NATIONAL Public NewsRoom Archive

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Hanesbrands to close 9 plants, affecting 8,100 employees (2008-09-24)
(Reuters) - Underwear maker Hanesbrands Inc said it will close nine North American plants as it looks to shift manufacturing to lower-cost regions -- a move that will affect about 8,100 employees, or 16 percent of its workforce.

U.S. navy tanker under apparent pirate attack off Somalia (2008-09-24)
LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy said on Wednesday it appeared pirates had tried to attack one of its big military oil tankers.

South Africa cabinet meets amid political turmoil (2008-09-24)
PRETORIA (Reuters) - Ousted South African President Thabo Mbeki chaired his final cabinet meeting on Wednesday after the resignation of 10 ministers and the deputy president worsened fears of political instability.

N.Korea expels IAEA monitors from atom bomb plant (2008-09-24)
VIENNA (Reuters) - North Korea has expelled U.N. monitors from its plutonium-making nuclear plant, officials said on Wednesday, accelerating moves to restart an atom bomb project it had renounced under a disarmament-for-aid deal.

Food riots in east India, flood waters lap Taj Mahal (2008-09-24)
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Officials in eastern India struggled to provide aid to tens of thousands of flood victims after riots broke out on Wednesday, as floodwaters lapped the Taj Mahal compound but posed no immediate threat to it.

Attacks in Afghan capital kill 6 police: official (2008-09-24)
KABUL (Reuters) - Three policemen were killed by a land mine planted by Taliban insurgents in a police post in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, a police official said.

Bailout clash rages as Buffett bets on Goldman (2008-09-24)
HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - Billionaire Warren Buffett bet on a Wall Street revival by buying a $5 billion stake in Goldman Sachs and a Japanese bank looked ready to follow but markets were on edge as U.S. lawmakers clashed over a financial sector rescue.

Oil rises $2 on U.S. supply concerns, OPEC (2008-09-24)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose more than $2 to over $109 a barrel on Wednesday as concerns about U.S. fuel supply and signs OPEC cut output in September outweighed anxiety about the U.S. government's plan to rescue the finance industry.

Lowe's cuts '09 store growth, backs '08 profit view (2008-09-24)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos Inc backed its 2008 full-year profit forecast on Wednesday, but said it would open fewer stores next year as the soft U.S. economy and housing slump hampers demand.

Mortgage applications fell in latest week (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Applications for U.S. home mortgages retreated to sluggish levels last week as rising interest rates spoiled a spurt in loan refinancing, according to data published from an industry group on Wednesday.

Somali insurgency escalates, 15 civilians die (2008-09-24)
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Islamists attacked African peacekeepers in Mogadishu, sparking a battle that killed 11 civilians and sent many fleeing the city in Somalia's escalating insurgency, witnesses said on Wednesday.

N.Korea ousts IAEA, to restart atom bomb project (2008-09-24)
VIENNA (Reuters) - North Korea has removed U.N. nuclear watchdog monitors, seals and cameras from its shutdown atomic bomb-producing complex and aims to reintroduce nuclear material there in a week, officials said on Wednesday.

Oil rises on U.S. supply concerns, OPEC (2008-09-24)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose more than $2 to around $109 a barrel Wednesday as concerns about U.S. fuel supply and signs OPEC cut output in September outweighed doubts about the U.S. government's plan to rescue the finance industry.

Stocks lose ground as financials cut gains (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 index briefly turned negative as financial shares pared gains because of uncertainty when Congress might act on a proposed $700 billion bailout for the financial sector.

Police nab Indian militants, link them to Pakistan (2008-09-24)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian police said on Wednesday they had arrested five members of a militant group behind a series of bombings in the country, accusing them of links to Islamist militants based in Pakistan.

Market points up after Buffett's Goldman investment (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a higher open on Wednesday after Warren Buffett made a $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs Group Inc late on Tuesday, buoying sentiment in the beleaguered financial sector.

Kaufman: $800 billion U.S. budget deficits now "the norm" (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. federal budget deficits of as much as $800 billion, double the current level, will be the "norm" following a proposed financial system bailout, said veteran Wall Street economist Henry Kaufman on Wednesday.

Fed sets $30 billion swaps lines to calm tight markets (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve set new currency swap lines worth $30 billion with central banks in Scandinavia and Australia on Wednesday to boost short-term U.S. dollar liquidity and help drive down interbank lending rates.

SMFG seen eyeing Goldman as Japan shops on Wall St (2008-09-24)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group <8316.T>, Japan's No. 3 bank, plans to invest in Goldman Sachs Group Inc , Japanese media said, in what would be the third big Japanese investment this week on Wall Street.

Goldman gets Buffett boost amid worries on bailout (2008-09-24)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs brought good news to global markets worried that architects of a $700 billion bailout plan would not be able to convince U.S. lawmakers to move swiftly.

World central banks pump more cash into tense markets (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday moved for the second time within 24 hours to keep the wheels of the financial world turning, this time acting in concert with Australia and Scandinavia to supply money markets with $30 billion in funds.

Palin meets Afghan, Colombian leaders in New York (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin heard about foreign policy challenges ranging from Russia to Latin America on Tuesday in a drive to prepare her for a debate with her Democratic counterpart, Joe Biden.

Antidepressants may damage male fertility: study (2008-09-24)
LONDON (Reuters) - Common antidepressant drugs may reduce some men's fertility by damaging the DNA in their sperm, according to scientists.

Rekindled Beatlemania greets McCartney in Israel (2008-09-24)
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Paul McCartney arrived in Israel on Wednesday for an historic concert, flashing a V-sign for peace and making a surprise West Bank visit to the delight of Palestinian fans.

Oil rises $2 on U.S. fuel supply concerns (2008-09-24)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose more than $2 to over $109 a barrel on Wednesday as concerns about U.S. fuel supply outweighed anxiety about the U.S. government's $700 billion plan to rescue the finance industry.

China counts down to Thursday space launch (2008-09-24)
JIUQUAN, China (Reuters) - China will send its third manned mission into space on Thursday evening on a mission which will include its first space walk, the government said on Wednesday.

California economy to get worse: report (2008-09-24)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's sputtering economy is going to get worse, a report released on Wednesday said.

Lowe's backs 2008 profit view, cuts '09 store growth (2008-09-24)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Lowe's Companies Inc backed its 2008 full-year forecast on Wednesday, but said it would cut store growth for next year as the soft U.S. economy and housing slump hampers demand.

California economic outlook: worse to come: report (2008-09-24)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's sputtering economy is going to get worse, a report released on Wednesday said.

"U.S. drone" crashes in northwest Pakistan (2008-09-24)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suspected U.S. pilotless drone has crashed in the northwestern Pakistani region of South Waziristan after a spate of missile attacks by unmanned U.S. aircraft in Pakistan strained ties between the allies.

Fed sets $30 billion swaps lines to ease credit strains (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that it had set up $30 billion worth of new currency swaps with central banks in Australia and Scandinavia, marking its latest bid to ease global credit market strains.

Music groups agree online music royalties deal (2008-09-24)
(Reuters) - Record labels, music publishers, songwriters and online music services have reached an agreement on how to compensate music creators for online distribution of their content, they said.

Blast in Afghan capital causes casualties: police (2008-09-24)
KABUL (Reuters) - An explosion in the Afghan capital caused some casualties on Wednesday, a police official said.

World stocks stabilize as focus on bailout plan (2008-09-24)
LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks steadied on Wednesday and safe-haven government bonds rose after Warren Buffett's investment in Goldman Sachs failed to calm anxiety over the prospects for Washington's $700 billion bank bailout.

Obama ahead of McCain amid Wall St. turmoil: poll (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has opened a 9-point lead over Republican John McCain in the U.S. presidential race amid turmoil in the financial system and growing pessimism about the economy, according to a Washington Post-ABC News national opinion poll released on Wednesday.

Chrysler '08 loss $400 million through Aug: report: report (2008-09-24)
(Reuters) - U.S. automaker Chrysler LLC on Tuesday told dealers it had lost $400 million so far this year, the Wall Street Journal said.

EDF launches 12.5 billion pound bid on British Energy (2008-09-24)
PARIS (Reuters) - French utility EDF launched a 12.5 billion pound ($23.14 billion) agreed takeover bid on power producer British Energy , helping to secure Britain's nuclear future.

Shocked Finland mourns dead students, rethinks law (2008-09-24)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland mourned the dead of its second school shooting in less than a year Wednesday, and questioned whether it was time to clamp down hard on private gun ownership.

Stock futures up; eyes on Bernanke, Paulson, Goldman (2008-09-24)
(Reuters) - Dow Jones futures up 1.2 percent, S&P 500 futures up 1.4 percent, Nasdaq futures up 1.3 percent by 4:40 a.m. EDT.

Ambrose, Kaufman take "Unorthodox" roles (2008-09-24)
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Affleck eyeing good "Company" of real-life drama (2008-09-24)
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Blast in Afghan capital causes casualties: police (2008-09-24)
KABUL (Reuters) - An explosion in the Afghan capital caused some casualties Wednesday, a police official said.

California economic outlook: worse to come: report (2008-09-24)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's sputtering economy is going to get worse, a report released on Wednesday said.

EDF bids $23.14 billion for British Energy (2008-09-24)
PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - French utility EDF launched a 12.5 billion pound ($23.14 billion) agreed bid for nuclear operator British Energy, in a revamped offer to take control of Britain's nuclear power industry.

Typhoon hits south China, no casualties reported (2008-09-24)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - A powerful typhoon plowed into a densely populated area of south China Wednesday, triggering a "once-in-a-century storm tide" in several cities, state media said.

Ford to run ad using film from Web contest on NBC (2008-09-24)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co on Wednesday will run an ad featuring a short film that won an online competition, reflecting how companies are seeking to cut costs while boosting their brand awareness.

S&P 500 flat; bailout worry offsets Buffett (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 were little changed on Wednesday as uncertainty about when Congress might act on a proposed $700 billion bailout for the financial sector overshadowed news of Warren Buffett's $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs .

Pickens funds down about $1 billion this year: report (2008-09-24)
(Reuters) - Texas oil magnate T. Boone Pickens' hedge funds have lost around $1 billion this year, including $270 million of personal losses, The Wall Street Journal said.

Rice set for rocky encounter with Russia's Lavrov (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday in what is expected to be a tense encounter following Moscow's incursion into Georgia last month.

Oil falls on demand worries (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil dipped on Wednesday as concerns over the U.S. economy and sliding fuel demand outweighed hurricane-related supply disruptions that have pushed U.S. gasoline stockpiles to their lowest since 1967.

Jack Welch says U.S. faces "deep downturn" (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former General Electric Co Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jack Welch said the U.S. economy faces a deep downturn in coming quarters, and he supports a proposed $700 billion government rescue package for the financial sector.

Hubble crew boards space shuttle for practice run (2008-09-24)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The seven astronauts scheduled to fly NASA's last mission to the Hubble Space Telescope climbed aboard their spaceship Wednesday as part of practice countdown for the launch.

Clay Aiken acknowledges he's gay (2008-09-24)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "American Idol" contestant Clay Aiken has acknowledged he is gay, confirming in an interview with People magazine what most of his fans have suspected for years.

Goldman's shares get suspicious boost pre-Buffett (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An unusual surge in Goldman Sachs' share price in the last 10 minutes of trading on Tuesday raised eyebrows on Wall Street, as it came two hours before news of Warren Buffett's big investment in the bank.

Congress is pressed for bailout with dire warnings (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Congress must approve a $700 billion banking bailout or see the lifeblood squeezed from the world's richest country, America's central bank chief warned on Wednesday as the U.S. economy showed more signs of stalling.

Dow, S&P flat as bailout weighs, techs lift Nasdaq (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 barely budged on Wednesday as investors' uncertainty about when Congress might approve a proposed $700 billion bailout for the financial sector offset news of Warren Buffett's $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs.

GM looks to sell plant in France, other assets (2008-09-24)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp is looking to sell a plant Strasbourg, France, and will begin seeking buyers next month when it also kicks off the sale for its Hummer SUV brand, the automaker said on Wednesday.

China vows food safety overhaul after milk scandal (2008-09-24)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Premier Wen Jiabao said China would strive to bring its food safety standards up to international levels, describing the thousands of children sick from drinking chemical-laced milk powder as a painful lesson.

Buffett bets on Wall St. revival (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Architects of a proposed $700 billion financial bailout and lawmakers wrangled in a second day of Congressional hearings, as billionaire Warren Buffett gave the transformed financial landscape a vote of confidence with a $5 billion investment in embattled banking titan Goldman Sachs.

U.S., Iran, others urged to join nuclear test ban pact (2008-09-24)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday he was worried about the fate of a global pact banning nuclear tests and urged the United States, Iran, China and other hold-outs to sign and ratify it.

Israelis see barrier link to Jerusalem violence (2008-09-24)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's West Bank barrier is fuelling attacks by East Jerusalem Arabs who feel isolated from fellow Palestinians and are increasingly likely to lash out independently, Israel's domestic spy service said on Wednesday.

Buffett bets on Wall Street revival (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Architects of a proposed $700 billion financial bailout and lawmakers wrangled in a second day of Congressional hearings, as billionaire Warren Buffett gave the transformed financial landscape a vote of confidence with a $5 billion investment in embattled banking titan Goldman Sachs.

S&P 500, Dow slip as bailout worry persists (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 fell on Wednesday as uncertainty about when Congress might act on a proposed $700 billion bailout for the financial sector overshadowed news of Warren Buffett's $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs .

Prominent Chechen gunned down in Moscow (2008-09-24)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A gunman shot dead a former rebel Chechen commander in central Moscow Wednesday whose brother has emerged as a rival to the pro-Moscow leader of the troubled southern Russian region, police said.

September 11 suspect calls U.S. trial "inquisition" (2008-09-24)
GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - The suspected planner of the September 11 attacks denounced the Guantanamo war crimes court as an "inquisition" and urged the U.S. military judge on Wednesday to disqualify himself as biased against Muslims.

South Africa's ruling party not splitting: minister (2008-09-24)
PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress is not splitting following the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki and almost a third of the cabinet, one of the outgoing ministers said on Wednesday.

"U.S. drone" crashes in Pakistan (2008-09-24)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suspected U.S. pilotless drone has crashed in the northwestern Pakistani region of South Waziristan after a spate of missile attacks by unmanned U.S. aircraft in Pakistan strained ties between the allies.

Fed sets $30 billion swaps lines with Nordics, Australia (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve set new currency swap lines worth $30 billion with central banks in Scandinavia and Australia on Wednesday to boost short-term U.S. dollar liquidity and help drive down interbank lending rates.

Buffett bets on Wall Street revival (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street faced a second day of political wrangling over a proposed $700 billion bailout for troubled banks, as billionaire Warren Buffett gave the transformed fiscal landscape a vote of confidence with a $5 billion investment in embattled banking titan Goldman Sachs.

California's economy seen geting worse (2008-09-24)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's sputtering economy is going to get worse, a report released on Wednesday said.

Housing grim as financial rescue debate rages (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prices of U.S. existing homes suffered a record drop in August and the rate of sales tumbled, offering little sign of improvement in the source of the financial crisis in the United States.

Pimco's Gross says bailout to benefit Main Street: report (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Treasury's proposed $700 billion bailout for financial firms could yield a profit of at least 7 percent to 8 percent and benefit taxpayers, Bill Gross, who manages the world's biggest bond fund, wrote in an opinion piece in The Washington Post on Wednesday.

Stocks rise as tech shares advance (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks pushed into positive territory on Wednesday, sending the Nasdaq up more than 1 percent, as investors bet a $700 billion financial- sector bailout might free up money for tech spending.

Price of existing homes sees record fall (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prices of existing homes in the United States suffered a record drop in August while the sales pace slowed and the overstock of homes shrank, the National Association of Realtors said on Wednesday.

U.S. gasoline inventories lowest since 1967: EIA (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. gasoline inventories have dropped to their lowest level since 1967 after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike shut Gulf Coast oil refineries and disrupted motor fuel production, causing some supply shortages at service stations, the Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.

Washington DC faces shortfall, money market scramble (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington, D.C., is facing a $131 million budget gap for the fiscal year starting in October, its chief financial officer told reporters on Wednesday.

Chinese official says milk scandal "under control" (2008-09-24)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China, seeking to assure the world its products are safe, said on Wednesday a tainted milk scandal had been brought under control and recently tested liquid milk samples showed no traces of a toxic chemical.

N.Korea ousts U.N. monitors, to restart atom bomb plant (2008-09-24)
VIENNA (Reuters) - North Korea has expelled U.N. monitors from its plutonium-making nuclear plant and plans to start reactivating it next week, officials said on Wednesday, rowing back from a 2007 deal to scrap its atomic bomb program.

Buffett bets on Wall St. revival (2008-09-24)
HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - Billionaire Warren Buffett bet on a Wall Street revival by buying a $5 billion stake in Goldman Sachs and a Japanese bank looked ready to follow but markets were on edge as U.S. lawmakers clashed over a financial sector rescue.

Existing home sales fell 2.2 percent in August (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pace of existing home sales in the United States fell in August to a 4.91 million-unit annual rate while home prices suffered a record drop and the overstock of homes shrank, the National Association of Realtors said in a report on Wednesday.

Bailout debate rages (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The White House's proposed $700 billion financial bailout met skepticism and anger from lawmakers on Wednesday, stoking fresh anxiety on Wall Street despite a $5 billion Wall Street investment by billionaire Warren Buffett that was hailed as a vote of confidence.

FBI said to probe Fannie, Freddie, Lehman, AIG (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is investigating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and insurer American International Group Inc, expanding its probe of potential corporate fraud, law enforcement officials said on Wednesday.

Spike's war story: 'Miracle at St. Anna' recounts tale of black soldiers in World War II (2008-09-24)
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Bosnian experts unearth more Srebrenica bodies (2008-09-24)
KAMENICA, Bosnia (Reuters) - Forensic experts said on Wednesday they had unearthed the remains of 362 Muslim victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre from a mass grave in eastern Bosnia.

Medvedev honors victims of Stalin purges (2008-09-24)
MAGADAN, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev laid flowers at a memorial to victims of the Soviet prison camps on Wednesday, a gesture campaigners said may mark a new readiness to confront Russia's past.

Lowe's cuts 2009 store growth amid housing woes (2008-09-24)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos Inc said on Wednesday it would cut store growth for next year as much as 38 percent as the soft U.S. economy and housing slump hampers demand at its home improvement stores.

Cerberus set to buy rest of Chrysler: report (2008-09-24)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management is in talks to buy the remaining 19.9 percent stake in U.S. carmaker Chrysler LLC still held by Daimler AG , Germany's Manager Magazin reported.

U.S. military says drone went down in Afghanistan (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. military drone went down in eastern Afghanistan with engine problems on Tuesday but was recovered immediately and was never near the Pakistan border, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.

Young Pianist Brings Audience to Its Feet (2008-09-24)
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Futures rise as Buffett invests in Goldman (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures rose on Wednesday after Warren Buffett made a $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs Group Inc late on Tuesday, buoying sentiment in the beleaguered financial sector.

Companies should support state infrastructure: U.N. (2008-09-24)
GENEVA (Reuters) - The private sector should do more to support governments in developing countries, many of which cannot meet huge needs for roads, ports and electricity on their own, a United Nations agency said on Wednesday.

Bailout debate rages as Buffett bets on Goldman (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street braced for a second day of political wrangling over a proposed $700 billion bailout for troubled banks, as billionaire Warren Buffett gave the transformed fiscal landscape a vote of confidence with a $5 billion investment in embattled banking titan Goldman Sachs.

Japan's Aso eyes chums, fiscal hawk for cabinet (2008-09-24)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's new prime minister, Taro Aso, appointed several outspoken nationalist allies to his cabinet Wednesday, including a China critic for the finance job, while keeping a fiscal reformer for a key post.

GM looking to sell plant in France, other assets (2008-09-24)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp is looking to sell its manufacturing facilities in Strasbourg, France, and will begin seeking buyers next month when it begins a formal sale process for its Hummer SUV brand.

White House says N.Korea nuclear actions disappointing (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The White House on Wednesday called North Korea's move to expel U.N. monitors from its nuclear plant and plans to restart the facility "very disappointing" and urged Pyongyang to reconsider its actions.

West says Iran posing alarming nuclear challenge (2008-09-24)
VIENNA (Reuters) - The European Union said on Wednesday Iran's blockage of an inquiry into its nuclear work was "alarming" and Tehran was getting closer to being able to assemble an atom bomb if it chose to do so.

China official says milk scandal "under control" (2008-09-24)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China, seeking to assure the world its products are safe, said on Wednesday a tainted milk scandal had been brought under control.

Thousands stranded as storms hit China quake area (2008-09-24)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Continuous rain near the epicenter of China's May 12 earthquake has killed at least eight people and left 38 missing, with thousands stranded by mountain torrents, cave-ins and mudslides, state media said on Wednesday.

Iraq's Sunni anti-Qaeda patrols fear for future (2008-09-24)
SAMARRA, Iraq (Reuters) - At a checkpoint consisting of a wooden shack wrapped in steel sheets, five young Iraqis with AK-47 rifles have the task of stopping al Qaeda bombers striking the ancient city of Samarra.

Stocks open higher on Buffett boost (2008-09-24)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose at the open on Wednesday after Warren Buffett made a $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs Group Inc late on Tuesday, buoying sentiment in the beleaguered financial sector.

Buffett move helps mood as focus on bailout (2008-09-24)
LONDON (Reuters) - Stocks rose in Asia and Europe on Wednesday after Warren Buffett's investment in Goldman Sachs, while safe-haven government bonds rose as uncertainty remained over Washington's $700 billion bank bailout.

Oil rises on U.S. fuel supply concerns (2008-09-24)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose $2 on Wednesday as concerns about U.S. fuel supply outweighed anxiety about the U.S. government's $700 billion plan to rescue the finance industry.

FBI said to probe Fannie, Freddie, Lehman, AIG (2008-09-24)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is investigating Fannie Mae , Freddie Mac , Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and insurer American International Group Inc , expanding its probe of potential corporate fraud, law enforcement officials said on Wednesday.

West slams Iran "challenge" to IAEA on nuclear issue (2008-09-24)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Western powers said on Wednesday that Iran's expansion of uranium enrichment, while stalling an inquiry into its nuclear program, posed a crucial challenge to the UN atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Ukraine president defies Russia in bid to join NATO (2008-09-24)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko vowed on Wednesday his country would be undeterred in its bid for NATO membership despite Russian opposition.

Gunman opens fire in Finnish school: police (2008-09-23)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - A male student opened fire at a vocational school in the town of Kauhajoki in western Finland on Tuesday and was still in the building, local police said.

Mbeki to appeal judge's findings in Zuma graft case (2008-09-23)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki has filed an appeal against a judge's suggestions of political interference in ANC leader Jacob Zuma's graft case, which led to the president's resignation, a spokesman said.

Russia denies its drone shot down over Georgia (2008-09-23)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Defense Ministry on Tuesday denied a claim by Georgia it had shot down an unmanned Russian spy drone over its territory.

Holiday sales set for worst gain in 6 years (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The tumultuous economic climate will constrain U.S. holiday sales growth to its lowest level in six years and a turnaround is not likely until the second half of next year, a leading retail trade group forecast on Tuesday.

Finnish school shooter has killed self: city mayor (2008-09-23)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - A student who shot and killed several other students at his school in Finland has killed himself, the mayor of the town of Kauhajoki said on Tuesday. "Several are dead," Kauhajoki Mayor Antti Rantakokko told Reuters, saying he did not know the exact number. "The situation is over now. He is no longer free. He has killed himself."

Oil falls to $107 after historic one-day surge (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil dropped $2 a barrel on Tuesday, weighed by doubts about the U.S. bailout plan and as investors booked profits after an historic one-day rise in the previous session.

Pakistani guards on front line of bombing campaign (2008-09-23)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani security guard Shabnam Jamshed seemed distracted when she left her Islamabad home for work last Saturday.

Myanmar's Win Tin vows to continue democracy fight (2008-09-23)
YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's longest-serving political prisoner, journalist Win Tin, vowed Tuesday to continue his struggle against 46 years of military rule only moments after his release from a 19-year sentence.

China urges "flexibility" on N.Korea nuclear moves (2008-09-23)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China urged "flexibility" in the North Korean nuclear dispute Tuesday, avoiding harsh words a day after Pyongyang made fresh moves toward possibly restarting a nuclear complex at the heart of the dispute.

Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan ministers to meet in NY (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The war between Russia and Georgia shifted the political landscape in the Caucasus and is prompting Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, three countries with long-standing disputes, to try to settle their differences, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday.

Georgia says shot down Russia drone near S.Ossetia (2008-09-23)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia said on Tuesday it had shot down a small Russian reconnaissance drone over Georgian territory just south of the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

China avoids direct comment on new Japan leader Aso (2008-09-23)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China avoided commenting directly on the election of hawkish Taro Aso as Japan's new leader, with a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman saying on Tuesday only that good ties were in the interests of both countries.

Lennar posts smaller quarterly loss (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lennar Corp posted a much smaller quarterly loss on Tuesday as the No. 2 U.S. home builder reduced construction and administrative costs.

"Chemical equator" divides hemispheres: scientists (2008-09-23)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Scientists have discovered a "chemical Equator" that divides the polluted air of the Northern Hemisphere from the largely uncontaminated atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere.

Doctor to poor has many uses for "genius" grant (2008-09-23)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Christmas came earlier this year for Regina Benjamin, a family physician in a poor fishing community along the storm-battered U.S. Gulf Coast.

Somali gunmen abduct two western aid workers (2008-09-23)
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali gunmen have abducted two western aid workers near the country's border with Ethiopia, witnesses said Tuesday.

Researchers hope for change on stem cell politics (2008-09-23)
MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Stem cell experts said on Monday they hope the next U.S. president will end political curbs on embryonic stem cell research but some worry recent comments by Republican candidate John McCain suggest his past support for such research may be waning.

Top U.S. officer pleads for cooperation with Moscow (2008-09-23)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer pleaded on Monday for continued cooperation with Russia despite Moscow's widely condemned military action in Georgia.

Lennar loss narrower than expected (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lennar Corp posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday as the home builder reduced construction and administrative costs.

Top court stays Georgia inmate's execution (2008-09-23)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of execution to a convicted murderer due to be put to death on Tuesday night amid doubt over his guilt and appeals for clemency from the pope and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

China vows export crackdown amid milk crisis (2008-09-23)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China vowed to stop toxic milk from reaching processors and export markets after tainted infant powder made more than 54,000 children sick in a scandal that has mired the nation's trade reputation in fresh crisis.

China milk industry can learn lessons from toy recalls (2008-09-23)
GUANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - In a hotel ballroom in southern China this week, factory bosses, lab technicians, sourcing managers and government officials discussed ways to ensure that toys are safe.

Financial worries, GE push Wall Street lower (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell in choppy trading on Tuesday, led by a drop in shares of General Electric and lingering worries about the financial sector that derailed an advance spearheaded by technology companies.

Paulson and Bernanke push Congress on bailout (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday urged Congress to act swiftly on a proposed financial system bailout and warned of dire consequences if they delay.

Stock futures drop on bailout anxiety, banks (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell on Tuesday as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said global financial markets remain under extraordinarily stress as Congress debates a proposed $700 billion financial system bailout.

GSE oversight powers came too late: regulator (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress gave a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stronger oversight powers too late to help steer the companies away from a government takeover, the chief regulator for the mortgage finance companies said on Tuesday.

Congress told cost of bailout delay could be dire (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. officials pressed Congress on Tuesday to act swiftly to erect a $700 billion bulwark against the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, warning delay would put the economy at risk.

Senate attack on bailout lacks explicit threat (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many members of the Senate blasted the Bush administration's Wall Street bailout plan on Tuesday, but no senator has come forward so far with an explicit pledge to kill the $700 billion proposal.

Iran says will resist "bullying" on nuclear plans (2008-09-23)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that some "bullying" powers were trying to thwart Iran's peaceful nuclear ambitions but Tehran would resist and defend its right to nuclear power.

Futures jump on news of Buffett investment in Goldman (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures surged in extended trading on Tuesday after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway surprised investors with a $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs Group .

FBI probing Fannie, Freddie, Lehman, AIG: report (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is investigating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and insurer American International Group Inc. and their senior executives for potential mortgage fraud, CNN reported on Tuesday.

Japan's SMFG to invest in Goldman Sachs: media (2008-09-23)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) <8316.T>, Japan's third-largest bank, plans to invest in U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs , Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday.

"American Psycho" aims for Broadway show (2008-09-23)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Controversial social satire "American Psycho" is headed for Broadway, eight years after the novel became a movie starring Christian Bale, the companies adapting the book to the stage said on Tuesday.

Techs lift Wall Street on spending optimism (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Tuesday led by a jump in technology bellwethers including Microsoft Corp on hopes the proposed $700 billion financial sector bailout would help loosen up lending and boost business and consumer spending.

Key South Africa ministers resign, deepening crisis (2008-09-23)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - More than a third of the South African cabinet, including the respected finance minister, resigned on Tuesday with President Thabo Mbeki, deepening the biggest political crisis since the end of apartheid.

House passes credit-card reform bill (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation that would limit surprise interest-rate increases and fees for credit card users, but the bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.

Paulson and Bernanke warn of costs of bailout delay (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday urged Congress to act swiftly to put in place a $700 billion financial system bailout, warning delay would put the economy at risk.

U.S. drone crashes in Pakistan: reports (2008-09-23)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A pilotless U.S. drone aircraft crashed in the northwestern Pakistani region of South Waziristan on Tuesday but it was not clear why it came down, Pakistani news channels reported.

Bush, world leaders try to contain market fallout (2008-09-23)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - President George W. Bush and other world leaders scrambled on Tuesday to contain the fallout from a financial crisis engulfing Wall Street and sending shock waves across the globe.

Oil falls $2 after surge, bailout worries weigh (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell more than $2 a barrel on Tuesday, after a record one-day rise in the previous session, depressed by doubts over a U.S. plan to rescue the financial sector.

Oil eases as bailout worries weigh (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil eased on Tuesday, after a record one-day rise in the previous session, depressed by doubts over a U.S. plan to rescue the financial sector.

Longs rebuffs new Walgreen effort for deal talks (2008-09-23)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Longs Drug Stores Corp rebuffed a new effort by larger rival Walgreen Co to start merger talks, despite Walgreen's warning that it may resort to a hostile takeover bid.

Techs lift stocks on bailout hopes (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Tuesday as shares of technology bellwethers, including Microsoft Corp , jumped on hopes that the proposed $700 billion financial sector bailout would help loosen up lending and boost business and consumer spending.

Congress haggles over Treasury bailout plan (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration and Congress haggled over the details of a $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan on Monday as U.S. stocks tumbled on worries that even a massive government effort to mop up bad debt may not be enough to revive the economy.

Student kills several in Finnish school shooting (2008-09-23)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - A student shot dead several people at a vocational school in western Finland on Tuesday before shooting himself, local authorities said.

Bernanke says global markets under "extraordinary stress" (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the U.S. Congress Tuesday that financial markets are under severe stress and urged immediate action to buy up hundreds of billions of dollars worth of tainted mortgage assets.

U.S. has no more troops for Afghan war until spring (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will not have enough forces available to meet a request for more troops from NATO's top commander in Afghanistan until next spring at the earliest, the U.S. defense chief said on Tuesday.

Wall Street extends losses (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended losses on Tuesday as a drop in shares of General Electric and lingering worries about the financial sector derailed an earlier advance led by shares of technology companies.

Corrected: Corruption creating humanitarian disaster-watchdog (2008-09-23)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Corruption in poor countries has created a humanitarian disaster which threatens to derail the global fight against poverty, Transparency International said.

Oil falls $3 as bailout worries weigh (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell $3 on Tuesday -- reversing direction after Monday's dramatic rally -- as dealers focused on slowing global energy demand and doubts over a U.S. plan to rescue the financial sector.

New Jeruslem vehicle "attack" as Livni seeks govt (2008-09-23)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian rammed his car into a group of Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem on Monday, hours after Foreign Minster Tzipi Livni agreed to try to form a new government that can avert an election and forge a peace deal.

Obama, McCain battle over U.S. financial crisis (2008-09-23)
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Barack Obama proposed reforms on Monday to rein in practices that led to the worst U.S. financial crisis since the Depression, while White House rival John McCain touted his own remedies and accused Obama of failing to provide leadership.

Japan's Aso seen lining up cabinet (2008-09-23)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's new leader, Taro Aso, may pick former trade minister and China critic Shoichi Nakagawa as finance minister, a newspaper reported on Tuesday, amid speculation of a November snap election.

GIC has large cash pile, sees opportunities in US (2008-09-23)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore sovereign fund GIC said it still had plenty of cash after its multi-billion dollar investments in UBS and Citigroup and saw opportunities in the United States amid the financial storm.

Stock futures edge lower; Paulson awaited (2008-09-23)
PARIS (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell on Tuesday, pointing to a lower start on Wall Street as investors awaited details on the banking industry rescue plan when Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson faces the Senate Banking Committee later on Tuesday.

Oil falls 2.5 percent as bailout worries weigh (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell 2.5 percent on Tuesday, reversing direction after Monday's dramatic rally as dealers focused on slowing global energy demand and doubts over a U.S. plan to rescue the financial sector.

Paulson and Bernanke push bailout as Lehman deal looms (2008-09-23)
LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The architects of a $700 billion bailout for the U.S. financial system urged lawmakers on Tuesday to move quickly, and the sale of Lehman Brothers' European arm loomed as the next step in the industry's dramatic transformation.

Dell wants to sell emerging consumers their first PC (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Dell hopes its new retail drive to sell in stores rather than just online will help it sell to consumers in emerging markets buying their first computer, Chief Executive Michael Dell said on Tuesday.

Iran has no reason to pursue nuclear enrichment: U.S. (2008-09-23)
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said on Tuesday there was no reason for Iran to pursue uranium enrichment technology because there was a plentiful supply of the nuclear fuel abroad.

Somali gunmen abduct two western aid workers (2008-09-23)
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali gunmen have abducted two western aid workers near the country's border with Ethiopia, witnesses said Tuesday.

Location of hostages seized in Egypt known: Sudan official (2008-09-23)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Authorities have pinpointed the whereabouts of 19 hostages seized in the Egyptian desert, but have no plans for any rescue operation that could harm them, a Sudanese Foreign Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Student kills several in Finnish school, himself (2008-09-23)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - A male student shot dead several people at a vocational school in western Finland on Tuesday before killing himself, local authorities said.

Nomura buys Lehman's Europe investment bank arm (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Japan's Nomura has agreed to buy Lehman Brothers' equities and investment banking business in Europe and the Middle East in its second swoop on the business of the bankrupt U.S. bank in less than 24 hours.

Stocks edge higher as oil slips, testimony eyed (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened slightly higher on Tuesday, clawing back from Monday's steep declines, as the price of oil slipped and investors awaited key congressional testimony about the financial sector bailout.

Paulson and Bernanke push bailout as Lehman deal looms (2008-09-23)
LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The architects of a $700 billion bailout for the U.S. financial system warned lawmakers on Tuesday to move quickly, and the sale of Lehman Brothers' European arm loomed as the next step in Wall Street's dramatic transformation.

Kidnappers threaten to kill hostages: Egypt official (2008-09-23)
CAIRO (Reuters) - The kidnappers who seized 19 hostages including European tourists in a remote desert area of Egypt have threatened to kill them if attempts are made to find them by plane, an Egyptian official said on Tuesday.

Bristol-Myers raises ImClone bid to $62/shr (2008-09-23)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co said on Monday it raised to $62 from $60 its per-share offer for the part of biotechnology company ImClone Systems Inc that it does not already own.

Typhoon kills 3 in Philippines, heads for China (2008-09-23)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - A typhoon was gathering strength in the South China Sea on Tuesday and heading toward Hong Kong after killing three people in the northern Philippines.

Economic crisis overshadows Bush farewell at U.N (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - President George W. Bush delivers his final address to the United Nations on Tuesday facing a starkly different world from the one that heard his first -- prolonged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a financial crisis sweeping the globe.

China vows export crackdown amid milk crisis (2008-09-23)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China vowed to prevent toxic milk from reaching processors and export markets after an infant powder scandal that has made more than 54,000 children sick and mired the nation's trade reputation in fresh crisis.

Oil falls below $107 after record one-day surge (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil dropped $3 a barrel on Tuesday, weighed by doubts about the U.S. bailout plan and as investors booked profits after an historic one-day rise in the previous session.

Corruption creating humanitarian disaster: watchdog (2008-09-23)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Corruption in poor countries has created a humanitarian disaster which threatens to derail the global fight against poverty, Transparency International said.

Those behind market crisis should be punished: Sarkozy (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Those responsible for the crisis that has swept global financial markets should be punished, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said overnight in his first reaction to the latest bout of economic turmoil.

Holiday sales set for worst gain in 6 years: NRF (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The tumultuous economic climate will constrain U.S. holiday sales growth to its lowest level in six years and a turnaround is not likely until the second half of next year, a leading retail trade group forecast on Tuesday.

Longs' largest holder says higher bid worth risk (2008-09-23)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Longs Drug Stores Corp rebuffed a renewed takeover push by Walgreen Co , while Longs' largest shareholder said it was willing to take the risk a deal with Walgreen could bring, to get the best price.

Quick bailout action urged, Senate pushes back (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. officials pressed Congress on Tuesday to swiftly erect a $700 billion bulwark against the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression but hit opposition from senators who cautioned against a rush to judgment.

Buffett to invest $5 billion in Goldman (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc will invest $5 billion in Goldman Sachs Group Inc , in a major boost for the Wall Street bank from perhaps the world's best-known investor.

Bailout faces delays as Goldman gets boost (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Architects of a $700 billion bailout plan urged U.S. lawmakers to act swiftly or face dire economic consequences as global stock markets fell for a second day on growing concern the rescue may be delayed.

Buffett to invest $5 billion in Goldman (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc will invest $5 billion in Goldman Sachs Group Inc, in a major boost for the Wall Street bank from perhaps the world's best-known investor.

Bailout faces delays as Fed pumps cash (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Architects of a $700 billion bailout plan urged U.S. lawmakers to act swiftly or face dire economic consequences as global stock markets fell for a second day on growing concern the rescue may be delayed.

Stocks end lower as concerns about bailout weigh (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday on fear that congressional wrangling could delay a proposed $700 billion plan to rescue the financial sector, increasing worries about the struggling U.S. economy.

Gunman kills 10, self in Finnish school shooting (2008-09-23)
KAUHAJOKI, Finland (Reuters) - A student shot dead 10 people at a vocational school on Tuesday, Finland's second such attack in less than a year and just one day after the gunman was interviewed by police over Internet postings.

Japan's Aso eyes chums, fiscal hawk for cabinet (2008-09-23)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's new leader, Taro Aso, is tipped to appoint several staunch conservative allies to his cabinet on Wednesday, including a China critic as finance minister, while keeping a fiscal reformer as economics minister.

New York City settles with last gun dealer in suit (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City has reached a settlement with the last gun dealer among 27 it sued in a bid to impose tougher rules on out-of-state gun stores, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Tuesday.

Raytheon protests U.S. Navy move on Aegis modernization (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Raytheon Co on Tuesday said it had filed formal protests against the U.S. Navy's plan to skip a competition and pursue sole-source contracts with Lockheed Martin Corp for the modernization of its ship-based Aegis combat system.

As Congress mulls bailout, markets fall (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Architects of a $700 billion bailout plan urged U.S. lawmakers to act swiftly or face dire economic consequences as global stock markets fell for a second day on growing concern the rescue may be delayed.

Bailout CEOs who refuse pay cuts unpatriotic: Frank (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street titans who refuse to take a pay cut to join a proposed $700-billion U.S. financial system bailout were "selfish and unpatriotic", a senior Democrat said on Tuesday.

Long-awaited California budget signed into law (2008-09-23)
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California ended its longest-ever delay over a state budget on Tuesday when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a $103.4 billion general fund spending plan for the fiscal year that began on July 1 into law.

Airlines tougher on company travel: group (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cash-strapped airlines are more aggressively cutting corporate discounts or pulling contracts entirely if businesses fall short of their air travel commitments, business travel executives said on Tuesday.

Credit crisis concerns once again pound GE shares (2008-09-23)
BOSTON (Reuters) - General Electric Co shares fell about 4 percent on Tuesday after a stock analyst at Goldman Sachs cut his growth forecast for the conglomerate and investors worried about the prospects for a $700 billion bailout by Washington of the financial system.

Blacks at higher risk of colon polyps: U.S. study (2008-09-23)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Blacks are more likely than whites to have large colon polyps, and their tumors tend to be located higher in the colon where they are harder to detect, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Google rolls out rival to iPhone (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - T-Mobile has rolled out Google's answer to the iPhone as the Web search giant makes its biggest stab yet at leaping from consumers' computers into their pockets with a device cheaper than rival Apple offers.

FBI probing Fannie, Freddie, Lehman, AIG: report (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is investigating Fannie Mae , Freddie Mac , Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and insurer American International Group Inc and their senior executives for potential mortgage fraud, CNN reported on Tuesday.

As Congress mulls U.S. bailout, markets fall (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Architects of a $700 billion bailout plan urged U.S. lawmakers to act swiftly or face dire economic consequences as global stock markets fell for a second day on growing concern the rescue may be delayed.

Oil near $107; lower U.S. stocks forecast curbs losses (2008-09-23)
PERTH (Reuters) - Oil edged up toward $107 a barrel on Wednesday, pausing from its 2.5 percent decline a day earlier, as forecast of a drop in U.S. crude stocks more than offset doubts about the U.S. government's financial rescue plan.

Japan's SMFG to invest in Goldman: media (2008-09-23)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) <8316.T>, Japan's third-largest bank, plans to invest in Goldman Sachs Group Inc , Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday.

Wall St. ends lower on concerns about bailout (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday on fear that congressional wrangling could delay a proposed $700 billion financial sector rescue plan, increasing worries about the struggling U.S. economy.

U.S. says Pakistani suspect may be unfit for trial (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge entered a plea of innocent on Tuesday on behalf of a Pakistani woman suspected of links to al Qaeda who prosecutors say may be unfit to face charges of trying to kill U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan.

Icahn calls new Bristol bid for ImClone "absurd" (2008-09-23)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Carl Icahn, the billionaire investor and chairman of biotechnology company ImClone Systems Inc fired off a letter to the chief executive of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co , calling Bristol's revised take-over offer of $62 a share "absurd."

