorial director of Hallmark greeting custom.
pet Hallmark cards, including greetings like "Happy Mew Year" and "Happy more Yips," try to avoid too serious or sentimental messages, she says. However, the company sells a signature 'Love', followed by a paw print cat.
Some can not resist bragging a little in a Christmas letter. Bean, Golden Retriever 15 months old, Jim and Michelle Drager, who are owners of a strategic planning firm in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, sent his own Christmas letter to the other seven members of the litter who are now living with their respective owners.
Highlights of the year Bean: jump in the snow, learning to swim and hunt pheasants. "Still I have a fetish carpet and chew every corner," Bean confessed. "He keeps humans from the purchase of a new one."
The letter includes an update on the family. "Michael and Megan (my fellow humans) are doing great!" Bean added to your canine clan hopes "Santa Paws brings you everything you wish for this year." He also asked them to stay in touch.
A close-up shot in the head of Fozzy, Ms. Henderson retriever flat coat and border collie mix, is available in the 100 letters he wrote to his friends and family this month.
"People who know us know how Fozzy is the center of our lives," says Ms. Henderson, a fund of 39 years, funds for nonprofit organizations in San Jose, California Fozzy included his own greetings the pets of recipients, even cats, Ms. Henderson says. "I use my left hand so it looks like he did," he says.
Dogs and cats are joined in the annual ritual of sending greetings of the season. card manufacturers are deploying designs that allow people to send letters of their pets to celebrate almost every occasion humans.
"Pets have become important spokespeople for us within our families," says Rochelle Lulow, editorial creative director of American Greetings Corp. He gets to see and hear what everyone is doing and have their own thoughts and , -. We would like to think that's what these smart cards "
A new card this year says American Greetings' Christmas Meowy - It only takes a moment to meow, 'I love you', but I'll have nine lives to show how much! Another says: "You're the one who fills my empty bowl, which always has time to throw my ball and scratches behind the ears", illustrated with a picture of a bone attached tape.
"They are saying what they want to hear," says Ms. Lulow. "We like to think about what they are thinking and what they would like to tell us."
Cards are also available for shipping to domestic animals, such as Hallmark Cards Inc., which says: "For a large cat." Inside is the sentiment: "This Christmas, I hope all your dreams come true"
Get-and dogs cards to send to each other are big sellers in Godfrey's "Welcome to the store in dogdom Mohnton, Pa." We have a playground here, so dogs really meet other dogs, " Store owner Barb Emmett. "If a dog is injured or ill you want to send letters to each other."
Thank you cards are also popular. "The dogs sent to your hairdresser, trainer, veterinarian and caregiver, especially during the holidays," says Ms. Emmett. "I have a selection of Mother's Day and Father's Day cards from the dog, but I want it to be bigger next year."
Label specialists Tiny Prints stationery online usually take calls on how to properly address wedding invitations. But lately, the company is getting calls from pet owners seeking advice on appropriate ways to include animals in their holiday cards.
"It is recommended to put the name of dog or cat in parentheses to be playful," says Anna Fieler, president Tiny Prints' marketing vice. But if the dog has been a member of the family for a long time, many people do not feel the need to qualify and only list the name of the pet.
Dealing cards to pet a receiver can relieve potential minefield of blended families with multiple surnames, Ms. Fieler says a recommended client. "Pets do not have surnames, so you can deflect any type of stress.
Tiny Prints begun to take specific pet greetings after realizing the adaptation of the human card customers for their dogs and cats. Now, the Sunnyvale, California-based company sells pet birth announcements and party invitations. Valentine's Day cards from pets are in the works for next year.
Dog Speak Cards, based in Wilmington, North Carolina, sold their holiday cards in November, says Connie Hillmann, owner and assistant general manager, who is his dog, Kirby. The 'Tips for holiday dogs' card includes advice like "act like you enjoy kissing families" and "avoid drooling during Christmas dinner."
50% of dog Speak cards are written in the voice of a dog, including misspellings like "birfdaaa Happee. Mrs. Hillman said that the company's sales have doubled in each of the five years he has been in the business.
