CAIRO, Dec 26- Egypt's government will not implement a series of planned tax increases until it completes a dialogue with different parts of society, Al-Mal newspaper has quoted Planning Minister Ashraf al-Araby as reaffirming. The unpopular measures are deemed necessary to secure $4.8 billion Egypt is seeking from the International Monetary Fund.
*President Obama on vacation in Hawaii. WASHINGTON, Dec 24- With only a week left before a deadline for the United States to go over a "fiscal cliff," lawmakers played a waiting game on Monday in the hope that someone will produce a plan to avoid harsh budget cuts and higher taxes for most Americans from New Year's Day.
*President Obama on vacation in Hawaii. WASHINGTON, Dec 24- With only a week left before a deadline for the United States to go over a "fiscal cliff," lawmakers played a waiting game on Monday in the hope that someone will produce a plan to avoid harsh budget cuts and higher taxes for most Americans from New Year's Day.
BRASILIA, Dec 24- Brazil's government said on Monday it would raise the statutory monthly minimum wage by an above-inflation 9 percent to 678 reais a month, a rise that comes at the end of a year of tepid economic growth. They must still be formally approved by Congress.
ATHENS, Dec 24- Greece's drive to crack down on flagrant tax evaders such as doctors and lawyers is flagging and must be reinvigorated, a report by the European Union and International Monetary Fund said on Monday.
The threat of across-the-board government spending cuts and tax increases- about $600 billion worth- was intended to shock the Democratic-led White House and Senate and the Republican-led House into moving past their many differences to approve a plan that would bring tax relief to most Americans and curb runaway federal spending.
The U.S. House of Representatives' rejection of a bill to raise taxes on just 0.18 percent of Americans- those making more than $1 million a year- has raised questions about the Republican-led chamber's ability to approve any plan to avert the looming "fiscal cliff."
The U.S. House of Representatives' rejection of a bill to raise taxes on just 0.18 percent of Americans- those making more than $1 million a year- has raised questions about the Republican-led chamber's ability to approve any plan to avert the looming "fiscal cliff."
WASHINGTON, Dec 21- U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said on Friday that congressional leaders and President Barack Obama must try to move on from House Republicans' failed tax plan and work together to resolve the looming U.S. "