SMFG says no plans for Goldman investment now (2008-09-23)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group <8316.T>, Japan's third-largest bank, said it has no plans at this time to invest in U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs .

Myanmar frees longest-serving political prisoner (2008-09-23)
YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar's longest-serving political prisoner, journalist Win Tin, was freed on Tuesday after 19 years in jail and immediately vowed to continue his struggle against 46 years of unbroken military rule.

Stocks end down, but futures fly on Buffett's move (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday on fear that congressional wrangling could delay a proposed $700 billion plan to rescue the financial sector, increasing worries about the struggling U.S. economy.

NYC starts deep budget cuts with $500 mln this year (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City's budget director on Tuesday ordered all agencies to cut spending by $500 million in the current fiscal year and by $1 billion in the following year, due to sliding tax revenues.

Pakistani news says U.S. drone crashes, U.S. denies (2008-09-23)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A pilotless U.S. aircraft crashed in northwest Pakistan's South Waziristan region on Tuesday, Pakistani news channels reported, but American officials denied the United States had lost any drones.

Chrysler unveils electric cars, stumps for loans (2008-09-23)
AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC on Tuesday showed off a trio of electric vehicles in development -- including battery-powered versions of its Chrysler minivan and Jeep Wrangler -- and vowed to bring one of them to showrooms by 2010.

Iran vows to resist U.S. "bullying" (2008-09-23)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad railed against "Zionist murderers" in a speech to the United Nations on Tuesday and vowed to resist American bullying and defend Iran's right to nuclear power.

Iran vows to resist U.S. 'bullying' (2008-09-23)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad railed against "Zionist murderers" in a speech to the United Nations on Tuesday and vowed to resist American bullying and defend Iran's right to nuclear power.

Israeli president doubts peace deal by year-end (2008-09-23)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Israeli President Shimon Peres cast strong doubt on Tuesday over whether Israel and the Palestinians could reach a peace deal by the end of the year as hoped.

Sudan says locates kidnappers and hostages (2008-09-23)
CAIRO/KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese authorities have located a group of kidnappers and the 19 hostages they seized in Egypt last week but have no plans for a rescue attempt that could endanger them, a Sudanese official said on Tuesday.

Wine ingredient protects against radiation: report (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A natural antioxidant commonly found in red wine and fruit may protect against radiation exposure, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

Gunman kills 10 in Finnish school shooting (2008-09-23)
KAUHAJOKI, Finland (Reuters) - A student gunman shot and killed 10 people at a vocational school in western Finland on Tuesday before turning the gun on himself, in the country's second such attack in less than a year.

September 11 suspect grills U.S. judge on religion (2008-09-23)
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Kids in Medicaid have more tooth decay: study (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An estimated 6.5 million U.S. children cared for through the Medicaid public health insurance program have untreated tooth decay, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Obama: Wall St bailout may delay spending programs (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said on Tuesday a $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan would likely delay some campaign spending promises, as the reality sank in of the costs of the mammoth bailout.

Wall Street loses ground on GE, materials (2008-09-23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell in choppy trade on Tuesday as a drop in shares of General Electric and a pullback in the shares of natural resources companies derailed a tech-led advance seen earlier.

Oil falls $5 as bailout worries weigh (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell $5 on Tuesday -- reversing direction after Monday's dramatic rally -- as dealers focused on slowing global energy demand and doubts over a U.S. plan to rescue the financial sector.

FDA expands checks for Chinese milk products (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Food and Drug Administration has expanded its checks for possible melamine-contaminated food products from China to include candy and other items, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Obama's call for change impacts language, TV (2008-09-23)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - He is calling for change, but U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama probably didn't think his campaign's theme extended to the English language and U.S. television culture.

Wal-Mart small grocery stores set for Arizona start (2008-09-23)
PHOENIX (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc plans to open its "Marketside" small-scale grocery stores in the Phoenix, Arizona area on October 4, setting up a showdown with rival Tesco Plc in the market for fresh groceries and prepared foods.

Starbucks says oatmeal is its most popular food (2008-09-23)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp's newly introduced hot oatmeal is the coffee chain's single most popular food item and its most successful food product launch to date, a company executive said on Tuesday.

"Dancing with Stars" leads TV's opening night (2008-09-23)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Twenty-four hours after co-hosting one of the biggest ratings flops in Emmy history, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" emcee Tom Bergeron presided over the top broadcast on opening night of U.S. television's new season.

Ahmadinejad rails against Zionists, U.S. bullying (2008-09-23)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad railed against "Zionist murderers" in a speech to the United Nations on Tuesday and vowed to resist American bullying and defend Iran's right to nuclear power.

Auto loans included in must-pass spending bill (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A mammoth spending bill to keep the U.S. government running through March will include a $25 billion loan guarantee package for the struggling auto industry, House Appropriations Chairman David Obey said on Tuesday.

House OKs bill boosting mental health coverage (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Members of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday passed legislation to require health insurers to give the same level of coverage for mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse treatment as for other ailments.

Somali gunmen abduct two foreign aid workers (2008-09-23)
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali gunmen have abducted two foreigners working for the aid agency Medecins du Monde along the border with Ethiopia, the organization and witnesses said Tuesday.

CORRECTED: House leader urges Bush to explain bailout on TV (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Democratic leader Steny Hoyer is suggesting President George W. Bush go on national television to explain the need for the administration's proposed $700 billion financial rescue plan.

House leader urges Bush to explain bailout on TV (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Democratic leader Steny Hoyer is suggesting President George W. Bush go on national television to explain the need for the administration's proposed $700 billion financial rescue plan.

Russia denies new law is aimed at Arctic land grab (2008-09-23)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday it had no intention of unilaterally redrawing its borders in the Arctic to give it a larger chunk of the region's mineral wealth.

Lehman Europe deal eyed as Paulson pushes bailout (2008-09-23)
LONDON (Reuters) - A sale of Lehman Brothers' European arm loomed as the next step in Wall Street's transformation on Tuesday as the main architect of a $700 billion U.S. financial sector rescue plan warned lawmakers not to slow its progress.

Paulson urges Congress not to slow bailout bill (2008-09-23)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson urged Congress on Tuesday not to weigh down a proposed $700-billion financial system bailout with unrelated provisions that would delay addressing key issues.

Key S.Africa ministers resign, deepening crisis (2008-09-23)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - More than a third of South Africa's cabinet stepped down on Tuesday after President Thabo Mbeki resigned, deepening the biggest political crisis since the end of apartheid.

Goldman, M.Stanley transform into Fed-regulated banks (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON/PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley were granted approval on Sunday to become bank holding companies regulated by the U.S. Federal Reserve, effectively killing off the investment banking model that has dominated Wall Street for more than 20 years.

Nomura, others vie for Lehman Asia operations: sources (2008-09-22)
TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) - Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest brokerage, has put in bids to buy both the Asian and European operations of failed U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, two financial industry sources told Reuters, pitching it against other banks and brokerages.

Japan's MUFG says to invest in Morgan Stanley (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group <8306.T>, Japan's largest bank, said it would announce an investment into U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley on Monday at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

Somali insurgents shake Mogadishu, 23 dead (2008-09-22)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Islamist insurgents pounded Mogadishu on Monday in attacks that brought the death toll in the last 24 hours to at least 23 people, witnesses said.

Strippers by the pool: Vegas casinos get sexier (2008-09-22)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Brittany McClain spends her nights stripping at Sapphire gentlemen's club in Las Vegas under the stage name Electronica. By day she sunbathes topless at an adults-only pool at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

Nomura reaches deal to buy Lehman's Asia business (2008-09-22)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Nomura Holdings <8604.T>, Japan's largest brokerage, has reached a deal to buy the Asian operations of Lehman Brothers , according to a source familiar with the matter.

Fed to regulate Goldman, M.Stanley; bailout takes shape (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley gave up their cherished investment banking status in return for cover under the Fed's wing to survive a financial storm that U.S. authorities aim to tackle with a $700 billion bailout plan.

Baseball says goodbye as Yankee Stadium retired (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Baseball said goodbye to Yankee Stadium on Sunday, ending 85 years at America's most storied sports venue with a celebration of its past and a postgame salute that players and fans didn't want to leave.

ANC to name Motlanthe as S.African president (2008-09-22)
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The ruling African National Congress will name party deputy head Kgalema Motlanthe as South Africa's caretaker leader on Monday to replace President Thabo Mbeki, ANC members of parliament said.

Gunmen fire on Afghan diplomat's car in Pakistan (2008-09-22)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Unidentified gunmen fired on an Afghan diplomat's car, killing one person, in Peshawar on Monday, the police chief in the northwestern Pakistani city told Reuters.

Afghan diplomat abducted in Pakistan, driver shot (2008-09-22)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Unidentified gunmen kidnapped an Afghan diplomat after shooting dead his driver in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Monday, police said.

Japan's ruling party picks Taro Aso to be next PM (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's main ruling party chose Taro Aso, an advocate of government spending and tax cuts to boost the economy, by a landslide to be next prime minister on Monday, ahead of an election expected in the next few months.

G7 nations welcome U.S. bank bailout (2008-09-22)
PARIS (Reuters) - Group of Seven nations welcomed the $700 billion U.S. markets bailout plan on Monday but there was no sign that other governments saw any need to follow Washington in setting up rescue packages of their own.

AutoZone quarterly earnings rise despite downturn (2008-09-22)
DETROIT (Reuters) - AutoZone Inc , the largest U.S. auto parts retailer, reported a 12.2 percent rise in quarterly profit on Monday as it expanded stores despite a steep downturn in U.S. auto sales.

Pakistani troops fire on intruding U.S. choppers (2008-09-22)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani troops fired on two U.S. helicopters that intruded into Pakistani territory on Sunday night, forcing them to turn back to Afghanistan, a senior security official with knowledge of the clash said on Monday.

Ruling party picks outspoken Aso to be Japan PM (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Outspoken nationalist Taro Aso, an advocate of spending and tax cuts to boost the economy, won a ruling party race on Monday to become Japan's next prime minister and swiftly set his sights on an election expected within months.

Japan's Aso picked by ruling party to be next PM (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ruling party chose outspoken nationalist Taro Aso, an advocate of spending and tax cuts to boost the economy, by a landslide on Monday to be next prime minister and woo voters before an election that may be held soon.

China goes for gold with third manned space launch (2008-09-22)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Astronauts readying for China's next leap into space have arrived at the launch site of the Shenzhou VII craft, official media reported, as enthusiasm grows over the Olympic host nation's next attention-grabbing feat.

Nomura reaches deal to buy Lehman's Asia business (2008-09-22)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest brokerage, has reached a deal to buy the Asian operations of Lehman Brothers, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Investment bank model abandoned; bailout debated (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley sought shelter with the Federal Reserve to survive a financial storm that destroyed their rivals, and Wall Street braced for a week of political wrangling over a proposed $700 billion bailout for troubled banks.

Alitalia may lose license in days, invites offers (2008-09-22)
ROME (Reuters) - Aviation authorities may withdraw Alitalia's license in 3-4 days if the administrator making a last-ditch attempt to sell it off does not present emergency cost-cutting measures at a meeting on Monday.

Nearly 13,000 in hospital in China milk scandal (2008-09-22)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The number of Chinese infants sick in hospital after drinking tainted milk formula has leapt to nearly 13,000 and Premier Wen Jiabao threatened harsh punishment for culprits in the latest blight on the "made-in-China" brand.

JetBlue terminal evacuated at New York's JFK (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The JetBlue terminal at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport was evacuated on Monday because of a suspicious device, Fox News reported.

MUFG says to buy 10-20 pct stake in Morgan Stanley (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group <8306.T>, Japan's largest bank, said on Monday that it planned to buy 10-20 percent of the common stock of U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley .

HBO sweeps Emmys, but upstart AMC grabs top prize (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - HBO swept the prime-time Emmys on Sunday, consolidating its reputation as a powerhouse of U.S. television by winning 26 trophies, thanks mostly to the historical mini-series "John Adams" and the modern political movie "Recount."

"Mad Men," "John Adams" make Emmy record book (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two period dramas set 200 years apart in American history -- "Mad Men" and "John Adams" -- claimed a place in the Emmy record books on Sunday while a satire of network TV itself, "30 Rock," dominated the comedy side of the awards.

Stocks open lower on bailout uncertainty (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened down on Monday, led lower by bank shares on uncertainty about the details of the proposed $700 billion financial sector bailout.

N.Korea asks U.N. to back off from nuclear site: IAEA (2008-09-22)
VIENNA (Reuters) - North Korea on Monday asked the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog to remove seals and cameras from its main atomic complex, the agency's chief said, after vowing to restart the facility -- reversing a nuclear disarmament deal.

Hostages moved out of Egypt: minister (2008-09-22)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Kidnappers who seized 19 hostages in Egypt's western desert have taken them across the border, Egyptian Tourism Minister Zoheir Garrana said on Monday.

Nearly 13,000 hospitalized in China milk scandal (2008-09-22)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The number of Chinese infants sick in hospital after drinking tainted milk formula doubled to nearly 13,000 and the country's top quality regulator resigned on Monday in the latest blight on the "made-in-China" brand.

Senate Democrats propose conditions for bailout (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Monday issued a counterproposal to the Treasury Department's financial bailout plan that would give the government shares in firms unloading assets and limit executive compensation.

AIG shares jump 27 percent on shareholder plan report (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of American International Group Inc rose 27 percent on Monday after a report that some leading shareholders are searching for a way to keep the company from being effectively taken over by the Federal Reserve.

Stocks sink on bailout uncertainty, oil's jump (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Monday, weighed by uncertainty about how far a proposed $700 billion U.S. financial sector bailout will go in resuscitating the economy and as oil prices resumed their climb.

Kidnappers seize group of foreign tourists in Egypt (2008-09-22)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Kidnappers in Egypt have seized 15 hostages including German, Italian and Romanian tourists near the Sudanese border and talks are under way over ransom demands, Egyptian officials said on Monday.

Eastern Congo fighting displaces 100,000: U.N. (2008-09-22)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Weeks of heavy fighting between the army and Tutsi rebels in eastern Congo's North Kivu province has forced 100,000 people from their homes, the United Nations said on Monday.

Futures drop as details of U.S. bailout awaited (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell on Monday as investors awaited details on Washington's planned $700 billion bailout to stem financial sector turmoil.

Nearly 13,000 in hospital as China milk scandal grows (2008-09-22)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The number of Chinese infants sick in hospital after drinking tainted milk formula doubled to nearly 13,000 and the country's top quality regulator resigned on Monday in the latest blight on the "made-in-China" brand.

Gene linked to melanoma (2008-09-22)
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Miley Cyrus says committed to "Hannah Montana" (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Miley Cyrus and Disney Channel sought to shoot down rumors on Monday that the teen sensation of the TV hit "Hannah Montana" was seeking to part ways with the show that made her a star.

MUFG says to buy 10-20 percent stake in Morgan Stanley (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group <8306.T>, Japan's largest bank, said on Monday it planned to take a stake of up to one-fifth in U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley as part of a strategic alliance.

Stock futures dip on questions over bailout plan (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - Stock index futures were down on Monday, pointing to a lower start on Wall Street on lingering questions surrounding the U.S. government's proposed $700-billion bank bail-out.

Microsoft shares rise 5 percent on share repurchase (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Microsoft Corp jumped 5.1 percent to $26.45 in trading before the opening bell on Monday, after the company raised its quarterly dividend and set a $40 billion share repurchase plan.

Banks must raise capital now on recent rally: Friedman (2008-09-22)
(Reuters) - Banks and thrifts must raise capital now to take advantage of the recent rally in share prices, said analyst Paul Miller, who believes that the Bush administration's $700 billion bailout plan for Wall Street will not benefit banks' capital levels as much as expected.

"Mad Men," "John Adams" make Emmy record book (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two period dramas set 200 years apart in American history -- "Mad Men" and "John Adams" -- claimed a place in the Emmy record books on Sunday as U.S. television's highest honors were presented in a ceremony rife with political undertones.

Futures dip on questions over bailout plan (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - Stock index futures were down on Monday, pointing to a lower start on Wall Street on lingering questions surrounding the U.S. government's proposed $700-billion bank bail-out.

Livni poised to get nod to form Israeli government (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli President Shimon Peres is likely to ask Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to try to form a new coalition government, a Peres spokeswoman said on Monday, a day after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned.

ANC to nominate deputy leader as president (2008-09-22)
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The ruling African National Congress will name party deputy head Kgalema Motlanthe as South Africa's caretaker leader after the ousting of President Thabo Mbeki, ANC members of parliament said on Monday.

Investment banks convert as bailout debate begins (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley sought shelter with the Federal Reserve to survive a financial storm that has destroyed their rivals as Wall Street braced for a week of political wrangling over a proposed $700 billion bailout for troubled banks.

Stocks drop on bailout angst, higher oil (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Monday as investors worried that political wrangling might snag a U.S. proposed $700 billion bailout to resuscitate financial markets and oil prices jumped, adding to concern about the economy.

IAEA rebuts Iran's reasons for blocking atom probe (2008-09-22)
VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief on Monday rejected Iran's argument that an investigation into its atomic program threatened its national security, telling Tehran he could ensure confidentiality if it cooperated.

Goldman, Morgan Stanley abandon investment banking model (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley sought shelter with the Federal Reserve to survive a financial storm that has destroyed their rivals, effectively killing off the Wall Street investment banking model of the past two decades.

Nearly 13,000 in hospital in China milk scandal (2008-09-22)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The number of Chinese infants sick in hospital after drinking tainted milk formula doubled to nearly 13,000 as the country's top quality regulator resigned in the latest blight on the "made-in-China" brand.

Afghan diplomat abducted in Pakistan; worry grows (2008-09-22)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped an Afghan diplomat in the Pakistani city of Peshawer on Monday, police said, underscoring worsening security in the nuclear-armed country two days after a suicide bomber killed 53 people.

Taliban kidnap over 140 Afghan laborers: governor (2008-09-22)
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Taliban insurgents have abducted more than 140 laborers from a construction firm in Afghanistan's western province of Farah, the provincial governor said on Monday.

EU executive welcomes U.S. markets stability plan (2008-09-22)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Monday it welcomed U.S. plans to stabilize the financial system but wanted to see more details.

S.Africa parliament to elect new president Thursday (2008-09-22)
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa's parliament will elect a new president to replace Thabo Mbeki during a session on Thursday, the chief whip for opposition Democratic Alliance said on Monday.

Evacuation of NY JFK Airport over: report (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The evacuation of the JetBlue terminal at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport is over, CNN reported on Monday.

MUFG says to buy 10-20 pct stake in Morgan Stanley (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan's largest bank, said on Monday that it planned to buy 10-20 percent of the common stock of U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley.

ANC to name acting South African president (2008-09-22)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The ruling African National Congress will appoint South Africa's caretaker leader on Monday to replace President Thabo Mbeki.

Iraq's Mehdi Army at crossroads as U.S. scales down (2008-09-22)
NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Forced off Iraq's streets and with diminished political clout, what anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his Mehdi Army militia do next will be crucial if they are to remain relevant.

ANC's Zuma says Motlanthe would be good president (2008-09-22)
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South African ANC leader Jacob Zuma said on Monday that deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe would be up the task of serving as president until next year's election if he won the party's nomination.

AIG's ex-CEO refuses $22 million severance payout: report (2008-09-22)
(Reuters) - American International Group Inc's former Chief Executive Robert Willumstad has rejected a $22 million severance payment, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the decision.

Goldman, Morgan Stanley abandon investment banking mod (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley sought shelter with the Federal Reserve to survive a financial storm that has destroyed their rivals, effectively killing off the Wall Street investment banking model of the past two decades.

Ten to 15 foreign tourists kidnapped in Egypt (2008-09-22)
CAIRO (Reuters) - A group of 10 to 15 foreign tourists were kidnapped in Aswan in southern Egypt, possibly including two Israelis, Egyptian security sources said on Monday.

AutoZone quarterly earnings up despite downturn (2008-09-22)
DETROIT (Reuters) - AutoZone Inc , the largest U.S. auto-parts retailer, reported a 12.2 percent rise in quarterly profit on Monday as it expanded stores despite a steep downturn in U.S. auto sales.

CarMax profit tumbles amid slowing economy (2008-09-22)
DETROIT (Reuters) - CarMax Inc , the largest U.S. retailer of used cars, said on Monday quarterly profit plunged 78 percent, hurt by a slowing economy and falling resale values of trucks and SUVs.

U.N. wants $460 million for hungry Ethiopians (2008-09-22)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - The United Nations appealed on Monday for $460 million to feed some 10 million Ethiopians hit by drought and high food prices.

MBIA says can fund potential termination payments (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bond insurer MBIA said on Monday it would have enough resources to fund potential termination payments related to investment contracts if rating agencies downgraded the notes of its subsidiary MBIA Insurance Corp.

Fed to regulate Goldman, Morgan Stanley (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley gave up their cherished investment banking status in return for cover under the Fed's wing to survive a financial storm that U.S. authorities aim to tackle with a $700 billion bailout plan.

Nomura grabs Lehman's Asia business (2008-09-22)
TOKYO/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Japan's Nomura Holdings has reached a deal to buy the Asian operations of Lehman Brothers, a source said on Friday, outbidding other banks seeking to scoop up Lehman's Asia group on the cheap.

Nomura grabs Lehman's Asia business (2008-09-22)
TOKYO/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Japan's Nomura Holdings <8604.T> has reached a deal to buy the Asian operations of Lehman Brothers , a source said on Friday, outbidding other banks seeking to scoop up Lehman's Asia group on the cheap.

Europe halts world stock rally as U.S. plan eyed (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks halted a rally in world equities on Monday and the dollar fell as jittery investors awaited detail of Washington's $700 billion bailout to tackle the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Stocks fall 2 percent on bailout unease, oil (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended losses on Monday, sending the benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq down more than 2 percent, as investors worried that passage of a proposed $700 billion bailout to resuscitate financial markets might hit a speed bump in Congress.

Car bomb kills soldier in Spain, ETA blamed (2008-09-22)
MADRID (Reuters) - A car bomb killed a soldier in northern Spain on Monday in the third attack in just over 24 hours by the Basque separatist group ETA, the government said.

Dashing dancing: REVIEW (2008-09-22)
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Vibrant Palette (2008-09-22)
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Kidnappers seize foreign tourists in Egypt (2008-09-22)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Masked kidnappers in Egypt have seized 19 hostages including German, Italian and Romanian tourists in a remote desert area near the Sudanese and Libyan borders, Egyptian officials said on Monday.

Goldman, Morgan Stanley flee into Fed's arms (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley sought shelter with the Federal Reserve to survive a financial storm that destroyed their rivals, effectively killing Wall Street's investment banking model of the past two decades.

NYSE adds 30 stocks to SEC's short sale ban (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The New York Stock Exchange has added 30 stocks of companies that engage in financial services to a temporary ban on short selling ordered last week by U.S. regulators.

Nike to buy back additional $5 billion in stock (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Athletic shoe and clothing maker Nike Inc said on Monday that it planned to repurchase an additional $5 billion of its own stock over four years.

Stocks sink on bailout jitters, oil's jump (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Monday, weighed by uncertainty about how far a proposed $700 billion U.S. financial sector bailout will go in resuscitating the economy and as oil prices resumed their climb.

Livni charged with forming new Israeli government (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - President Shimon Peres asked Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Monday to form a new government, opening the way for the new Kadima party leader to become the second woman prime minister in Israel's history.

Sudan murder suspects used Saudi cash - investigator (2008-09-22)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Four Sudanese men accused of killing a U.S. aid worker funded the murder with a donation from a Saudi Arabian man and money left over from a failed bomb plot, the Sudanese police's chief investigator told a court on Monday.

Metallica, Run-DMC up for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hip Hop group Run-DMC, heavy metal band Metallica and musician/songwriter Bobby Womack are among nine nominees announced on Monday vying for five spots in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pakistan, Afghanistan discuss joint border force (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pakistan and Afghanistan are discussing a possible joint force to combat militants on both sides of their border near Pakistan's tribal region, which has become a safe haven for al Qaeda and other groups, a senior Afghan official said on Monday.

Senate Democrats want equity, pay limits in bailout (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats issued a counterproposal to the Treasury Department's $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan on Monday that would give the government a stake in firms unloading troubled assets under the plan, and limit the pay of corporate executives involved.

Bailout debated; investment bank model abandoned (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street braced for a week of political wrangling over a proposed $700 billion bailout for troubled banks, while Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley sought shelter with the Federal Reserve to survive a financial storm that destroyed their rivals.

Nomura grabs Lehman Asia unit; Europe next (2008-09-22)
TOKYO/LONDON (Reuters) - Japan's Nomura Holdings <8604.T> is to buy the Asian operations of Lehman Brothers after outbidding rivals on Monday and also emerged as the front-runner to buy the bankrupt bank's businesses in Europe.

Keanu Reeves ruled not liable for photographer's fall (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Los Angeles judge on Monday threw out charges of assault and battery brought against Keanu Reeves by a photographer who claimed the "Matrix" actor deliberately hit him with his car.

White House warns Iran on nuclear inaction (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The White House on Monday expressed concern about Iran's lack of cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog and said Tehran must provide "substantial information and access" to the agency.

Livni urges Likud to join Israeli unity government (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's new prime minister designate Tzipi Livni on Monday urged the leader of the right-wing Likud party, Benjamin Netanyahu, to join a unity government.

Stonehenge may have been pilgrimage site for sick (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - Archaeologists probing the secrets of Stonehenge, Britain's most famous prehistoric monument, said on Monday it may have been an ancient pilgrimage site for the sick who believed its stones had healing qualities.

Mitsubishi to buy up to 20 percent Morgan Stanley stake (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley agreed to sell an equity stake of as much as $8.5 billion to top Japanese bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc <8306.T>, speeding up its transformation into a commercial bank and improving its survival prospects in turbulent times.

CEO pay pressure builds due to Wall Street bailout (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investor activists see the U.S. government's proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street as a big opportunity to curb CEO pay they consider too lavish, adding new intensity to an already hot debate.

MUFG says to buy 10-20 percent stake in Morgan Stanley (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan's largest bank, said on Monday it planned to take a stake of up to one-fifth in U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley as part of a strategic alliance.

Microsoft ups dividend, boosts share buyback (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp plans to buyback up to $40 billion of its own stock, and raised its quarterly dividend by 18 percent, the software maker said on Monday.

Microsoft, HP, Nike unveil $53 billion of buybacks (2008-09-22)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp , Hewlett-Packard Co and Nike Inc said on Monday they plan to buy back up to $53 billion of their own shares at a time when most U.S. companies are slowing the rate of share repurchases to hoard cash over liquidity concerns.

Little-known Islamic group claims Pakistan attack (2008-09-22)
DUBAI (Reuters) - A little known Islamic group claimed responsibility for Saturday's suicide attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad which killed 53, Al Arabiya television reported on Monday.

U.N. council renews Afghan peacekeeping mandate (2008-09-22)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Monday unanimously agreed to extend the mandate of NATO-led international forces in Afghanistan and called for redoubled efforts to avoid the death of innocent civilians.

Bailout hotly debated as markets sink (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Bush administration's $700 billion bailout to shore up the battered U.S. financial system looks set to drag into next week as Washington lawmakers haggle over what taxpayers will get for rescuing Wall Street.

Doctors offer patients scant empathy in study (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - During an appointment with his doctor, a man diagnosed with lung cancer sounded dispirited when talking about what cigarettes had done to him.

Appeals court orders release of Iraqi abuse photos (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Monday ordered the release of 29 photographs it said depicted prisoner abuse by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, which rights groups say prove abuse was widespread.

Other G7 members may take U.S.-style action: Canada (2008-09-22)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - There are signs that G7 nations outside the United States will take additional action to mitigate the effects of the financial crisis, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Monday.

Poll: Americans rate Obama over McCain on economy (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More Americans think Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama would do a better job handling an economic crisis than his Republican opponent John McCain, according to a CNN public opinion poll released on Monday.

Downturn or not, Las Vegas opens new attractions (2008-09-22)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Despite rising gasoline and airline prices that are keeping gamblers away and the shelving of some big projects, Las Vegas resorts are still spending money on new attractions and testing the bounds of luxury and taste.

Unexpectedly, Las Vegas hit by downturn (2008-09-22)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Sue Garrett, in Las Vegas for a birthday party earlier this month, went to what she considers extraordinary lengths to hold down the cost of her trip.

Austria's far right poised for gains (2008-09-22)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Outside the dim stairwell of a huge concrete housing block, Hueseyin Karakoe pauses from sweeping up cigarette butts in the cold and says he is glad Austria has been his home for the past 25 years.

Fed eases minority bank investor guidelines (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Monday relaxed some rules regarding minority shareholder investments in banks, in a move that could encourage investments by private equity and other firms.

G7 countries pledge to safeguard financial system (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors are maintaining "heightened close cooperation" and pledged on Monday to take necessary actions to safeguard the international financial system.

U.S. negotiators to return to Iraq for security talks (2008-09-22)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. negotiators will return to Baghdad soon for more talks with Iraq on a security deal that has bogged down over the issue of immunity for U.S. troops.

Is it time to buy Morgan Stanley and Goldman? (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley are not the companies they used to be.

Opening bounce seen on bank news, Microsoft (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for bounce at the open on Monday as news that Japan's largest bank planned to buy a stake in Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley tempered worries about the proposed $700 billion financial sector bailout.

Taliban kidnap over 140 Afghan labourers: governor (2008-09-22)
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Taliban insurgents have abducted more than 140 labourers involved in the construction of a military base in Afghanistan's western province of Farah, the provincial governor said on Monday.

"Mad Men," "John Adams" make Emmy record book (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two period dramas set 200 years apart in American history -- "Mad Men" and "John Adams" -- claimed a place in the Emmy record books on Sunday as U.S. television's highest honors were presented in a ceremony rife with political undertones.

Top Afghan diplomat abducted in Pakistan (2008-09-22)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped Afghanistan's top diplomat to Pakistan on Monday after killing his driver, underscoring worsening security in the nuclear-armed country two days after a suicide bomber killed 53 people.

Kidnappers seize foreign tourists in Egypt (2008-09-22)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Masked kidnappers have seized 19 hostages including Western tourists on safari in a remote desert area of Egypt near the Sudanese and Libyan borders, and whisked them out of the country, Egyptian officials said on Monday.

Iraq government faces credibility test: U.S. general (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraq's Shi'ite-dominated government faces a major credibility test next week when it begins to take over U.S.-backed Sunni Arab patrols that include former insurgents, a top U.S. general said on Monday

JetBlue terminal reopens at New York's JFK (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The JetBlue terminal was reopened at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport after being briefly evacuated on Monday because of a suspicious device, the airline said.

AIG CEO expects "for sale" list next week (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc should have a list of assets it wants to sell by next week, its new chief executive said on Monday, as the company prepares to split itself up to repay an emergency bailout loan.

Jerusalem driver wounds 19 in "attack": police (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A car slammed into a crowd in central Jerusalem late on Monday, injuring 19 people, nearly all of them Israeli soldiers, in what police described as a "terrorist" attack.

Some 820,000 Texas customers still without power (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Some 820,000 customers in Texas remained without power on Monday, nine days after Hurricane Ike hit the Gulf Coast before cutting a destructive path all the way to New York.

3Com results beat Wall Street and own forecasts (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. network equipment maker 3Com Corp reported stronger-than-expected sales and profit for its fiscal first quarter on Monday amid strong sales in China and higher margins, sending the shares up 7 percent.

Clinton summit hopes for generosity amid turmoil (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States may be suffering its worst financial crisis since the Depression, but former President Bill Clinton hopes companies arrive in a generous mood for his fourth annual philanthropic summit.

Wall Street falls on bailout uncertainty (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks ended sharply lower on Monday as investors worried a $700 billion bailout for the financial sector may not resuscitate a slumping economy, while a record spike in oil prices renewed concern about consumer spending.

Legg Mason denies it plans to go private (2008-09-22)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Asset manager Legg Mason Inc said on Monday it was not looking to go private, denying a report in The New York Post.

Therapy extends life in rats with nerve disease (2008-09-22)
MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Treatment with genetically modified stem cells helped rats with a paralyzing disease live significantly longer, U.S. researchers said on Monday in a finding that could one day help humans.

Janet Jackson parts ways with Island Def Jam (2008-09-22)
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Rice gives strong backing for Ukraine NATO bid (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday pledged Washington's firm support for Ukraine's bid to join the NATO military alliance despite strong Russian opposition to the move.

Aso poised to be next Japanese prime minister (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ruling party was poised on Monday to choose Taro Aso, an advocate of government spending to boost the economy, to be next prime minister and woo voters before an election that may be held in the next couple of months.

Clooney and 'ER' return? Thanks, but no thanks (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The producers of hospital drama "ER" are hoping to entice George Clooney back for the show's upcoming final season, even though Clooney has said he's not interested in putting his scrubs on one more time.

Carlyle may look at assets bought by U.S. (2008-09-22)
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein said the private equity firm may be interested in buying some assets that could be acquired by the U.S. government as part of the $700 billion financial crisis bailout effort.

CORRECTED: Appeals court orders release of Iraqi abuse photos (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Monday ordered the release of 21 photographs it said depicted prisoner abuse by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, which rights groups say prove abuse was widespread.

End of Wall St era; bailout to be hotly debated (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street's last two big investment banks, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, secured Federal Reserve approval to become banks, ending the swashbuckling era of American deal making amid the worst U.S. financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Saturn's rings may be older than thought: study (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - Saturn's rings may be more massive and older than previously thought, researchers said on Tuesday.

Stem cells open door for studying human disease (2008-09-22)
MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Advances in stem cell research offer a new way of studying human disease, allowing scientists to move beyond fruit flies and lab mice to see how human cells go awry and how drugs and other therapies might help, U. S. researchers said on Monday.

Bush says financial negotiators made "good headway" (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Monday said negotiators were making "good headway" on legislation to provide an unprecedented $700 billion bailout of financial markets and that he was confident a measure to prevent lasting damage to the economy could be enacted.

Lesotho mine yields one of world's largest diamonds (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - Miners in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho have found one of the world's largest diamonds, a near-flawless white gem weighing nearly 500 carats, mining group Gem Diamonds said on Sunday.

U.S. says N.Korea actions are part of tough talks (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States' envoy for North Korea said on Monday that Pyongyang's recent actions over its nuclear program were part of the "rough and tumble" of hard disarmament negotiations.

Cash-strapped Palestinians get more aid pledges (2008-09-22)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The cash-strapped Palestinian government on Monday received pledges of nearly $300 million in new aid on top of more than $7 billion promised last year, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said.

Appeals court orders release of Iraqi abuse photos (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Monday ordered the release of 21 photographs it said depicted prisoner abuse by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, which rights groups say prove abuse was widespread.

USDA report points to plentiful holiday turkeys (2008-09-22)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - There should be plenty of turkeys for this year's U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, as the U.S. Agriculture Department on Monday reported the largest supply in five years, an amount that should mean low turkey prices for the November holiday, livestock analysts said.

Rice urges nations to honor Palestinian aid pledges (2008-09-22)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged donor nations on Monday to follow through on more than $7 billion in aid pledges to the cash-strapped Palestinian government.

New Jerusalem vehicle "attack" as Livni seeks govt (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian rammed his car into a group of Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem on Monday, hours after Foreign Minster Tzipi Livni agreed to try to form a new government that can avert an election and forge a peace deal.

Senate Democrats want pay limits, equity in bailout (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats issued a counterproposal to the Treasury Department's $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan on Monday that would give the government a stake in firms unloading assets under the plan, and limit the pay of corporate executives involved.

Livni charged with forming new Israeli government (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's president asked Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to form a new government on Monday in the wake of the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over a corruption scandal.

Some 820,000 Texans still without power (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 820,000 customers in Texas remained without power Monday, nine days after Hurricane Ike hit the Gulf Coast before cutting a destructive path all the way to New York.

New Jerusalem vehicle attack as Israel seeks govt (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A car slammed into a group of Israeli soldiers in central Jerusalem late on Monday in what police called a "terrorist" attack hours after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni agreed to try form a new Israeli government.

South American leaders to meet on Bolivia crisis (2008-09-22)
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Leaders from several South American nations will meet in New York this week to discuss resolving the political crisis in impoverished Bolivia, Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said on Monday.

Mitsubishi to buy up to 20 percent Morgan Stanley stake (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MUFG), Japan's largest bank, said on Monday it planned to acquire as much as 20 percent of U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley as part of a broader strategic alliance.

Kidnappers seize foreign tourists in Egypt (2008-09-22)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Masked kidnappers have taken 19 people hostage, including Western tourists on safari in a remote desert border area of Egypt, and whisked them over the frontier into Sudan, Egyptian officials said on Monday.

Magician Blaine to hang upside down for 60 hrs (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's a bird! It's a bat! It's ... David Blaine?

G7 nations pledge action to ensure stability (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) - Group of Seven nations welcomed the $700 billion U.S. markets bailout plan on Monday and said they were prepared to step up international cooperation to protect the world's financial and banking system.

Gene linked to melanoma (2008-09-22)
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Connecticut budget deficit doubles to more $300 mln (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Connecticut Gov Jodi Rell on Monday said the deficit in the current budget had doubled from last month to more than $300 million, and noted this forecast does not even reflect Wall Street's latest difficulties.

Bailout uncertainty sinks Wall Street (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Monday as investors worried a $700 billion bailout for the financial sector may not resuscitate a slumping economy, while a record spike in oil prices renewed concern about consumer spending.

U.S. regulators review huge NYMEX oil price surge (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. regulator of futures markets said it was reviewing the historic jump in crude oil prices on Monday to assure the trading was valid.

Trial opens for man accused of slaying judge (2008-09-22)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The U.S. trial opened on Monday of a man accused of murdering a federal judge in a courtroom and three other people during his escape from custody three years ago.

Lehman units acquired by Barclays reopen (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A series of former Lehman Brothers businesses reopened on Monday, after a U.S. bankruptcy court approved their sale on Saturday to Barclays Plc, but sales and trading businesses are not yet open.

BofA's big challenge seen keeping Merrill advisers (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merrill's "thundering herd" may be stampeding into the sunset.

Nomura to pay up to $525 million for Lehman Asia: source (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Nomura Holdings <8604.T>, Japan's largest brokerage, will pay up to $525 million to acquire the Asian operations of Lehman Brothers , a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Stocks falls 2 percent on bailout unease, oil (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended losses on Monday, sending the benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq down more than 2 percent, as investors worried that passage of a proposed $700 billion bailout to resuscitate financial markets might hit a speed bump in Congress.

Diverted American Airlines flight rolls off runway (2008-09-22)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - An American Airlines plane rolled off the end of a runway as it landed in Chicago on Monday after it diverted from its planned destination due to electrical problems, the airline said.

Emmy telecast bombs in ratings and reviews (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The 60th annual Primetime Emmys show, roundly panned by critics as perhaps the worst ever, laid a big, fat ratings egg as well, with early figures pointing to the smallest audience in the awards' history.

Accused September 11 plotter a no-show at Guantanamo (2008-09-22)
GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - Accused September 11 plotter Ramzi Binalshibh failed to appear at a Guantanamo war crimes court hearing and a U.S. military judge ordered that he be brought in by force if necessary on Tuesday.

Mitsubishi to buy up to 20 percent Morgan Stanley stake (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MUFG) <8306.T>, Japan's largest bank, said on Monday it planned to acquire as much as 20 percent of U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley as part of a broader strategic alliance.

Premature to say hostages freed: Egyptian official (2008-09-22)
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian cabinet spokesman said on Monday that negotiations to free 19 hostages seized in Egypt were continuing and it was premature to say they had been released.

Legg denies it plans to go private; stock down (2008-09-22)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Asset manager Legg Mason Inc denied a published report that it plans to go private.

Mexico sees meat exports to U.S. resuming this week (2008-09-22)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican meat producers will start shipping meat again to the United States this week after temporarily halting exports to inspect sanitary conditions at processing plants, producers said on Monday.

Microsoft plans debt issue, $40 billion share buyback (2008-09-22)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp plans to buy back up to $40 billion of its own stock, lift its dividend and issue commercial paper for the first time in the company's history, the software maker said on Monday.

Little Mars rover that could heads to new crater (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The aging but intrepid Mars rover Opportunity is set to embark on a two-year mission it may never complete -- a 7-mile (12-km) journey to a crater far bigger than one it has called home for two years, NASA said on Monday.

Storm flooding kills four in Puerto Rico (2008-09-22)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - A tropical disturbance dumped up to 20 inches of rain on Puerto Rico, killing four people and flooding scores of homes, businesses and roads, authorities said on Monday.

Stocks fall on bailout uncertainty, oil surge (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Monday as a spike in oil prices renewed fear about consumer spending and investors worried whether a $700 billion rescue package for the financial sector would be enough to resuscitate the economy.

Obama, McCain battle over financial crisis (2008-09-22)
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Barack Obama proposed reforms on Monday to rein in practices that led to the worst U.S. financial crisis since the Depression, even as rival John McCain elaborated on his own plans and accused Obama of failing to provide leadership.

Bailout debate mulls making Wall Street pay (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The planned $700 billion bailout to shore up the battered U.S. financial system looked set to drag into next week as Washington lawmakers haggled over how exactly they could make Wall Street pay for its rescue.

Nomura confirms to buy Lehman Asia-Pacific arm (2008-09-22)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers has decided to sell its Asian operations to Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest brokerage, for an undisclosed sum, Nomura confirmed on Monday.

Researchers hope for change on stem cell politics (2008-09-22)
MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Stem cell experts said on Monday they hope the next U.S. president will end political curbs on embryonic stem cell research but some worry recent comments by Republican candidate John McCain suggest his past support for such research may be waning.

U.S. doctors offer patients scant empathy in study (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - During an appointment with his doctor, a man diagnosed with lung cancer sounded dispirited when talking about what cigarettes had done to him.

Bailout uncertainty, oil's surge sink Wall St (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Monday as investors worried a $700 billion bailout for the financial sector may not resuscitate a slumping economy, while a record spike in oil prices renewed concern about consumer spending.

Wachovia, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo tumble (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of several major U.S. banks suffered steep declines Monday as investors speculated that Wachovia Corp won't merge with Morgan Stanley , while JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo & Co were downgraded.

Africans tell rich nations to honor aid promises (2008-09-22)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - African leaders on Monday told rich countries to honor their aid commitments to help it tackle hunger and poverty, even as a financial crisis threatens to cut into the aid budgets of its biggest donors.