Creation of personal pet costume often includes ambitious. Sandy Groth Dorchester, Wisconsin, spent three weeks sewing elf and Santa Claus outfit for her three cats, but refused to wear dresses with boots attached. Now, with Christmas fast approaching, 55 years old, Ms. Groth is cut up elf and Santa hats instead. "I'm at my wits end," he says.
Ms. Groth horse will wear the same suit as last year. "No reindeer antlers cares," she says.
Bark Pet Photography in Los Angeles seeks to provide a minimum dogs look for their photo sessions' Howliday. "We avoid the dog in a basket with elf ears," says co-owner and photographer Kim Rodgers. "We prefer to focus on personality in place."
Hallmark also encourages pet costumes to include photos of them in the designs shown on their website, where consumers create their own cards. Dressing up pets sometimes brings benefits beyond the humor. "Costumes for pets can help integrate interfaith families - maybe a dog or cat has a menorah in the head," says Olivia Cytrynowicz, editorial director of Hallmark greeting custom.
pet Hallmark cards, including greetings like "Happy Mew Year" and "Happy more Yips," try to avoid too serious or sentimental messages, she says. However, the company sells a signature 'Love', followed by a paw print cat.
Some can not resist bragging a little in a Christmas letter. Bean, Golden Retriever 15 months old, Jim and Michelle Drager, who are owners of a strategic planning firm in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, sent his own Christmas letter to the other seven members of the litter who are now living with their respective owners.
Highlights of the year Bean: jump in the snow, learning to swim and hunt pheasants. "Still I have a fetish carpet and chew every corner," Bean confessed. "He keeps humans from the purchase of a new one."
The letter includes an update on the family. "Michael and Megan (my fellow humans) are doing great!" Bean added to your canine clan hopes "Santa Paws brings you everything you wish for this year." He also asked them to stay in touch.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Influence of Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino Waning, Observers Say
Former president Corazon Aquino is revered in the Philippines as the symbol of the ouster of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. But Mrs. Aquino's repeated calls for the resignation of incumbent President Gloria Arroyo, over allegations of election fraud, have so far gone unheeded. The iconic former president's influence appears to be waning.
Last week, former president Corazon Aquino, the woman who sparked a revolt that toppled a dictatorship, joined politicians and businessmen calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The calls followed allegations that Mrs. Arroyo had rigged the 2004 presidential elections in her favor.
Many thought that with that, Mrs. Arroyo's days were numbered.
But the public did not take to the streets by the hundreds of thousands to demand Mrs. Arroyo step down, as they had done with two of her predecessors.
In 1986, Mrs. Aquino was the grieving widow of Benigno Aquino, Ferdinand Marcos's leading rival, who was gunned down as he returned to Manila from exile. Along with the late Cardinal Jaime Sin, Mr. Aquino called on the people to take to the streets, and they forced Mr. Marcos to flee the country in a movement that would come to be known as "People Power."
Mrs. Aquino again called the people into the streets in 2001, a move that resulted in the forced resignation of President Joseph Estrada, who was accused of massive corruption.
Political analyst Joel Rocamora, director of the private Institute for Popular Democracy, says Mrs. Aquino, widely known as Cory, listened to the wrong people this time and miscalculated the political situation.
"The people who put those things together thought that they would be enough to bring president Arroyo down, force her to resign, as it turned out, they were wrong," he said. "And I think Cory brought into that way of looking at things. I think she was made to believe if she joined the groups, she would be on the winning side."
Mrs. Aquino is a deeply religious Roman Catholic with a strong sense of right and wrong. She says she feels compelled to speak out for what she believes, no matter the cost.
"From time immemorial, I have not said anything that would command universal acceptance," she noted. "But I believe so long as I do what I believe is right, so long as I say what I believe is right for our country, then I will just accept whatever flack, whatever ugly things they will say about me."
But even if Mrs. Aquino does not have the same kind of influence she once had over Philippine political life, Mr. Rocamora says she still wields significant clout, and should not be underestimated.
