U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Monday more than 50 countries have pledged some 40,000 peacekeepers for possible deployment on United Nations missions, as well as helicopters, medical units and training and equipment to deal with roadside bombs.
A U.S. appeals court on Monday weighed whether to uphold the approval of an estimated $5.7 billion antitrust settlement by MasterCard Inc (MA.N) and Visa Inc (V.N) with merchants over credit card fees despite the objection of several major retailers.
The U.S. Supreme Court's nine justices met behind closed doors on Monday ahead of the Oct. 5 beginning of their new term to consider cases to add to a calendar that already includes significant cases on affirmative action and labor unions.
A prison employee who helped two convicted murderers escape from a maximum security prison in upstate New York was sentenced on Monday to up to 7 years behind bars for providing the inmates with tools used in their daring break-out.