Connecticut budget deficit doubles to more $300 million (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Connecticut Gov Jodi Rell on Monday said the deficit in the current budget had doubled from last month to more than $300 million, and noted this forecast does not even reflect Wall Street's latest difficulties.

Saturn's rings may be older than thought-study (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - Saturn's rings may be more massive and older than previously thought, researchers said on Tuesday.

New Jeruslem vehicle "attack" as Livni seeks govt (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian rammed his car into a group of Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem on Monday, hours after Foreign Minster Tzipi Livni agreed to try to form a new government that can avert an election and forge a peace deal.

Morgan Stanley to sell Mitsubishi 20 pct stake (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley agreed to sell an equity stake of as much as $8.5 billion to top Japanese bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, speeding up its transformation into a commercial bank and improving its survival prospects in turbulent times.

Wall Street extends losses on oil, bailout uncertainty (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks accelerated losses on Monday as a spike in oil renewed fear about consumer spending and investors fretted that a $700 billion financial sector bailout won't be enough to jolt the economy out of its slump.

Citigroup's Krawcheck to leave: report (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sallie Krawcheck, head of Citigroup Inc's wealth management unit, will step down from the company, the Wall Street Journal said on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Deadlock over ministers threatens Zimbabwe deal - MDC (2008-09-22)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party warned on Monday a deadlock over the allocation of cabinet posts threatened a fragile power-sharing agreement it reached with President Robert Mugabe earlier this month.

Russian fights U.S. extradition bid in Thai court (2008-09-22)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A lawyer for a suspected Russian arms dealer urged a court in Thailand on Monday to refuse a U.S. request to hand him over for trial.

With Wall Street in turmoil, some turn to religion (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - As financial workers suffer through tumultuous times on Wall Street, some are turning to an old source of solace: religion.

Berlin zookeeper dies, raised polar bear cub Knut (2008-09-22)
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German zookeeper who lovingly nourished celebrity polar bear cub Knut at the Berlin zoo after his mother Tosca rejected him at birth has died aged 44, Berlin police said on Monday.

U.S. congress haggles over Treasury bailout plan (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration and Congress haggled over the details of a $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan on Monday as U.S. stocks tumbled on worries that even a massive government effort to mop up bad debt may not be enough to revive the economy.

Bailout debate seeks ways to make Wall Street pay (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The planned $700 billion bailout to shore up the battered U.S. financial system looked set to drag into next week as Washington lawmakers haggled over how exactly they could make Wall Street pay for its rescue.

Egypt says tourists released, all safe and sound (2008-09-22)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - All 19 hostages seized on a safari in a remote desert border area of Egypt have been released and are safe, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Monday.

World leaders renew promises to help Africa (2008-09-22)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - World leaders and top officials on Monday renewed pledges to help Africa dramatically reduce poverty, but African governments told rich nations they are lagging on previous promises of increased aid.

Bristol-Myers raises bid for ImClone to $62 (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co said on Monday that it has raised to $62 from $60 its per-share offer to acquire the portion of biotechnology company ImClone Systems Inc that it does not already own.

3Com shares surge after strong results (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. network equipment maker 3Com Corp reported stronger-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results on sales in China and forecast even better sales in the current quarter, sending the shares up 12 percent in after-hours trade on Monday.

Morgan Stanley to sell Mitsubishi 20 percent stake (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley agreed to sell an equity stake of as much as $8.5 billion to top Japanese bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc <8306.T>, speeding up its transformation into a commercial bank and improving its survival prospects in turbulent times.

CORRECTED: MBIA says could fund termination payments (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bond insurer MBIA said on Monday it would have enough resources to fund potential termination payments related to investment contracts if rating agencies downgraded the notes of its subsidiary MBIA Insurance Corp.

MBIA says could fund termination payments (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bond insurer MBIA said on Monday it would have enough resources to fund potential termination payments related to investment contracts if rating agencies downgraded the notes of its subsidiary MBIA Insurance Corp.

NYSE, Nasdaq add 96 stocks to SEC's short-sale ban (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq on Monday added nearly 100 stocks of companies involved in financial services to a temporary ban on short-selling ordered last week by U.S. regulators.

Ex-State Dept. employee admits passport snooping (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former U.S. State Department employee pleaded guilty on Monday to illegally snooping on about 200 confidential passport files of politicians, celebrities and others, the Justice Department said.

Congress haggles over Treasury bailout plan (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration and Congress haggled over the details of a $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan on Monday as U.S. stocks tumbled on worries that even a massive government effort to mop up bad debt may not be enough to revive the economy.

Passenger plane skids off runway in Ecuador (2008-09-22)
QUITO (Reuters) - A plane carrying more than 60 people skidded off a runway and crashed through a brick perimeter wall before stopping near a busy road in Ecuador's capital on Monday, but no one was seriously hurt.

Market sinks as bailout hotly debated (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Bush administration's $700 billion bailout to shore up the battered U.S. financial system looks set to drag into next week as Washington lawmakers haggle over what taxpayers will get for rescuing Wall Street.

Sudan murder suspects used Saudi cash: investigator (2008-09-22)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Four Sudanese men accused of killing a U.S. aid worker funded the murder with a donation from a Saudi Arabian man and money left over from a failed bomb plot, the Sudanese police's chief investigator told a court on Monday.

U.S. offers storm-hit Cuba $6.3 million more aid (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has offered another $6.3 million in hurricane relief aid to Cuba, U.S. officials said on Monday, even though a similar offer was previously rejected.

AIG shares jump on report of shareholder plan (2008-09-22)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of American International Group Inc jumped as much as 43 percent on Monday, boosted by hopes that quick asset sales might allow the struggling insurer to repay an emergency bailout loan and stay out of the clutches of the U.S. government.

Saturn's rings may be older than thought (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - Saturn's rings may be more massive and older than previously thought, researchers said on Tuesday.

Legg denies it's going private, stock falls (2008-09-22)
BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. asset manager Legg Mason Inc denied on Monday a published report that it plans to go private to escape a worsening credit crisis.

Corruption trial begins for Sen. Stevens (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The corruption trial of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska began on Monday, with prospective jurors summoned to the courthouse and a number of his fellow senators listed as possible witnesses.

Trial opens for man accused of slaying judge (2008-09-22)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The trial opened on Monday of a man accused of murdering a federal judge in a courtroom and three other people during his escape from custody three years ago.

Jerusalem driver wounds 15 in "attack": police (2008-09-22)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A car slammed into a crowd in central Jerusalem late on Monday, wounding 15 people in what police described as a "terrorist" attack, before the Arab driver was shot dead, an Israeli police spokesman and medics said.

Group of Seven partners cool to U.S.-style bailouts (2008-09-22)
WASHINGTON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - U.S. allies on Monday spurned entreaties from Washington that they enact large-scale financial bailouts, saying their banks were not exposed to the same level of reckless lending that put the American economy at risk of a deep recession.

Saturn's rings may be older than thought (2008-09-22)
LONDON (Reuters) - Saturn's rings may be more massive and older than previously thought, researchers said on Tuesday.

Gunmen free foreign hostages seized in Egypt (2008-09-22)
CAIRO/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Kidnappers have freed 19 hostages including Western tourists seized in a remote desert area of Egypt, and all are safe and sound, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Monday.

Obama, McCain battle over U.S. financial crisis (2008-09-22)
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Barack Obama proposed reforms on Monday to rein in practices that led to the worst U.S. financial crisis since the Depression, while White House rival John McCain touted his own remedies and accused Obama of failing to provide leadership.

Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde a rockabilly rebel (2008-09-22)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde is unleashing her inner cowgirl on the rock band's first new album in five years.

Scandal-hit Olmert to resign formally Sunday (2008-09-21)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will hand his resignation to President Shimon Peres on Sunday, Olmert's office said, but the scandal-hit leader could stay in office for weeks or months until a government is formed.

Migrant boat reported missing at sea (2008-09-21)
CAIRO (Reuters) - An illegal migrant boat carrying 83 Egyptians headed for Europe has gone missing off the coast of Greece after leaving Egypt three days ago, Egypt's foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Hong Kong girl treated after drinking tainted milk (2008-09-21)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong supermarkets pulled some milk powder products from their shelves on Sunday and a 3-year-old girl was found to have a kidney stone after drinking tainted milk -- the territory's first suspected victim of a health scare sweeping China.

HK girl treated after drinking tainted milk (2008-09-21)
BEIJING (Reuters) - A Hong Kong girl was found to have a kidney stone after drinking tainted milk and Brunei banned imports of Chinese milk products as the World Health Organization stepped in to help contain a widening milk scandal.

Slovenians vote in tight general election (2008-09-21)
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - Slovenians are voting for a new government on Sunday, hoping to maintain the prosperity the small Alpine country has achieved since independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.

Kim inspires strong U.S. start at Valhalla (2008-09-21)
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - Anthony Kim charged three up on Sergio Garcia after nine holes in the top singles match on Sunday to spark a rousing U.S. start on the last day of the Ryder Cup.

Italy in last bid to sell Alitalia, closure looms (2008-09-21)
ROME (Reuters) - Alitalia's special administrator will make a last-ditch attempt to sell Italy's loss-making national airline on Monday by public tender before calling in the liquidators after a failed rescue bid.

South Africa's ANC faces split after Mbeki ouster: paper (2008-09-21)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Supporters of deposed South African President Thabo Mbeki may split from the ruling African National Congress and contest elections as a breakaway party in 2009, South Africa's Sunday Times said.

George Michael apologizes for latest drugs bust (2008-09-21)
LONDON (Reuters) - British pop star George Michael apologized to fans on Sunday and promised to "sort himself out" after his arrest and caution by police for possession of drugs.

China tainted milk powder illness cases leap (2008-09-21)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Health Ministry said late on Sunday the number of infants hospitalized after drinking milk from tainted formula had jumped to 12,892, with 104 cases of "serious symptoms," state media reported.

McCain urges broad oversight of massive bailout (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Sunday called for oversight of the Bush administration's $700 billion bailout plan for Wall Street.

Paulson: Foreign banks can use U.S. rescue plan (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Sunday that foreign banks will be able to unload bad financial assets under a $700 billion U.S. proposal aimed at restoring order during a devastating financial crisis.

S.Africa's ANC faces split after Mbeki ouster: report (2008-09-21)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Supporters of deposed South African President Thabo Mbeki may split from the ruling African National Congress and contest elections as a breakaway party in 2009, South Africa's Sunday Times said.

U.S. SEC to make public some short positions (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Institutional money managers will not have to disclose their short positions to the public immediately, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Sunday.

South Africa's Mbeki tells nation he resigns (2008-09-21)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki told the nation on Sunday that he has tendered his resignation, plunging the country into political uncertainty.

Bombing kills two in Swaziland (2008-09-21)
MBABANE (Reuters) - Two people who were about to plant a bomb on a bridge near one of Swaziland's royal palaces were killed late on Saturday when the device exploded prematurely, police said on Sunday.

Lesotho mine yields one of world's largest diamonds (2008-09-21)
LONDON (Reuters) - Miners in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho have found one of the world's largest diamonds, a near-flawless white gem weighing nearly 500 carats, mining group Gem Diamonds said on Sunday.

Paulson says foreign banks can use U.S. rescue facility (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Sunday that foreign banks will be able to unload bad financial assets under a $700 billion U.S. proposal aimed at restoring order during a devastating financial crisis.

Barclays to bid for parts of Lehman Europe: source (2008-09-21)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Barclays Plc will put in an offer for parts of Lehman Brothers' European business on Sunday to meet an indicative deadline set by administrators, a person familiar with the matter said.

Spain knock holders U.S. out of Davis Cup (2008-09-21)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain knocked Davis Cup holders the United States out of the competition on Sunday after world number one Rafael Nadal thrashed Andy Roddick to give his team an unassailable 3-1 lead in their semi-final.

Al Qaeda suspected of Pakistan's Marriott bombing (2008-09-21)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The suicide truck bomb attack that killed at least 53 people at the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital on Saturday evening bore the hallmarks of an al Qaeda operation, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Siemens plans to sell Fujitsu Siemens stake: paper (2008-09-21)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Siemens plans to sell its stake in the Fujitsu Siemens Computers joint venture to partner Fujitsu <6702.T>, German paper Euro am Sonntag reported, citing unidentified, informed people.

Migrant boat missing at sea: Egyptian ministry (2008-09-21)
CAIRO (Reuters) - A boat carrying 83 Egyptian illegal migrants headed for Europe has gone missing off the coast of Greece after leaving Egypt three days ago, Egypt's foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Alitalia administrator readies public sale: reports (2008-09-21)
MILAN (Reuters) - Alitalia's special administrator is ready to start a public sale procedure for Italy's flag carrier which is on the brink of bankruptcy, Italian newspapers reported on Sunday.

Aso poised to win party vote for Japan leadership (2008-09-21)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ruling party was poised on Monday to choose Taro Aso, an advocate of more government spending to boost the economy, to be next prime minister and woo voters before an election expected as early as next month.

Crime pays for Samuel L. Jackson at box office (2008-09-21)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Samuel L. Jackson ruled the North American box office for the second time this year, while moviegoers largely ignored three other new releases as overall weekend sales resumed their downward spiral.

Futures fall, point to lower Wall St. open (2008-09-21)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures opened lower on Sunday evening, suggesting U.S. stocks may give back some of Friday's massive rally, as investors awaited details on the workings of the proposed $700 billion bank bailout.

Pope urges U.N. poverty drive despite banking crisis (2008-09-21)
CASTELGANDOLFO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Sunday urged world leaders at this week's U.N. general assembly not to allow the global financial crisis to distract them from efforts to try to wipe out poverty and disease .

Two bombs kill six in northern Iraq (2008-09-21)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two bomb blasts killed six people and wounded 29 others in northern Iraq on Sunday, police said.

South Asia floods kill 33 and displace thousands (2008-09-21)
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Rescue workers evacuated some 200,000 people after flooding by one of India's largest rivers killed 16 people at the weekend, while overflowing rivers inundated parts of Nepal and killed 17 people, officials said on Sunday.

Toll in Pakistan Marriott attack rises to 52 (2008-09-21)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Searchers combing through the burnt shell of the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital found more charred bodies the morning after a suicide bomb attack, bringing the toll to 52, a senior official said on Sunday.

Nomura, Barclays eye Lehman Europe unit (2008-09-21)
TOKYO/LONDON (Reuters) - Japan's Nomura Holdings is interested in buying the European operations of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, according to reports on Sunday, while Barclays will bid for parts of the business, a person familiar with the matter said.

Nomura, Barclays eye Lehman Europe unit (2008-09-21)
TOKYO/LONDON (Reuters) - Japan's Nomura Holdings <8604.T> is interested in buying the European operations of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, according to reports on Sunday, while Barclays will bid for parts of the business, a person familiar with the matter said.

Floods kill 16, displace 200,000 in India's east (2008-09-21)
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Rescue workers evacuated some 200,000 people after flooding by one of India's largest rivers killed 16 people at the weekend, officials said on Sunday.

Nigerian militants begin ceasefire in delta (2008-09-21)
LAGOS (Reuters) - The main militant group in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta said on Sunday it had begun a unilateral ceasefire after a week of attacks on oil installations which cut output in Africa's top producer.

South Korea considers suspending aid to North: Yonhap (2008-09-21)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea is considering suspending its promised aid to North Korea if Pyongyang accelerates the pace of restoring its key nuclear facilities, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted sources as saying on Sunday.

Scandal-hit Olmert announces resignation (2008-09-21)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his resignation at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, but the scandal-hit leader could remain in office for weeks or months until a new government is formed.

Nomura interested in Lehman Europe operations: report (2008-09-21)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest brokerage, is interested in buying the European operations of failed U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, Japan's Mainichi newspaper said on Sunday.

Nigerian militants declare ceasefire in delta (2008-09-21)
LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria's main militant group said on Sunday it had begun a unilateral ceasefire after a week of clashes with the military and attacks on oil installations which cut output in Africa's top producer.

Olmert tells Israeli cabinet he is resigning (2008-09-21)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his resignation at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, officials said, but the scandal-hit leader could remain in office for weeks or months until a new government is formed.

South Korea considers suspending aid to North - Yonhap (2008-09-21)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea is considering suspending its promised aid to North Korea if Pyongyang accelerates the pace of restoring its key nuclear facilities, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted sources as saying on Sunday.

Toll in Pakistan hotel blast rises to 52: official (2008-09-21)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Searchers combing through the burnt shell of the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital found more bodies the morning after a suicide bomb attack, bringing the death toll to 52, a senior government official said on Sunday.

George Michael cautioned over drugs: reports (2008-09-21)
LONDON (Reuters) - Pop star George Michael has been cautioned by police after being arrested for possession of drugs, news media reported on Sunday.

Nomura interested in Lehman Europe operations: report (2008-09-21)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Nomura Holdings <8604.T>, Japan's largest brokerage, is interested in buying the European operations of failed U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers , Japan's Mainichi newspaper said on Sunday.

CORRECTED: UK's Brown urges U.S. to help repatriate Lehman cash (2008-09-21)
MANCHESTER (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Saturday he was pushing the United States to help return $8 billion from failed investment bank Lehman Brothers to its staff in Britain.

Sri Lankan war displaced register on police order (2008-09-21)
COLOMBO (Reuters) -- Thousands of Sri Lankans who have fled the country's war zones, nearly all Tamils, lined up on Sunday to register under what police say is an essential security measure to crack down on Tamil Tiger militants.

Iran vows to block any attack (2008-09-21)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will stop any attacker before he can "pull the trigger" and sanctions intended to isolate the Islamic Republic have not worked, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a military parade on Sunday.

Bangladesh vote plan sparks political party doubts (2008-09-21)
DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh's two top political parties said on Sunday they still doubt the military-backed interim government's democratic intentions, even though it has set a date for parliamentary elections.

Slovenians begin voting in general election (2008-09-21)
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - Slovenians began voting for a new government on Sunday, anxious to maintain the prosperity the tiny Alpine country has gained since independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.

Cubs claim NL Central title for second successive year (2008-09-21)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Cubs doused champagne on their jubilant fans after winning their second successive National League Central Division title with a 5-4 victory at home over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Fire in illegal Chinese dance hall kills 43 (2008-09-21)
SHENZHEN (Reuters) - A fire at an illegal dance club in southern China, just across the border from Hong Kong, left 43 mostly young people dead and another 88 injured, another grim reminder of the country's broken regulatory system.

UK's Brown: part of banks' bonuses are "unacceptable" (2008-09-21)
MANCHESTER (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Sunday changes had to be made to pay and incentives in the financial sector that he said helped trigger the credit crisis.

UK's Brown-part of banks' bonuses are "unacceptable" (2008-09-21)
MANCHESTER (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Sunday changes had to be made to pay and incentives in the financial sector that he said helped trigger the credit crisis.

U.S. seal Ryder Cup for first time since 1999 (2008-09-21)
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - An upbeat United States team inspired by rookie Anthony Kim won the Ryder Cup for the first time in nine years on Sunday, beating Europe by 16- points to 11-1/2.

Goldman, M.Stanley to become bank holding firms (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON/PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley got approval on Sunday to become bank holding companies regulated by the U.S. Federal Reserve, a move that ends the traditional investment banking model.

Nomura, others vie for Lehman Asia operations: sources (2008-09-21)
TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) - Nomura Holdings <8604.T>, Japan's largest brokerage, has put in bids to buy both the Asian and European operations of failed U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers , two financial industry sources told Reuters, pitching it against other banks and brokerages.

Obama calls financial bailout price tag "staggering" (2008-09-21)
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Sunday called the $700 billion price tag for a financial market bailout "staggering" and said the final product must protect U.S. taxpayers and include a commitment to new regulatory reforms.

Stock futures off on rescue detail worry (2008-09-21)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Uncertainty about the workings of the government's $700 billion bank bailout drove U.S. stock index futures and bond futures lower Sunday evening as Asian markets got ready to start the week.

Yemen rounds up Qaeda-linked group (2008-09-21)
SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen has arrested six members of an Islamic militant group which claimed an attack on the U.S. embassy that killed 19 people, a state-run website said on Sunday.

China says nearly 13,000 sick in milk scandal (2008-09-21)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The number of Chinese infants taken to hospital after drinking tainted milk formula has leapt to nearly 13,000, while Premier Wen Jiabao sought to assure alarmed parents that culprit companies face harsh punishment.

Past comes to life at Yankee Stadium's last game (2008-09-21)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Baseball said goodbye to Yankee Stadium on Sunday with a farewell befitting of Broadway, paying homage to the most storied sports venue in America by bringing back Yank legends in a glittering ceremony before the last game.

Treasury, Congress ramp up bank bailout talks (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration and Congress on Sunday ramped up talks on an unprecedented $700 billion bank bailout as they battled the clock to prevent further financial market turmoil that risks hurtling the economy into a deep and damaging recession.

Nomura bids for Lehman Asia, Europe units: sources (2008-09-21)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nomura Holdings <8604.T> has submitted bids to buy both the Asian and European operations of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers , two financial industry sources told Reuters.

Soldier killed by car bomb in northern Spain (2008-09-21)
MADRID (Reuters) - A soldier was killed and another person wounded on Monday in a car bomb attack in the northern Spanish town of Santona, near the Basque Country, a government spokesman said.

ANC to appoint South Africa's acting president (2008-09-21)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling ANC will appoint the country's caretaker leader on Monday, after President Thabo Mbeki's ouster by the party deepened the worst political crisis since apartheid ended.

Robert Wagner reveals affair with Barbara Stanwyck (2008-09-21)
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Fed OKs Goldman, Morgan as bank holding companies (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve approved applications on Sunday from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to become bank holding companies, putting them directly under the regulatory supervision of the U.S. central bank, the latest step to restore calm to chaotic financial markets.

"9 to 5" a wild and witty stage musical (2008-09-21)
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Jeremy Piven wins repeat prize early at Emmys (2008-09-21)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Emmy voters showed their affinity for repeat winners on Sunday as Jeremy Piven was named best supporting actor in a comedy for a third straight year for playing a sly Hollywood agent on the HBO series "Entourage."

Fans, players say goodbye to Yankee Stadium (2008-09-21)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Baseball fans and players began saying goodbye to Yankee Stadium on Sunday, celebrating the last game played at the most storied sports venue in America before the wrecking ball strikes.

Centre-left opposition wins Slovenia election (2008-09-21)
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - Slovenia's centre-left parties defeated conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa in a parliamentary election on Sunday, returning to power after a four-year break.

Workers reject contract at a Smithfield plant (2008-09-21)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 4,000 workers at a pork processing plant of Farmland, owned by Smithfield Foods , voted overwhelmingly to reject the company's contract proposal, which included increases in workers' share of health-care costs.

S.Africa's Mbeki tells nation he resigns (2008-09-21)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Thabo Mbeki, who presided over South Africa's longest period of economic growth, told the nation on Sunday that he has resigned as head of state, deepening the country's worst political crisis since apartheid.

South Africa's Mbeki resigns (2008-09-21)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Thabo Mbeki, who presided over South Africa's longest period of economic growth, told the nation on Sunday that he has resigned as head of state, deepening the country's worst political crisis since apartheid.

Kim and Garcia make electric start at Valhalla (2008-09-21)
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - American Anthony Kim and Spaniard Sergio Garcia set the tone for a pulsating last day of singles matches at the 37th Ryder Cup by registering birdies at the par-four first hole on Sunday.

U.S. clinch Ryder Cup at Valhalla (2008-09-21)
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) - The United States won the Ryder Cup for the first time in nine years at Valhalla Golf Club on Sunday.

Richard Gere, Diane Lane reunite in stormy romance (2008-09-21)
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Central banks may expand range of collateral: Nikkei (2008-09-21)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Central banks in the United States, Europe and Japan will consider taking foreign-denominated assets as collateral in an effort to provide liquidity for battered financial markets, the Nikkei newspaper said on Sunday.

Futures off on rescue detail worry (2008-09-21)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Uncertainty about the workings of the government's $700 billion bank bailout drove U.S. stock index futures and bond futures lower Sunday evening as Asian markets got ready to start the week.

Vetting Treasury's rescue plan (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regardless of how much the government ponies up to salvage the financial sector, the global economic hangover may linger for years.

Scandal-hit Olmert formally resigns (2008-09-21)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert handed his resignation to President Shimon Peres on Sunday but the scandal-hit premier could stay in office for weeks or months until a new government is formed.

Wife of missing ex-FBI agent asks to see Ahmadinejad (2008-09-21)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The wife of a former FBI agent who went missing in Iran 18 months ago said on Sunday she had requested a meeting with Iran's president when he is in New York this week for the annual U.N. General Assembly.

Uphill climb ahead for stocks (2008-09-21)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - While a government plan to mop up billions of dollars of bad debt from bank balance sheets has lifted spirits, few on Wall Street will enter this week ready to declare a new bull run for the stock market.

South Africa's Mbeki tells nation he resigns (2008-09-21)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Thabo Mbeki, who presided over South Africa's longest period of economic growth, told the nation on Sunday that he has resigned as head of state, deepening the country's worst political crisis since apartheid.

Israel's Peres meets parties after PM Olmert quits (2008-09-21)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli President Shimon Peres held talks on Sunday with parliamentary factions on the formation of a new coalition government after the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Spain reach Davis Cup final with win over U.S. (2008-09-21)
MADRID (Reuters) - World number one Rafael Nadal humbled Andy Roddick with a clay-court masterclass on Sunday to knock holders the United States out of the Davis Cup and send Spain through to their sixth final.

Yemen rounds up Qaeda-linked group - state website (2008-09-21)
SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen has arrested six members of an Islamic militant group which claimed an attack on the U.S. embassy that killed 17 people, a state-run website said on Sunday.

PepsiCo not worried by U.S crisis, ups India investment (2008-09-21)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc does not expect the U.S. financial crisis to hit its business and will invest a further $500 million in India over the next three years as part of its focus on fast-growing emerging markets, its chief executive said on Sunday.

"Mad Men" and "John Adams" go for Emmy record books (2008-09-21)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two period dramas set roughly 200 years apart in American history -- "Mad Men" and and "John Adams" -- will make a run for the Emmy record books as U.S. television's highest honors are handed out on Sunday.

Yemen arrests leader of Qaeda group: state website (2008-09-21)
SANAA (Reuters) - Yemeni authorities have arrested the leader of the Islamic Jihad group which had claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the U.S. embassy that killed 17 people, a state-run website said on Sunday.

Sudanese accused of U.S. murder planned second attack (2008-09-21)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Four Sudanese men accused of killing a U.S. aid worker and his driver in a New Year's Eve attack were plotting to murder another foreigner when they were arrested, a court in Khartoum heard on Sunday.

More financial shock and awe? (2008-09-21)
LONDON (Reuters) - Investors will hand down their verdicts this week on worldwide rescue plans topping 1 trillion dollars designed to end the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Olmert submits resignation to Israel's president (2008-09-21)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert formally submitted his resignation to President Shimon Peres on Sunday, Israeli media reported.

Georgian police officer shot dead near rebel region (2008-09-21)
TBILISI (Reuters) - A Georgian police officer was shot dead and two others were wounded on Sunday near the de facto border with breakaway Abkhazia, the third such incident since the Georgia-Russia war in August.

Paulson says bailout needed to shield economy (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson took his case for an unprecedented $700 billion bailout of financial markets to the American people on Sunday, saying it was needed to prevent further damage to an already fragile economy.

BMW car sales might drop in 2009: magazine (2008-09-21)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Car sales of BMW , the world's largest premium car maker, might drop in 2009 as the company focuses on its profit margins, WirtschaftsWoche reported, citing a manager of the company.

CORRECTED - PepsiCo to invest $500 mln in India over next 3 yrs (2008-09-21)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc will invest a further $500 million in India over the next three years, tripling its business in the country, its chief executive said on Sunday.

Paulson says U.S. taxpayers at risk in bailout plan (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson acknowledged on Sunday an emergency rescue plan aimed at stabilizing a financial system in freefall will cost taxpayers money, but argued that costs will not be as high the $700 billion limit of the package.

Paulson says foreign banks can use U.S. rescue plan (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Sunday that foreign banks will be able to unload bad financial assets under a $700 billion U.S. proposal aimed at restoring order during a devastating financial crisis.

Putting the capital back in capitalism (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regardless of how much the U.S. government ponies up to salvage the financial sector, the global economic hangover may linger for years.

Samuel L. Jackson film tops box office (2008-09-21)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Samuel L. Jackson ruled the weekend box office in North America for the second time this year with his crazy cop thriller "Lakeview Terrace," while moviegoers largely ignored three other new releases.

Two Americans killed in Pakistan bombing: Pentagon (2008-09-21)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two members of the U.S. armed forces were killed in the suicide bomb attack that killed more than 50 people at the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital, the Defense Department said on Sunday.

Web problems hit release of al Qaeda 9/11 video (2008-09-20)
DUBAI (Reuters) - An al Qaeda video to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks has appeared on the Internet more than a week late, after Islamist websites it uses went down and a technical glitch further delayed its distribution.

Nigeria militants wage most intense oil war for years (2008-09-20)
LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigerian militants said on Saturday they had destroyed another major oil pipeline in the Niger Delta after a week of the most intense attacks against Africa's biggest oil and gas industry for years.

South Africa's Mbeki agrees to step down (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki has agreed to resign after his ruling ANC announced that it would remove him from office before the end of his term, Mbeki's office said on Saturday.

Pakistan says will not tolerate incursions (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan will not tolerate any infringement of its sovereignty or territory in the name of the fight against militancy and it must root out terrorism, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday.

Congress gets $700 billion financial bailout plan (2008-09-20)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration sent a $700 billion financial markets rescue plan to Congress on Saturday where Democrats are looking to add aid for distressed homeowners and other measures to help average citizens in addition to Wall Street.

Large blast heard in Pakistani capital (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A large blast was heard in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday, a Reuters witness said.

Iraqi journalist union chief hurt in blast (2008-09-20)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A bomb blast outside Iraq's national journalists' union in central Baghdad wounded the union's head and three others on Saturday, an eyewitness said.

SAfrica ruling ANC says decides to recall Mbeki (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling party said on Saturday it had decided to recall President Thabo Mbeki before the end of his term next year, a move that could collapse the government and prompt early elections.

South Africa ruling ANC says decides to recall Mbeki (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling party said on Saturday it had decided to recall President Thabo Mbeki before the end of his term next year, a move that could collapse the government and prompt early elections.

South Africa's ANC moves to end Mbeki presidency (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling party said on Saturday it had decided to recall President Thabo Mbeki before the end of his term next year and that he had pledged to accept the move and step aside voluntarily.

S.Africa's ANC still meeting, no Mbeki decision (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling ANC discussed the future of President Thabo Mbeki on Friday after he was accused of interference in a corruption case involving the party leader, ANC officials said on Friday.

South Africa President Mbeki agrees to step down (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki has agreed to resign after his ruling ANC announced that it would remove him from office before the end of his term, Mbeki's office said on Saturday.

Pakistan will not tolerate incursions: Zardari (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan will not tolerate any infringement of its territory in the name of the fight against militants, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday.

Morgan Stanley board to meet over weekend: report (2008-09-20)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley's board was expected to meet over the weekend to discuss a merger with Wachovia Corp , the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

At least 40 dead in bomb attack on Pakistani hotel (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - At least 40 people were killed on Saturday in a suspected suicide car bomb attack on the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, the city's police chief reported.

At least 40 killed by bomb at Islamabad's Marriott (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded outside the Marriott in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday, killing at least 40 people and starting a fire which swept through the hotel.

Russia against new U.N. measures on Iran (2008-09-20)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is against the United Nations taking any extra measures on Iran over its nuclear program for now, and thinks efforts towards dialogue should continue, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Georgia to seek U.N. support against Russia (2008-09-20)
TBILISI/KIEV (Reuters) - The leaders of Georgia and Ukraine go to the United Nations next week hoping to shore up Western support for their future NATO accession faced with a militarily resurgent Russia.

China orders recalls as milk scandal widens (2008-09-20)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China ordered widespread checks on dairy products and a recall of tainted items as a scandal that began with powdered baby formula and spread to milk sparked an outcry from China's trading partners.

Harry Potter author makes big political donation (2008-09-20)
LONDON (Reuters) - Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling has donated 1 million pounds ($1.83 million) to Britain's ruling Labor Party to provide a much-needed boost to Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he fights for political survival.

Judge approves Lehman, Barclays pact (2008-09-20)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. bankruptcy judge approved British bank Barclays Plc's deal to purchase the core U.S. business of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

U.S. doubles win keeps Davis Cup hopes alive (2008-09-20)
MADRID (Reuters) - The United States kept their Davis Cup hopes alive after Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish beat Spain's Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez on Saturday to reduce the champions' semi-final deficit to 2-1.

From boom to bust, China's stocks casino loses luster (2008-09-20)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's middle-class moms and blue-collar pensioners were among the world's most avid and successful investors last year. Now their record is one of lost fortunes, broken families and protest.

Truck bomber kills at least 45 at Islamabad hotel (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suicide truck bomber attacked the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday, killing at least 45 people, wounding nearly 250 and starting a fire that swept through the building in the Pakistani capital.

Tampa Bay clinches first playoff spot (2008-09-20)
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - The Tampa Bay Rays clinched a spot in the American League playoffs for the first time in the team's 11-year history with a 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

Congress examines $700 billion market bailout plan (2008-09-20)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration on Saturday sent Congress a $700 billion plan to purchase bad mortgage debt from financial institutions in a bid to confront the worst U.S. financial crisis since the Great Depression.

At least 40 killed by bomb at Islamabad's Marriott (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suicide truck bomber attacked the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Saturday, killing at least 40 people, wounding nearly 200 and starting a fire that swept through the hotel.

South Africa's Mbeki quits after ANC withdraws support (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki on Saturday accepted a demand from his own party to resign, effectively ending a nine-year rule marked by economic prosperity but marred by allegations of abuse of power.

South Africa's Mbeki agrees to party call to resign (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki on Saturday accepted a demand from his own party to resign, effectively ending a nine-year rule marked by economic prosperity but marred by allegations of abuse of power.

Truck bomber kills at least 43 at Islamabad hotel (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suicide truck bomber attacked the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday, killing at least 43 people, wounding nearly 250 and starting a fire that swept through the building in the Pakistani capital.

Stardust evidence points to planet collision (2008-09-20)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Masses of dust floating around a binary star system suggest that two Earth-like planets obliterated each other in a violent collision, U.S. researchers reported on Friday.

Obama says McCain would gamble with retirement funds (2008-09-20)
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama accused Republican presidential rival John McCain on Saturday of wanting to gamble with the retirement savings and health care of Americans by subjecting them to the uncertainty of open markets.

Mexico grenade attacks death toll rises to eight (2008-09-20)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The death toll from grenade attacks on an independence day celebration in central Mexico rose to eight on Saturday when a 13-year-old died in a hospital after fighting for his life for five days.

Glitch shuts "Big Bang" collider for two months (2008-09-20)
GENEVA (Reuters) - A technical glitch has forced scientists to shut down the huge particle-smashing machine built to simulate the conditions of the "Big Bang" for at least two months, they said on Saturday.

U.S. win doubles to keep Davis Cup hopes alive (2008-09-20)
MADRID (Reuters) - The United States kept their Davis Cup hopes alive after Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish beat Spain's Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez on Saturday to reduce the champions' deficit to 2-1 in their Madrid semi-final.

Treasury keeps options open on asset purchases (2008-09-20)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Treasury Department said on Saturday that its financial rescue plan could permit it to buy assets beyond those backed by mortgages and potentially buy them from foreign holders.

Toxic-debt plan, short-selling ban boost markets (2008-09-20)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government curbed short-selling and guaranteed money-market mutual funds on Friday as it worked on a sweeping bailout to mop up hundreds of billions of dollars in toxic mortgage debt, sending global stock markets soaring.

Russia, France put aside Georgia war differences (2008-09-20)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia and France put aside disagreements over the August war in Georgia in a move to promote bi-lateral relations, especially in key energy projects.

Morgan Stanley board meets to weigh options: sources (2008-09-20)
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley's board was scheduled to meet on Saturday to weigh strategic options for the investment bank, including a possible takeover by Wachovia Corp or selling a bigger stake to China Investment Corp, sources familiar with the situation said on Saturday.

Bailout plan needs stronger oversight: Pelosi (2008-09-20)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Saturday that Democrats want to deal swiftly with the Bush administration's $700 billion financial market rescue plan, but also want more oversight, taxpayer protections and regulatory reform.

Central banks may expand range of collateral: Nikkei (2008-09-20)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Central banks in the United States, Europe and Japan will consider taking foreign-denominated assets as collateral in an effort to provide liquidity for battered financial markets, the Nikkei newspaper said on Sunday.

Bush, Uribe say trade deal would boost security (2008-09-20)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush urged Democrats on Saturday to set politics aside and approve a free trade deal with Colombia that he said would boost U.S. national security.

Police break up Bangladesh protest, 50 hurt (2008-09-20)
DHAKA (Reuters) - At least 50 people were injured on Saturday when Bangladeshi police used batons to disperse a protest by textile workers demanding to be paid early ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival, police and witnesses said.

Mauritanian troops held by al Qaeda killed: officer (2008-09-20)
NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Twelve Mauritanian soldiers, who were abducted in an attack on their patrol claimed by Al Qaeda, have been found dead with their throats cut, a senior Mauritanian officer said on Saturday.

Truck bomber kills at least 40 at Islamabad hotel (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suicide truck bomber attacked the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday, killing at least 40 people, wounding nearly 250 and starting a fire that swept through the building in the Pakistani capital.

Palestinian woman dies during Israeli raid on West Bank (2008-09-20)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian woman died of injuries sustained on Sunday when she was shoved to the ground by Israeli soldiers conducting an arrest raid in her village in the occupied West Bank, witnesses and a medical official said.

Fire in China's Guangdong province kills 43: Xinhua (2008-09-20)
BEIJING (Reuters) - A fire at a club in south China's Guangdong Province late on Saturday left at least 43 people dead and 51 injured, said state news agency Xinhua, citing local police.

Israel's Olmert to start handover to Livni (2008-09-20)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, facing possible indictment for corruption, is expected to begin the process of stepping down in favor of his party's chosen successor, Tzipi Livni, as early as Sunday.

Congress aims to get bailout to Bush by Friday: Senator Schumer (2008-09-20)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer said on Saturday that Congress hopes to pass this week the Bush administration's $700 billion financial markets rescue plan.

U.S. readies massive toxic-debt plan (2008-09-20)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The government is preparing a sweeping bailout to mop up hundreds of billions of dollars in toxic mortgage debt, after curbing short-selling and guaranteeing money-market mutual funds in an effort to bring stability to the financial markets.

Bomb rocks Islamabad hotel, at least 17 dead: TV (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suspected car bomb caused a huge explosion outside the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistan capital on Saturday and a television station said at least 17 people had been killed.

Hungarian far right protesters clash with police (2008-09-20)
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian police fired tear gas and clashed with more than a thousand anti-government protesters who attacked riot police with petrol bombs and cobblestones in Budapest on Saturday.

CORRECTED: Stardust evidence points to planet collision (2008-09-20)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Masses of dust floating around a binary star system suggest that two Earth-like planets obliterated each other in a violent collision, U.S. researchers reported on Friday.

Israel troops kill Palestinian youth near settlement (2008-09-20)
NABLUS, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a 14-year-old Palestinian near Nablus on Saturday and said he was holding a petrol bomb in an area of the West Bank where Arabs and Jewish settlers have clashed violently this month.

Suicide bomber kills at least 40 at Pakistan hotel (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber attacked the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Saturday, killing at least 40 people and turning the hotel into an inferno, police said.

South Africa's Mbeki agrees to resign (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has agreed to step down after the ruling African National Congress asked him to resign, his office said on Saturday.

Problem at collider forces two-month shutdown (2008-09-20)
LONDON (Reuters) - The huge particle-smashing machine built to simulate the conditions of the "Big Bang" that recreated the universe has malfunctioned and may be shut down for at least two months, the European Organization for Nuclear Research said on Saturday.

Car bomb kills 3, wounds 23 in Northern Iraq: police (2008-09-20)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomber killed three people and wounded 23 others in an attack next to a sports ground in the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar on Saturday, police said.

Berlusconi warns Alitalia now risks bankruptcy (2008-09-20)
ROME (Reuters) - Alitalia remained airborne on Saturday but Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi ruled out any last-minute rescue by a foreign airline and said Italy's flag carrier could be headed for bankruptcy.

Tokyo shop sells PM favorite as "cool old dude" (2008-09-20)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Being old is apparently no bar to finding favor with the young -- at least in the world of Japanese politics.

German anti-Islam rally cancelled after clashes (2008-09-20)
COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) - German police cancelled an anti-Islamic congress planned for Saturday in Cologne after leftist opponents of the rally clashed with its right-wing backers.

Suspected suicide bomb explodes outside Islamabad hotel (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suspected suicide attack caused a huge explosion outside the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, witnesses and police said.

Death toll reaches 40 in Pakistan hotel blast (2008-09-20)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - At least 40 people were killed on Saturday in a suspected suicide car-bomb attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad and the death toll was expected to rise, a senior police officer said.

Mauritania says 12 held by al Qaeda were decapitated (2008-09-20)
NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Twelve Mauritanian soldiers who were abducted in an attack on their patrol claimed by al Qaeda have been found killed with their heads cut off, a senior official of the ruling military junta said on Saturday.

Signs of exodus as ANC mulls Mbeki's fate (2008-09-20)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's deputy president plans to resign and could be followed by other cabinet ministers if President Thabo Mbeki is ousted over alleged meddling in a graft case against ruling ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

New AIG chief sees smaller, nimbler firm: report (2008-09-19)
(Reuters) - American International Group Inc may become a smaller firm with hopefully many of its largest insurance operations intact after assets are sold to pay back a federal loan, new Chief Executive Edward Liddy told the Wall Street Journal in an interview.

All South Korea troops to leave Iraq by end of '08 (2008-09-19)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea, which once had the third-largest foreign military contingent in Iraq, will pull all of its troops out off the country on schedule by the end of this year, a military official said on Friday.

Russia's Medvedev: NATO provoked Georgia conflict (2008-09-19)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that Moscow would not be pushed by the West back into Soviet-style authoritarian rule and he blamed NATO for provoking last month's conflict in Georgia.