"Her magic has always been with a specific segment of the population," said Mr. Rocamora. "That is the upper-middle class to upper class, and I think in that segment of the population she's still seen as a moral leader."
For the moment, Mrs. Arroyo seems to have beaten the move to force her out. But analysts say the tide could again turn against her, in which case Corazon Aquino would be seen to have chosen the right side after all.
Last week, former president Corazon Aquino, the woman who sparked a revolt that toppled a dictatorship, joined politicians and businessmen calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The calls followed allegations that Mrs. Arroyo had rigged the 2004 presidential elections in her favor.
Many thought that with that, Mrs. Arroyo's days were numbered.
But the public did not take to the streets by the hundreds of thousands to demand Mrs. Arroyo step down, as they had done with two of her predecessors.
In 1986, Mrs. Aquino was the grieving widow of Benigno Aquino, Ferdinand Marcos's leading rival, who was gunned down as he returned to Manila from exile. Along with the late Cardinal Jaime Sin, Mr. Aquino called on the people to take to the streets, and they forced Mr. Marcos to flee the country in a movement that would come to be known as "People Power."
Mrs. Aquino again called the people into the streets in 2001, a move that resulted in the forced resignation of President Joseph Estrada, who was accused of massive corruption.
Political analyst Joel Rocamora, director of the private Institute for Popular Democracy, says Mrs. Aquino, widely known as Cory, listened to the wrong people this time and miscalculated the political situation.
"The people who put those things together thought that they would be enough to bring president Arroyo down, force her to resign, as it turned out, they were wrong," he said. "And I think Cory brought into that way of looking at things. I think she was made to believe if she joined the groups, she would be on the winning side."
Mrs. Aquino is a deeply religious Roman Catholic with a strong sense of right and wrong. She says she feels compelled to speak out for what she believes, no matter the cost.
"From time immemorial, I have not said anything that would command universal acceptance," she noted. "But I believe so long as I do what I believe is right, so long as I say what I believe is right for our country, then I will just accept whatever flack, whatever ugly things they will say about me."
But even if Mrs. Aquino does not have the same kind of influence she once had over Philippine political life, Mr. Rocamora says she still wields significant clout, and should not be underestimated.
"Her magic has always been with a specific segment of the population," said Mr. Rocamora. "That is the upper-middle class to upper class, and I think in that segment of the population she's still seen as a moral leader."
For the moment, Mrs. Arroyo seems to have beaten the move to force her out. But analysts say the tide could again turn against her, in which case Corazon Aquino would be seen to have chosen the right side after all.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Karzai Says His Office Receives Money from Iran
Afghan President Hamid Karzai acknowledged Monday that his office receives large cash payments from Iran, but said the money is a transparent form of aid.
President Karzai told reporters in Kabul Monday that Iran has given his office up to $975,000 for government expenses. He said the transactions were not secret and no different from cash payments from the United States.
President Karzai's comments were in response to an article in The New York Times that his chief of staff, Umar Daudzai, has been receiving payments from Iran to "promote Iran's interests" in Afghanistan's presidential palace.
Mr. Karzai said Daudzai had been accepting the money on the Afghan leader's instructions. The Times quotes unnamed sources saying Iran uses its influence to "drive a wedge" between the Afghans and their American and NATO benefactors.
The Iranian embassy in Afghanistan on Monday dismissed the report as "ridiculous and insulting."
President Karzai told reporters in Kabul Monday that Iran has given his office up to $975,000 for government expenses. He said the transactions were not secret and no different from cash payments from the United States.
President Karzai's comments were in response to an article in The New York Times that his chief of staff, Umar Daudzai, has been receiving payments from Iran to "promote Iran's interests" in Afghanistan's presidential palace.
Mr. Karzai said Daudzai had been accepting the money on the Afghan leader's instructions. The Times quotes unnamed sources saying Iran uses its influence to "drive a wedge" between the Afghans and their American and NATO benefactors.
The Iranian embassy in Afghanistan on Monday dismissed the report as "ridiculous and insulting."
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