Zimbabwe parties fail to break talks deadlock: MDC (2008-09-19)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have again failed to break a deadlock over forming a cabinet after reaching a power-sharing deal, an MDC spokesman said on Friday.

Wall Street to surge at open on stability plans (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a surge at the open on Friday as investors cheered a series of sweeping steps by governments worldwide to contain the spiraling credit crisis.

Malaysia PM rejects Anwar parliamentary call (2008-09-19)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday rejected opposition demands to recall parliament for a confidence vote, prolonging his grip on power but also a deeply uncertain political environment.

ANC meets to decide Mbeki's fate (2008-09-19)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling party met on Friday to decide whether President Thabo Mbeki should be removed from office, a move that could rattle investors in Africa's largest economy.

Financier Druckenmiller withdraws Steelers bid: report (2008-09-19)
(Reuters) - Financier Stanley Druckenmiller has withdrawn his bid to acquire the Pittsburgh Steelers U.S. professional football team, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Friday.

South Africa's ruling ANC meets to decide Mbeki's fate (2008-09-19)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling party met on Friday to decide whether President Thabo Mbeki should be removed from office, a move that could rattle investors in Africa's largest economy.

Battles rock Mogadishu, Islamists show strength (2008-09-19)
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somalia's warring parties pounded each other with artillery in Mogadishu on Friday after an African Union military aircraft defied a rebel ban on planes using the capital's international airport.

Zimbabwe parties fail to break talks deadlock-MDC (2008-09-19)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have again failed to break a deadlock over forming a cabinet after reaching a power-sharing deal, an MDC spokesman said on Friday.

Film-OPERA-JAWA-SFCHRONICLE-SFCHRON (2008-09-19)
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Zimbabwe parties fail to break talks deadlock: MDC (2008-09-19)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have again failed to break a deadlock over forming a cabinet after reaching a power-sharing deal, an MDC spokesman said on Friday.

Major powers start talks over new Iran sanctions (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major powers began negotiations on Friday about a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran to curb its nuclear program, but Russia and China were expected to strongly resist more punitive measures.

GM recalls 42,408 Saturn Vues (2008-09-19)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp is recalling about 42,408 Saturn Vue compact SUVs built from February to July due to a potential leak of power steering fluid that could cause a fire, it said on Friday.

Morgan Stanley-Wachovia deal more likely: Merrill (2008-09-19)
(Reuters) - An acquisition of Morgan Stanley by Wachovia is becoming more likely as recent volatility in Morgan Stanley's shares has made it more attractive for Wachovia, a Merrill Lynch analyst said.

U.S. says North Korea not made Yongbyon operational (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday that North Korea had not yet made its Yongbyon plant operational despite threats and urged Pyongyang to agree to a mechanism to verify its nuclear claims.

Paulson calls for multi-billion dollar asset rescue (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Friday called for the U.S. government to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to take toxic mortgage assets off the books of financial firms to restore financial stability.

Stock futures gain on credit, shorting plans (2008-09-19)
LONDON (Reuters) - Wall Street stock futures rose on Friday, suggesting shares would add strongly to the previous session's jump on hopes of a government plan to defuse a credit crisis and on a temporary ban on short-selling financials.

Wall Street surges on stability plans, financials (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks soared on Friday, led by a surge in financial shares, as a series of sweeping steps to contain fallout from the credit crisis eased investor worries.

Stock futures jump on plans to stabilize markets (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures soared on Friday, indicating Wall Street will add to its gains after the best day in six years, as investors greeted with near euphoric optimism a series of sweeping steps by governments worldwide to contain the spiraling credit crisis.

Film-RETURN-TO-GORIE-SFCHRONICLE-SFCHRON (2008-09-19)
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Russia says it does not want new Iron Curtain (2008-09-19)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday he did not want disputes with the West to push Russia behind a new Iron Curtain, and blamed NATO for provoking last month's conflict in Georgia.

Toxic-debt plan and short-selling curbs lift markets (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S. government laid out $50 billion to guarantee money-market mutual funds, curbed short-selling and crafted a sweeping plan to mop up toxic mortgage debt, sending global markets higher on Friday.

Yemen vows to find those behind U.S. embassy attack (2008-09-19)
SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh vowed authorities would bring to justice those behind bloody twin suicide car bombings at the U.S. embassy this week, state media said on Friday.

Treasury pulls out stops to support money markets (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials rushed to shore up ailing money markets on Friday after signs that this long-safe corner of financial markets, home to some $3.5 trillion of deposits, was at risk of falling victim to the year-old credit crunch and bring the crisis to Main Street.

Paulson asking Congress for rescue action next week (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Friday that he will be asking Congress to take action next week on a legislative package to soothe the tumultuous financial markets.

Israelis look to "Mrs Clean" after age of scandal (2008-09-19)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - As Prime Minister Ehud Olmert bows out under a cloud of corruption allegations, Israelis hope his successor Tzipi Livni can live up to the "Mrs. Clean" label her supporters have given the new leader of the ruling party.

Paulson urges Congress action on mortgage debt plan (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, leading a push for a taxpayer-funded plan to contain the credit market crisis, said on Friday he would ask Congress to take action on this next week and that the Treasury was taking immediate steps in the meantime.

Toxic-debt plan, short-selling curbs lift markets (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government pledged $50 billion to guarantee money-market mutual funds, curbed short-selling and crafted a sweeping plan to mop up toxic mortgage debt, sending global stock markets soaring.

Hedge funds seen switching short exposure to retail (2008-09-19)
LONDON (Reuters) - Hedge funds are likely to increase short exposure to retail stocks following a ban on short selling financial shares imposed by UK and U.S. regulators, industry insiders said on Friday.

Toxic debt plan, short-selling curbs lift spirits (2008-09-19)
HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - A radical U.S. plan to mop up toxic mortgage debt and a UK ban on short-selling drove bank stocks up by as much as 40 percent on Friday as urgent talks over rescue takeovers in the sector continued.

Wall Street surges at open on stability plans (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks soared on Friday, extending gains posted in the prior session, as investors cheered a series of steps by governments worldwide to contain the spiraling credit crisis.

U.S. bad debt plan spurs rally, raises questions (2008-09-19)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - A radical U.S. taxpayer-funded plan to restore confidence in battered financial markets by mopping up toxic mortgage-related debt triggered a rally in stocks, but raised questions over how long it would take and how it would work.

Treasury to back money market mutual funds (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced it will use $50 billion to back money market mutual funds whose asset values fall below $1 in another step to contain raging financial turmoil.

Venezuela expels U.S. rights group for criticism (2008-09-19)
CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez expelled a delegation of Human Rights Watch from Venezuela on Friday after the U.S.-based group criticized him for eroding democracy in his nearly 10 years in power.

SEC issues temporary ban on short sales (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Short selling of 799 financial stocks is to be halted in the United States starting on Friday under an emergency Securities and Exchange Commission order aimed at protecting investors and markets.

Malaysia frees opposition MP detained in race row (2008-09-19)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's government on Friday released an opposition member of parliament detained under the country's draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), her party said.

Thomson Reuters Markets' revenue to take hit: analysts (2008-09-19)
(Reuters) - Thomson Reuters Plc's Markets division revenue will likely take a hit from the current turmoil in the financial markets, at least two analysts said Friday.

Despite China, U.S. wants bigger U.N. role for Taiwan (2008-09-19)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday that China's political rival, Taiwan, should be given a role in the United Nations, which has refused to recognize the island on 16 separate occasions, the latest this week.

Morgan Stanley, Goldman analysts in mutual support (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The two major investment banks left standing after a financial hurricane undermined confidence in their business model advised their clients on Friday to keep buying each other's shares.

North Korea backs away from nuclear deal (2008-09-19)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Friday it did not wish to be taken off a U.S. terrorism blacklist, a reward it would be given if it abided by a disarmament deal, indicating it was stepping away from the pact.

Caribbean tropical depression less likely: NHC (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Eastern Caribbean Sea tropical wave moving slowly westward across the Lesser Antilles early Friday was less likely to strengthen into a tropical depression or storm over the next couple of days, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its latest update.

Bush: Intervention needed to solve debt problems (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday said government intervention was necessary to solve the problems plaguing the financial markets, calling it a "pivotal moment for America's economy."

Answers sought in widening China milk scandal (2008-09-19)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The EU wants an explanation about a widening Chinese dairy scandal that has made thousands of infants ill, an official said on Friday, as global cafe giant Starbucks pulled some milk from its Chinese stores.

North Korea says begins work to restore Yongbyon: report (2008-09-19)
TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea said it has begun work to restore its Yongbyon nuclear facilities, Kyodo News Agency reported on Friday, quoting a government spokesman.

North Korea appears to step away from nuclear deal (2008-09-19)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Friday it did not wish to be taken off a U.S. terrorism blacklist, a reward it would be given if it abided by a disarmament deal, in an indication that it was stepping away from the pact.

EU wants explanation of widening China milk scandal (2008-09-19)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The EU wants an explanation about a widening Chinese dairy scandal that has made thousands of infants ill, an official said on Friday, as global cafe giant Starbucks pulled some milk from its Chinese stores.

McCain says Fed should get out of bailout business (2008-09-19)
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain admonished the Federal Reserve on Friday to get out of the business of bailouts and get back to managing money supply and protecting the purchasing power of the dollar.

Paulson calls for "decisive" asset relief plan (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Friday urged Congress to back a bold plan to attack financial market weakness by buying up risky loans and said this was the best long-run hope to save taxpayer's money.

EU expects full accounting of China milk scandal (2008-09-19)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Europe expects that China will provide a full accounting of a tainted milk powder scandal and punish any cover-ups, a senior EU official said on Friday.

U.S. works on bank debt plan, UK targets shorts (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Governments on both sides of the Atlantic took radical steps to restore confidence in battered financial markets on Thursday, as the United States proposed a taxpayer-funded mopping up of toxic mortgage-related debt and Britain cracked down on short selling of bank stocks.

China launches trade dispute with United States (2008-09-19)
GENEVA (Reuters) - China has launched a dispute against the United States at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over U.S. measures against imports of certain steel pipes, tires and woven sacks, China's WTO mission said on Friday.

Atomic trade high on India PM's U.S., France tour (2008-09-19)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Armed with a permit for global nuclear trade, India's prime minister leaves next week for the United States and France hoping to seal atomic energy deals and discuss cooperation in defense and counter-terrorism.

Asia keeps cash flowing to markets despite rally (2008-09-19)
SYDNEY/SEOUL (Reuters) - Asia-Pacific nations kept up their efforts on Friday to shield the region from the fallout of Wall Street upheaval even as stock markets rallied in response to emergency action from the world's top financial authorities.

CORRECTED: Malaysia PM rejects Anwar parliamentary call (2008-09-19)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday rejected opposition demands to recall parliament for a confidence vote, prolonging his grip on power but also a deeply uncertain political environment.

Putin says will not let politics close markets (2008-09-19)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russia has no plans to close its markets for political reasons but sharply criticized what he described as other states' attempts to drag Russia back to the Cold War.

After Globes debacle, Emmy Awards enter spotlight (2008-09-19)
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British spy blasts director of IRA film (2008-09-19)
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Italy's Alitalia limps on as liquidation looms (2008-09-19)
ROME (Reuters) - Alitalia SpA was still flying on Friday but the Italian flag carrier faced liquidation in a matter of days after a rescue plan collapsed.

Mexico questions men over grenade attack (2008-09-19)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican police questioned three men suspected of links to grenade attacks on an independence day celebration but determined they had nothing to do with the blasts, federal prosecutors said on Thursday.

Satellite images show ethnic cleanout in Iraq (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Satellite images taken at night show heavily Sunni Arab neighborhoods of Baghdad began emptying before a U.S. troop surge in 2007, graphic evidence of ethnic cleansing that preceded a drop in violence, according to a report published on Friday.

More to come in busy Atlantic hurricane season (2008-09-19)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The 10 tropical storms and hurricanes that ripped through the Atlantic and Caribbean during this busy hurricane season savaged Haiti, Cuba and the U.S. Gulf coast, and conditions are now ripe for more.

U.S. will not seek emergency supplies from IEA: DOE (2008-09-19)
NEWARK, Delaware (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said Friday the United States will not ask members of the International Energy Agency to release emergency gasoline and diesel supplies to the United States in response to domestic supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike.

Wall Street soars on financials, stability plans (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rallied on Friday, led by a surge in financials, after the government unveiled plans to mop up bad assets and place a temporary ban on bets that financial stocks will fall.

CORRECTED: U.S. launches all-out attack on credit crisis (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States surged into action on Friday to launch an all-out attack against the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, readying a plan to tap hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to buy up toxic mortgage-related debt.

Uribe urges fast action on U.S.-Colombia trade pact (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Friday urged the U.S. Congress to quickly approve a bilateral free-trade agreement that was sidelined in April by House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Back-up Hubble mission shuttle moved to launch pad (2008-09-19)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A space shuttle that would be launched to rescue a stranded Hubble Space Telescope servicing crew in case of an emergency was rolled out to a spare launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center on Friday.

North Korea backing away from nuclear deal (2008-09-19)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Friday it was working on restarting its nuclear plant and dismissed the prospect of being removed from a U.S. terrorism blacklist in return for a disarmament deal.

U.N. official sounds famine alarm in Horn of Africa (2008-09-19)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Wealthy countries must come up with some $700 million in emergency aid soon or Horn of Africa countries like Ethiopia and Somalia may descend into full-scale famine, the United Nations said on Friday.

Rescue plan spurs Wall Street rally (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sweeping government measures to rescue the financial system and restore confidence in shaky markets spurred a huge relief rally in stocks on Friday, ending a week that saw the most dramatic reshaping of the financial landscape since the Great Depression.

Pussycat Dolls' solo work on hold for "Domination" (2008-09-19)
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U.S. regulators close W. Va bank;12th to fail this year (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators closed on Friday Ameribank Inc, which became the 12th bank failure this year as the struggling economy and falling home prices take their toll on financial institutions.

Pentagon boss slams Russia but plays down threat (2008-09-19)
BLENHEIM PALACE (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates accused Moscow on Friday of "mauling and menacing small democracies" but said today's Russia did not pose a threat to the world like the Soviet Union.

Wall Street rallies on U.S. rescue plan (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sweeping government measures to rescue the financial system and restore confidence in shaky markets spurred a huge relief rally in stocks on Friday, ending a week that saw the most dramatic reshaping of the financial landscape since the Great Depression.

SAfrica's ANC exec still meeting, no Mbeki decision (2008-09-19)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling ANC discussed the future of President Thabo Mbeki on Friday after he was accused of interference in a corruption case involving the party leader, ANC officials said on Friday.

Toxic-debt plan, short-selling curbs lift markets (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government curbed short-selling and guaranteed money-market mutual funds on Friday as it worked on a sweeping bailout to mop up hundreds of billions of dollars in toxic mortgage debt, sending global stock markets soaring.

U.S. toxic-debt plan, short-selling curbs lift markets (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government curbed short-selling and guaranteed money-market mutual funds on Friday as it worked on a sweeping bailout to mop up hundreds of billions of dollars in toxic mortgage debt, sending global stock markets soaring.

U.S. rescue plan spurs Wall St. rally (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sweeping government measures to rescue the financial system and restore confidence in shaky markets spurred a huge relief rally in U.S. stocks on Friday, ending a week that saw the most dramatic reshaping of the financial landscape since the Great Depression.

Oprah picks novel of boy and his dog for book club (2008-09-19)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Debut author David Wroblewski took more than 10 years writing his first novel but now looks destined for overnight success, chosen by influential U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey as her latest book club pick.

Pimco's Gross looks to manage government's rescued assets (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bill Gross, chief investment officer of Pimco, said he is interested in managing a pool of assets acquired by the government through recent financial rescue plans.

Treasury to double MBS purchases to $10 billion (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury intends to double its planned purchases of mortgage-backed securities to $10 billion this month as part of its broad plan to stabilize markets and deal with problem bank assets.

Uribe presses for quick U.S. action on trade deal (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Colombia President Alvaro Uribe pressed on Friday for the U.S. Congress to quickly approve a bilateral free-trade agreement that was sidelined in April by House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Obama supports U.S. economic recovery efforts (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said on Friday he supported efforts by the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve to shore up confidence in the financial markets and said he would hold off from presenting his own economic recovery plan.

Toxic-debt plan and short-selling curbs lift markets (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government is crafting a sweeping bailout to mop up toxic mortgage debt that will likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars, has curbed short-selling and guaranteed money-market mutual funds, sending global stock markets soaring on Friday.

'Lakeview Terrace' keeps you on edge: Thriller fuses suspense and social commentary. (2008-09-19)
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The Sax Man: David Sanborn honors his influences with latest solo release (2008-09-19)
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Freddie Mac says Lehman owed it over $1.2 billion (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Freddie Mac said on Thursday it has yet to receive payments of more than $1.2 billion due from Lehman Brothers Holdings , which went bankrupt after the U.S. government refused to bail out the investment bank.

CORRECTED: Toxic debt plan, short-selling curbs lift spirits (2008-09-19)
HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - A radical U.S. plan to mop up toxic mortgage debt and a spreading ban on short-selling drove bank stocks up as much as 40 percent on Friday as urgent talks over rescue takeovers in the sector continued.

Wall St job losses may be Asia's gain (2008-09-19)
MUMBAI/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Within hours of Bank of America agreeing to buy Merrill Lynch this week, Indian financial services firm Ambit hired five Merrill executives, a sign that Asia hopes to gain from massive Wall Street layoffs.

Morgan Stanley talks continue on all fronts: source (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley's talks with Wachovia Corp , China Investment Corp and other institutions continue, though the rebound in its stock and debt prices gives the investment bank more time to consider its options, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.

The Sax Man: David Sanborn honors his influences with latest solo release (2008-09-19)
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EU wants explanation of widening China milk scandal (2008-09-19)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The European Union wants an explanation of a Chinese dairy scandal that has made thousands of infants ill, an official said on Friday, after the scare spread to milk in cartons and Starbucks dumped a supplier in China.

Toxic debt plan, short-selling curbs lift spirits (2008-09-19)
HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - A radical U.S. plan to mop up toxic mortgage debt and a spreading ban on short-selling drove bank stocks up as much as 40 percent on Friday as urgent talks over rescue takeovers in the sector continued.

Georgia, Wall St. overhang annual UN summit (2008-09-19)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A new chill in East-West relations overhangs next week's U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders, the first major international meeting since Russia invaded Georgia last month.

Fed says to make loans to aid money market funds (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Friday announced more steps to aid battered markets, including opening its discount window to financial institutions to enable them to purchase certain assets from money market funds.

Toxic-debt plan and short-selling curbs lift spirits (2008-09-19)
LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government launched several multibillion-dollar programs to guarantee holdings in money-market mutual funds and curb short-selling while developing a more sweeping plan to mop up toxic mortgage debt, sending global markets higher on Friday.

Stock futures soar on plans to stabilize markets (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures soared on Friday, indicating Wall Street will add to its gains after the best day in six years, as investors cheered a series of sweeping steps by governments worldwide to contain the spiraling credit crisis.

U.S. moves give Morgan Stanley breathing space (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Historic efforts by U.S. government agencies to halt the decline in financial industry stocks have given embattled investment bank Morgan Stanley critical breathing room to sort out its next move.

Central banks keep cash flowing to markets despite rally (2008-09-19)
LONDON/TOKYO (Reuters) - The world's central banks kept striving on Friday to free up jammed money markets, pouring more money in even as stocks and the dollar rallied in response to an emergency U.S. plan to mop up toxic debt.

UK's "youngest terrorist" jailed (2008-09-19)
LONDON (Reuters) - A schoolboy, said by prosecutors to be the youngest Briton to be convicted of a terrorism offence, was jailed for two years on Friday for his part in what prosecutors called a worldwide plot to target non-Muslims.

Livni seeks unity after contentious Israeli vote (2008-09-19)
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni appealed to her party's restive parliamentary bloc for unity on Friday after she narrowly won an internal ballot to replace scandal-plagued Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Iran's top leader firms up backing for Ahmadinejad (2008-09-19)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's top authority told politicians on Friday to stop squabbling that was undermining the government, in a fresh sign of support for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his cabinet before the 2009 election.

Bush: Intervention needed to solve debt problems (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday that government intervention was necessary to solve the problems roiling the financial markets, calling it a "pivotal moment for America's economy."

Russia says it does not want new Iron Curtain (2008-09-19)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday accused NATO of provoking the conflict with Georgia but he said strains with the West did not mean Russia planned to isolate itself behind a new Iron Curtain.

Katie Holmes debuts on Broadway amid protests (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actress Katie Holmes won praise for her debut on Broadway on Thursday night, where she was cheered on by actor husband Tom Cruise and shouted at by anti-Scientology protesters outside the theater.

Caribbean tropical depression could form soon: NHC (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A tropical wave in the Eastern Caribbean Sea was slowly moving westward across the Lesser Antilles on Friday and could strengthen into a tropical depression or storm over the next few days, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its last update.

U.S. to propose $500-$800 billion asset-buy plan: sources (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury will propose a $500 billion to $800 billion dollar government program to take toxic mortgage-related assets off the books of U.S. financial firms, banking industry sources said on Friday.

Two U.S. citizens killed in Mexican prison riot (2008-09-19)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Two of the 19 people killed in a prison riot in the Mexican border city of Tijuana on Wednesday were U.S. citizens, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said on Friday.

After 18 months, "Hounddog" howls in movie theaters (2008-09-19)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In 2007, "Hounddog" went to the Sundance Film Festival carrying a controversy that made it the hottest ticket in town, but it left that January after getting a cold shoulder from film distributors and critics.

Two million still without power after Hurricane Ike (2008-09-19)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two million U.S. homes and businesses on Friday were still without electricity six days after Hurricane Ike landed in Texas before cutting a destructive path all the way to New York.

AIG investors try to thwart government stake: report (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Major shareholders of American International Group Inc are trying to help pay off a hefty federal loan before the government can take a 79.9 percent stake in the insurer, which would heavily dilute their shares, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Historian sentenced for stealing Lincoln letter (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. historian who pleaded guilty to stealing letters written by former Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday.

Natalie Cole hospitalized in Hepatitis C setback (2008-09-19)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Grammy Award-winning singer Natalie Cole has been hospitalized in New York after suffering a setback in her battle against Hepatitis C, her spokeswoman said on Friday.

Yankee Stadium to host last game before demolition (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Say it ain't so. An era ends on Sunday when the curtain comes down on baseball in storied Yankee Stadium, scene of more moments that will live in sporting history than any other place in America.

California legislature passes revised budget (2008-09-19)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Both houses of California's legislature passed a budget bill on Friday that was hammered out between top lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a day earlier, bringing a long-awaited spending plan for the state's fiscal year that began in July a step closer to taking effect.

Major powers end Iran talks with no firm plan (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major powers haggled on Friday over a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran to curb its nuclear program, but ended with no firm commitments amid Russian and Chinese resistance to more punitive measures.

Lehman, Barclays pact gets revised: lawyers (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The terms of British bank Barclays Plc's , planned acquisition of Lehman Brothers main North American businesses have been revised, pending court approval, amid declines in the securities market, attorneys for Lehman said on Friday.

Lehman, Barclays pact gets revised: lawyers (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The terms of British bank Barclays Plc's, planned acquisition of Lehman Brothers main North American businesses have been revised, pending court approval, amid declines in the securities market, attorneys for Lehman said on Friday.

U.S. joins worldwide crackdown on short sellers (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Regulators around the world curbed short-selling of financial shares on Friday, igniting a huge rally in a sector that had been targeted by sellers as the credit crisis deepened.

Buffett may have $3.5 billion two-day financials profit (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc , which has avoided major acquisitions in the financial sector in recent months, may have had a $3.5 billion two-day paper profit on six major banking and financial services investments.

U.S. launches all-out attack on credit crisis (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States surged into action on Friday to launch an all-out attack against the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, readying a plan to tap hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to buy up toxic mortgage-related debt.

Morgan Stanley still in deal talks (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley's talks with Wachovia Corp , China Investment Corp and other institutions continue, though the rebound in its securities gives the investment bank more time to consider its options, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.

AIG investors try to thwart government taking stake: report (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Major shareholders of American International Group Inc are trying to help pay off a hefty federal loan before the government can take a 79.9 percent stake in the insurer, which would heavily dilute their shares, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Stardust evidence points to planet collision (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Masses of dust floating around a distant binary star system suggest that two Earth-like planets obliterated each other in a violent collision, U.S. researchers reported on Friday.

California state Senate approves revised budget (2008-09-19)
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California's state Senate passed a budget bill on Friday that was hammered out between top lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a day earlier, bringing a long-awaited spending plan for the state's fiscal year that began in July a step closer to taking effect.

U.S. regulators close W. Va bank; 12th to fail (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators closed on Friday Ameribank Inc, which became the 12th bank failure this year as the struggling economy and falling home prices take their toll on financial institutions.

SEC bans financials short sales (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. market regulators issued an emergency curb on short-selling on Friday, igniting big rallies in financial stocks that have been targeted by sellers as the credit crisis gathered pace.

GM draws on $4.5 billion revolving credit facility (2008-09-19)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - General Motors Corp said on Friday it plans to draw down the remaining $3.9 billion of its $4.5 billion secured revolving credit facility to maintain a high level of financial flexibility for its ongoing restructuring in the face of uncertain capital markets.

Extraordinary rescue effort spurs Wall Street rally (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sweeping government measures to rescue the financial system and restore confidence in shaky markets spurred a huge relief rally in stocks on Friday, ending a week when the financial landscape underwent the most dramatic reshaping since the Great Depression.

Eminem recording new material, but no release set (2008-09-19)
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China orders checks, recalls as milk scandal widens (2008-09-19)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China ordered widespread checks on dairy products and a recall of tainted items as a milk scandal that began with powdered baby formula spread to liquid milk and sparked an outcry from China's trading partners.

Leading R&B drummer Earl Palmer dies at 84 (2008-09-19)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Leading R&B drummer Earl Palmer, best known for his New Orleans recording sessions with the likes of Fats Domino and Little Richard, died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles at age 84, his family said.

S&P 500 soars on stability plans (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rallied on Friday, sending the benchmark S&P 500 up more than 4 percent, as investors snapped up financials shares after the government unveiled plans to mop up bad bank assets and placed a temporary ban on bets that financials stocks will fall.

NY City mayor seeks further budget cuts (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday said he was asking city agencies to trim spending further and said a modest boost in revenues would be needed to close next year's $2.3 billion deficit.

Pentagon, Lockheed rebut F-35 fighter jet critics (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp , its largest supplier, sought on Friday to shoot down criticism of their $299 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the costliest planned U.S. arms buy ever.

U.S. reassigns Guantanamo court's top lawyer (2008-09-19)
MIAMI (Reuters) - A U.S. general who was banned from three Guantanamo trials will no longer act as the legal advisor for the Guantanamo war crimes court, the Pentagon said on Friday.

Venezuela expels U.S. rights group for criticism (2008-09-19)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela brusquely expelled two activists from U.S.-based Human Rights Watch on Friday who had accused President Hugo Chavez of political intolerance and eroding democracy during nearly 10 years in power.

TV on the Radio explores arty side of "Science" (2008-09-19)
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Russia says NATO provoked Georgia conflict (2008-09-19)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday accused NATO of provoking the conflict with Georgia but he said strains with the West did not mean Russia planned to isolate itself behind a new Iron Curtain.

Treasury could buy debt for 2 years under plan: report (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury would have authority to buy whole loans, collateralized debt obligations and mortgage-backed securities under an evolving financial market rescue plan, CNBC reported on Friday, citing an unnamed Treasury official.

Lehman, AIG workers get one break in Chicago (2008-09-19)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Employees of Lehman Brothers and insurance giant AIG looking to cry in their beer following a week of turmoil at the troubled companies can at least find a half-priced drink at one Chicago restaurant.

U.S. sees threat from Afghan-Pakistan border area (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pakistan is not yet equipped to combat the militant threat emanating from the remote area bordering Afghanistan, a senior Bush administration official said on Friday amid stepped-up U.S. strikes in that area.

Singapore bans China dairy imports, EU wants answers (2008-09-19)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Singapore banned all dairy imports from China on Friday and the European Union demanded answers from Beijing as the baby formula scandal that has left thousands of infants ill across China spread to liquid milk.

CORRECTED: More to come in busy Atlantic hurricane season (2008-09-19)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The 10 tropical storms and hurricanes that ripped through the Atlantic and Caribbean during this busy hurricane season savaged Haiti, Cuba and the U.S. Gulf coast, and conditions are now ripe for more.

Democrats see boost for $50 billion econ stimulus (2008-09-19)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The urgent need for the U.S. Congress to approve a Bush administration plan to rescue Wall Street has given Democrats renewed hope of enacting another economic stimulus package for Main Street, congressional aides said on Friday.

McCain, Obama tangle over Wall Street crisis (2008-09-19)
BLAINE, Minnesota (Reuters) - Republican nominee John McCain, seeking a lift in the U.S. presidential race, proposed stricter Wall Street regulation on Friday and assailed Democrat Barack Obama for not offering a plan to deal with the financial crisis.

Dissidents win gains in Hollywood actors union (2008-09-19)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Dissidents who blamed hard-line leaders of the Screen Actors Guild for deadlocking contract talks with major studios made pivotal gains in the union's national board elections on Thursday, winning greater control for moderates.

Bank of America CEO: Regulate investment banks more (2008-09-19)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis on Friday called on federal regulators to tighten oversight of investment banks, just four days after he agreed to pay $50 billion for the third-largest, Merrill Lynch & Co .

Citigroup unlikely to proceed with WaMu deal: report (2008-09-18)
(Reuters) - Citigroup Inc is unlikely to proceed with a possible deal involving savings and loan company Washington Mutual Inc , the Wall Street Journal said on Thursday, citing one person familiar with the situation.

Bad cop vs. Kate Hudson at weekend box office (2008-09-18)
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Top central banks join to ease global funding squeeze (2008-09-18)
FRANKFURT/TOKYO (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve and the world's top central banks offered to pump billions of dollars into global money markets on Thursday in a coordinated effort to ease a funding squeeze triggered by the upheaval on Wall Street.

U.S. closes embassy in Yemen after attack: report (2008-09-18)
DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States has closed its embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa after an attack on the heavily fortified building, al Jazeera television said on Thursday.

"Lars," "Diving Bell" top Humanitas honors (2008-09-18)
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U.N. yet again throws out Taiwan bid for recognition (2008-09-18)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United Nations has again ruled out a U.N. role for Taiwan, a Taipei official said on Thursday, despite a recent thaw in relations with China which considers the island a breakaway province.

Iran official says missiles can reach ships in Gulf (2008-09-18)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - A top adviser of Iran's supreme leader said that in the event of war no ship passing through the oil-rich Gulf region would be beyond the reach of the country's missiles, a government newspaper reported on Thursday.

Pakistan says not informed of U.S. missile strike (2008-09-18)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The United States did not inform Pakistan about a missile strike on militants hours after the top U.S. military officer said the United States would respect Pakistan's sovereignty, Pakistan's foreign minister said.

Wall St dealmaking intensifies as markets tumble (2008-09-18)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Wall Street dealmaking reached fever pitch, with Morgan Stanley holding preliminary sale talks, while other financial firms scrambled to find buyers as fear gripped markets, sending Asian stocks sharply lower.

Russia envoy warns NATO on air space to Afghanistan (2008-09-18)
KABUL (Reuters) - Russia threatened to block NATO from using its air space for operations in Afghanistan if member states did not stop "hostile" policies toward Moscow, the Kremlin's top diplomat in Kabul said.

Malaysia Anwar demands emergency parliament session (2008-09-18)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called on Thursday for an emergency parliamentary session to hold a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Asia battles to shield markets from Wall Street crisis (2008-09-18)
SYDNEY/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Asian authorities poured more cash into money markets on Thursday and sprang to the defense of tumbling currencies, bonds and stocks to prevent upheaval on Wall Street from shattering regional confidence.

Lloyds seals all-share deal for HBOS (2008-09-18)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Lloyds TSB sealed a 12.2 billion pound ($21.7 billion) deal to buy HBOS Plc to create a dominant mortgage and savings bank, encouraged by the government amid fears turmoil in financial markets would claim another UK victim.

McCain, Obama seek reform amid U.S. financial turmoil (2008-09-18)
LAKE ORION, Michigan (Reuters) - John McCain called for an end to the "casino culture on Wall Street" and Barack Obama demanded protection for ordinary citizens on Wednesday as financial markets stumbled again on news of a government bailout of a giant U.S. insurer.

Lloyds seals deal for HBOS (2008-09-18)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Lloyds TSB sealed a 12.2 billion pound ($21.7 billion) deal to buy HBOS Plc, to create a dominant mortgage and savings provider, encouraged by the government amid fears turmoil in financial markets would claim another UK victim.

Palin: Tina Fey's impersonation was "spot on" (2008-09-18)
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Actress Rose McGowan rapped for pro-IRA comments (2008-09-18)
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"60 Minutes" airing McCain, Obama interviews (2008-09-18)
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Fergie tops People's best-dressed list (2008-09-18)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - She fills two converted bedrooms with clothes -- one for casual and a second for glam -- and staying organized worked for singer Fergie who on Wednesday made People magazine's 2008 list of best dressed women.

Seven U.S. troops killed in Iraq helicopter crash (2008-09-18)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Seven U.S. soldiers were killed when a Chinook transport helicopter crashed in southern Iraq on Thursday, the U.S. military said.

Sky isn't falling, Hollywood moguls maintain (2008-09-18)
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JP Morgan questioned on view of oil prices: report (2008-09-18)
(Reuters) - A U.S. Senate subcommittee told JP Morgan Chase & Co on Wednesday to immediately start turning over a year's worth of internal documents about the bank's view on oil prices, The New York Times said citing a letter.

Happy 113th birthday for world's oldest man (2008-09-18)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The world's oldest man celebrated his 113th birthday on Thursday, telling reporters at his home in southern Japan about his joyful life and healthy appetite.

Sky isn't falling, Hollywood moguls maintain (2008-09-18)
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"Hills" star Audrina Patridge eyes horror (2008-09-18)
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Japan shoots down dummy ballistic missile in test (2008-09-18)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's military successfully shot down a dummy ballistic missile in a joint test with the United States, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday, days after reports that North Korea had tested new missile engines.

Home delivery pharmacies seen to boost generic use (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Patients are more likely to choose a money-saving generic drug over more expensive branded medicines when using a home delivery pharmacy instead of a retail drug store, according to a study by Express Scripts Inc.

Seven U.S. troops killed in Iraq helicopter crash (2008-09-18)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Seven U.S. soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash in southern Iraq on Thursday, the U.S. military said.

Tardy "Potter" delights DreamWorks Animation (2008-09-18)
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Iran dismisses atom bomb work allegation: report (2008-09-18)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the U.N. nuclear watchdog had no legal right to consider material alleging Iran wanted the atom bomb and an IAEA report proved Tehran's peaceful intent, Press TV reported on Thursday.

China formula scare spreads to ice-cream, yoghurt (2008-09-18)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Hong Kong has ordered the recall of a Chinese company's products after milk, ice cream and yogurt were found to be contaminated with melamine, the compound responsible for killing four children in a China health scandal.

Yemen arrests 19 after U.S. embassy attack (2008-09-18)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemeni authorities have arrested 19 people suspected of being connected to al Qaeda and having links to the attack on the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in Sanaa, Al-Arabiya television said on Thursday.

Central banks turn on funding taps to tackle market squeeze (2008-09-18)
FRANKFURT/TOKYO (Reuters) - The world's top central banks said on Thursday they will pump more than $180 billion in extra dollar funds into global money markets in a coordinated effort to ease a funding squeeze triggered by the upheaval on Wall Street.

AIG board accused of mismanagement by pension fund (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A public pension fund has sued the chief executive and board of American International Group Inc , accusing them of mismanagement and "grossly imprudent risk taking" that led to the insurer's $85 billion government rescue this week.

Yemen arrests 30 after U.S. embassy attack (2008-09-18)
SANAA (Reuters) - Yemeni authorities have arrested 30 people suspected of belonging to al Qaeda following an attack on the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in Sanaa, a security source said on Thursday.

Just a Minute With: Paris Hilton on life and career (2008-09-18)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paris Hilton has come to epitomize the idea of "famous for being famous" but with a growing business to manage built around her life as a wealthy heiress and celebrity, she says her world is nonstop hard work -- but also fun.

Wall St crisis will call shots for next president (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain is known for economic expertise but it's a safe bet that managing the fallout from the financial industry's meltdown will be a top priority for the next U.S. president.

Market drops as financial-sector worries persist (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as renewed anxiety about the outlook for U.S. financial firms, including Morgan Stanley, drove a fresh sell-off in bank shares, reversing earlier gains.

Malaysia PM rejects call for emergency sitting (2008-09-18)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday rejected opposition demands to recall parliament for a confidence vote, prolonging political uncertainty in the country.

Morgan Stanley in talks as financials slide resume (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley topped the list of major financial companies scrambling to find a buyer as its shares tumbled another 35 percent, while central banks rushed in $180 billion in extra liquidity to calm panicked stock and money markets.

Zimbabwe cabinet talks deadlocked over posts (2008-09-18)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and prime minister designate Morgan Tsvangirai are deadlocked over appointing cabinet ministers after reaching a power-sharing agreement, an MDC party official said on Thursday.

Dow and S&P rise on defensives, Nasdaq flat (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and the S&P 500 rose on Thursday as investors snapped up shares of companies likely to better withstand fallout from the financial turmoil, but bank stocks slid over concerns about the outlook for major U.S. financial firms.

Kenya's election badly flawed: inquiry (2008-09-18)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Elections in Kenya that unleashed a wave of bloodshed earlier this year were so badly flawed that it is impossible to know who won, an official inquiry said on Thursday.

Iran says sanctions will not stop nuclear work (2008-09-18)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that threats of more sanctions would not deter Iran from pursuing its peaceful nuclear plans, which the West says are aimed at producing atomic bombs.

FedEx quarterly profit falls (2008-09-18)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Package delivery company FedEx Corp said on Thursday that quarterly net profit fell, citing challenging global economic conditions and high fuel prices.

Authorities move U.S. lawyer Lerach after jail probe (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - William Lerach, a lawyer jailed in a kickback scheme and best known for winning settlements for Enron investors, has been moved to a higher-level security prison, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said on Thursday.

Banks rush to do deals as Wall St crisis deepens (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street's manic dealmaking reached a new pitch on Wednesday as U.S. share prices plummeted to three-year lows and forced increasingly desperate major banks to scramble for merger partners.

Malaysia PM rejects Anwar call for emergency parliament (2008-09-18)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday rejected opposition demands to recall parliament for a confidence vote, prolonging his grip on power but also a deeply uncertain political environment.

Morgan Stanley in talks as fear grips financials (2008-09-18)
HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley topped the list of major financial services firms scrambling to sell themselves as fear gripped global credit and stock markets, with former emerging markets darling Russia paralyzed.

GE shares climb 10 percent in late trading (2008-09-18)
BOSTON (Reuters) - General Electric Co shares rose 10 percent in late trading on Thursday, amid a broad rally in U.S. stocks after CNBC reported that the U.S. Treasury Department was working on a solution to the financial crisis.

Market jumps on Paulson plan optimism (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Wall Street soared on Thursday, and the Dow briefly rose back over the 11,000 level, on optimism about a possible government plan to resolve the financial and housing crisis.

FDA issues rules for genetically modified animals (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Animals genetically engineered to produce drugs and healthier foods will be subjected to review to help protect consumers from any unknown risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday.

Buyer sued over $53 million New York penthouse (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The buyer of a $53.5 million penthouse apartment in New York's famed Plaza Hotel who sued, saying the apartment turned out to be "attic-like," is now being counter-sued for lying to get out of his contract.

Bernanke, Paulson to brief Congress on crisis: CNBC (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will meet with congressional leaders on Thursday night to discuss possible solutions to the credit crisis, CNBC reported.

Jobless claims rise on delayed Gustav data (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly by 10,000 last week, as the first wave of job losses from Hurricane Gustav rolled in after reporting delays in Louisiana, the Labor Department reported on Thursday.

Janet Jackson brings poor Vegas revue to L.A. (2008-09-18)
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Oracle profit beats expectations as margins rise (2008-09-18)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Oracle Corp , the world's No.3 software maker, posted stronger-than-expected profit growth as its operating margins hit their highest level ever for the August quarter, and its shares rose 2 percent.

WaMu explores options, no formal bids yet: source (2008-09-18)
PHILADELPHIA/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual continues to explore all options, such as talking to potential buyers or raising capital, but it has yet to secure a quick takeover bid, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Mbeki cabinet says no meddling in Zuma graft case (2008-09-18)
PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africa's cabinet has rejected accusations that President Thabo Mbeki and top officials interfered in a corruption case against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma, a government official said on Thursday.

Disney's U.S. parks to offer free birthday tickets (2008-09-18)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co said on Thursday its U.S. parks will offer free tickets to parkgoers on their birthdays in 2009 to capitalize on a consumer trend for marking important life events with vacations.

Refilling fuel tanks after Ike to take weeks (2008-09-18)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil refiners and producers on Thursday rushed to restore Gulf of Mexico production following Hurricane Ike, but energy traders and analysts warned it will take several more weeks to refill U.S. fuel inventories, increasing the risk of shortages.

Most rich countries stagnant or near recession: IMF (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most of the world's advanced economies are at a standstill or on the brink of recession and policy-makers need aggressive action to avert a deep global downturn, a top IMF official said on Thursday.

U.N. again throws out Taiwan bid for recognition (2008-09-18)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United Nations has again ruled out a U.N. role for Taiwan, a Taipei official said on Thursday, despite a recent thaw in relations with China which considers the island a breakaway province.

Clock ticking on deal for Lehman's Asia group (2008-09-18)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers staff in Asia remain in the dark about the fate of their business, with the clock ticking on any deal with a potential buyer.

U.S. examining Afghan war strategy, Gates says (2008-09-18)
LONDON (Reuters) - The Pentagon is taking a close look at its war strategy in Afghanistan in the face of rising violence from an increasingly complex insurgency, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday.

"A Tale of Two Cities" is the worst of times (2008-09-18)
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U.S., China urged to work out space security regime (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's demonstrated anti-satellite capability makes it critical for Washington to work with Beijing to avoid an arms race in space, a leading U.S. think tank said on Thursday.

Lloyds seals $22 billion rescue deal for HBOS (2008-09-18)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Lloyds TSB sealed a rescue takeover of HBOS Plc on Thursday to create a dominant mortgage and savings bank in a $22 billion deal helped through by a competition law change.

Wall Street adds to gains after Philly Fed (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Stocks extended gains on Thursday as a report showing an unexpected rise in a gauge of U.S. mid-Atlantic factory activity in September, calming worries about the economy.

GE CDS spreads show irrational liquidity fears: analyst (2008-09-18)
(Reuters) - The cost of insuring the debt of General Electric Capital Corp, the finance arm of General Electric Co , has widened to unprecedented levels indicating heightened liquidity fears, but these fears appear "irrational," an analyst at Deutsche Bank said.

Stock futures rise on liquidity boost, deal talk (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures rose on Thursday, helped by a coordinated push by the world's leading central banks to pump billion of dollars into global financial markets to thaw the credit freeze.

Georgia OSCE monitor talks stall over deployment row (2008-09-18)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Talks on sending more monitors to Georgia have broken down because of disputes with Russia about where they should be deployed, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Thursday.

Stock futures up on coordinated cbank action (2008-09-18)
LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose early on Thursday, pointing to a higher start on Wall Street as the world's leading central banks offered to pump billions of dollars into frozen global money markets.

Scientists name 100 new shark and ray species (2008-09-18)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Scientists using DNA have catalogued and described 100 new species of sharks and rays in Australian waters, which they said on Thursday would help conservation of the marine animals and aid in climate change monitoring.

Stock futures rise as liquidity actions calm nerves (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures hit session highs on Thursday as a coordinated push by the world's leading central banks to pump billion of dollars into the global financial system helped lower inter-bank lending rates.

OSCE says Georgia monitor talks suspended (2008-09-18)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Talks between Russia and European officials on sending more monitors to Georgia have broken down over disagreements on which areas they would be allowed to go to, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Thursday.

HSBC says drops $6.3 billion deal to buy KEB (2008-09-18)
SEOUL (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings said on Friday it had dropped its offer to buy a 51 percent stake in Korea Exchange Bank from U.S. private equity firm Lone Star, citing market conditions.

U.S. woman, Yemeni husband die in U.S. embassy attack (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An 18-year-old American woman and her Yemeni husband were killed in the suicide attacks on the U.S. embassy in Sanaa on Wednesday, the State Department said on Thursday.

FedEx profit meets Wall St view (2008-09-18)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Package delivery company FedEx Corp reported quarterly profit in line with estimates, but said earnings had been hurt by challenging global economic conditions and high fuel prices.

Wall Street havoc deals a new blow to cellphone makers (2008-09-18)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Cellphone makers and operators risk losing thousands of their most profitable customers as financial havoc whacks the global banking industry.

U.S. embassy in Yemen says not closed due to attacks (2008-09-18)
DUBAI (Reuters) - The U.S. embassy in Yemen said on Thursday it was not closed due to a car bomb attack outside its compound a day earlier.

Anwar calls for parliament vote to oust Malaysia PM (2008-09-18)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called for parliament to be convened by next Tuesday to hold a vote of confidence in which he hopes to oust Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and form a new government.

Zimbabwe's Mugabe says to remain dominant (2008-09-18)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has described his power-sharing deal with the opposition as a humiliation but intends to remain "in the driving seat," state media quoted him as saying on Thursday.

Hit Colombian TV series breaks cocaine taboo (2008-09-18)
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombians do not like outsiders portraying their country as a cocaine nation, but that's not keeping many from watching a smash local soap opera about their multibillion-dollar narcotics trade.

U.S. soldier sentenced over killings of Iraqis (2008-09-18)
BERLIN (Reuters) - A U.S. soldier who admitted involvement in the shooting of detainees in Iraq early last year has been sentenced to seven months in jail and will be dishonorably discharged, the army said on Thursday.

NY probes short-selling in financial stocks (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York has started a wide-ranging probe into possible illegal short-selling in the stocks of Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley , Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday.

Economy seen sluggish through mid-09 (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy is likely slipping into a mild recession and hard hit financial markets and firms will need an injection of public funds to restore confidence, a group of bank economists said on Thursday.

Morgan Stanley scrambles to find buyer (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley topped the list of major financial firms scrambling to find a buyer, while central banks rushed in $180 billion of extra liquidity to bring some calm to panicked stock and money markets.

Morgan Stanley in talks as fear grips financials (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley topped the list of major financial firms scrambling to find a buyer, while central banks rushed in $180 billion of extra liquidity to calm panicked stock and money markets.

Possible U.S. bailout plan grips Washington, Wall St. (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The possibility of a massive, U.S. taxpayer-funded bailout to attack the mortgage crisis and calm financial markets gripped Washington and Wall Street on Thursday on signs a Bush administration plan was in the works.

Pakistan close to boosting atom bomb means: report (2008-09-18)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Pakistan is close to completing a second plutonium-producing reactor, is well into building a third and these could increase its ability to make atomic bombs, a U.S. think-tank said on Thursday.

Corrected: AIG bumped from Dow, replaced by Kraft (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A week of pain and ignominy for American International Group Inc. took another hard turn on Thursday when it got booted from the Dow Jones industrial average, ending the shortest term any company has spent in the blue-chip index since the Great Depression.

Morgan Stanley in talks with China's CIC: source (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley , its shares and bonds battered by anxious investors, is in talks to sell a larger equity stake to China Investment Corp at the same time it's in merger talks with Wachovia Corp and other banks, a person familiar with the firm's plans said Thursday.

Stocks rise after UK short selling action (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks turned higher on Thursday, with the Dow and the S&P 500 rising 1 percent, after Britain's Financial Services Authority put a temporary ban on placing bets financial stocks will fall, raising the possibility the United States could take similar measures.

McCain says he would fire Republican SEC chief Cox (2008-09-18)
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Reuters) - Republican presidential nominee John McCain said on Thursday a top Bush administration official should be fired for failing to regulate Wall Street and allowing markets to be used as a casino.

Liquidity boost set to lift Wall Street at open (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were poised to open higher on Thursday, helped by a coordinated push by the world's leading central banks to pump billion of dollars into global financial markets to thaw the credit freeze.

Morgan Stanley-Wachovia talks raise questions (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The logic of a Morgan Stanley merger with Wachovia Corp was questioned Thursday by investors and analysts who worried a combination of the investment bank and the troubled regional bank would not improve Morgan Stanley's prospects.

Iran vows no nuclear retreat despite sanctions threat (2008-09-18)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday Iran will not suspend sensitive nuclear work as demanded by world powers and brushed aside the threats of more sanctions on his country.

Stocks soar, Treasuries fall on U.S. crisis plan talk (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government began shopping around a plan to create a fund to mop up the toxic housing-related bad debt that has blown big holes in bank balance sheets in a move that triggered a recovery in U.S. stocks and the dollar on Thursday.

Supervalu goes small for big spenders in Chicago (2008-09-18)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Supervalu Inc, best known for supermarkets such as Jewel-Osco, is testing a small-store format again to attract upscale professionals who don't want to dine out, but don't want to cook much either.

Household wealth dips for third straight quarter (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The net wealth of U.S. households fell 0.8 percent in the second quarter as both home values and financial assets fell, marking the third quarterly drop in a row, the Federal Reserve said on Thursday.

U.S. woman, 18, Yemeni husband die in U.S. embassy attack (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An 18-year-old American woman and her Yemeni husband were killed in the suicide attacks on the U.S. embassy in Sanaa on Wednesday, the State Department said on Thursday.

Putnam shuts $15 billion money market fund (2008-09-18)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Asset manager Putnam Investments said on Thursday that it had closed its $15 billion Prime Money Market Fund due to redemption pressures.

Wall St extends losses to down 1 percent (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended losses on Thursday as renewed anxiety about the outlook for major U.S. financial firms drove the three major indexes down 1 percent.

Ike aftermath lays bare U.S. immigration paradox (2008-09-18)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - The men gather early on street corners here in storm-battered Houston, ready for the jobs they know will come their way, sweeping up broken glass and clearing downed trees and debris from city streets.

AIG bumped from Dow, replaced by Kraft (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A week of pain and ignominy for American International Group Inc. took another hard turn on Thursday when it got booted from the Dow Jones industrial average, ending the shortest term any company has spent in the blue-chip index since the Great Depression.

Stressed plants release aspirin-like chemical (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Plants stressed by drought or unseasonable temperatures squirt out an aspirin-like chemical, researchers reported on Thursday in a finding that may some day help farmers watch for trouble.

Paulson, Bernanke to brief lawmakers on turmoil (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will meet with congressional leaders late on Thursday to discuss efforts to quell the Wall Street crisis, according to congressional aides.

Goldman seen well positioned to deal with market crisis (2008-09-18)
(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc is well-positioned to deal with current market conditions, although not immune to it, as the U.S. investment bank has strong capital ratios, healthy liquidity and manageable levels of problem assets, an analyst at UBS said.

Wall St. havoc deals blow to mobile phone makers (2008-09-18)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Mobile phone makers and operators risk losing thousands of their most profitable customers as financial havoc whacks the global banking industry.

Bolivia in fragile talks to end political crisis (2008-09-18)
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, and opposition provincial governors began talks on Thursday to try to end a standoff that erupted in violence last week, but there is deep mutual mistrust.

Pink notches first solo No. 1 single (2008-09-18)
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Chavez eroding Venezuela democracy: rights group (2008-09-18)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has eroded democracy by stacking the courts and dampening freedom of expression during his nearly 10 years in power, a rights group said on Thursday.

North Korea dismisses reports of leader Kim's illness (2008-09-18)
SEOUL (Reuters) - A North Korean official dismissed on Friday reports about leader Kim Jong-il's illness as malicious gossip.

Buffett's MidAmerican to buy Constellation (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - MidAmerican Energy Holdings, a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc , said on Thursday it has agreed to buy Constellation Energy Group Inc for about $4.7 billion in cash, or $26.50 a share.

Wall Street rises as on liquidity boost, deal talk (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened higher on Thursday, helped by a coordinated push by the world's leading central banks to pump billion of dollars into global financial markets to thaw the credit freeze.

WaMu still weighing sale, capital raising: sources (2008-09-18)
PHILADELPHIA/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc, the large U.S. savings and loan beleaguered by mortgage losses, continues to explore all options, such as talking to potential buyers or raising capital, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Wall St rallies on crisis solution hopes (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Wall Street had its best day in six years on Thursday as news the government is considering a more comprehensive solution to the financial crisis than the current piecemeal approach spurred a furious late rally.

Market jumps on Paulson plan report (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks soared more than 2 percent in late afternoon trading on Thursday on a Treasury plan to resolve the financial crisis.

Stocks slip amid financial sector fears (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slipped on Thursday as bank shares slid over concerns about the outlook for major U.S. financial firms.

FedEx profit hit by fuel, global economy (2008-09-18)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Package delivery company FedEx Corp reported quarterly profit in line with estimates, but said earnings had been hurt by challenging global economic conditions and high fuel prices.

Factories show pockets of strength amid market gloom (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A measure of U.S. Mid-Atlantic factory activity jumped unexpectedly in September, according to data released on Thursday that offset news of an increase in weekly claims for jobless benefits and provided respite for financial markets roiled by credit turmoil.

Lloyds rescues HBOS to create $51 billion bank (2008-09-18)
LONDON (Reuters) - Lloyds TSB rescued Britain's biggest mortgage lender HBOS Plc in a takeover which creates a 28 billion pound ($51 billion) bank after Prime Minister Gordon Brown allowed competition rules to be changed.

New York's top restaurants plagued by tip trouble (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Seasoned travelers know that waiters in the United States expect tips of 15 to 20 percent -- $60 on a $300 dinner for two at one of New York's top restaurants.

China formula scare spreads to ice-cream, yogurt (2008-09-18)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Hong Kong has ordered the recall of a Chinese company's products after milk, ice cream and yogurt were found to be contaminated with melamine, the compound responsible for killing four children in a China health scandal.

Second Palestinian battalion begins U.S.-funded training (2008-09-18)
ALLENBY BRIDGE, West Bank (Reuters) - About 500 members of a security force loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas crossed into Jordan on Thursday for U.S. funded training, the second such battalion to do so.

US: Russia will not be able to oust Georgia government (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia will not accomplish its "war aim" of removing the government of U.S. ally Georgia, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday.

RIM steps up pace in Asia amid U.S. slowdown (2008-09-18)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Research in Motion Ltd will add new carriers in fast-growing emerging markets, and does not yet see an adverse impact from a widening global financial crisis, its co-chief executive said on Thursday.

Cenbanks turn on funding taps to tackle market squeeze (2008-09-18)
FRANKFURT/TOKYO (Reuters) - The world's top central banks said on Thursday they will pump more than $180 billion in extra dollar funds into global money markets in a coordinated effort to ease a funding squeeze triggered by the upheaval on Wall Street.

Dolly Parton reworks "9 to 5" for first musical (2008-09-18)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Almost 30 years after starring in the movie "9 to 5" and writing its hit theme song, country star Dolly Parton's first stage musical gets its world premiere in Los Angeles on Saturday before heading for Broadway.

Actress Hilary Swank has benign growth removed (2008-09-18)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Hilary Swank underwent surgery to remove a benign growth, and the two-time Oscar winner is recuperating from the procedure, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Hilary Swank has benign growth removed (2008-09-18)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Hilary Swank underwent surgery to remove a benign growth, and the two-time Oscar winner is recuperating from the procedure, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Central banks open taps to tackle market squeeze (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON/FRANKFURT/TOKYO (Reuters) - The world's top central banks joined forces on Thursday to throw a multi-billion dollar lifeline to global markets in a dramatic effort to free up bank-to-bank lending frozen by upheavals on Wall Street.

Haiti, U.N. overwhelmed by disaster: envoy (2008-09-18)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti's government and the U.N. mission to the impoverished Caribbean nation are overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster left by four recent storms, the U.N.'s special envoy to Haiti said on Thursday.

New York probes short-selling in financial stocks (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York has started a wide-ranging probe into possible illegal short-selling in the stocks of Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday.

Rice says West must resist Russian "bullying" (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The West must stand up to "bullying" by Moscow, which is becoming increasingly authoritarian and aggressive, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a highly critical speech on Thursday.

Stocks soar, Treasuries fall U.S. crisis plan talk (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government began shopping around a plan to create a fund to mop up the toxic housing-related bad debt that has blown big holes in bank balance sheets in a move that triggered a recovery in U.S. stocks and the dollar on Thursday.

Report faults U.S. move of Cheyenne command center (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military began moving its Cold War command center from deep inside Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, without fully analyzing potential security threats posed by the relocation, a report said on Thursday.

NY starts probe of illegal short-selling (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York on Thursday began a probe into possible illegal short-selling in the stocks of Wall Street companies such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said.

Major powers to discuss Iran amid Russia tension (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major powers meet in Washington on Friday to haggle over a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran, but tensions with Russia and the U.S. political calendar hang over the timing of any new measures.

Morgan Stanley talks to China's CIC, Wachovia: sources (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley , its shares and debt battered by anxious investors, is in talks to sell a larger equity stake to China Investment Corp at the same time it is in merger talks with Wachovia Corp and other banks, two people familiar with its plans said on Thursday.

Wall St meltdown triggers blame game in Washington (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The meltdown on Wall Street rattling investors big and small is the centerpiece of a new election-year blame game in the Democratic-led U.S. Congress and in the race for the White House.

HSBC says pulls out of $6.3 billion KEB deal (2008-09-18)
SEOUL (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings said on Friday it had dropped its offer to buy a 51 percent stake in South Korea's Korea Exchange Bank from U.S. private equity firm Lone Star

Stocks soar, Treasuries fall on US crisis plan talk (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government began shopping around a plan to create a fund to mop up the toxic housing-related bad debt that has blown big holes in bank balance sheets in a move that triggered a recovery in U.S. stocks and the dollar on Thursday.

Obama urges emergency credit for housing market (2008-09-18)
ESPANOLA, New Mexico (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday urged the Federal Reserve and the Treasury to take emergency steps to keep credit flowing to the troubled housing market, saying it would help stem the huge crisis sweeping financial markets.

Bolivia holds fragile talks to end political crisis (2008-09-18)
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, and opposition provincial governors began talks on Thursday to try to end a standoff that erupted in violence amid profound mutual mistrust .

Banks borrow $48 billion from Fed as crisis mounts (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. financial institutions borrowed a record $47.97 billion a day on average from the U.S. Federal Reserve in the latest week in a scramble for cash as the global credit crisis deepened, Federal Reserve data showed on Thursday.

North Korea dismisses reports of leader Kim's illness (2008-09-18)
SEOUL (Reuters) - A North Korean official dismissed on Friday reports about leader Kim Jong-il's illness as malicious gossip.

NY probes for illegal short-selling in financials (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York on Thursday began a probe into possible illegal short-selling in the stocks of Wall Street companies such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said.

WaMu still weighing sale, capital raising: sources (2008-09-18)
PHILADELPHIA/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual , the large U.S. savings and loan beleaguered by mortgage losses, continues to explore all options, such as talking to potential buyers or raising capital, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

U.S. works on bank debt plan (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Governments on both sides of the Atlantic took radical steps to restore confidence in battered financial markets on Thursday, as the United States proposed a taxpayer-funded mopping up of toxic mortgage-related debt and Britain cracked down on short selling of bank stocks.

Market jumps on Paulson plan report (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks soared more than 2 percent in late afternoon trading on Thursday on a Treasury plan to resolve the financial crisis.

Wall St rallies on hopes of crisis solution (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street had its best day in six years on Thursday as a furious rally late in the day was sparked by news that the government is considering a more comprehensive solution to the financial crisis than the current piecemeal approach.

Paulson, Bernanke to brief congressional leaders (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will meet with congressional leaders late on Thursday, according to congressional aides.

More to come from SEC on short sales: Cox (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said the agency would have more to say on short-selling rules "as early as tomorrow" and commissioners were meeting on Thursday night to address the Bush administration's proposal to calm financial markets.

Episcopal church defrocks dissident bishop (2008-09-18)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Leaders of the U.S. Episcopal Church voted on Thursday to defrock a bishop who has been a leader among dissidents opposed to the ascendancy of gays in the church and a critic of other issues involving liberal scriptural interpretation.

Morgan Stanley in talks as financials' slide resumes (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley topped the list of major financial companies scrambling to find a buyer as its shares tumbled another 21 percent, while central banks rushed in $180 billion in extra liquidity to calm panicked stock and money markets.

"Mad Men" set to make Emmy history (2008-09-18)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The chain-smoking, booze-swilling, skirt-chasing advertising executives from "Mad Men" are expected to make Emmy history when U.S. television's highest honors are handed out on Sunday.

Lloyds rescues HBOS in $22 billion deal (2008-09-18)
LONDON (Reuters) - Lloyds TSB rescued Britain's biggest mortgage lender HBOS Plc on Thursday in a $22 billion takeover as the government swept aside competition rules to ease the deal through.

NY joins NJ pensions in bid to starve short sellers (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state's pension funds on Thursday joined other public pensions that temporarily stopped lending bank and brokerage stocks to short sellers, the state comptroller said, saying he wanted to starve "this speculative fire."

HSBC walks away from $6.3 billion South Korea bank buy (2008-09-18)
SEOUL (Reuters) - HSBC , the world's second largest bank by market value, said on Friday it dropped a $6.3 billion offer for 51 percent of Korea Exchange Bank <004940.KS>, blaming the financial market turmoil that has slashed the value of banks and other assets.

L.A. takes center stage for new musical theater (2008-09-18)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Better known as the home to Hollywood movies, Los Angeles is fast starting to beat to the sound of new musical stage productions that debut here then dance their way to Broadway.

Morgan Stanley in talks as financials' slide resume (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley topped the list of major financial companies scrambling to find a buyer as its shares tumbled another 35 percent, while central banks rushed in $180 billion in extra liquidity to calm panicked stock and money markets.

Morgan Stanley-Wachovia talks raise doubts (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The logic of a Morgan Stanley merger with Wachovia Corp was questioned Thursday by investors and analysts, who worried that embattled investment bank Morgan would not improve its prospects by merging with Wachovia, a bank with severe credit problems.

McCain says he would fire SEC chief (2008-09-18)
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Reuters) - Republican presidential nominee John McCain said on Thursday a top Bush administration official should be fired for failing to regulate Wall Street and allowing markets to be used as a casino.

U.S. works on bank debt plan, UK targets shorts (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Governments on both sides of the Atlantic took radical steps to restore confidence in battered financial markets on Thursday, as the United States proposed a taxpayer-funded mopping up of toxic mortgage-related debt and Britain cracked down on short selling of bank stocks.

New Israeli leader Livni starts coalition talks (2008-09-18)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni began talks on forming a new coalition government on Thursday after edging home in a party leadership contest that set her on course to replace Ehud Olmert as prime minister.

Treasury to work through weekend on asset plan (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke plan to work through the weekend with Congress on a comprehensive plan to deal with toxic bank assets choking the financial system, a Treasury spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Market drops as financial-sector worries persist (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as renewed anxiety about the outlook for U.S. financial firms, including Morgan Stanley , drove a fresh sell-off in bank shares, reversing earlier gains.

REFILE-UPDATE 6-Lloyds rescues HBOS in $22 billion deal (2008-09-18)
LONDON (Reuters) - Lloyds TSB rescued Britain's biggest mortgage lender HBOS Plc on Thursday in a $22 billion takeover as the government swept aside competition rules to ease the deal through.

SEC weighs temporary ban on short sales: source (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators are considering a temporary ban on short selling of some or all stocks, a source briefed on the matter said on Thursday.

Wall Street crisis will call shots for next president (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain is known for economic expertise but it's a safe bet that managing the fallout from the financial industry's meltdown will be a top priority for the next U.S. president.

Bank worries soothed by debt, short-selling plans (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. and British officials intervened to restore confidence in battered global financial markets on Thursday, helping Wall Street bounce back to its best day in six years.

Palin's husband refuses to testify in Alaska probe (2008-09-18)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - The husband of Gov. Sarah Palin will ignore a subpoena from Alaska lawmakers investigating whether the Republican vice presidential nominee's firing of a state commissioner constituted an abuse of power, officials from her campaign said on Thursday.

China formula scare spreads to ice cream, yoghurt (2008-09-18)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Hong Kong has ordered the recall of a Chinese company's products after milk, ice cream and yoghurt were found to be contaminated with melamine, the compound responsible for killing four children in a China health scandal.

Stocks gyrate amid financial uncertainty (2008-09-18)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks briefly turned negative before edging higher again in volatile trading that reflected the uncertainty about the health of the financial system.

Ford's new F-150 pickup fuel economy up 8 percent (2008-09-18)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it would introduce a fuel efficient edition of its top-selling F-150 pickup when the redesigned truck goes on sale in October.

Household wealth falls for third straight quarter (2008-09-18)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. household wealth has declined for a third straight quarter for the first time on record as home prices fell and the value of financial assets diminished, the Federal Reserve said on Thursday.

Malaysia party quits coalition; PM cedes key post (2008-09-17)
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) - A small party in Malaysia's ruling coalition walked out on Wednesday as Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ceded his finance job to his increasingly powerful deputy.

Paris Hilton finds new "best friend" (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paris Hilton launched a television show to look for a new best friend who was hot, loyal and "paparazzi-ready" -- and she says she found exactly what she was looking for.

August home starts seen at lowest level in 17 years (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A record rate of foreclosures probably kept many U.S. home builders off the job last month, pushing the rate of groundbreaking for new homes to its lowest level in more than 17 years, a Reuters poll showed.

Russia slams NATO for "Cold War" visit to Georgia (2008-09-17)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A visit to Georgia by senior NATO officials this week was anti-Russian and showed the alliance is driven by Cold War-style thinking, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Syria says Israel postpones peace talks (2008-09-17)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria said that a fifth round of indirect peace talks with Israel scheduled for Thursday had been postponed at the request of the Jewish state.

U.S. commander in talks with angry Pakistanis (2008-09-17)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, held talks with Pakistani leaders on Wednesday aiming to patch up ties strained by a flurry of U.S. strikes against militants in Pakistan.

Thaksin in-law becomes new Thai PM, urges healing (2008-09-17)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's parliament elected a brother-in-law of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister on Wednesday, ensuring continued tension with protesters who accuse the new government of being Thaksin's puppet.

Regulator may recall more Simplicity cribs: report (2008-09-17)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is expected to announce later on Wednesday, a recall of about 600,000 cribs made by Simplicity Inc, The Wall Street Journal said citing a notice.

U.S. Merck's Japan unit to slash sales branches (2008-09-17)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Merck & Co Inc's Japan unit said on Wednesday it will more than halve the number of its sales branches and offices nationwide, as part of a global strategic review by its U.S parent.

Bomb kills 4 U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan (2008-09-17)
KABUL (Reuters) - A roadside bomb killed four soldiers from the U.S.-led coalition force and an Afghan national on Wednesday in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said.

Car bomb at U.S. embassy in Yemen kills 16 (2008-09-17)
SANAA (Reuters) - A car bomb set off a series of explosions outside the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday and a Yemeni security source said at least 16 people, including six attackers, were killed.

U.S. regulators try to find WaMu buyer: report (2008-09-17)
(Reuters) - U.S. federal regulators recently called a number of banks asking if they would consider buying Washington Mutual Inc should it eventually falter, the New York Post said, citing sources.

UK banks Lloyds, HBOS in merger talks: source (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Lloyds TSB is in merger talks with the country's biggest mortgage lender HBOS Plc , a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Amy Poehler sets date to exit "SNL" (2008-09-17)
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Car bomb explodes outside U.S. embassy in Yemen: report (2008-09-17)
DUBAI (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded outside the U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday, and a fire was seen blazing in the heavily-fortified compound, Al Arabiya TV reported.

Blasts heard near U.S. embassy in Yemen: report (2008-09-17)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Explosions and gunfire were heard on Wednesday near the heavily-fortified U.S. embassy in Sanaa, Arab television stations quoted witnesses as saying.

Malaysia PM cedes key post to deputy, may leave (2008-09-17)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ceded the key finance ministry post to his powerful deputy on Wednesday and hinted he may leave office before an agreed date of 2010.

Blast and gunfire near U.S. embassy in Yemen (2008-09-17)
SANAA (Reuters) - A suspected car bomb followed by heavy gunfire targeted the U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday and at least two people, including one of the attackers, were believed to be killed, witnesses and police said.

Asia greases money markets, AIG deal fails to soothe (2008-09-17)
SINGAPORE/TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan, Australia and India pumped $33 billion into money markets on Wednesday as a U.S. government bailout of insurer AIG did little to ease a funding squeeze triggered by the crisis engulfing Wall Street.

Blast kills 4 U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan (2008-09-17)
KABUL (Reuters) - A roadside bomb killed four soldiers from the U.S.-led coalition force and an Afghan national on Wednesday in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said.

Morgan Stanley weighing possible merger: report (2008-09-17)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Investment bank Morgan Stanley is weighing whether it should remain independent or merge with a bank, give the recent turbulence in the company's share price, broadcaster CNBC reported on Wednesday.

Thai court delays Thaksin ruling, seeks arrest (2008-09-17)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai court postponed on Wednesday a ruling on corruption charges against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife and issued new arrest warrants for the two, who are in exile in London.

SanDisk rejects $5.9 billion offer from Samsung (2008-09-17)
SEOUL/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. flash memory maker SanDisk Corp rejected a $5.9 billion bid by top memory chip maker, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS>, but would not rule out a deal at a better price.

Blasts heard near U.S. embassy in Yemen: report (2008-09-17)
SANAA (Reuters) - Two explosions followed by heavy gunfire went off outside the U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday, and smoke was seen rising from the heavily-fortified compound, witnesses said.

Blasts heard near U.S. embassy in Yemen: witnesses (2008-09-17)
SANAA (Reuters) - Two explosions followed by heavy gunfire went off outside the U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday, and smoke was seen rising from the heavily-fortified compound, witnesses said.

Russia needs to mark its Arctic territory: Medvedev (2008-09-17)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia should pass a law marking its territory in the disputed Arctic where it claims a large share of the mineral resources, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta (2008-09-17)
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields, after attacking another Shell-operated oil flow station in the Niger Delta.

Asia greases money markets, AIG deal fails to soothe (2008-09-17)
SINGAPORE/TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan, Australia and India pumped $33 billion into money markets on Wednesday as a U.S. government rescue of insurer AIG failed to soothe frayed nerves and ease a funding squeeze triggered by the crisis engulfing Wall Street.

IMF head: worst of financial crisis may lie ahead (2008-09-17)
JEDDAH (Reuters) - The worst of the financial crisis may still lie ahead and more major financial institutions may face trouble in coming months, IMF director general Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Wednesday.

AIG unit head mulls buying back leasing arm: report (2008-09-17)
(Reuters) - The chairman of American International Group Inc's profitable aircraft leasing arm is expected to lead an effort to buy back the unit, the Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the situation.

AIG share crash means more pain for top U.S. firms (2008-09-17)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Fidelity Investments' Harry Lange, manager of its one-time star Magellan fund, made what now looks like a poorly timed move in June: he nearly doubled his holdings of insurer American International Group Inc

McCain, Obama seek reform amid financial turmoil (2008-09-17)
LAKE ORION, Michigan (Reuters) - John McCain called for an end to the "casino culture on Wall Street" and Barack Obama demanded protection for ordinary investors on Wednesday as financial markets stumbled again on news of a government bailout of a giant U.S. insurer.

Fergie, Michelle Obama top People's best-dressed list (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - She fills two converted bedrooms with clothes -- one for casual and a second for glam -- and staying organized worked for singer Fergie who on Wednesday made People magazine's 2008 list of best dressed women.

Anti-Jew, Muslim attitudes rise in Europe: survey (2008-09-17)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish feelings are rising in several major European countries, according to a worldwide survey released on Wednesday.

Stocks off 2 percent on bank fears (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled 2 percent on Wednesday as a spike in inter-bank lending rates added to worry about the global financial system and the U.S. rescue of American International Group failed to reassure investors.

Olmert congratulates Livni on Kadima party win (2008-09-17)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert telephoned Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Wednesday to congratulate her on winning a vote to succeed him as leader of the Kadima party, his office said.

States clarify rules for security contractors (2008-09-17)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Seventeen countries have agreed on rules to ensure that private military companies operating in war zones do not break international humanitarian law or abuse human rights, a senior Swiss diplomat said on Wednesday.

U.S. hits Mexican drug cartel with big raid (2008-09-17)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - U.S. officials arrested 175 people and seized tens of millions of dollars in cash and drugs during a raid of the U.S. network of a top Mexican cartel, the Drug Enforcement Administration said on Wednesday.

States reaffirm rules for private military companies (2008-09-17)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Seventeen countries have agreed on rules to ensure that private military companies operating in war zones do not break international humanitarian law or abuse human rights, a senior Swiss diplomat said on Wednesday.

Car bombs at U.S. embassy in Yemen kill 16 (2008-09-17)
SANAA (Reuters) - Two suicide car bombs set off a series of explosions outside the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday, killing 16 people including six attackers, a Yemeni Interior Ministry official said.

Morgan Stanley and Goldman plummet as crisis mounts (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Shares of Wall Street firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs plummeted on Wednesday and Britain's biggest mortgage lender neared a sale in the latest signs of extreme distress in the financial industry.

Lloyds in advanced talks to buy HBOS (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Lloyds TSB is in advanced talks to buy rival HBOS Plc to create a 24 billion pound ($43 billion) mortgage giant as the credit crunch forces more troubled banks into the arms of better-funded rivals.

First Google Android phone to cost $199: report (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The first mobile phone to use Google Inc's Android mobile operating software will cost $199, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Wednesday.

Central banks dish out more funds as markets reel (2008-09-17)
TOKYO/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Japan and Australia pumped further $17 billion into money markets on Thursday to prevent banks from hoarding cash amid a global crisis of confidence sparked by this week's dramatic Wall Street shake-up.

Constellation says credit solid, seeks partners (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Constellation Energy Group , seeking to diminish concerns about the liquidity of its trading business, on Wednesday said its bankers reaffirmed their commitment to the power company's credit and that it was in talks with potential strategic partners.

Fidel Castro says dignity stops Cuba taking U.S. aid (2008-09-17)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba, devastated in recent weeks by two powerful hurricanes, has too much dignity to accept aid from the United States, former leader Fidel Castro said in a column published on Wednesday.

Goldman shares dip below $100 amid sell-off (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Goldman Sachs dropped below $100 for the first time in more than three years on Wednesday as concerns over the outlook for the remaining U.S. investment banks swelled.

Nasdaq falls 4 percent as stocks extend losses (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street's woes continued on Wednesday as a spike in inter-bank lending rates fanned fears about the supply of credit in global markets, pushing stocks lower. The Nasdaq index fell more than 4 percent.

U.S. may seek IEA's emergency gasoline supplies (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration was considering asking the International Energy Agency to release emergency gasoline and diesel fuel inventories into the U.S. market after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav disrupted domestic supplies, a cabinet official said on Wednesday.

Nortel cuts full-year revenue outlook (2008-09-17)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp cut its revenue forecast for 2008 and projected lower third-quarter sales than analysts expected on Wednesday, as customers further reduce capital expenditures.

Bush administration to offer $121 million in energy aid (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration plans to release $121 million in aid to eligible low-income households to meet their energy needs as the winter approaches, the White House said on Wednesday.

U.S. gasoline stocks fall to record low: EIA (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. gasoline stocks fell to a record low last week, posting the lowest supply level since at least 1990, when the government began issuing weekly inventory data.

Audit shows many missing weapons at U.S. agency (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had 76 weapons and 418 laptop computers lost, stolen or go missing in a five-year period through 2007, according to a report released on Wednesday.

GE shares tumble amid financial worries (2008-09-17)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Electric Co shares tumbled nearly 10 percent on Wednesday as investors became panicky about how its massive financial arm was faring in the wake of the troubles at top financial institutions.

Latest al Qaeda attack ratchets up Mauritania risk (2008-09-17)
NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Mauritania has launched a military operation to hunt the al Qaeda raiders who ambushed soldiers in an attack analysts see as raising the risks for oil and mining investors in the West Saharan state.

HBOS in takeover talks, AIG to sell assets (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - The UK's biggest mortgage lender, HBOS Plc, looked set to be bought as signs of financial industry distress abounded in the wake of an $85 billion rescue of insurer American International Group.

Israel postpones new round of Syria peace talks (2008-09-17)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - A fifth round of indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel has been postponed at the request of the Jewish state, Syria's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

General Mills profit tops Wall Street view (2008-09-17)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - General Mills Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and raised its full-year forecast on Wednesday as consumers bought more cake mixes and frozen pizzas to save money.

Israelis vote on new leader, Olmert hangs on (2008-09-17)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Members of Israel's ruling party voted on Wednesday for a new leader to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has promised to resign following a corruption investigation in which he faces indictment.

Food prices help tip 75 million into hunger in 2007: U.N. (2008-09-17)
ROME (Reuters) - Rising food prices are partly to blame for adding 75 million more people to the ranks of the world's hungry in 2007 and lifting the global figure to roughly 925 million, the U.N.'s food agency said on Wednesday.

August housing starts at 17-1/2-year low (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Construction starts on new U.S. homes plummeted to a 17-1/2-year low during August as builders scaled back sharply to try to cope with the worst slump in U.S. housing since the Great Depression.

HBOS confirms in takeover talks with Lloyds (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank HBOS Plc confirmed on Wednesday it was in advanced talks that may lead to a takeover by domestic rival Lloyds TSB.

Lesbian romance coming "Straight" to theaters (2008-09-17)
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Russia signs treaty to defend Georgia separatists (2008-09-17)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed treaties with Georgia's South Ossetia and Abkhazia on Wednesday that committed Moscow to defend the breakaway regions from any Georgian attack.

HBOS in takeover talks, AIG to sell assets (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - The UK's biggest mortgage lender, HBOS Plc , looked set to be bought as signs of financial industry distress abounded in the wake of an $85 billion rescue of insurer American International Group .

Nortel lowers sales outlook, plans cost cuts (2008-09-17)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp cut its 2008 revenue forecast on Wednesday and projected lower third-quarter sales than analysts had expected, saying that it planned another round of restructuring as its customers curtailed spending.

Nortel lowers 2008 sales outlook, plans cost cuts (2008-09-17)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp cut its 2008 revenue forecast on Wednesday and projected lower third-quarter sales than analysts had expected, saying that it planned another round of restructuring as its customers curtailed spending.

Housing starts at 17-1/2-year low (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Construction starts on new homes plunged to a 17-1/2-year low during August as builders scaled back sharply to try to cope with the worst slump in U.S. housing since the Great Depression.

Obama leads McCain by 2 points-Reuters poll (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has a 2-point lead in the U.S. presidential race on Republican John McCain, whose choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate helped shore up support for both candidates, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

U.S. mood lifts, but worries remain: Reuters poll (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans remain worried about the U.S. economy and their personal finances, but their outlook brightened for the second consecutive month, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Fed rescues AIG, Barclays buys Lehman U.S. unit (2008-09-17)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - U.S. authorities engineered an $85 billion rescue of insurance giant American International Group Inc, staving off bankruptcy and bringing a measure of calm to shell-shocked global markets.

U.S. shoppers to cut back holiday gifts: Reuters poll (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nearly six times as many U.S. shoppers say they will cut back on gift-buying this holiday season than those who plan to spend more, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Russia signs treaty with Georgia rebel regions (2008-09-17)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed friendship agreements with the leaders of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Wednesday.

SEC issues new rules on abusive short selling (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New rules aimed against abusive naked short selling of stock in all publicly traded companies were issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.

Russia to help Cuba build space center (2008-09-17)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow is ready to help Cuba develop its own space center, Russia's space agency chief said on Wednesday after talks in Caracas with Venezuelan and Cuban officials, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Obama has 2-point lead on McCain: Reuters poll (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has a 2-point lead in the U.S. presidential race on Republican John McCain, whose choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate helped shore up support for both candidates, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Wall St dives over 4 pct on bank fears, AIG fallout (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street tumbled to a three-year low on Wednesday as the U.S. rescue of insurer AIG failed to calm a crisis of confidence in global markets, leaving banks scared to lend to each other.

Russia signs treaties with Georgia rebel regions (2008-09-17)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed friendship treaties with Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on Wednesday and promised them the backing of Russia's armed forces.

Wall Street starts lower on credit strains (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 shedding more than 2 percent, as a spike in inter-bank lending rates added to fears of credit constraints in the global financial system.

Futures fall as AIG rescue fails to quell fears (2008-09-17)
PARIS (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell early on Wednesday, pointing to a lower start on Wall Street as the Federal Reserve's $85 billion rescue deal for embroiled AIG failed to soothe fears over the global credit crisis.

U.S. says "committed to respect" Pakistan sovereignty (2008-09-17)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, reiterated on Wednesday a U.S. commitment to respect Pakistan's sovereignty after a flurry of U.S. strikes on militants in Pakistan strained relations between the allies.

General Mills profit edges lower (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Mills Inc posted lower quarterly profit on Wednesday as price increases and expense-cutting measures failed to offset the food company's higher commodity costs.

Namibia delays U.S. magnate's extradition case (2008-09-17)
WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Fugitive U.S. millionaire Jacob "Kobi" Alexander on Wednesday won another delay in the hearing into his possible extradition from Namibia.

Australia issues first license to clone human embryos (2008-09-17)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian government has issued its first license allowing scientists to create cloned human embryos to try and obtain embryonic stem cells.

U.S. defense chief to act on Afghan civilian deaths (2008-09-17)
KABUL (Reuters) - Under pressure over rising civilian deaths in Afghanistan, the U.S. defense chief said on Wednesday that the U.S. military needed to do more to prevent the killing of ordinary Afghans caught up in military operations.

China toxic milk powder kills 3, thousands sick (2008-09-17)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday a third infant had died after drinking contaminated milk, while the number of sick rocketed and an official said the health threat had been hidden for at least a month.

Asian funds defensive after AIG as fears linger (2008-09-17)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Fund managers in Asia are sticking to defensive plays and keeping cash levels high as they shrug off a U.S. government rescue of insurer AIG amid fears of more bad news and threats to global economic growth.

Fed rescues AIG, Barclays buys Lehman U.S. unit (2008-09-17)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - U.S. authorities engineered an $85 billion rescue of insurance giant American International Group Inc , staving off bankruptcy and bringing a measure of calm to shell-shocked global markets.

U.S. charges foreigners with illegal sales to Iran (2008-09-17)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The United States slapped sanctions on six Iranian military firms on Wednesday and charged 16 foreign companies and individuals with illegally obtaining U.S. military goods for Tehran, including microchips that can be used to trigger roadside bombs.

GE shares down, CEO sees no need to panic (2008-09-17)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Electric Co shares tumbled 6.6 percent on Wednesday, even as the conglomerate's chief executive said people should be "concerned but not panicked" about the financial crisis.

Officials call off controversial autism study (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health officials have called off plans for a study examining a controversial type of treatment that some autism activists have touted as alternative medical therapy for children with the condition.

McDonald's owners eye Starbucks with McCafe drinks (2008-09-17)
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - The next phase of growth brewing for McDonald's Corp is in the hands of franchisees like Ernie Sandoval, who is introducing McCafe espressos and cappuccinos to the restaurants he owns.

U.S. says may seek emergency gasoline supplies (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration was considering asking the International Energy Agency to release emergency gasoline and diesel fuel to the United States after hurricanes pushed gasoline stocks to their lowest level on record, a cabinet official said on Wednesday.

Bank fears, AIG fallout drive Wall St sell-off (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street plunged to a three-year low on Wednesday as the U.S. rescue of insurer AIG failed to calm a crisis of confidence in global markets and banks grew increasingly reluctant to lend to each other.

Lloyds TSB agrees to take over HBOS: report (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Lloyds TSB reached an agreement on Wednesday to take over HBOS Plc in an all-share deal, Sky News television quoted sources as saying.

Lloyds TSB agrees to take over HBOS: report (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Lloyds TSB reached an agreement on Wednesday to take over HBOS Plc in an all-share deal that will create a mortgage giant, Sky News quoted sources as saying.

Banks rush to do deals as Wall St crisis deepens (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Manic and increasingly desperate dealmaking gripped Wall Street on Wednesday as U.S. stocks plummeted to three-year lows amid new signs of distress in the global financial industry.

U.S.-Mexico water commissioners die in plane crash (2008-09-17)
PHOENIX (Reuters) - The heads of a U.S.-Mexican intergovernmental agency were among four people killed when a light aircraft they were traveling in slammed into mountains in northern Mexico, authorities said on Wednesday.

Move aside Cannes, Pyongyang hosts its film fest (2008-09-17)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Communist North Korea rolled out its version of the red carpet this week when the reclusive state opened its biannual international film festival, allowing its masses to watch forbidden foreign films.

Number of people needing aid in Africa doubles: charity (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - The number of people living "on the edge of emergency" in Africa has nearly doubled to 220 million in just two years, a leading charity said on Thursday.

AIG rescue calms markets, HBOS and Lloyds in talks (2008-09-17)
LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - An $85 billion dollar U.S. lifeline for American International Group gave some respite to battered financial stocks, while the UK's biggest mortgage lender HBOS Plc and Lloyds TSB contemplated a merger which would reshape British banking.

Sympathy in muni market for Calif. budget veto (2008-09-17)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's threat to veto a budget bill approved by state lawmakers is winning support in the municipal debt market despite added uncertainty over when the most populous U.S. state will have a spending plan in place.

Obama leads McCain by 2 points: Reuters poll (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has a 2-point lead in the U.S. presidential race on Republican John McCain, whose choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate helped shore up support for both candidates, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Motown hitmaker Norman Whitfield dies in L.A (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Motown producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield, who helped create some of the legendary label's most important anthems, including Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and the Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," has died in Los Angeles, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

appeals court upholds Arizona immigration law (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday upheld an Arizona law that targets employers who hire illegal immigrants by revoking their licenses to do business in the state.

States urge MillerCoors to scrap new energy drink (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The attorneys general of 25 states are urging MillerCoors to abandon plans to launch a new version of its Sparks alcoholic energy drink, claiming that it is even more dangerous than the original drinks.

Anthrax suspect must have had help: U.S. senator (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senator targeted in the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks said on Wednesday he is convinced that the man believed to have carried it out did not act alone.

CORRECTED: Banks rush to do deals as Wall St crisis deepens (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Manic and increasingly desperate dealmaking gripped Wall Street on Wednesday as U.S. stocks plummeted to three-year lows amid new signs of distress in the global financial industry.

Bill Gates tops U.S. wealth list 15 years in a row (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft founder Bill Gates is the richest person in the United States for the 15th year in a row, but economic woes have claimed some members of Forbes magazine ranking of the 400 wealthiest Americans.

Morgan Stanley has held Wachovia talks: source (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley , which saw its stock pummeled Wednesday on worries it may not survive the credit crunch, has held preliminary takeover talks with Wachovia Corp , a person familiar with the situation told Reuters.

UK's Brown on rack as Conservatives open huge poll lead (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suffered a new blow on Thursday with a poll showing the opposition Conservatives 28 points ahead of Brown's Labour Party and on track to seize more than half of the vote.

Nortel returns to crisis mode, cuts targets (2008-09-17)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Nortel Networks Corp stumbled into crisis mode once again on Wednesday as it cut its revenue forecasts, prepared for a new wave of layoffs and said it was looking at selling one of its businesses.

Shoppers to cut back holiday gifts: Reuters poll (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nearly six times as many U.S. shoppers say they will cut back on gift-buying this holiday season than those who plan to spend more, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

R. Kelly says he was betrayed during porn probe (2008-09-17)
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CORRECTED: Fergie, Michelle Obama top People's best-dressed list (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - She fills two converted bedrooms with clothes -- one for casual and a second for glam -- and staying organized worked for singer Fergie who on Wednesday made People magazine's 2008 list of best dressed women.

Israelis vote on new leader to replace Olmert (2008-09-17)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Members of Israel's ruling party voted on Wednesday for a new leader to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has promised to resign following a corruption investigation in which he faces indictment.

Issues eclipsed by star power in presidential race (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Celebrity is playing an unprecedented role in the U.S. presidential election, whether it's Barack Obama taking heat for a $28,500-per-plate dinner in Hollywood, John McCain grappling with the women of "The View" or Tina Fey impersonating Sarah Palin.

Metallica hits No. 1, Jessica Simpson falters (2008-09-17)
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Lawmakers want to fund interest on reserves (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers are looking for ways to cover the cost of granting the Federal Reserve authority to begin paying interest on bank reserves held at the Fed this year, Rep. Barney Frank said on Wednesday.

Morgan Stanley and Goldman slide as HBOS in takeover talks (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Shares of Wall Street firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs plummeted on Wednesday and the UK's biggest mortgage lender, HBOS Plc, looked set to be bought as signs of financial industry distress abounded.

Policymakers struggle to restore market composure (2008-09-17)
LONDON/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Central banks struggled to restore confidence on financial markets for a third day running on Wednesday after the United States agreed to rescue insurance giant AIG, the latest casualty in a crisis sweeping Wall Street.

Appeals court restores NY "Mafia cops" convictions (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court reinstated on Wednesday the racketeering convictions of two former New York police detectives who were found guilty of murdering for the Mafia, leaving them facing life sentences.

Wall St turmoil ripples through tech and data vendors (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Technology and information providers, already grappling with penny-pinching customers, were dealt another blow this week with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the takeover of Merrill Lynch .

Bank fears, AIG fallout drive Wall St sell-off (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks dropped to a three-year low on Wednesday as the U.S. rescue of insurer AIG failed to calm a crisis of confidence in global markets and banks were scared to lend to each other.

Stock futures slip as AIG rescue fails to reassure (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures slipped on Wednesday as investors worried the U.S. government rescue of insurer American International Group wouldn't be enough to stem turmoil in global financial markets.

UK's Brown battles to quell "dark and dithering" image (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is often portrayed in political cartoons as a dark and brooding figure unable to connect with the world.

Washington Mutual is for sale: sources (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc , the giant U.S. savings and loan beleaguered by mortgage losses, has put itself up for sale, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Wall Street slides on credit woes (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slid on Wednesday as a spike in inter-bank lending rates added to fears of credit constraints in the global financial system.

U.S. missile strike in Pakistan kills five (2008-09-17)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A U.S. missile strike killed five militants in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, a Pakistani official said.

Morgan Stanley, Goldman plummet as crisis mounts (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Shares of Wall Street firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs plummeted on Wednesday and Britain's biggest mortgage lender looked set to be sold in the latest signs of extreme distress in the financial industry.

Morgan Stanley considers merger with Wachovia: NYT (2008-09-17)
(Reuters) - Morgan Stanley and Wachovia Corp were the subject of a report in the New York Times.

McCain, Obama seek reform amid US financial turmoil (2008-09-17)
LAKE ORION, Michigan (Reuters) - John McCain called for an end to the "casino culture on Wall Street" and Barack Obama demanded protection for ordinary citizens on Wednesday as financial markets stumbled again on news of a government bailout of a giant U.S. insurer.

Medvedev wants Russia to set Arctic seabed borders (2008-09-17)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered his officials on Wednesday to draft a law marking out Russia's borders in the Arctic, where it is competing with the West for control of vast energy resources.

Hedge funds batten down the hatches in turbulence (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - Hedge funds are keeping borrowings and risk low and seeking sanctuary in safe-haven assets during the current market turbulence, but some are beginning to see opportunities to make attractive investments.

Rehn says Bosnia's EU goal held back by divisions (2008-09-17)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Bosnia's aspirations to move closer to eventual membership of the European Union are being held back by divisions among the country's leaders, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn warned on Wednesday.

Prosecutors to file new Karadzic indictment soon (2008-09-17)
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - A new indictment against Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, charged with war crimes in the 1992-95 Bosnian war, will be filed by Monday, prosecutors told a U.N. court on Wednesday.

Lloyds in advanced talks to buy HBOS (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Lloyds TSB is in advanced talks to buy domestic rival HBOS Plc , HBOS said on Wednesday, to create a 28 billion pound ($50 billion) mortgage giant.

Stocks sink over 3 percent on bank fears (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks plunged more than 3 percent on Wednesday as a spike in inter-bank lending rates fanned fears about the health of global markets and the U.S. rescue of American International Group failed to reassure the market.

Mexico's Calderon: End tolerance of crime (2008-09-17)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's president called for an end to a culture of "impunity and tolerance" of crime on Wednesday after suspected drug traffickers killed seven people in a grenade attack during independence day celebrations.

SEC tightens rules on short sales (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON/GREENWICH, Connecticut (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators tightened rules on traders who profit from stock declines as shares plummeted Wednesday on fears of a global credit crunch.

Livni narrowly wins party vote, eyes Israel PM job (2008-09-17)
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni secured a narrow victory on Thursday in a party leadership contest that sets her on course to succeed the scandal-crippled Ehud Olmert as prime minister in the coming weeks.

Morgan Stanley and Goldman slide, HBOS in takeover talks (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Shares of Wall Street firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sach plummeted on Wednesday and the UK's biggest mortgage lender, HBOS Plc, looked set to be bought as signs of financial industry distress abounded.

Morgan and Goldman plummet, HBOS in talks (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Shares of Wall Street firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs plummeted on Wednesday and the UK's biggest mortgage lender, HBOS Plc, looked set to be bought in the latest signs of financial industry distress.

AIG woes offer double benefit for insurance rivals (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - Insurance rivals stand to reap the benefits from the woes of American International Group , snapping up assets AIG is forced to sell while gaining greater pricing power as AIG pulls in its claws.

Lynne Spears takes blame for Britney's woes (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The mother of pop star Britney Spears on Wednesday heaped the blame for her daughters' erratic behavior throughout 2007 and early this year on herself in a television interview saying "it's always my fault."

Morgan and Goldman shares plunge as fears rise (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anxious investors continued to hack away at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc Wednesday, sending the two largest investment banks' shares lower and boosting default-insurance prices higher amid lingering worries about their ability to remain independent.

SEC takes aim at abusive short sales again (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New rules governing the conduct of people who profit from stock declines were issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange on Wednesday as shares of major financial institutions plummeted on fears of a global credit crunch.

Israel's Livni set for power after party vote (2008-09-17)
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was set to be Israel's next prime minister after a comfortable victory on Wednesday in a party leadership election to choose a replacement for Ehud Olmert.

Water shortage cripples Palestinian farming (2008-09-17)
BARDALA, West Bank (Reuters) - In the plains around the village of Bardala, the Israeli-Palestinian tug-of-war over land and water plays itself out in vivid colour -- largely brown Palestinian farms border green fields owned by Jewish settlers.

UK bank Lloyds set to buy HBOS (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Lloyds TSB has agreed to buy rival HBOS Plc to create a 28 billion pound ($50 billion) mortgage company, reports said on Wednesday, the latest troubled bank to be forced into the arms of a better-funded rival.

Bank fears, AIG fallout fuel Wall St sell-off (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks tumbled to a three-year low on Wednesday as the U.S. rescue of insurer AIG failed to calm a crisis of confidence in global markets and banks were scared to lend to each other.

Flurry of deals as Wall Street crisis mounts (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Manic and increasingly desperate dealmaking gripped Wall Street as shares of investment banks Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs plummeted amid more signs of distress in the global financial industry.

Companies seek alternatives to plastic chemical (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health worries about a chemical found in many plastic products have created opportunities for companies catering to the growing market for products made without bisphenol A.

Actor Ryan O'Neal and son arrested on drug charge (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Ryan O'Neal and his son, Redmond, were arrested and charged with possessing methamphetamine on Wednesday following a search of their home, officials said.

China vows clean-up as baby milk scare spreads (2008-09-17)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's mounting toxic milk scandal, in which three infants have died and more than 6,000 fallen ill, has triggered sackings and detentions with the government denouncing the dairy industry as chaotic.

Japan parties agree October 26 election: media (2008-09-17)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's ruling parties have agreed to call a general election for October 26, in hopes a bounce in support for a new prime minister will limit damage to its massive majority, the Asahi newspaper said on Thursday.

CEOs cheer bailouts but want more clarity (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A panel of top chief executives said on Wednesday the U.S. Federal Reserve and Treasury Department have taken appropriate action to rescue major financial institutions in recent weeks, calling the moves necessary to restore confidence in capital markets.

GE shares down 7 percent, says rating "stable" (2008-09-17)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Electric Co shares tumbled 7 percent on Wednesday as investors panicked about how its massive financial arm was faring in the wake of the troubles at top financial institutions.

Constellation in sale talks, shares plunge (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Constellation Energy Group shares fell sharply on Wednesday despite the power company's attempt to reassure investors that its credit lines were safe and statement that it was in talks with potential buyers.

Morgan Stanley, Goldman shars sink as fear spreads (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anxious investors hacked away at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs on Wednesday, sending shares of the two largest investment banks lower and boosting their debt-insurance prices higher amid rising fears over their ability to survive a deepening financial crisis.

Texas executes man for killing 93-year-old woman (2008-09-17)
DALLAS (Reuters) - Texas executed a man by lethal injection on Wednesday for the rape and murder of a 93-year-old woman.

Car bombs at U.S. embassy in Yemen kill 16 (2008-09-17)
SANAA (Reuters) - Two suicide car bombers set off a series of explosions outside the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday, killing 16 people, a Yemeni Interior Ministry official said.

Israel's Livni declares victory (2008-09-17)
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni declared victory on Wednesday in an election to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the ruling party.

Morgan Stanley, Goldman shares sink as fear spreads (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anxious investors hacked away at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs on Wednesday, sending shares of the two largest investment banks lower and boosting their debt-insurance prices higher amid rising fears over their ability to survive a deepening financial crisis.

HSBC cited as possible Morgan Stanley suitor: report (2008-09-17)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - London-based bank HSBC <0005.HK> has been cited as a possible buyer of U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley , broadcaster CNBC reported.

WaMu may seek merger as pressure mounts: Merrill (2008-09-17)
(Reuters) - Washington Mutual's board would seriously consider a merger offer even at a discount to what the Seattle-based thrift believes it is worth, as it faces mounting pressure to pursue options amid credit-rating downgrades, an analyst at Merrill Lynch said.

On Wall Street, employees brace for next disaster (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Who's next? Hours after the U.S. Federal Reserve threw an $85 billion lifeline to American International Group Inc, Wall Street workers took little comfort from the massive rescue and instead tried to guess who would get swept away next.

SEC issues rules against abusive short sales (2008-09-17)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New rules aimed against abusive naked short selling of stock in all publicly traded companies were issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.

Death toll from Cairo rock slide rises to 95 (2008-09-17)
CAIRO (Reuters) - The death toll from a massive rock slide that buried dozens of homes in an Egyptian shantytown this month rose to at least 95 people, security officials said on Wednesday.

Stocks fall 3 percent on financial jitters (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended losses on Wednesday, sending the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq off more than 3 percent, as a spike in inter-bank lending rates fanned fears that credit might be drying up in the global financial system.

Morgan Stanley considers Wachovia deal: reports (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley , which saw its stock pummeled Wednesday on worries it may not survive the credit crunch as a broker-dealer, is considering merging with Wachovia Corp , or another commercial bank, according to reports.

Toshiba faces 30 bln yen H1 operating loss: Nikkei (2008-09-17)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Toshiba Corp <6502.T> is expected to swing to a half-year operating loss of about 30 billion yen ($287 million) on a weak microchip business, a newspaper said on Thursday.

Bank fears, AIG fallout drive Wall Street sell-off (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street plunged to a three-year low on Wednesday as the U.S. rescue of insurer AIG failed to calm a crisis of confidence in global markets and banks grew increasingly reluctant to lend to each other.

Banks' shares fall on lending concerns (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of big U.S. financial companies fell sharply on Wednesday as a spike in inter-bank lending rates fueled concerns about access to liquidity in the global financial system.

Morgan Stanley, Goldman plummet as crisis mounts (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Shares of Wall Street firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs plummeted on Wednesday and Britain's biggest mortgage lender neared a sale, the latest signs the global financial industry is in extreme distress.

On Wall Street, employees brace for next disaster (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Who's next? Hours after the U.S. Federal Reserve threw an $85 billion lifeline to American International Group Inc , Wall Street workers took little comfort from the massive rescue and instead tried to guess who would get swept away next.

France wants Europe to lift Afghan troop restrictions (2008-09-17)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - France on Wednesday asked its European allies to relax restrictions on troop deployment and operations in Afghanistan just a month after losing 10 soldiers in a Taliban ambush.

Tsvangirai wants trials for Zimbabwe violence: papers (2008-09-17)
LONDON (Reuters) - Zimbabwe prime minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai was quoted on Wednesday as saying some senior members of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party could face trial over political violence, but not the veteran leader himself.

Wall Street falls further (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended their sharp losses on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 plunging more than 4 percent as a spike in inter-bank lending rates fanned fears that credit was drying up in global financial markets.

Constellation in deal talks, shares plunge (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. power company Constellation Energy Group on Wednesday said it was in talks with potential buyers or partners as it moved to quash investor fears about the liquidity of its trading business.

Wall St layoffs topped 49,000 last month: NY Assembly Speaker (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's financial industry this year had already laid off 49,340 people by late August, a number doomed to rise in the wake of Lehman Brothers's bankruptcy and Bank of America's embrace of Merrill Lynch, the State Assembly speaker said on Wednesday.

Argentine arrested in Brazil for 1970s massacre (2008-09-17)
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A former Argentine army major accused of crimes against humanity during the country's 1976-1983 military dictatorship was arrested in Brazil on Wednesday, Interpol said.

Morgan Stanley, Goldman plummet as crisis mounts (2008-09-17)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Shares of Wall Street firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs plummeted on Wednesday and Britain's biggest mortgage lender neared a sale, the latest signs the global financial industry is in extreme distress.

Cargo reaches space outpost after hurricane delay (2008-09-17)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian cargo ship docked at the International Space Station on Wednesday following a four-day delay after hurricane Ike forced evacuation of U.S. mission control in Texas last week, Russian media reported.

Ryan O'Neal and his son arrested on drug charge (2008-09-17)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Ryan O'Neal and his son, Redmond, were charged with possessing methamphetamine on Wednesday following a search of their home, officials said.

Hurricane Ike shakes Galveston's economic boom (2008-09-17)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Long-time Galveston resident Sylvia Hernandez has survived several hurricanes in her 72 years. But after riding out Hurricane Ike's wall of water and wind in her tiny two-story island home, Hernandez has decided it's time to leave.

Wall St up on AIG rescue talk, futures rise (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rebounded on Tuesday, clawing back a day after their biggest drop in seven years on growing optimism that U.S. authorities may finance a rescue of insurer American International Group .

AIG rescue at hand, government to take stake (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An $85 billion government rescue of insurer American International Group Inc looked increasingly likely on Tuesday to stave off a bankruptcy that would have thrown world markets back into turmoil.

AIG rescued by Fed, Barclays buys Lehman U.S. unit (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Capping an extraordinary day in financial markets, U.S. authorities pieced together an emergency $85 billion rescue of insurance company American International Group Inc to stave off a bankruptcy that could have thrown world markets into deeper turmoil.

Key witness returns to stand in O.J. Simpson case (2008-09-16)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - A key witness in O.J. Simpson's kidnap and robbery trial returned to the stand on Tuesday, a day after he left court clutching his chest and complaining of dizziness.

Cybercriminals use celebrity names to lure victims (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Looking for information about Brad Pitt or Beyonce on the Web? It could be risky.

Former congressional aide ruled unfit for trial (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former aide in the U.S. Congress charged with giving secret information to Iraqi intelligence agents is mentally incompetent to stand trial, a federal judge has ruled.

AIG hires law firm to draw up bankruptcy papers: report (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc has hired law firm Weil Gotshal to draw up bankruptcy papers, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Investors see golden era for distressed securities (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Major investors said on Tuesday that turmoil in credit markets and the stunning collapse of big investment banks mark the beginning of a boom in turning around distressed companies or buying their debt.

Two South African hostages freed in Nigeria (2008-09-16)
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Two South African oil workers were released by their Nigerian kidnappers on Tuesday, a military spokesman said, a week after their vessel was hijacked in the restive Niger Delta.

Fed holds rates steady, spurning calls for cuts (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve held U.S. interest rates steady on Tuesday and showed little inclination to lower them soon, spurning calls for cuts from financial markets roiled by the bankruptcy of investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc .

Common plastics chemical linked to heart problems (2008-09-16)
ROCKVILLE, Maryland (Reuters) - A major study links a chemical widely used in plastic products, including baby bottles, to health problems in humans like heart disease and diabetes, but U.S. regulators said on Tuesday they still believe it is safe.

AIG rescue hopes, Morgan Stanley earnings, ease markets (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Growing expectations of a U.S. government-financed rescue of insurer AIG and the sale of Lehman Brothers' investment banking unit provided hope on Tuesday that worldwide financial tremors may be near an end.

SanDisk rejects $6 billion offer from Samsung (2008-09-16)
SEOUL/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. flash memory maker SanDisk Corp rejected a near-$6 billion offer from global market leader Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS>, but said it would not rule out a deal at a better price.

Wall St edges up on hopes for rate cut, AIG cash (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose slightly on Tuesday on bets that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates later in the session and speculation that troubled insurer AIG may get some help with raising sorely needed capital.

Constellation Energy shares drop 18 percent on debt fears (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares in utility operator Constellation Energy Group Inc fell 18 percent on Tuesday on fears that banks may pull its credit lines.

China paper urges new currency order after "financial tsunami" (2008-09-16)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Threatened by a "financial tsunami," the world must consider building a financial order no longer dependent on the United States, a leading Chinese state newspaper said on Wednesday.

Study links common plastics chemical to heart woes (2008-09-16)
ROCKVILLE, Maryland (Reuters) - A major study for the first time linked a chemical used in many plastic products including baby bottles to human problems such as heart disease and diabetes, while U.S. regulators on Tuesday opened a hearing on its safety.

Stocks falls after Fed keeps rate steady (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday after the Federal Reserve held its key interest rate steady. ID:nN16279243

HP confident of hitting quarter profit target (2008-09-16)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co remains "very confident" it can hit its current quarter profit target, despite currency headwinds and ongoing weakness in its printer business, a top executive said on Tuesday.

Fed holds rates steady despite market turbulence (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve held U.S. interest rate steady on Tuesday, opting to soothe rattled financial markets with central bank lending and saying it was worried both about economic weakness and price pressures.

Cuba accepts political dialogue with EU (2008-09-16)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba, in a letter sent earlier this month, conditionally accepted the resumption of formal political dialogue with the European Union, as offered by the European bloc when it lifted diplomatic sanctions against the island two months ago.

U.S. defence chiefs in Afghanistan and Pakistan (2008-09-16)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. defence chiefs visited Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday amid growing fears that American-led forces are failing to crush a rising Taliban insurgency, and anger in Pakistan over U.S. cross-border raids.

U.S. citizen Lori Berenson pregnant in Peru prison (2008-09-16)
LIMA (Reuters) - Lori Berenson, a U.S. citizen who has been jailed in Peru for 13 years on terrorism charges, is pregnant, a prison official and a friend said on Tuesday.

Stocks fall after Fed keeps rate steady (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday after the Federal Reserve held its key interest rate steady. ID:nN16279243

More than 3 million still without power after Ike (2008-09-16)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - More than 3 million homes and businesses remained without power in eight states on Tuesday after Hurricane Ike, federal officials said.

Stocks turn higher on AIG report (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks turned higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 up 1 percent, after Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with negotiations, that the Treasury is mulling a loan package to AIG.

Jazeera airs video of kidnapped Canadian, Australian (2008-09-16)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Jazeera television aired on Tuesday a video showing a Canadian and an Australian journalist kidnapped in Somalia last month, and said the pair appealed to their governments to work towards gaining their release.

CORRECTED: Fed repaid JPMorgan $87 billion for Lehman financing (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Federal Reserve intervened aggressively to shore up the U.S. financial system this week, providing at least $87 billion to help underpin trades with units of bankrupt Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, court documents show.

Kate Hudson has choice words for new movie (2008-09-16)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kate Hudson rose to movie stardom playing sweet All-American girls, but in her newest part in "My Best Friend's Girl," she relished doing two things she rarely does on film -- curse a lot and portray a sexually aggressive woman.

Fed repaid JPMorgan $87 billion for Lehman financing (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Federal Reserve intervened aggressively to shore up the U.S. financial system this week, providing at least $87 billion to help underpin trades with units of bankrupt Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, court documents show.

Fed to provide $85 billion bridge loan to AIG: source (2008-09-16)
(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve will provide a roughly $85 billion bridge loan to AIG and take a nearly 80 percent stake in the company, according to a source briefed on the matter.

Death toll rises in storm-hit Texas amid health hazard (2008-09-16)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in Texas on Tuesday as officials in Galveston warned of a growing health threat on the island city that took a direct hit from the huge storm.

Goldman profits slump as financial carnage swirls (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Quarterly profits at top U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs slid 70 percent on Tuesday and shares in Britain's HBOS plunged by about a third as financial sector carnage snowballed beyond insurer AIG.

Pakistan aircraft bomb militants; U.S. drones prowl (2008-09-16)
KHAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani aircraft bombed militant strongholds in a northwestern region on Tuesday while U.S. drones prowled the sky over another militant sanctuary on the Afghan border, a military official and residents said.

AIG shrs plunge as crisis mounts, takeover mulled (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc shares sank 48 percent on a report that regulators might take control of the giant insurer, though a U.S. government source said federal agencies do not have legal authority to put AIG into a conservatorship.

Goldman, Morgan Stanley results give ray of light (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The two largest remaining U.S. investment banks, Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley , beat quarterly profit expectations on Tuesday, even as the worst market slump in decades rattled Wall Street.

Wall St up as rate cut hopes outweigh AIG fears (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Tuesday as bets the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates later in the session overshadowed uncertainty about the fate of insurer AIG as it attempts to raise sorely needed capital.

Sen. Stevens loses bid to dismiss indictment (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Longtime Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska lost a bid on Tuesday to dismiss the corruption case against him on the grounds that the indictment infringed upon his constitutional rights as a lawmaker.

Key witness returns to stand in OJ Simpson case (2008-09-16)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - A key witness in O.J. Simpson's kidnap and robbery trial returned to the stand on Tuesday, a day after he left court clutching his chest and complaining of dizziness.

Pakistan bombs militants; U.S. commander arrives (2008-09-16)
KHAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani aircraft bombed militant strongholds on Tuesday killing 14 insurgents and a suicide car-bomber attacked a security force camp killing three soldiers, military officials said.

Hirst's London art sale defies economic blues (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Multi-millionaire artist Damien Hirst wildly exceeded expectations on Tuesday with a record-breaking sale of 218 items for 111 million pounds ($198 million), underscoring the resilience of the high-end art market.

Hirst's London art sale fetches huge sums (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - The record-breaking sale of new works by multi-millionaire British artist Damien Hirst kept up its pace on Tuesday with 80 pieces fetching nearly 20 million pounds at the morning session in London.

McCain lays out principles for Wall Street reform (2008-09-16)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Republican presidential nominee John McCain said on Tuesday he would set up a commission like the one that investigated the September 11 attacks to study what led to the current U.S. financial crisis and offer solutions.

Bush sees "tough situation" in hurricane-hit Texas (2008-09-16)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Tuesday toured the island of Galveston, which bore the brunt of Hurricane Ike's devastation, and pledged swift federal aid for millions of storm-struck Texans as the energy hub of Houston struggled to recover.

Gasoline demand up ahead of Ike: MasterCard (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. retail gasoline demand was up slightly last week as Gulf Coast residents stocked up on fuel ahead of Hurricane Ike, MasterCard Advisors said Tuesday.

Financial shakeout to hit NY office rent: JP Morgan (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The meltdown in the U.S. financial sector could lower New York office rents by 20 percent from its recent peak and boost vacancies by 5 to 7 percentage points from its lows, JP Morgan analysts said on Tuesday.

Greenberg's CV Starr may try to take over AIG (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A company led by Hank Greenberg, a former chief executive of American International Group , may try to take over the insurer in a proxy fight or tender offer, according to a regulatory filing.

Fed holds rates steady in face of turbulence (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve held its key benchmark U.S. interest rate steady on Tuesday, opting for the time being to soothe rattled financial markets with central bank lending facilities rather than rate cuts.

Spain's Supreme Court bans Basque party (2008-09-16)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Supreme Court has banned a party in the country's Basque region because of its links to armed separatists ETA, the court's head said on Tuesday.

Dell, Ingram Micro fuel worries about tech spending (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two of the biggest computer vendors, Dell Inc and Ingram Micro Inc , warned on Tuesday that demand was weakening, adding to worries that the crisis on Wall Street would hurt corporate and consumer spending.

Wall St up on AIG rescue talk but hopes fade late (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rebounded on Tuesday, clawing back a day after their biggest drop in seven years on growing optimism that U.S. authorities may finance a rescue of insurer American International Group .

IAEA shows photos alleging Iran nuclear missile work (2008-09-16)
VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog showed documents and photographs on Tuesday suggesting Iran secretly tried to modify a missile cone to fit a nuclear bomb, diplomats said, and Tehran again dismissed the findings as forged.

Christian factions clash in north Lebanon, 2 dead (2008-09-16)
TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) - Two people were killed and three were wounded in a clash between supporters of rival Christian factions in north Lebanon overnight, security sources said on Wednesday.

Obama accuses McCain of ignoring Wall St. excesses (2008-09-16)
GOLDEN, Colo. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama sought on Tuesday to link his Republican rival to the turmoil sweeping Wall Street, and John McCain fired back that Obama had close ties to the troubled mortgage industry.

Israelis vote on new leader but Olmert hangs on (2008-09-16)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Members of Israel's ruling party vote on Wednesday for a new leader to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has promised to resign following a corruption investigation in which he faces indictment.

New WTO talks possible "in coming weeks": Lamy (2008-09-16)
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Trade Organisation (WTO) could invite ministers to Geneva in the coming weeks to resume July's abortive talks on a new global trade pact, its head said on Tuesday.

Many more U.S. troops needed in Afghan war: general (2008-09-16)
KABUL (Reuters) - NATO's top commander in Afghanistan said on Tuesday he would need thousands more U.S. troops on top of planned reinforcements as Defense Secretary Robert Gates flew in for an update on the war.

Pentagon chief arrives in Afghanistan (2008-09-16)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Kabul in an unannounced visit on Tuesday amid growing doubts that the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan was succeeding against an increasingly deadly insurgency.

House to vote on offshore drilling Tuesday (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on Tuesday on a comprehensive energy package that would open most of the U.S. coastline to offshore drilling, a Democratic aide said on Monday.

Bolivia's Morales arrests rival, sees pact imminent (2008-09-16)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian troops on Tuesday arrested the opposition governor of a restive northern province blamed for a rash of killings, but President Evo Morales said he still hoped to agree shortly to formal talks with rivals.

Iranian crown prince producing family movie (2008-09-16)
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Wall Street slides at open on AIG worries (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell sharply on Tuesday as investors worried about insurer American International Group's ability to secure desperately needed capital to avert more credit agency downgrades.

Baader Meinhof film gets premiere in Germany (2008-09-16)
MUNICH (Reuters) - A film about the rise and fall of the Red Army Faction, a group of left-wing militants suspected of killing dozens of prominent West Germans decades ago, premiered in Munich on Tuesday with a graphic account of one of post-war Germany's darkest chapters.

Wall St ends higher on hopes of AIG resolution (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks clawed back from their biggest drop in seven years on Tuesday as optimism grew that U.S. authorities may finance a rescue of insurer American International Group .

AIG shares sink 21 pct as cash crisis mounts (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc shares tumbled 21 percent after the insurer's credit ratings were cut, heightening concerns it might file for bankruptcy and cause more turmoil in global markets.

Barclays to pay $1.75 billion for some Lehman assets (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays , which over the weekend balked at acquiring stricken Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc , agreed to pay about $1.75 billion (1 billion pounds) for some of the bank's prime U.S. assets following its bankruptcy filing.

Paulson view unchanged on money for bailouts: report (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's opposition to the use of government money to rescue troubled financial institutions has not changed, CNBC television reported on Tuesday, citing a Treasury Department official.

AIG jitters grip Wall Street (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday as investors worried about insurer American International Group's ability to secure desperately needed capital to avert more credit agency downgrades.

Best Buy profit below view on expenses, shares off (2008-09-16)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co posted a steeper-than-expected drop in quarterly profit as it spent more than planned to bolster its stores, sending shares down 5 percent.

Fate of Guantanamo to be left to next president (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration has intensified efforts to send more security detainees from Guantanamo Bay to their own countries but hopes are very dim of closing the prison by year-end, senior U.S. officials say.

Scientists discover 120 million year-old ant (2008-09-16)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German biologists have discovered a new species of ant they believe is the oldest on the planet, dating back around 120 million years.

Barclays nears deal for Lehman U.S. unit: source (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Barclays is near to a deal to buy Lehman Brothers' core U.S. broker-dealer business, a person familiar with the matter said, but said there could be no certainty a deal will be struck in the complex talks.

Fed to lend $85 billion to AIG, take 80 percent stake (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday said the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will lend up to $85 billion to the American International Group in a plan aimed at saving the insurer from a "disorderly failure" that could wreak economic havoc.

German scientists discover 120 million year-old ant (2008-09-16)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German biologists have discovered a new species of ant they believe is the oldest on the planet, dating back around 120 million years.

Adobe tops Wall St hopes on design tool demand (2008-09-16)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Design software maker Adobe Systems Inc posted better-than-expected quarterly results on Tuesday and raised its outlook on strong demand for its products, sending shares up nearly 5 percent.

China sacks officials, executive as milk scare widens (2008-09-16)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China fired four city officials and a company boss amid a widening scandal over adulterated milk powder blamed for the death of least two infants.

UBS ends down 17 pct, says Lehman exposure limited (2008-09-16)
ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS shares tumbled for a second day in a row on Tuesday, closing down 17 percent, although they recovered slightly after the bank said the cost of closing its exposure to Lehman Brothers would not exceed $300 million.

Bolivia leaders agree roadmap to end conflict (2008-09-16)
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist President Evo Morales and governors who led a violent rebellion against his socialist reforms agreed on Tuesday to sign a framework for formal talks to end a deep crisis in the impoverished South American country.

CORRECTED: Barclays in talks on Lehman unit, crisis spreads (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays emerged as a potential buyer of some of felled investment bank Lehman Brothers' assets, as the financial sector carnage spread on fears American International Group could be the next to fall.

U.S. banks put heat on SEC to curb illegal shorting (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. banking group increased the pressure on securities regulators to clamp down on the illegal short-selling as declines in shares of major financial companies accelerated this week.

Strike on Syria reactor a joint spy victory: CIA (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The destruction of a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor last year was the result of an intelligence collaboration that included a "foreign partner" who first identified the facility's purpose, CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden said on Tuesday.

Barclays to scoop up Lehman unit, crisis spreads (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays emerged as a potential buyer of some of felled investment bank Lehman Brothers' assets, as the financial sector carnage spread on fears American International Group could be the next to fall.

AIG shares drop on media report (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of American International Group fell 48 percent in trading after the bell on Tuesday after Bloomberg reported that the U.S. government is considering conservatorship as an option for the insurer.

Bush has benign lesion removed from forehead (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, 62, had a non-cancerous skin lesion removed from his forehead during the weekend, the White House said on Tuesday.

Futures fall on report conservatorship eyed for AIG (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell after the market closed on Tuesday on a Bloomberg report that the United States was considering conservatorship as an option for troubled insurer American International Group .

Futures pare gains on report Fed to help AIG (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pared losses in early evening trading on Tuesday after CNBC television reported the Federal Reserve was negotiating roughly $85 billion in financing to keep American International Group from collapsing.

AIG may get $85-90 bln bridge loan in govt-brokered deal: CNBC (2008-09-16)
(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is negotiating a $85-90 billion secured bridge loan for American International Group Inc. , according to a report on CNBC.

Boeing invests to keep C-17 line running (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to keep its C-17 production line running, in the hope that Congress will fund 15 more C-17 transport planes in a war spending bill for fiscal 2009, which begins October 1.

Barclays in talks on Lehman unit, crisis spreads (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays emerged as a potential buyer of some of felled investment bank Lehman Brothers' assets, as the financial sector carnage spread on fears American International Group could be the next to fall.

Goldman, Morgan Stanley profits fall amid slump (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The two largest U.S. investment banks, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley , reported lower quarterly profits, but beat expectations on Tuesday even as the worst market slump in decades rattled Wall Street.

Barclays to buy some Lehman assets for $1.75 billion (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays Plc agreed to buy bankrupt Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's North American investment banking and capital markets businesses, its New York headquarters and two data centers for a total of about $1.75 billion.

Central banks strain to contain market crisis (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON/BERLIN/TOKYO (Reuters) - Central banks pumped emergency funds into world financial markets for a second day on Tuesday in an increasingly fraught effort to contain the fallout from the crisis sweeping Wall Street's biggest firms.

AIG speculation grips market; Goldman disappoints (2008-09-16)
LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Speculation about a possible rescue of American International Group Inc held Wall Street in its grip on Tuesday as disappointing quarterly results from Goldman Sachs Group Inc added to the gloom.

Lehman exit drops heap of trouble on credit market (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - In structured credit markets, Lehman Brothers' demise is likely to trigger unwinds of some products, leave investors stranded without a market or lead to months of wrangling over what many are worth.

Probe finds 20 percent of China milk companies in scandal (2008-09-16)
SHIJIAZHUANG, China (Reuters) - Twenty percent of Chinese dairy firms probed in the wake of a baby milk health scare have been found to have produced melamine-tainted formula, state media reported on Tuesday.

Pakistan bombs militants; U.S commander arrives (2008-09-16)
KHAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani aircraft bombed militant strongholds on Tuesday killing 14 insurgents and a suicide car-bomber attacked a security force camp killing three soldiers, military officials said.

Wall Street climbs on AIG rescue hopes (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks clawed back from their biggest drop in seven years on Tuesday on growing optimism that U.S. authorities may finance a rescue of insurer American International Group .

Mbeki must respond to Zuma accusations: opposition (2008-09-16)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's opposition on Tuesday called on President Thabo Mbeki to respond to accusations of meddling in ANC leader Jacob Zuma's graft case and said failure to do so would be grounds for his dismissal.

Rival banks set to pounce on Lehman clients (2008-09-16)
HONG KONG/LONDON (Reuters) - The collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc has set off a frenzy among rival investment banks seeking to snatch business from the fallen Wall Street firm.

Barclays to buy some Lehman assets: source (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays Plc agreed to buy bankrupt Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's main investment banking assets for about $2 billion, a source familiar with the situation said on Tuesday.

Bush surveys storm-hit Texas as death toll rises (2008-09-16)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in Texas on Tuesday as officials in Galveston warned of a growing health threat on the island city that took a direct hit from the monster storm.

CORRECTED: Futures pare losses on report Fed to help AIG (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pared losses in early evening trading on Tuesday after CNBC television reported the Federal Reserve was negotiating roughly $85 billion in financing to keep American International Group from collapsing.

Futures pare losses on report Fed to help AIG (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures pared losses in early evening trading on Tuesday after CNBC television reported the Federal Reserve was negotiating roughly $85 billion in financing to keep American International Group from collapsing.

AIG shares pare losses in heavy after-hours trade (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of American International Group Inc pared losses in heavy after-hours trading on Tuesday following a New York Times report that the U.S. Federal Reserve would provide the insurer financing and take a stake in the company.

Bernanke, Paulson brief Congress on AIG rescue (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke were briefing members of Congress on the proposed rescue package for American International Group on Tuesday evening, a Treasury official said.

New U.N. assembly head wants weaker Security Council (2008-09-16)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A former Nicaraguan leftist official became president of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, urging that power be given to its broad membership and taken away from the big-power-dominated Security Council.

Barclays agrees to buy some Lehman assets: source (2008-09-16)
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - British bank Barclays has agreed to buy Lehman Brothers' core U.S. broker-dealer business for roughly $2 billion, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

H-P confident of hitting quarter profit target (2008-09-16)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co is "very confident" it can hit its current quarter profit target, despite currency headwinds and ongoing weakness in its printer business, a top executive said on Tuesday.

Honduras to end diplomatic snub of U.S. over Bolivia (2008-09-16)
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras, a former ally in of Washington in Central America, told a U.S. envoy on Tuesday to present his credentials as ambassador later this week, ending a diplomatic snub in support of Bolivia.

Goldman profit plunges 70 pct amid market slump (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc said quarterly profit plunged 70 percent as the worst market slump in decades led to weaker-than-expected revenues, knocking the stock to its lowest level in nearly three years.

Cisco seeks to reassure investors on growth target (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc Chief Executive John Chambers sought to ease Wall Street's concerns about technology spending on Tuesday, holding to the company's long-term growth target despite a weak U.S. economy and financial sector.

Grenade attacks kill 8 on Mexico's national day (2008-09-16)
MORELIA, Mexico (Reuters) - Suspected drug gang hitmen threw two grenades into a packed crowd celebrating Mexico's independence day, killing at least eight people and wounding more than 100 in a major escalation of a war between the government and cartels.

Bolivia's Morales arrests rival, still wants talks (2008-09-16)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian troops on Tuesday arrested an opposition governor blamed for 15 deaths during days of political violence that shook the country as President Evo Morales and his opponents tried to negotiate a way out of the crisis.

FDA bans dozens of Ranbaxy-made generic drugs (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials have banned dozens of medications made by Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd after the generic drugmaker failed to fix numerous problems with its manufacturing operations, including record-keeping and other procedural issues.

Alaska Republicans sue to stop Palin trooper probe (2008-09-16)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Five Republican state legislators filed a lawsuit in Alaska state court on Tuesday seeking to block Democrats from investigating whether vice-presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in firing a state trooper feuding with her family.

Fed chairman, Paulson in AIG talks with Congress (2008-09-16)
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Consumer prices ease on cheaper energy (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer prices dropped 0.1 percent in August, the first decline in nearly two years as energy costs fell in a sign that a slowing economy is relieving some inflation pressures, government data showed on Tuesday.

Imdb.com allows free film, TV viewing (2008-09-16)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com said on Monday that its subsidiary, Internet Movie Database, would allow users to watch feature films and TV shows for no charge on its website, imdb.com.

Stock futures hit session lows (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures hit session lows on Tuesday after Goldman Sachs Group reported quarterly earnings and investors worried whether insurer American International Group would be able to secure fresh capital after credit agency downgrades.

U.N. agencies to visit Georgia's war-torn rebel area (2008-09-16)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A group of U.N. humanitarian agency officials will visit a Georgian separatist enclave to assess the situation after the country's brief war with Russia last month, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Healthy living cuts premature death risk in half (2008-09-16)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Women who heed common sense health messages about smoking, diet and exercise can cut their risk of premature death in half, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Chad torture victims prod Senegal to try ex-ruler (2008-09-16)
DAKAR (Reuters) - Victims of alleged torture under Chad's former ruler Hissene Habre that included mutilation and electric shock presented legal evidence in Senegal on Tuesday to speed up moves to try Habre there for crimes against humanity.

Common plastics chemical linked to human diseases (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - A study has for the first time linked a common chemical used in everyday products such as plastic drink containers and baby bottles to health problems, specifically heart disease and diabetes.

AIG tumbles, worsening financial carnage (2008-09-16)
LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc shares tumbled 50 percent after the giant U.S. insurer's credit ratings were slashed, feeding market fears as top U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs reported sharply lower quarterly earnings.

Barclays to scoop up Lehman units as meltdown spreads (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays emerged as a potential buyer of some of felled investment bank Lehman Brothers' assets, as the financial sector carnage spread on fears American International Group could be the next to fall.

Bush pledges swift aid to hurricane-hit Texas (2008-09-16)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush pledged swift federal aid for millions of storm-struck Texans on Tuesday as the energy hub of Houston and other areas struggle to recover from Hurricane Ike's mighty punch.

U.S. captures $187 million drug haul in submarine (2008-09-16)
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - The U.S. coast guard captured a submarine-like vessel equipped with sophisticated navigation equipment and stuffed with seven tonnes of cocaine, Costa Rican authorities said on Tuesday.

Wall St jumps on report government mulls AIG cash (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Tuesday after CNBC television reported that government money had now been put on the table in discussions over a financial lifeline for embattled insurer American International Group .

Grenade attacks kill seven at Mexico national day (2008-09-16)
MORELIA, Mexico (Reuters) - Suspected drug gang hitmen threw two grenades into a packed crowd celebrating Mexico's independence day, killing at least seven people and wounding more than 100 in a major escalation of a war between the government and cartels.

Stocks drop again on AIG's cash woes (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell in choppy trading on Tuesday on uncertainty about the fate of insurer American International Group and its efforts to secure desperately needed capital.

Paris Hilton finds "paparazzi-ready" best friend (2008-09-16)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paris Hilton launched a television show to look for a new best friend who was hot, loyal and "paparazzi-ready" -- and she says she found exactly what she was looking for.

Samsung makes $6 billion offer for SanDisk (2008-09-16)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS>, the world's biggest maker of memory chips, went public on Tuesday with its proposal to buy SanDisk Corp for nearly $6 billion in cash, after months of private negotiations failed to produce a deal.

U.S. Catholics pray for more priests (2008-09-16)
WELLESLEY, Massachusetts (Reuters) - The sign outside St. James Church in the affluent Boston suburb of Wellesley sums up Catholicism's deepening struggles in the United States.

House passes bill allowing offshore drilling (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives passed legislation on Tuesday lifting a longstanding congressional moratorium on offshore drilling.

Three die in China baby powder scandal, thousands sick (2008-09-16)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday a third infant had died from drinking milk contaminated with toxic melamine and 6,244 infants were sick as four officials were sacked amid a widening scandal.

Goldman, Morgan Stanley profits fall amid slump (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The two largest U.S. investment banks, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley, reported lower quarterly profits, but beat expectations on Tuesday even as the worst market slump in decades rattled Wall Street.

CORRECTED: Market turns higher on AIG report (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. stocks turned higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 up 1 percent, after Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with negotiations, that the Fed is mulling a loan package for AIG.

Munich Re says interested in parts of AIG: report (2008-09-16)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Munich Re is interested in a number of the assets of troubled U.S. insurance firm AIG , the German company's chief executive told a newspaper.

Lehman seeks court orders on asset sales (2008-09-16)
(Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings to ask bankruptcy court to establish procedures for asset sales in hearing later on Tuesday.

Market turns higher on AIG report (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. stocks turned higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 up 1 percent, after Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with negotiations, that the Fed is mulling a loan package for AIG.

Pentagon chief arrives in Afghanistan (2008-09-16)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Kabul in an unannounced visit on Tuesday amid growing doubts U.S. strategy in Afghanistan was succeeding against a rising insurgency.

Banks, lawmaker push SEC to curb illegal shorting (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. banking group is pressing securities regulators to clamp down on illegal short-selling after weeks of heavy selling pressure on shares of financial companies.

Colbert hosting Costello, Feist for "Christmas" (2008-09-16)
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Fed to mull rate cut but may hold steady course (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve will consider cutting U.S. interest rates to boost confidence in battered financial markets but policy-makers may keep rates on hold in the hopes that already low rates and expanded central bank lending will stabilize the economy.

Bolivia's Morales, foes close to political truce (2008-09-16)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales is expected to sign a truce with rival governors to defuse a political crisis that has sparked deadly clashes in the poor, landlocked nation, government officials said on Tuesday.

Iran elite Guards charged with Gulf defense: report (2008-09-16)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader has put its elite Revolutionary Guards in charge of defending the oil-rich Gulf against any enemy attacks, a top military adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Probe shows China milk scandal widens (2008-09-16)
SHIJIAZHUANG, China (Reuters) - Almost 20 percent of Chinese dairy firms probed in the wake of a baby milk health scare have been found to have produced melamine-tainted formula, state media reported.

Killings of Afghan civilians sharply up, U.N. says (2008-09-16)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Nearly 1,500 Afghan civilians were killed in the first eight months of this year, many in attacks on schools, medical clinics, bazaars and other crowded areas, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Best Buy shares fall after results (2008-09-16)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co reported a worse-than-expected 19 percent drop in second-quarter earnings as it spent more money to improve stores, sending its shares down 7 percent.

AIG shares plummet as cash crisis mounts (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc shares plummeted early Tuesday after the insurer's credit ratings were cut, jeopardizing its efforts to raise cash to survive.

Central banks struggle to contain market crisis (2008-09-16)
BERLIN/TOKYO (Reuters) - Central banks pumped massive amounts of extra funds into global financial markets for the second day running on Tuesday to contain the fallout from the crisis sweeping Wall Street's biggest firms.

AIG in focus as financial meltdown spreads (2008-09-16)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - American International Group Inc, thrown a $20 billion lifeline by New York state officials, came under fresh pressure for survival on Tuesday as ratings agencies downgraded the insurer's debt and the global financial sector meltdown spread.

Evolution fine but no apology to Darwin: Vatican (2008-09-16)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican said on Tuesday the theory of evolution was compatible with the Bible but planned no posthumous apology to Charles Darwin for the cold reception it gave him 150 years ago.

Probe finds 20 pct of China milk companies in scandal (2008-09-16)
SHIJIAZHUANG, China (Reuters) - Twenty percent of Chinese dairy firms probed in the wake of a baby milk health scare have been found to have produced melamine-tainted formula, state media reported on Tuesday.

Russian prosecutors to probe Aeroflot over crash (2008-09-16)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian prosecutors said on Tuesday they are to check safety standards at national carrier Aeroflot after a plane operated by one of its subsidiaries crashed killing all 88 people on board.

Oil drops 3 percent on financial market turmoil (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell 3 percent on Tuesday on rising concern turmoil in global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens.

AIG plummets after credit rating downgrades (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc shares plummeted in early trading Tuesday after the insurer's credit ratings were cut, jeopardizing efforts to raise cash necessary for its survival.

Malaysia's Anwar says he has majority to rule (2008-09-16)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition alliance claimed on Tuesday it had enough support in parliament to oust the government and sought a meeting with the premier to discuss a handover as well as the king's consent.

Israeli city uses DNA to fight dog poop (2008-09-16)
PETAH TIKVA, Israel (Reuters) - An Israeli city is using DNA analysis of dog droppings to reward and punish pet owners.

British inflation hits 16-year high of 4.7 percent (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's inflation rate rose to its highest level in 16 years in August and more than double the central bank's target, requiring the Bank of England to explain publicly why prices are rising so fast.

Goldman Sachs net plunges 70 percent (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc said third-quarter earnings plunged 70 percent as one of the market's worst slumps ever sapped revenue in almost every business while fueling investment and credit losses.

Stocks set for another plunge at open on AIG worries (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a sharply lower open on Tuesday as investors fretted about insurer American International Group's ability to secure desperately needed capital to avert more credit agency downgrades.

Goldman Sachs net plunges (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc said on Tuesday third-quarter earnings plunged 70 percent as one of the worst market slumps ever weighed on banking and trading results.

Best Buy posts lower profit (2008-09-16)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co reported lower quarterly profit on Tuesday, as store investments offset rising revenue.

Bristol-Myers could walk away from ImClone: CFO (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb could walk away from its bid for biotech company ImClone Systems in certain circumstances, the U.S. drugmaker's chief financial officer said on Tuesday.

Barclays talks to buy Lehman U.S. unit: sources (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Barclays is in talks with Lehman Brothers to buy its core U.S. broker-dealer business, including equity, fixed income, M&A advisory and other parts, people familiar with the matter said.

Stock futures drop on AIG jitters, Dell comments (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures extended losses on Tuesday as investors worried whether insurer American International Group would be able to secure fresh capital after credit agency downgrades.

Analysts see additional writedown at Merrill Lynch (2008-09-16)
(Reuters) - At least two analysts said Merrill Lynch & Co Inc , the world's largest retail brokerage, could face additional writedowns in the coming quarters if market conditions do not improve.

Asia central banks try to calm markets with cash, words (2008-09-16)
TOKYO/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Japan, Australia and India flooded money markets with cash on Tuesday as central banks across Asia-Pacific sought to prevent the upheaval on Wall Street from clogging the pipes of the global financial system.

Financial turmoil leaves Hollywood vulnerable (2008-09-16)
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AIG in focus as financial meltdown spreads (2008-09-16)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - American International Group Inc, thrown a $20 billion lifeline by New York state, came under renewed pressure on Tuesday as ratings agencies downgraded the insurer's debt and the financial sector meltdown spread.

Home prices to fall on liquidity concerns: analyst (2008-09-16)
(Reuters) - The collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co Inc will cause liquidity in the credit market to shrink, resulting in lower home prices, prominent U.S. banking analyst Meredith Whitney said.

Pro-al Qaeda gunman among 5 dead in Gaza clash (2008-09-16)
GAZA (Reuters) - A pro-al Qaeda militant and four other Palestinians were killed on Tuesday in fierce overnight gunbattles in the Gaza Strip, Hamas officials said.

Oil drops 4 percent on financial market turmoil (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell more than 4 percent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens.

Russia defence spending to grow 27 percent in '09: Putin (2008-09-16)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's defence spending will grow by 27 percent in 2009, Interfax news agency quoted Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as saying on Tuesday.

Syria names ambassador to Iraq (2008-09-16)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria named an ambassador to Iraq on Tuesday, two years after the two countries restored diplomatic ties.

Pakistan aircraft bomb militants as U.S. drones prowl (2008-09-16)
KHAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani aircraft bombed militant strongholds in a northwestern region on Tuesday while U.S. drones prowled the sky over another militant sanctuary on the Afghan border, a military official and residents said.

China urges Iran's cooperation with nuclear agency (2008-09-16)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China urged Iran on Tuesday to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog but distanced itself from calls for sanctions following a report that said Tehran was stalling scrutiny of its nuclear activities.

Self-flying helicopter takes off (2008-09-16)
STANFORD, California (Reuters) - A four-foot-long helicopter flew itself over the Stanford University campus on Monday in a test of artificial intelligence that researchers say could be used to scout wildfires or on military missions.

Dell sees further signs of weak tech spending (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dell Inc's customers are cutting back further on technology spending, the company said on Tuesday, sending the computer maker's shares down more than 7 percent.

Fannie, Freddie CEOs eligible for 401k benefits: report (2008-09-16)
(Reuters) - The recently ousted chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are eligible for the pensions and 401k savings plans they built up while working for the mortgage giants, The Wall Street Journal said, citing a regulatory official.

Italy's right to curb Islam with mosque law (2008-09-16)
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Northern League, allies of centre-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, want to limit the growth of Islam in the centre of world Catholicism by blocking the construction of mosques through strict new regulations.

Odierno takes over as U.S. commander in Iraq (2008-09-16)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - General Ray Odierno took command of U.S.-led forces in Iraq on Tuesday, faced with the challenge of ensuring security gains do not unravel at a time when American troop levels are being reduced.

Oil dives $4, hammered for second day by bank woes (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell over 4 percent to a seven-month low on Tuesday, sliding for a second day as Lehman Brothers' collapse raised concern the credit crisis will hurt the economy and undermine fuel demand.

Malaysia's Anwar says has majority to rule (2008-09-16)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition alliance on Tuesday claimed it had enough support in parliament to oust the government and sought a meeting with the premier to discuss a handover as well as the king's consent.

Stock futures mixed; AIG, Goldman and Fed eyed (2008-09-16)
PARIS (Reuters) - Stock index futures were mixed early on Tuesday following Monday's sharp drop, ahead of the Fed's rate decision and Goldman Sachs results, and as AIG's woes rattled markets worldwide.

Australia's biggest terror trial ends, 7 found guilty (2008-09-16)
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's biggest terrorism trial ended on Tuesday with a seventh Muslim man found guilty of terrorism, a day after a Muslim cleric and five followers were convicted of planning an attack in Melbourne in 2005.

Nearly 9,500 Somalis die in insurgency: group (2008-09-16)
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Fighting in Somalia has killed 838 people since June, local rights activists said on Tuesday, bringing the total to have died in an insurgency that began early last year to 9,474.

Veterans, newcomers vie for acting Emmys (2008-09-16)
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Bush to visit Texas as Ike relief rolls in (2008-09-16)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will view storm-struck areas of Texas on Tuesday as the energy hub of Houston and other areas struggle to recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike.

Sharks released off Sydney beach for study (2008-09-16)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - A Sydney aquarium released seven sharks bred in captivity and tagged with acoustic tracking devices into the waters off a city beach on Tuesday to study if it is feasible to breed sharks to restock dwindling wild numbers.

Abbas and Olmert to meet amid doubts of a deal (2008-09-16)
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday in a last-minute bid to clinch an agreement a day before his Kadima party holds an election to replace him.

Blasts at Mexico national day, three dead (2008-09-16)
MORELIA, Mexico (Reuters) - Explosions ripped through a crowd of people celebrating Mexican independence day in a western city, killing at least three revelers and wounding about 50, the Michoacan state government said.

Stars bring unlikely audiences to arthouse pics (2008-09-16)
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Lehman taps bankruptcy-expert Harvey Miller: report (2008-09-16)
(Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc has tapped bankruptcy expert Harvey Miller of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP to help carry out its possible liquidation, the Wall Street Journal said.

Barclays talks to buy Lehman core U.S. unit: sources (2008-09-16)
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Barclays is in talks with Lehman Brothers to buy its core U.S. broker-dealer businesses, including equity, fixed income, M&A advisory and other parts, people familiar with the matter said.

Malaysia government scoffs at opposition power claims (2008-09-16)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's government on Tuesday scoffed at claims by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim that he had secured a parliamentary majority, dismissing talk of losing power as "the politics of deception."

Lehman in talks to sell part of firm to Barclays: report (2008-09-16)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers is in talks to sell parts of the company to Barclays Plc , with the potential for an agreement to be reached as early as Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website.

Fed set to hold rates steady, may signal cuts (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve policy-makers are expected to stop short of lowering U.S. interest rates at a meeting on Tuesday but could signal readiness to cut them quickly if needed to protect the economy from one of the most serious financial crises in decades.

Asia cen banks try to calm markets with cash, words (2008-09-16)
TOKYO/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Japan, Australia and India plied money markets with cash on Tuesday as central banks across Asia-Pacific moved to prevent the upheaval on Wall Street from clogging the pipes of the global financial system.

Varicose vein treatment eases hunger for pigs (2008-09-16)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A treatment for varicose veins helped cut the appetites of healthy, growing pigs and might offer a less radical alternative to weight-loss surgery for obese people, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

U.N. assembly opens door to enlarged Security Council (2008-09-16)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. General Assembly opened the door on Monday to expanding the Security Council by calling for full-scale negotiations on adding new members to the United Nations' most powerful body.

Nikkei falls 5 percent to 3-year low as Lehman failure bites (2008-09-16)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The benchmark Nikkei average slid 5 percent to a three-year low on Tuesday, with investors dumping shares across the board after Lehman Brothers' collapse fuelled fears about the U.S. financial system and hit stock markets worldwide.

Group says 9,474 Somali civilians die in insurgency (2008-09-16)
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Some 838 Somali civilians have been killed since June, bringing the total to have died in an insurgency that began early last year to 9,474, a local human rights group said on Tuesday.

Obama, McCain promise to tackle Wall Street reform (2008-09-16)
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Malaysia's Anwar says has parliament majority (2008-09-16)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition alliance has enough support from MPs to oust the government and wants to meet with the country's premier to plan a handover, leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday

Critics eye "Mad Men," "30 Rock" for Emmy wins (2008-09-16)
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U.S. gives first funding to Khmer Rouge trial (2008-09-16)
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - The United States has agreed to give $1.8 million to Cambodia's Khmer Rouge tribunal, its first contribution to the long-awaited trial of Pol Pot's top surviving henchmen for the atrocities of the "Killing Fields."

Nigerian militants launch new attacks on oil sector (2008-09-16)
ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian militants attacked a Royal Dutch Shell oil pipeline and Chevron-operated oilfield in the Niger Delta as heavy fighting with security forces entered a fourth day, militants and a security source said on Tuesday.

Bolivia government, rivals say talks pact imminent (2008-09-15)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivia's government and rightist rivals said on Monday they had nearly agreed on a framework for dialogue to try to defuse a political crisis and hoped to clinch a pact at new talks later in the day.

Studios form digital-download "ecosystem" (2008-09-15)
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Iran tells U.N. atom body not to bend to U.S. pressure (2008-09-15)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran urged the U.N. nuclear watchdog not to be swayed by U.S. pressure in its report on the disputed Iranian atomic program due to be released on Monday.

Lehman and Merrill to pound already bloody job market (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The likely disappearance of investment banks Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch presents a double-barreled hit to an already wounded job market, and will likely depress salaries on Wall Street.

Oil drops $4 on financial turmoil and Ike (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged $4 to below $97 a barrel on Monday as investors fled to safer havens due to turmoil in the U.S. financial system and on early signs Hurricane Ike spared key U.S. energy infrastructure.

Stock futures plunge on financial sector turmoil (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures tumbled on Monday as the bankruptcy filing of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers and cascading fears about the stability of other major financial institutions rattled global markets.

China cuts lending rates, small banks' reserves (2008-09-15)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's central bank, acting against a background of extreme stress in global financial markets, cut benchmark lending rates by 0.27 percentage point on Monday.

Pakistan troop fire turns back U.S. helicopters (2008-09-15)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Firing by Pakistani troops forced U.S. military helicopters to turn back to Afghanistan after they crossed into Pakistani territory in the early hours of Monday, Pakistani security officials said.

Nigerian militants launch new attacks in "oil war" (2008-09-15)
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian militants attacked a Royal Dutch Shell-operated oil installation on Monday in a third day of heavy fighting with security forces in the Niger Delta region.

Zimbabwe rivals sign landmark power-sharing deal (2008-09-15)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's rival political parties signed a landmark power-sharing deal on Monday which means President Robert Mugabe will cede some of his powers for the first time in nearly three decades of iron rule.

Iran stalls probe into alleged atom bomb research: IAEA (2008-09-15)
VIENNA (Reuters) - A U.N. inquiry into intelligence allegations of secret atom bomb research in Iran has reached a standstill because of Iranian non-cooperation, an International Atomic Energy Agency report said on Monday.

Pentagon chief in Iraq to transfer war command (2008-09-15)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates flew into Baghdad on Monday, preparing to hand command of the war in Iraq to a new general charged with maintaining better security while U.S. troop numbers fall.

"Nip/Tuck" stars seeking hefty pay rises (2008-09-15)
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China reports second infant death in milk scandal (2008-09-15)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China reported on Monday the death of a second infant from tainted milk powder in a growing scandal that prompted an official product recall only after the New Zealand government intervened.

Hollywood comedy takes aim at liberals (2008-09-15)
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"Kung Fu Panda," sequel hitting DVD together (2008-09-15)
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Heavy fighting in Nigeria's delta enters third day (2008-09-15)
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian militants attacked a Royal Dutch Shell oil flow station on Monday in a third day of heavy fighting with security forces in the Niger Delta region.

Wall Street shaken by Lehman failure and Merrill sale (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system faces an unprecedented shakeup with Lehman Brothers set to file for bankruptcy, Bank of America buying Merrill Lynch, and the Federal Reserve saying for the first time it will accept stocks in exchange for cash loans.

UBS aims for quick settlement in US tax probe: report (2008-09-15)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS is trying to reach a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and regulators within the next two weeks over alleged breaches by its offshore unit, the Financial Times reported.

"Saturday Night Live" has best premiere since 2001 (2008-09-15)
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"Star Trek" actor Takei marries boyfriend in L.A (2008-09-15)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "Star Trek" crew member George Takei married his longtime boyfriend on Sunday in a Los Angeles ceremony that paid homage to the actor's Japanese heritage.

Wilbur Ross sees about 1,000 bank closures: report (2008-09-15)
(Reuters) - Wilbur Ross, founder of private equity firm WL Ross & Co LLC, expects as many as a thousand U.S. bank closures in the coming months, CNBC said on its website on Monday.

Bank of America to buy Merrill for $50 billion (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp said it agreed to buy Merrill Lynch & Co Inc in an all-stock deal worth $50 billion, snagging the world's largest retail brokerage after one of the worst-ever weekends on Wall Street.

Relief operations ramp up in storm-hit Texas (2008-09-15)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - A huge relief effort was accelerating in storm-struck Texas on Monday as the big oil center of Houston struggled to get back to business after it was battered by Hurricane Ike.

Turkish ferry sinks, one killed, four missing (2008-09-15)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A ferry carrying 95 passengers and crew sank near Turkey's northwest port of Bandirma overnight, killing one person, the maritime authority said on Monday. Four people are missing.

UBS aims for quick settlement in U.S. tax probe: report (2008-09-15)
(Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS is trying to reach a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and regulators within the next two weeks over alleged breaches by its offshore private-banking unit for rich Americans, the Financial Times reported.

Turkish ferry sinks, seven people missing (2008-09-15)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A ferry with 96 passengers and crew sank near Turkey's northwest port of Bandirma overnight and seven people were missing, the vessel's owners said on Monday.

Turkish ferry sinks (2008-09-15)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A ferry with 96 passengers and crew sank near Turkey's northwest port of Bandirma overnight and seven people were missing, the vessel's owners said on Monday.

Lehman to file for bankruptcy, plans to sell units (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said it plans to file for bankruptcy protection, but the Chapter 11 filing will not include its broker-dealer operations and other units, including Neuberger Berman.

Bank of America to buy Merrill Lynch (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp has agreed to acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc, according to people briefed on the matter, in a deal that will give the U.S. bank the world's largest brokerage.

Bank of America buys Merrill Lynch (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp has agreed to acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc, according to people briefed on the matter, in a deal that will give the U.S. bank the world's largest brokerage.

SEC to act on abusive short selling: source (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators plan to take action on abusive short selling of stock before the end of the week, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday.

Thai ruling party picks Thaksin brother-in-law for PM (2008-09-15)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's ruling People Power Party (PPP) nominated Somchai Wongsawat for prime minister to replace Samak Sundaravej, who was removed by the courts last week, a party spokesman said on Monday.

Presidential hopefuls spell out China policy (2008-09-15)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Presidential contenders John McCain and Barack Obama both vowed to press China on trade and to work with it on climate change if elected, and Obama said he would make shifting Beijing's currency policies a priority.

Lehman failure may hurt U.S. commercial property (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A bankruptcy by Lehman Brothers may prompt the sale of its $32.6 billion of commercial real estate investments, and that just may be the jolt the U.S. property market needs to get sales started again, some real estate executives said.

Bank of America to buy Merrill Lynch (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp has agreed to acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc , according to people briefed on the matter, in a deal that will give the U.S. bank the world's largest brokerage.

Bank of America buys Merrill Lynch (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp has agreed to acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc , according to people briefed on the matter, in a deal that will give the U.S. bank the world's largest brokerage.

Lehman bankruptcy, capital woes slam futures (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures tumbled on Monday as the bankruptcy filing by U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers and cascading fears about the stability of other major financial institutions rattled global markets.

More than 20 die in Indonesian charity queue crush (2008-09-15)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Twenty one people were killed and scores more hurt when a crowd stampeded in Indonesia after about 10,000 people queued for a charity handout to mark the Muslim fasting month, the state news agency said on Monday.

Thai ruling party picks Thaksin in-law for PM (2008-09-15)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's ruling People Power Party (PPP) nominated a brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra as its pick for prime minister on Monday, antagonizing protesters who accuse the government of being a puppet of the ousted leader.

Nigerian militants attack Shell oil flow station (2008-09-15)
PORT HARCOURT (Reuters) - Nigerian militants attacked a Royal Dutch Shell oil flow station on Monday in a third day of heavy fighting with security forces in the Niger Delta region, the military said.

Four dead in Taiwan typhoon (2008-09-15)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Four people were killed and seven reported missing on Monday after Typhoon Sinlaku brought winds of up to 160 kph (100 mph) to Taiwan, causing a section of bridge to collapse and a fatal mudslide.

Culkin brothers shine in coming-of-age tale (2008-09-15)
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Financial shares fall after Lehman, Merrill news (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of big U.S. financial companies fell on Monday, dragged down by growing concern about the health of the financial industry, after Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc filed for bankruptcy protection and Merrill Lynch & Co Inc agreed to be taken over.

Fear, doubt across U.S. amid Wall Street storm (2008-09-15)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The turmoil on Wall Street sparked fear and anger on Monday as Americans watched markets tumble amid a make-over of financial giants whose names once seemed as good as gold.

Wall St sinks on Lehman's demise, AIG fears (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slid on Monday as a bankruptcy filing by U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and cascading fears about the stability of other major financial institutions spooked global markets.

Wall Street mauled by Lehman bankruptcy, AIG fears (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street had its worst day since markets reopened after the September 11 attacks on Monday as fears about the U.S. financial system's stability surged after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and insurer AIG struggled for survival.

Record start for artist Damien Hirst's London sale (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - Damien Hirst's bull in a tank of formaldehyde with its head crowned by a gold disc sold for 10.35 million pounds ($18.6 million) on Monday, a record at auction for one of the contemporary art world's stars, Sotheby's said.

Trial of German warcrimes suspect, 90, begins (2008-09-15)
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - A 90-year-old German World War Two officer, accused of ordering the killing 13 Italians in 1944, went on trial on Monday in what could prove one of the last cases of its kind.

Olmert makes 11th-hour pitch for Palestinian deal (2008-09-15)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday a partial peace deal with the Palestinians could still be reached before his successor takes over, but President Mahmoud Abbas's aides dismissed the idea.

AIG gets New York's help in accessing $20 billion (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Governor David Paterson said he and other state officials had reached an agreement with American International Group Inc that allows the insurer access to $20 billion of its own capital, staving off a liquidity crisis.

CORRECTED: U.N. agency says Iran stalls nuclear inquiry (2008-09-15)
VIENNA (Reuters) - A U.N. inquiry into intelligence allegations of secret atom bomb research in Iran has reached a standstill because of Iranian failure to cooperate, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report said on Monday.

All-electric vehicles no magic bullet: scientist (2008-09-15)
ARGONNE, Illinois (Reuters) - A future of all-electric cars coasting along streets and highways may be illusory, given that their range may be cut in half by aggressive drivers speeding along with the air conditioning blasting, U.S. scientists said on Monday.

Iran blocks probe into alleged atom bomb work: IAEA (2008-09-15)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has blocked a U.N. inquiry into whether it researched ways to make a nuclear bomb, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Monday, and Britain said it would push hard for tougher sanctions against Tehran.

Proteins in blood predict early lung cancer: study (2008-09-15)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Just three tumor proteins can indicate lung cancer as much as a year before symptoms emerge, U.S. researchers said on Monday in a finding that may lead to a blood test for lung cancer within five years.

Iran blocks probe of alleged atom bomb work: IAEA (2008-09-15)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has stymied a U.N. inquiry into whether it covertly researched how to make an atom bomb while steadily expanding uranium enrichment in defiance of international demands, a nuclear watchdog report said on Monday.

S&P 500 tumbles to more than two-year low (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks extended losses late on Monday as fears about the stability of the U.S. financial sector pushed the S&P 500 to a more than two-year trough below 1,200.

Sales of some Lehman units expected soon: source (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc will likely sell some of its units "very soon," a source close to the transaction said on Monday.

Wall St plunges on Lehman's demise, AIG fears (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street had its worst day in more than six years on Monday as fears about the U.S. financial system's stability escalated after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and insurer AIG struggled for survival.

Wall St. plunges on Lehman's demise, AIG fears (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street had its worst day in more than six years on Monday as fears about the U.S. financial system's stability escalated after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and insurer AIG struggled for survival.

Retail gasoline price rises 19 cents: government (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Constrained fuel supplies in the wake of Hurricane Ike pushed the average U.S. retail price for gasoline up 19 cents in the latest week, the federal Energy Information Administration said on Monday.

Edgy Wall Street waits for AIG plan (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nervous investors waited for American International Group to announce a survival plan on Monday as the insurer tries to avoid becoming the latest financial titan swept aside by the U.S. credit crunch.

Factory data stokes worry amid financial turmoil (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. industrial output posted its biggest slide in three years last month and September might not be much better, according to data on Monday that raised worries over an economy struggling with the worst bout of financial turmoil in a generation.

Bolivia seeks end to crisis, regional leaders gather (2008-09-15)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist president and rebel governors took steps on Monday to halt deadly political unrest, as South American leaders headed for Chile for an emergency summit on the turmoil in the impoverished country.

Bombs kill 34 in Iraq, Gates visits Baghdad (2008-09-15)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three bomb attacks killed 34 people and wounded dozens more in Iraq on Monday, underscoring the security challenges facing the next U.S. military commander in the country.

Las Vegas jury urged to give Simpson "true verdict" (2008-09-15)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - O.J. Simpson's kidnapping and robbery trial began on Monday with a Las Vegas prosecutor asking jurors to render "the true verdict" against the onetime football star who was famously acquitted of murder more than a decade ago.

Jury urged to give Simpson "true verdict" (2008-09-15)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - O.J. Simpson's kidnapping and robbery trial began on Monday with a Las Vegas prosecutor asking jurors to render "the true verdict" against the onetime football star who was famously acquitted of murder more than a decade ago.

Texas races to bring relief to hurricane victims (2008-09-15)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Texas urged thousands of people to leave Galveston on Monday as relief supplies failed to meet the needs of hungry and exhausted residents of the island city ravaged by Hurricane Ike and millions struggled to cope without power in the U.S. energy hub of Houston.

AIG struggles to survive financial tsunami (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group struggled for survival a day after a financial tsunami overtook investment bank Lehman and forced the sale of rival Merrill Lynch in the biggest financial industry shake-up since the Great Depression.

Fed braces markets for likely Lehman collapse (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Sunday launched a series of emergency measures to calm financial markets and ease any trading disruptions that could arise from a collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers

Unholy row as Saudi clerics slam Ramadan TV (2008-09-15)
RIYADH (Reuters) - The sanctity of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has been spoiled for some in the Arab world by an unholy row over "depraved" TV comedies and serials that have led Saudi clerics to demand the death penalty.

Movie Review: 'Burn After Reading': Coen Brothers's latest sure-fire comic romp is a tour de farce. (2008-09-15)
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Heavy metal on the cello? (2008-09-15)
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Amazon's imdb.com allowing free film, TV viewing (2008-09-15)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com said on Monday that its subsidiary, Internet Movie Database, would allow users to watch feature films and TV shows for no charge on its Web site, imdb.com.

Stock futures sink on Lehman bankruptcy filing (2008-09-15)
(Reuters) - Stock index futures were down sharply early on Monday, pointing to a steep fall at the opening on Wall Street after Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, heightening fears over the embattled financial sector.

Obama: financial crisis a major threat to economy (2008-09-15)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday the crisis sweeping Lehman Brothers and other Wall Street firms posed a major threat to the U.S. economy and underscored the need to modernize the financial system.

UBS shares hit by speculation of new writedowns (2008-09-15)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Shares in Swiss bank UBS AG took a new tumble on Monday, falling further than a hard-hit banking sector after reports it will have to write down another $5 billion on its risky investments in the second half of the year.

'The Juliet Letters' Tragic tale looks for a happy ending (2008-09-15)
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NATO chief in Georgia to show support after war (2008-09-15)
TBILISI (Reuters) - NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer arrived in Tbilisi on Monday to show support for the ex-Soviet state after its war with Russia, and slammed an EU-brokered deal that let Russian troops stay inside Georgia.

Lehman fallout punishes Wall Street (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell sharply at the opening bell on Monday as the bankruptcy filing by U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and cascading fears about the stability of other major financial institutions rattled global markets.

NATO backs Georgia but no firm invitation to join (2008-09-15)
TBILISI (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer condemned Russia's military action against Georgia but shied away from giving any commitment to the ex-Soviet state on when it will be invited to join the military alliance.

Mugabe and opposition leaders sign power-sharing deal (2008-09-15)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, main opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara -- leader of a breakaway MDC faction -- signed a landmark power-sharing agreement on Monday.

U.S. choppers turned back by Pakistani firing (2008-09-15)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Firing by Pakistani troops forced U.S. military helicopters to turn back to Afghanistan after they crossed into Pakistani territory in the early hours of Monday, Pakistani security officials said.

NYC mayor warns against slashing spending too deeply (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City cannot cut its way out of a $2.3 billion budget deficit spawned by Wall Street's sliding profits and might have to look at other ways to raise revenues, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday.

Oil drops 5 percent on financial turmoil (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged $5 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens due to turmoil in the U.S. financial system and on early signs Hurricane Ike had spared key U.S. energy infrastructure.

U.N. agency says Iran stalls nuclear inquiry (2008-09-15)
VIENNA (Reuters) - A U.N. inquiry into intelligence allegations of secret atom bomb research in Iran has reached a standstill because of Iranian failure to cooperate, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report said on Monday.

U.S. stock futures drop as financial storm worsens (2008-09-15)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - U.S. equity market futures sank on Monday, pointing to a sharply lower New York open after buyout talks for Lehman Brothers faltered and a media report said insurer AIG was seeking emergency funding.

Wall Street extends losses (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended losses in early trade on Monday, with the Dow industrials and S&P both down nearly 3 percent as investors worried about the stability of the financial system after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy.

U.S. prods Iran to stop uranium enrichment (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran should stop enriching uranium and other reprocessing activities or face the possibility of further sanctions, the White House said on Monday after a U.N. agency reported Iran was stalling its nuclear inquiry.

Take Two shares plunge after EA pulls bid (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of U.S. video game publisher Take Two Interactive Software Inc plunged nearly 30 percent in premarket trading on Monday after larger rival Electronic Arts Inc abandoned its takeover bid.

United Airlines doubles second-bag fee to $50 (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - UAL Corp's United Airlines said on Monday it is doubling the fee to check a second bag on a domestic flight from $25 to $50 one-way.

Lehman to file for bankruptcy, plans to sell units (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc filed for bankruptcy protection, after trying to finance too many risky assets with too little capital, making it the largest and highest-profile casualty of the global credit crisis.

"Star Trek" actor Takei marries boyfriend in L.A. (2008-09-15)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "Star Trek" crew member George Takei married his longtime boyfriend on Sunday in a Los Angeles ceremony that paid homage to the actor's Japanese heritage.

Pentagon chief arrives in Iraq on unannounced trip (2008-09-15)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Baghdad on Monday ahead of a change in Washington's top military leadership in Iraq.

Oil falls towards $99; eyes on Ike and Wall Street banks (2008-09-15)
PERTH (Reuters) - Oil tumbled below $100 a barrel to a six-month low on early signs that Hurricane Ike may have spared key Gulf Coast infrastructure, although traders were cautious on Monday as they awaited status reports on more Texas refineries.

Scientists get images of planet with sun-like star (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists have snapped the first images of a planet outside our solar system that is orbiting a star very much like the sun.

Olmert's 11th-hour pitch to Palestinians rebuffed (2008-09-15)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Ehud Olmert appealed on Monday for a partial peace deal with the Palestinians before he steps down as Israeli prime minister, but President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the idea on the eve of talks between the leaders.

All eyes on Fed ahead of next meeting (2008-09-15)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A radical shake-up on Wall Street and heavy losses in financial markets have recast the debate for Tuesday's Federal Open Market Committee meeting to set interest rate policy.

OJ Simpson witness tells of hotel confrontation (2008-09-15)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - O.J. Simpson stormed into a Las Vegas hotel room with five men, shouting about his "stolen stuff," then had his accomplices cram 800 memorabilia items into pillow cases and haul them away, a sports dealer told a court on Monday as Simpson's kidnap and robbery trial opened.

Text messaging figures in L.A. train wreck probe (2008-09-15)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Investigators of a Los Angeles train wreck that killed 25 people are looking into reports that an engineer blamed for missing a stop signal light may have been distracted by text messaging moments before the crash, officials said on Monday.

American woman guilty of child sex in Australia (2008-09-15)
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An American woman who flew to Australia and spent 10 days in a caravan park with a 15-year-old boy was convicted on Tuesday of having sex with a minor but released from jail.

HP to cut 24,600 jobs; to take $1.7 billion EDS charge (2008-09-15)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co plans to cut 7.5 percent of its work force, or 24,600 jobs, seeking to realize savings from its recent acquisition of Electronic Data Systems Corp, the company said on Monday.

Hedge funds dealt another blow by Lehman failure (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - The bankruptcy filing of Lehman Brothers is another blow for the hedge fund industry, though the writing has been on the wall long enough for many to have reduced their exposure to the U.S. investment bank.

Wall Street rocked by Lehman failure and Merrill sale (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global financial markets were shaken to their core on Monday after U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection and rival Merrill Lynch agreed to be taken over.

Target gets naming rights to Minnesota Twins stadium (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Target Corp said on Monday that it agreed to a 25-year partnership with the Minnesota Twins that includes naming rights for the baseball team's new stadium, Target Field.

AIG gets New York's help in accessing $20 billion (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Embattled insurer American International Group Inc received New York state approval to post $20 billion of policyholders' assets as collateral as it seeks to stave off a liquidity crisis and works with banks to fix its problems.

Lehman and AIG woes pummel Wall Street (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slid on Monday on cascading fears about the stability of the U.S. financial system after investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and concerns grew about insurer AIG.

Zimbabwe rivals sign power-sharing deal (2008-09-15)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe signed a power-sharing agreement with opposition rival Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday, relinquishing some of his powers for the first time in nearly three decades of iron rule.

McCain, Obama promise Wall Street overhaul (2008-09-15)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla./CHICAGO (Reuters) - Fearing a meltdown on Wall Street, the U.S. presidential candidates sparred on Monday over who could best restore financial health, with John McCain pledging reform and Barack Obama saying hands-off Republican policies were the problem.

Texas grapples with power outages after Ike (2008-09-15)
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Bank of America takeover ends Merrill's independence (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp's $50 billion acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co Inc marks the end of a storied name in American finance, but also creates the nation's biggest bank by far.

Ukraine coalition likely to be pronounced dead (2008-09-15)
KIEV (Reuters) - Parliament is likely to pronounce Ukraine's pro-Western coalition dissolved on Tuesday, opening the way for tortuous talks on piecing together a new, viable governing combination after four years of upheaval.

Ike pushes retail gasoline price: government (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Constrained fuel supplies in the wake of Hurricane Ike pushed the average U.S. retail price for gasoline up 19 cents in the latest week, the federal Energy Information Administration said on Monday.

NY gov. sees Wall St losing up to 30,000 jobs (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Gov. David Paterson on Monday said Wall Street might lay off 30,000 workers in a worst-case scenario following Lehman Brother's bankruptcy filing and problems at other big financial firms.

Regional leaders meet over Bolivian crisis (2008-09-15)
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales arrived in Chile on Monday for an emergency summit of South American leaders aimed at helping end the political turmoil gripping his impoverished country.

Three die in inter-Palestinian violence in Lebanon (2008-09-15)
AIN AL-HILWEH, Lebanon (Reuters) - Three Palestinians were killed in fighting between rival factions at a refugee camp in south Lebanon on Monday, security sources said.

Oil drops 7 percent on financial turmoil (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged $7 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens, due to turmoil in the U.S. financial system, and on early signs Hurricane Ike had spared key U.S. energy infrastructure.

Lehman and AIG woes rattle Wall Street (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Monday as a bankruptcy filing by U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and cascading fears about the stability of other major financial institutions spooked global markets.

Violent crimes decline in 2007 (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Violent crime fell in the United States in 2007 after rising for two years, according to FBI figures on Monday which the Justice Department attributed to better policing against violent gangs and drug dealers.

Oil drops $4 on financial turmoil (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged $4 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens due to turmoil in the U.S. financial system and on early signs Hurricane Ike had spared key U.S. energy infrastructure.

Wal-Mart shuts Cleveland-area store, cites safety (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Monday that it closed a Cleveland-area discount store after determining the building posed safety issues, including a slipping foundation, raw sewage backing up into the store and unstable methane gas levels.

Texas struggles to recover from Hurricane Ike (2008-09-15)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Ice, bottled water and other vital supplies poured into storm-struck Texas on Monday as the nerve center for the U.S. energy industry struggled without electricity to recover from Hurricane Ike's mighty punch.

Lehman, Merrill shake markets (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global markets plummeted on Monday after investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection, rival Merrill Lynch agreed to be taken over and the Federal Reserve threw a life line to the battered financial industry.

Oil drops $4 on financial turmoil, Ike (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged $4 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens due to turmoil in the U.S. financial system and on early signs Hurricane Ike had spared key U.S. energy infrastructure.

Thousands flee heavy Darfur fighting: aid groups (2008-09-15)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Thousands of villagers have been forced to flee their homes after more than a week of heavy clashes between Sudanese forces and rebels in North Darfur, aid sources said on Monday.

Lehman, Merrill souvenirs on sale, but not cheap (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and Merrill Lynch & Co Inc may be about to disappear from the Wall Street landscape, but their memorabilia commanded a premium on Monday.

Gene variant raises skin cancer risk: study (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - People who carry a certain genetic variation are much more likely to develop the most dangerous form of skin cancer, Portuguese researchers said on Monday.

Breast cancer vaccine helps body fight tumors (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers who designed one experimental breast cancer vaccine say they have fine-tuned the process and come up with another that they hope will be more effective.

Whirlpool to lay off 700 workers at Arkansas plant (2008-09-15)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Whirlpool Corp said on Monday that it would lay off 700 workers at its manufacturing facility in Fort Smith, Arkansas, beginning in November, citing soft consumer demand and higher costs.

Lehman fallout and AIG fears sink Wall Street (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slid on Monday as the bankruptcy filing by investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and cascading fears about the stability of other major financial institutions spooked global markets.

Markets in turmoil by Lehman failure, Merrill sale (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global markets plummeted on Monday after investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection, rival Merrill Lynch agreed to be taken over and the Federal Reserve threw a life line to the battered financial industry.

House plans vote on $50 bln to stimulate economy (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives plans to debate legislation this month to inject another $50 billion of stimulus into the faltering U.S. economy, mostly with the goal of creating new jobs, a senior House Democratic aide said on Monday.

Pentagon denies Pakistan fired on U.S. helicopters (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Monday denied reports that Pakistani troops fired on two U.S. military helicopters after they crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan and forced them to turn back.

Pentagon denies Pakistan fired on US helicopters (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Monday denied reports that Pakistani troops fired on two U.S. military helicopters after they crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan and forced them to turn back.

AIG shares fall 52 percent (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of American International Group fell more than 50 percent in early trading on reports that the insurer had turned to the Federal Reserve for $40 billion in bridge financing to ward off a liquidity crisis and ratings downgrades.

Target to name new Minnesota Twins stadium (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Target Corp said on Monday that it agreed to a 25-year partnership with the Minnesota Twins that includes naming rights for the baseball team's new stadium, Target Field, which is slated to open in 2010.

National City wins OK for $7 billion (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - National City Corp , a U.S. Midwest regional bank battered by mortgage losses, has won stockholder approval to authorize new shares to allow for a $7 billion capital infusion, the bank said on Monday.

Colombia's FARC rebels battered, but surviving (2008-09-15)
URIBE, Colombia (Reuters) - Colombian guerrilla bosses once rode around this town in SUVs, barking orders, but soldiers now patrol its streets and scour surrounding plains hunting for rebel chiefs in hiding.

Britney Spears to release album on her birthday (2008-09-15)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Britney Spears is gearing up for another comeback attempt.

NY gov sees Wall St losing up to 40,000 jobs (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Gov. David Paterson on Monday said Wall Street might lay off 40,000 workers in a worst-case scenario following Lehman Brother's bankruptcy filing and problems at other big financial firms.

Texas rushes Ike relief as health crisis looms (2008-09-15)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Texas officials warned of a health crisis on Monday and urged thousands of people to leave Galveston, where relief supplies were scarce for hungry, exhausted residents of the island city ravaged by Hurricane Ike.

Deep blood clots may affect 600,000 Americans a year (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Blood clots called deep vein thromboses may affect up to 600,000 Americans a year but they can be easily prevented and treated, the U.S. Surgeon General's office said on Monday.

Paulson says prepared to act to ensure stability (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Monday the U.S. financial system remained sound despite current stresses and said he was prepared to take further actions if necessary to maintain stability.

EU competition officials probing Google-Yahoo deal (2008-09-15)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union competition watchdogs are looking into a planned deal between Internet giants Google Inc and Yahoo Inc to share some advertising revenue.

Wall St extends losses on financial jitters (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks extended losses on Monday as cascading fears about the stability of the U.S. financial system pushed the Dow and S&P 500 down by more than 3 percent each.

U.N. watchdog denounces police killings in Brazil (2008-09-15)
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Police frequently kill criminal suspects and ordinary citizens in Brazil, driving up the homicide rate in what is already one of the world's most violent countries, the United Nations said on Monday.

AIG workers on edge as once-safe company in turmoil (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Disbelief and anxiety were written on the faces of staff at American International Group Inc as they grappled with the idea that their company, which was once the largest insurer in the world and one of the safest places to work, was struggling for its survival.

CORRECTION: AIG workers on edge as once-safe company in turmoil (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Disbelief and anxiety were written on the faces of staff at American International Group Inc as they grappled with the idea that their company, which was once the largest insurer in the world and one of the safest places to work, was struggling for its survival.

Lehman, Merrill to pound already bloody job market (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The imminent disappearance of major investment banks Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and Merrill Lynch & Co Inc presents a double-barreled hit to an already wounded job market and will likely depress salaries on Wall Street.

U.S. bans free meals, cold calls for Medicare pitches (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Companies that offer Medicare health insurance and prescription drug coverage can no longer offer free meals during pitches or make unsolicited sales calls, the U.S. government said on Monday.

Poll favors Livni as Israel leadership vote nears (2008-09-15)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's hopes of succeeding the scandal-hit Ehud Olmert as prime minister got a boost from an opinion poll on Monday, two days before she faces rivals in a party leadership vote.

House to vote on $50 billion econ stimulus plan (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With financial markets reeling from a weekend of stunning changes on Wall Street, Democrats in the House of Representatives pushed on Monday to aid the faltering economy with a new stimulus package.

Nigeria militants to release South African hostages (2008-09-15)
ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's most prominent militant group said on Monday it would release two South African oil workers kidnapped last week in the restive Niger Delta.

Washington Mutual cut to junk by S&P (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc , was downgraded to "junk" status on Monday by Standard & Poor's amid concern about mortgage losses, causing shares of the largest U.S. savings and loan to slide after-hours following a 27 percent plunge in regular trading.

AIG gets NY state help to stave off cash crunch (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A complex asset swap brokered by New York state officials will give embattled American International Group a $20 billion lifeline, but the insurer's longer term rescue plan will depend on additional funding.

North Korea tests missile engine at new site: report (2008-09-15)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has conducted an engine ignition test for a long-range missile at a new launch base under construction near its west coast, a South Korean intelligence source was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Artist Damien Hirst's London sale breaks records (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - Damien Hirst smashed the record for an auction dedicated to a single artist, selling 54 new works on Monday for 70.55 million pounds ($127 million) in a sale that underlined the resilience of the high-end art market.

China toxic milk victim count expected to rise (2008-09-15)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The number of Chinese infants found threatened by toxic milk powder is likely to rise as the search for victims spreads, state media reported on Tuesday, as the government faced growing public anger over the safety crisis.

South American leaders back Bolivia's Morales (2008-09-15)
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - South American leaders fully backed Bolivian President Evo Morales on Monday and called on rebel governors in the country's eastern provinces to cease violent protests against his socialist policies.

Estrogen cream flunks sun damage test, study finds (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Estrogen creams do not help reduce wrinkles, especially those caused by the sun, researchers reported on Monday.

Haiti could face new food crisis after storms (2008-09-15)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti faces a deepening crisis after storms destroyed much of the impoverished country's rice crop, sparking fears of a repeat of the deadly food riots earlier this year that brought down the government.

Citi, exposed to Lehman, says it has ample capital (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup , the top U.S. bank by assets, sought to reassure investors that its exposure to bankrupt investment bank Lehman Brothers would not excessively damage its capital position.

Markets in turmoil by Lehman failure and Merrill sale (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global markets plummeted on Monday after investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection, rival Merrill Lynch agreed to be taken over and the Federal Reserve threw a life line to the battered financial industry.

Lehman in talks to sell part of firm to Barclays: WSJ (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers was in talks for a deal to sell parts of the company to Barclays Plc with the potential for an agreement to be reached as early as Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Monday night.

Fed not inclined to cut rates: paper (2008-09-15)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve is not inclined to cut interest rates at its policy meeting on Tuesday but could signal a willingness to ease in the future, given turmoil in financial markets, the Wall Street Journal reported on its web site on Tuesday.

Lithium battery for many vehicles seen a ways off (2008-09-15)
ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY, Illinois (Reuters) - Vast improvements are needed to extend the life and lower the cost of lithium batteries before they can efficiently power vehicles, a U.S. government official who tracks high-power battery development said on Monday.

Fed rate cuts seen possible amid market storm (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve seems likely to stop short of lowering interest rates on Tuesday, but could signal a willingness to do so soon as it seeks to settle financial markets jolted by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc .

NY governor sees Wall St losing up to 30,000 jobs (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Gov. David Paterson on Monday said Wall Street might lay off 30,000 workers in a worst-case scenario following Lehman Brother's bankruptcy filing and problems at other big financial firms.

Bloomberg warns NYC's economy has yet to hit bottom (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City cannot cut its way out of a $2.3 billion budget deficit spawned by Wall Street's sliding profits and might have to look at other ways to raise revenues, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday.

UK's Brown tries to stamp out revolt (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown moved on Monday to stamp out the biggest threat yet to his 15-month-old premiership, sacking a Labour official who accused him of "timorous" political maneuvering.

NY Fed hosting meetings on AIG: official (2008-09-15)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The New York Federal Reserve was hosting meetings on Monday on the situation of embattled insurer American International Group Inc with representatives of the Treasury Department, financial services firms and state officials, an official said on Monday.

Bank of America takeover to end independent Merrill (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp's $50 billion acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co Inc would mark the end of a storied name in American finance, but create the nation's biggest bank by far.

J&J wins damage awards in patent dispute (2008-09-15)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. District Court in Delaware has reinstated damages awarded to Johnson & Johnson in a long-running dispute with Boston Scientific Corp and Medtronic Inc over patents on stents used to treat heart disease, J&J said on Monday.

Pink Floyd founder Richard Wright dies at 65 (2008-09-15)
LONDON (Reuters) - Pink Floyd keyboard player and founding member Richard Wright died on Monday after a short battle with cancer, his spokesman said. He was 65.

HP to cut 24,600 jobs; takes $1.7 billion EDS charge (2008-09-15)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co plans to cut 7.5 percent of its work force, or 24,600 jobs, in order to wring efficiencies from its recent acquisition of Electronic Data Systems Corp, the company said on Monday.

S&P cuts Washington Mutual credit rating to junk (2008-09-15)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's on Monday cut its ratings on Washington Mutual Inc into junk territory, citing exposures the bank has to bad mortgage debt and volatile markets.

GE tumbles on financial worry (2008-09-15)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Electric Co shares tumbled for a second straight trading day on Monday to a five-year low as investors scrambled to reduce their exposure to the financial sector following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc .

Key OJ Simpson witness clutches chest in court (2008-09-15)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - A key witness in O.J. Simpson's kidnap and robbery trial became ill on Monday while testifying about a hotel room confrontation at the heart of the case -- clutching his chest before bailiffs helped him from the witness stand.

Text messaging figures in L.A. train wreck probe (2008-09-15)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Investigators of a Los Angeles train wreck that killed 26 people are looking into reports that an engineer blamed for missing a red light may have been distracted by text messaging moments before the crash, officials said on Monday.

Lehman moving to sell all of investment management unit: report (2008-09-15)
(Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is moving to sell 100 percent of its investment management unit, Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Typhoon kills at least seven in Taiwan (2008-09-15)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - A typhoon which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1,400 mm (55 inches) of rain in parts of Taiwan killed at least seven people with 14 missing, rescue workers and newspapers said on Tuesday.

Retailers seen cutting holiday hiring (2008-09-15)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - U.S. retail hiring for the upcoming holiday season could be the weakest since 2001 as stores aim to rein in costs, global employment consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas said on Monday.

Jolie, Pitt donate $2 million for kids in Ethiopia (2008-09-15)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Angelina Jolie and partner Brad Pitt have donated $2 million to create a center, named after their adopted daughter, Zahara, for Ethiopian children affected by AIDS and tuberculosis.

Ben Affleck is the big man in "The Town" (2008-09-15)
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Self-flying helicopter gets off ground in Calif (2008-09-15)
STANFORD, California (Reuters) - A four-foot-long helicopter flew itself over the Stanford University campus on Monday in a test of artificial intelligence that researchers say could be used to scout wildfires or on military missions.

Pentagon chief in Iraq to transfer war command (2008-09-15)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The new U.S. military commander in Iraq must find ways to keep improving security while American troop levels are falling, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday as two Baghdad bombings underlined the scale of the task.

Lehman talks resume, Barclays seen frontrunner (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators and bankers resumed a third day of talks on Sunday in a desperate attempt to reach a deal to sell Lehman Brothers and prevent the struggling investment bank from flooding jittery financial markets with toxic assets at fire sale prices.

Typhoon injures 14, cancels flights in Taiwan (2008-09-14)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - A powerful typhoon packing winds of up to 160 kph (100 mph) hit northeastern Taiwan on Sunday, dumping up to a meter of rain, causing hundreds of mudslides, injuring 14 and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights.

Lehman set for three-way break up: paper (2008-09-14)
LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of America , Barclays and Goldman Sachs are expected to agree a deal as early as Sunday to buy stricken U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers , Britain's Sunday Express reported.

Suicide bomber hits U.N. convoy in Afghanistan, 2 dead (2008-09-14)
KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomber targeted a United Nations convoy on Sunday in southern Afghanistan, killing two of its local employees, an official from the region said.

Russian Aeroflot plane crashes, 88 people killed (2008-09-14)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian Boeing 737-500 airliner crashed near the Ural mountains on Sunday, killing all 88 people on board, officials said.

Author David Foster Wallace found dead (2008-09-14)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - David Foster Wallace, the writer best known for his critically acclaimed 1996 novel "Infinite Jest," was found dead at his Claremont, California, home, police said.

Derivative traders open session to reduce Lehman risk (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An emergency trading session has been opened between Wall Street dealers with Lehman Brothers counterparty risk, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association said Sunday.

Aeroflot airliner crashes in Russia, 88 killed (2008-09-14)
PERM, Russia (Reuters) - An Aeroflot passenger jet crashed near the Ural mountains in Russia on Sunday, killing all 88 passengers and crew including 21 foreign nationals.

Shanxi governor resigns as China mudslide toll climbs (2008-09-14)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The governor of China's northern province of Shanxi resigned on Sunday as the death toll from a mudslide caused by the collapse of a mine waste reservoir climbed to 254, state media reported.

Suicide bomber hits U.N. convoy in Afghanistan (2008-09-14)
KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomber rammed a car into a United Nations convoy on Sunday as it drove through a market in southern Afghanistan, killing two local doctors, officials said.

Love stronger than evil, pope tells Lourdes crowd (2008-09-14)
LOURDES, France (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, on a pilgrimage to the shrine where the faithful believe the Virgin Mary appeared to a peasant girl 150 years ago, told a crowd on Sunday that love can be stronger than all the evil in the world.

Weakened Ike moves on after battering Gulf coast (2008-09-14)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and water-filled streets in Texas seaside towns on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummeled the oil hub of Houston.

Lebanese to begin talks, focus on Hezbollah arms (2008-09-14)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Military and political movement Hezbollah and rival Lebanese factions will this week open new talks on a national defence strategy expected to focus on the role of the group's controversial guerrilla army.

Obama raises record $66 million in August (2008-09-14)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama raised a record $66 million in August, a campaign spokesman said on Sunday.

Boeing CEO McNerney gambles on strike (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co chief executive Jim McNerney is betting his career that the world's biggest-selling plane maker can survive a strike by its assembly workers and emerge stronger by holding firm on its right to outsource work on its aircraft.

U.S. in push for foreign arms deals: report (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Bush administration is pushing through a wide range of foreign weapons deals in a bid to rearm Iraq and Afghanistan and contain North Korea and Iran, The New York Times reported.

Suicide bomber hits U.N. Afghan convoy (2008-09-14)
KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomber rammed a car into a United Nations convoy on Sunday as it drove through a market in southern Afghanistan, killing a driver and two local doctors, U.N. officials and police said.

Thai emergency lifted, search for new PM goes on (2008-09-14)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's acting prime minister lifted a state of emergency in Bangkok on Sunday, 12 days after it was enforced in response to violent clashes between pro- and anti-government groups.

Tourist boat sinks in Paris killing man and child (2008-09-14)
PARIS (Reuters) - A 6-year-old child and a man have died in hospital after they were trapped in a tourist boat that sank on the River Seine in the heart of Paris, police said on Sunday.

Abbas aims to stay in office to 2010 despite Hamas (2008-09-14)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview published on Sunday he will remain in office until 2010, a decision likely to stoke tensions with Islamist Hamas rivals who oppose his peace talks with Israel.

Suicide bomber hits U.N. Afghan convoy, 3 dead (2008-09-14)
KABUL (Reuters) - A suicide bomber rammed a car into a U.N. convoy on Sunday as it drove through a market in southern Afghanistan, killing a driver and two local doctors, U.N. officials and police said.

Petraeus to leave behind a very different Iraq (2008-09-14)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - When General David Petraeus took over as U.S. military commander in Iraq in February 2007, the country was on the brink of all-out civil war.

Website says BofA will lead Lehman buyout (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A financial website said a deal has been reached to split beleaguered Lehman Brothers into two entities, with a "bad bank" taking the toxic, real-estate assets amounting to around $85 billion and Bank of America taking the lion's share of the good assets.

Lehman talks extend to third day (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators and bankers failed on Saturday to reach a deal to end the crisis at investment bank Lehman Brothers , and emergency talks were extended to a third day as authorities seek to calm jittery financial markets.

UBS to write down extra $5 billion in H2: report (2008-09-14)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS will have to write down another $5 billion on its risky investments in the second half of the year, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Ike moves on leaving extensive damage in its wake (2008-09-14)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - A weakened storm Ike barreled northward on Sunday after slamming into the Texas coast as a hurricane, flooding seaside towns, cutting power to millions and paralyzing the oil hub of Houston.

Sudan launches fresh attacks in Darfur-faction leader (2008-09-14)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese forces on Sunday launched fresh attacks on a base held by Darfur rebels who signed a 2006 peace deal with the government, the faction's leader said.

Italy seeks last-minute deal to save Alitalia (2008-09-14)
ROME (Reuters) - The Italian government scrabbled to save Alitalia from collapse on Sunday, less than 24 hours before the airline has said it might start cancelling flights as it cannot secure fuel supplies.

Lachlan Murdoch Jakarta trip spurs Riady deal talk (2008-09-14)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Lachlan Murdoch, son of media magnate Rupert Murdoch, met Indonesian tycoon James Riady in Jakarta last week, a Riady official said on Sunday, prompting talk that Murdoch may invest in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Ebay may cut 1,500 jobs: Barron's (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. online auctioneer eBay Inc may cut 1,500 jobs, according to an article in Barron's weekly, citing a report published last week by investment-research firm Wedge Partners.

Fed likely to keep rates steady, signal on hold (2008-09-14)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to leave benchmark lending rates unchanged at its policy meeting on Tuesday and will probably signal that borrowing costs will stay steady for several months.

Coens' "Burn After Reading" ignites box office (2008-09-14)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Burn After Reading," a screwball spy comedy from Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, fired up the weekend box office in North America on Sunday, helping overall sales rebound from the five-year low plumbed a week earlier.

Hurricane-hit Texas calls for speedier relief (2008-09-14)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Search teams picked their way through debris and inundated roadways in Texas on Sunday, rescuing nearly 2,000 residents stranded after Hurricane Ike flooded coastal regions and cut power to millions of people.

Bolivia government, rivals seek way out of crisis (2008-09-14)
COBIJA, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's government and rightist rivals on Sunday sought to defuse a deep political crisis after deadly protests prompted martial law in one restive northern province where nearly 30 people were killed.

Australian jury finds 6 Muslims guilty of terrorism (2008-09-14)
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An Australian jury found a Muslim cleric and five of his followers guilty on Monday of planning to stage a "violent jihad" in Melbourne in 2005 to force Australian troops out of Iraq.

Paulson: actions to aid market stability (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Sunday he supported actions by market participants, the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission to strengthen and enhance financial market stability.

China raises tainted milk death count to two (2008-09-14)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Monday reported one more infant death from tainted milk powder, bringing to two the number of babies killed in an expanding scandal that drew an official product recall only after New Zealand blew the whistle.

Bank of America in talks to buy Merrill (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp on Sunday is in advanced talks to acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc, a deal that would give the bank the world's largest brokerage and a sizable investment bank, according to people briefed in the matter.

Russian plane crash kills 88, faulty engine blamed (2008-09-14)
PERM, Russia (Reuters) - Engine failure caused an Aeroflot Boeing 737-500 plane crash in Russia on Sunday which killed all 88 people on board, officials said, dismissing fears terrorists had attacked the airliner.

Stressed markets eye Fed, inflation (2008-09-14)
LONDON (Reuters) - Stressed by financial sector woes, investors this week will assess the scope for the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks to cut interest rates as a dollar rally and lower oil prices ease inflation fears.

Bank of America in talks to buy Merrill: report (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp is in advanced talks to acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc for at least $38.25 billion in stock, the New York Times said on Sunday, citing people briefed on the negotiations.

U.S. bank rescue fund would provide $50 bln in loans: AP (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and foreign banks were in talks on Sunday to create a pool of money worth up to $50 billion to lend to troubled financial companies to help inoculate the global financial system from the possible failure of Lehman Brothers , the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed top investment banking official.

Texas mounts mass rescue in Ike's wake (2008-09-14)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Recovery teams picked their way through debris and inundated streets in coastal Texas on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummeled the oil hub of Houston.

At least one dead as Turkish ferry sinks (2008-09-14)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - At least one person died and 13 were injured when a when a roll-on roll-off ferry carrying around 100 passengers sank in the Turkish Sea of Marmara, the state-run news agency Anatolian reported on Monday.

Texans rescued in Ike's path of widespread damage (2008-09-14)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Search teams picked their way through debris and inundated roadways in Texas on Sunday, rescuing nearly 2,000 residents stranded after Hurricane Ike flooded coastal regions and cut power to millions of people.

Aeroflot Russian airliner crashes killing 88 people (2008-09-14)
PERM, Russia (Reuters) - An Aeroflot Boeing 737-500 plane crashed in Russia on Sunday, killing all 88 passengers and crew including 21 foreigners.

U.S. bank rescue fund would provide $50 bln in loans: report (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and foreign banks were in talks on Sunday to create a pool of money worth up to $50 billion to lend to troubled financial companies to help inoculate the global financial system from the possible failure of Lehman Brothers , the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed top investment banking official.

Emmy voting process forces some tough choices (2008-09-14)
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Bank of America to buy Merrill: report (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp willo acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc for $29 a share, a deal that will give the bank the world's largest brokerage and a sizable investment bank, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday

AIG seeking capital from KKR, Flowers: report (2008-09-14)
(Reuters) NEW YORK - American International Group Inc is seeking capital from private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and J.C. Flowers & Co, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the situation.

Iraq ready for new talks with U.S. and Iran: minister (2008-09-14)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Iraq is prepared to restart talks with the United States and Iran, and is checking with both sides to see if a fresh round can be scheduled, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Sunday.

India police raid slums, relatives angry after bombs (2008-09-14)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Police officers trawled slums and criminal hideouts in India's capital on Sunday rounding up suspects, after serial bombings in the city a day earlier killed at least 20 people and wounded nearly 100.

Greenspan: Other big U.S. finance firms may fail (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on Sunday said he suspected "we will see other major financial firms fail," but it did not need to be a problem.

Oil drops to six-month low as Ike worries fade (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices dropped $2 to a six-month low below $100 a barrel on Sunday as dealers bet on a swift recovery of the nation's energy production after Hurricane Ike.

Russian airliner crashes killing 88 people (2008-09-14)
PERM, Russia (Reuters) - An Aeroflot Boeing 737-500 plane crashed in Russia on Sunday, killing all 88 passengers and crew including 21 foreign nationals.

Coens' "Burn After Reading" lights up box office (2008-09-14)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Burn After Reading," a spy comedy from Joel and Ethan Coen, narrowly won the weekend box office derby in North America on Sunday, setting a sales record for the Oscar-winning filmmakers.

Lehman talks resume, Barclays pulls out (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators and bankers resumed a third day of talks on Sunday in a desperate attempt to reach a deal to sell Lehman Brothers and prevent the struggling investment bank from flooding jittery financial markets with toxic assets at fire sale prices.

Lehman talks extend to third day (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators and bankers failed on Saturday to reach a deal to end the crisis at investment bank Lehman Brothers, and emergency talks were extended to a third day as authorities seek to calm jittery financial markets.

Israeli vice premier offers settlers buyout (2008-09-14)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's vice premier presented a proposal on Sunday to pay thousands of Jewish settlers to leave their homes in the West Bank but said a peace deal with the Palestinians was unlikely this year or in 2009.

Olmert, Abbas to meet on Tuesday: Israeli media (2008-09-14)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday in a last ditch effort to reach agreement on a peace deal with the Palestinians before he steps down, Israeli media said.

North Korea's Kim fell seriously ill in April: report (2008-09-14)
TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il fell seriously ill in April, sometimes losing consciousness at work and unable to rule on important policy matters, the Mainichi daily reported on Sunday, citing a "reliable" Chinese source.

Storm Ike moves on leaving extensive damage in Texas (2008-09-14)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - A weakened storm Ike barreled northward on Sunday after slamming into the Texas coast as a hurricane, flooding seaside towns, cutting power to millions and paralyzing the oil hub of Houston.

North Korea's Kim fell seriously ill in April: Mainichi (2008-09-14)
TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il fell seriously ill in April, sometimes losing consciousness at work and unable to rule on important policy matters, the Mainichi daily reported on Sunday, citing a "reliable" Chinese source.

Obama raises record $66 million (2008-09-14)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Presidential candidate Barack Obama raised a record $66 million in August, a campaign spokesman said on Sunday.

Rossi wins rain-shortened Indy MotoGP (2008-09-14)
INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - World championship leader Valentino Rossi won the rain-shortened Indianapolis Grand Prix on Sunday to notch his fourth straight win and tighten his grip on the MotoGP title.

Bank of America to buy Merrill for $29 a share: report (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp willo acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc for $29 a share, a deal that will give the bank the world's largest brokerage and a sizable investment bank, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday

Obama fundraising rolls on with new record (2008-09-14)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's fundraising machine rolls on with a record $66 million in August and 500,000 new donors added to the ranks, a campaign spokesman said on Sunday.

New York insurance regulator in talks with AIG (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Officials from the New York Insurance Department and executives of American International Group Inc were in talks on Sunday to find a way for the embattled insurer to boost capital and protect policyholders.

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch in merger talks: report (2008-09-14)
(Reuters) - Bank of America Corp and Merrill Lynch & Co are in merger talks, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

China widens milk powder inquiry to dairy farms (2008-09-14)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's investigation of the tainted milk powder that sickened hundreds of babies widened to its dairy-producing regions on Sunday, as officials attempted to track down the source of melamine in the milk.

Bank of America no longer bidding for Lehman: report (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bank of America is no longer in the bidding for troubled investment bank Lehman Brothers , Bloomberg Television reported on Sunday, citing a person familiar with the negotiations.

Derivatives market trades on Sunday to cut Lehman risk (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A rare emergency trading session opened Sunday afternoon to allow Wall Street dealers in the $455 trillion derivatives market reduce their exposure to a potential bankruptcy filing by Lehman Brothers.

China sends festival greetings, Taiwan songs from moon (2008-09-14)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China broadcast greetings and two Taiwanese songs from its first moon probe on Sunday, to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival when families gather to enjoy the bright autumn moon.

Lehman may face failure (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that was expected to lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers , the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co and big asset sales by major insurer American International Group .

Lehman may face failure (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that could lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers, the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co Inc and big asset sales by big insurer American International Group.

AIG, facing liquidity crisis, seeks Fed lifeline (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc , working to stave off rating downgrades and shore up the capital of its holding company, has made an unprecedented approach to the Federal Reserve seeking $40 billion in short-term financing, the New York Times said.

Bank of America to buy Merrill for $44 billion (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp has agreed to acquire Merrill Lynch & Co Inc for $44 billion, according to people briefed on the matter, in a deal that will give the U.S. bank the world's largest brokerage.

AIG, facing liquidity crisis, seeks Fed lifeline (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc, working to stave off rating downgrades and shore up the capital of its holding company, has made an unprecedented approach to the Federal Reserve seeking $40 billion in short-term financing, the New York Times said.

AIG, facing liquidity crunch, reaches out to regulator (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc, working to stave off rating downgrades and shore up the capital of its holding company, has made an unprecedented approach to the Federal Reserve seeking short-term financing, media reports said.

Lehman may face failure (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that could lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers , the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co Inc and big asset sales by big insurer American International Group .

Lehman office joins New York City tourist circuit (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Welcome to New York's latest tourist attraction: Lehman Brothers' headquarters.

Hurricane Ike sparks biggest Texas rescue (2008-09-14)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Texas mounted its biggest ever rescue effort as search teams searched through debris and flooded homes on Sunday after Hurricane Ike cut a swathe of destruction and left millions without power.

Bolivia government, rivals seek to defuse crisis (2008-09-14)
COBIJA, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's government and rightist rivals sought to defuse a deep political crisis on Sunday after deadly protests prompted martial law in one restive northern province where many people were killed.

Paulson applauds actions to aid market stability (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Sunday he supported this weekend's actions by market participants, the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission to strengthen and enhance financial market stability.

Ten banks commit to $70 billion borrowing facility (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ten of the world's biggest banks on Sunday committed to establish a $70 billion borrowing facility to bolster worldwide liquidity and reduce volatility in what they called an "extraordinary market environment."

Fed to take equities as loan collateral (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Sunday said it would begin accepting equities as collateral for emergency loans for the first time ever, as it laid out a series of steps to calm financial markets and brace for the expected collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers .

Oil falls below $100 as all eyes on Ike and Wall Street banks (2008-09-14)
PERTH (Reuters) - Oil tumbled below $100 a barrel to a six-month low on early signs that Hurricane Ike may have spared key Gulf Coast infrastructure, although traders were cautious on Monday as they awaited status reports on more Texas refineries.

One dead and 30 missing in Turkish ferry sinking (2008-09-14)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A ferry carrying about 100 passengers sank near Turkey's northwest port of Bandirma overnight, killing at least one person and leaving some 30 people missing, officials said on Monday.

Lehman may face failure as Merrill sale reported (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that was expected to lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers , the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co and big asset sales by major insurer American International Group .

Lehman may face failure as Merrill sale reported (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that was expected to lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers, the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co and big asset sales by major insurer American International Group.

One dead, 26 missing in Turkish ferry sinking (2008-09-14)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A ferry carrying about 100 passengers sank near Turkey's northwest port of Bandirma overnight, killing at least one person and leaving 26 people missing, officials said on Monday.

AIG turns down private equity infusion, turns to Fed: report (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc CEO Robert Willumstad turned down a private equity infusion and turned to the Federal Reserve for help, the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the situation, reported Sunday.

Brewers face challenge as Japanese lose taste for beer (2008-09-14)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Times are tough for Japanese brewers as the country's increasingly health-conscious youth lose their taste for lager and cut back their drinking amid a gloomy economic outlook.

One dead, 34 missing in Turkish ferry sinking (2008-09-14)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A ferry carrying about 100 passengers sank near Turkey's northwest port of Bandirma overnight, killing at least one person and leaving 34 people missing, officials said on Monday.

Rescuers mop up after Ike's Texas wreckage (2008-09-14)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and inundated streets in Texas seaside towns on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummeled the oil hub of Houston.

NATO leaders visit Georgia in gesture of support (2008-09-14)
TBILISI (Reuters) - NATO envoys visit Georgia on Monday in a gesture of support for the aspiring alliance member after its defeat by Russian troops last month.

Zimbabwe rivals to sign landmark power-sharing deal (2008-09-14)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and longtime rival Morgan Tsvangirai will sign a power-sharing deal on Monday likely to allow Mugabe to retain a grip on the army, and the opposition to control the police.

AIG to sell assets including aircraft leasing: report (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc, left with deep financial scars from losses on guarantees it wrote to cover mortgage-linked securities, is expected to sell off assets, including a profitable aircraft leasing arm, the Wall Street Journal report on Sunday.

Oil drops to six-month low in Ike aftermath (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices dropped more than $2 to a six-month low below $99 a barrel on Sunday as dealers bet on a swift recovery of the nation's energy production after Hurricane Ike and the U.S. government loaned oil to two refiners.

NATO chief criticizes Russian troop pullout deal (2008-09-14)
TBILISI (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said on Monday the EU-brokered deal for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia was unacceptable and hard to swallow because it ceded too much ground to Moscow.

AIG, facing liquidity crunch, reaches out to regulator (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc , working to stave off rating downgrades and shore up the capital of its holding company, has made an unprecedented approach to the Federal Reserve seeking short-term financing, media reports said.

AIG, facing liquidity crunch, reaches out to Federal Reserve (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc, working to stave off rating downgrades and shore up the capital of its holding company, has made an unprecedented approach to the Federal Reserve seeking short-term financing, media reports said.

Lehman may face failure, Merrill may be bought (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that could lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers , the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co Inc and big asset sales by big insurer American International Group .

Lehman may face failure, Merrill may be bought (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that could lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers, the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co Inc and big asset sales by big insurer American International Group.

BofA-Merrill deal to close in 3-4 months: report (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The sale of Merrill Lynch to Bank of America is expected to close within three or four months, CNBC reported Sunday.

Baby bottle chemical draws mixed messages from U.S. (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Food and Drug Administration this week reopens the debate over a chemical used in many plastic products -- including baby bottles -- amid mixed messages on its safety from the U.S. government.

Futures plummet amid uncertainty about U.S. banks (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures tumbled on Sunday, pointing to a sharply lower open on Monday amid widespread uncertainty about the health of U.S. financial sector with the fate of Lehman Brothers still unclear.

AIG, facing liquidity crunch, reaches out to Federal Reserve (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc , working to stave off rating downgrades and shore up the capital of its holding company, has made an unprecedented approach to the Federal Reserve seeking short-term financing, media reports said.

Bolivia government and rivals seek to defuse crisis (2008-09-14)
LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's government and rightist rivals sought to defuse a deep political crisis on Sunday after deadly protests prompted martial law in a restive northern province where more than a dozen people were killed.

Brazil evangelicals seek drug gangs' lost souls (2008-09-14)
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - When Antonio Soares da Silva was still in the womb, a spirit-worshipper looked into his future and saw a drug dealer. His mother saw a man of God. Both turned out to be right.

U.S. banking woes seen hitting Wall St. (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks are seen opening sharply lower at the start of the week after last ditch efforts to save investment bank Lehman Brothers appeared to have failed late Sunday.

Retailers grapple with impacts of Hurricane Ike (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Retailers in the Houston area scrambled on Sunday to stock shelves and open stores forced to close, as they tried to meet high demand for emergency supplies in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Lehman may face failure (2008-09-14)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that was expected to lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers, the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co and big asset sales by major insurer American International Group.

Search for safety revives Baghdad housing market (2008-09-14)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A dramatic fall in violence has breathed life into Baghdad's once moribund property market, although the hunt for homes in Sunni and Shi'ite enclaves bodes ill for sectarian reconciliation in the Iraqi capital.

Fannie, Freddie CEOs denied exit bonuses: report (2008-09-14)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators will not allow mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to pay their departing chief executives multimillion-dollar severance packages outlined in their contracts, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.

Taliban executions still haunt Afghan soccer field (2008-09-13)
KABUL (Reuters) - The grass has grown in Kabul's soccer stadium where the Taliban used to stage public executions, but few Afghans dare visit in the evenings, believing that the souls of the victims still roam the sprawling grounds.

China says 432 babies ill in milk powder scare (2008-09-13)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese authorities said on Saturday that they believed 432 babies across the country had been sickened by contaminated milk powder.

Tourist boat sinks on River Seine in Paris (2008-09-13)
PARIS (Reuters) - A boat transporting tourists sank after hitting the pillar of a bridge in central Paris on Saturday night, police and the emergency services at the city hall said.

German police arrest suspected al Qaeda supporter (2008-09-13)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German police have arrested a 30-year old Turk suspected of having collected money and equipment for al Qaeda, prosecutors said on Saturday.

Bankruptcy chief calls urgent Alitalia union talks (2008-09-13)
ROME (Reuters) - The bankruptcy commissioner in charge of Alitalia has called the airline's unions to an urgent meeting at 1200 GMT on Saturday, Alitalia said in a statement.

Mexican police find 24 bodies; drug gang suspected (2008-09-13)
SAN PEDRO ATLAPULCO, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican police found 24 bodies dumped outside a small town near the capital on Friday in one of the most grisly discoveries yet in a rash of recent drug gang killings.

Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast, menaces Houston (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike pounded the Texas coast on Saturday, threatening to devastate towns along the Gulf of Mexico, shutting essential oil refineries and menacing Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Bolivia government, rival eye compromise after talks (2008-09-13)
LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's government and a main opposition rival emerged from marathon talks on Saturday voicing hope for reconciliation, after a wave of political violence killed 15 people and prompted martial law.

Alitalia's license at risk, may ground flights (2008-09-13)
ROME (Reuters) - Italian flag carrier Alitalia may start cancelling flights from Monday as it is having problems buying fuel and could lose its operating license if it fails to seal a deal with unions to avoid total collapse.

Russian troops withdraw from Georgian port region (2008-09-13)
POTI, Georgia (Reuters) - Russian troops withdrew from the region around Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti on Saturday, within a September 15 deadline set for the first phase of a pullback brokered by France.

Nigerian militants tell oil workers to leave delta (2008-09-13)
ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian militants on Saturday warned oil firms in the Niger Delta to withdraw their workers in the next 24 hours or face a "hurricane" of retaliation after a major gun battle with security forces.

Hurricane Ike punishing Texas coast (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that could cause catastrophic flooding along the Gulf of Mexico and cripple the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Pope starts Lourdes pilgrimage (2008-09-13)
LOURDES, France (Reuters) - Pope Benedict began a three-day pilgrimage on Saturday at the Roman Catholic shrine of Lourdes in southwestern France after telling a huge crowd in Paris that the modern world had made idols of money and power.

"Slumdog Millionaire" wins Toronto festival prize (2008-09-13)
TORONTO (Reuters) - "Slumdog Millionaire," a tribute to Mumbai and a story about a dream, won the top award at the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday, ending a low-key event where many studios kept their best movies away.

NY Fed says Lehman meeting ends, to resume Sunday (2008-09-13)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A meeting between top government officials and the heads of some of Wall Street's biggest financial firms over the fate of Lehman Brothers broke up on Saturday but was set to resume on Sunday, a spokesman for the New York Federal Reserve Bank said.

Hurricane Ike wreaks havoc on Texas coast (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that flooded large areas along the Gulf of Mexico and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Hurricane Ike slams into Texas coast (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that could cause catastrophic flooding along the Gulf of Mexico and cripple the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Bolivia, opposition eye compromise to end violence (2008-09-13)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivia's government and a main opposition leader voiced hope for reconciliation on Saturday after overnight talks to end a wave of political violence that killed at least 17 people and prompted martial law.

Israeli troops kill Palestinian in West Bank (2008-09-13)
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager on Saturday, hours after Jewish settlers clashed with Palestinian villagers in the occupied West Bank and an Israeli boy received stab wounds.

EADS denies backing out of U.S. tanker contest (2008-09-13)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Airbus parent EADS denied on Saturday it was thinking of abandoning efforts to supply air tankers to the United States after a German weekly reported it was threatening to walk away from the fraught tender process.

Emergency talks on Lehman resume (2008-09-13)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A meeting between top government officials and the heads of some of Wall Street's biggest investment banks over the fate of Lehman Brothers resumed on Saturday, a Federal Reserve official said.

Five bombs explode in Indian capital (2008-09-13)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - At least five bombs exploded in the heart of India's capital New Delhi on Saturday, killing at least three people and injuring more than 20 others, local television said.

Toll rises to 17 in LA train crash (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The death toll in the head-on crash of a commuter train and a freight train outside Los Angeles has risen to 17, officials said on Saturday.

Chinese baby dies, hundreds sick from milk powder (2008-09-13)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China reported a first death on Saturday in a scandal over contaminated milk powder which it blamed for causing kidney stones and making 432 babies fall ill.

Malaysia's Anwar hits out at "political" arrests (2008-09-13)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim warned on Saturday that a crackdown on opposition members and journalists was an attempt to derail his bid to unseat the government.

Hurricane Ike slams into populous Texas coast (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike crashed onto the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, threatening devastation along the Gulf of Mexico and menacing the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Hurricane Ike crashes ashore in Galveston Texas (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike crashed onto the Texas coast on Saturday, threatening to devastate towns along the Gulf of Mexico, shutting essential oil refineries and menacing Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Banks and officials resume meetings on Lehman fate (2008-09-13)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Government officials resumed meetings with the heads of some of Wall Street's biggest banks on Saturday and were expected to further press the banks to craft a rescue for beleaguered Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

China says 432 babies fall ill from milk powder (2008-09-13)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China said on Saturday it believed 432 babies across the country had been made ill by contaminated milk powder which caused them to develop kidney stones.

Eighteen confirmed dead in Los Angeles train crash (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The death toll in the head-on crash of a commuter train and a freight train outside Los Angeles has risen to 18 and more fatalities are expected, officials said on Saturday.

Pakistanis battle militants in northwest (2008-09-13)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani soldiers captured two militant strongholds and inflicted heavy casualties during fighting on Saturday in northwestern mountains near the Afghan border, a military spokesman said.

Sarkozy limbers up for judo lessons from Putin (2008-09-13)
PARIS (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a champion judoka, could soon be flooring France's Nicolas Sarkozy with some of his famous throws after agreeing to pass on some of his black belt skills to the French president.

Has ABBA museum met its Waterloo? (2008-09-13)
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A new museum devoted to the pop supergroup ABBA will not open as planned next year, although organizers say the project will definitely still go ahead.

EADS threatens not to bid for U.S. tanker: report (2008-09-13)
BERLIN (Reuters) - European aerospace group EADS is considering whether to bid in a U.S. air tanker competition after the United States cancelled it for now, Germany's Der Spiegel weekly reported on Saturday.

Twenty injured as fresh violence hits Indian Kashmir (2008-09-13)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - At least 20 people were injured on Saturday in the main city of Indian Kashmir when Muslim demonstrators clashed with troops in the latest anti-India protest to hit the region, police and witnesses said.

Wide financial sector fears to drive market (2008-09-13)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Even if the fate of Lehman Brothers is resolved this weekend, Wall Street is likely to remain on edge next week because of fears over the health of other big financial companies.

Hurricane Ike crashes ashore in Galveston, Texas (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike crashed onto the Texas coast on Saturday, threatening to devastate towns along the Gulf of Mexico, shutting essential oil refineries and menacing Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Dozen injured as fresh violence hits Indian Kashmir (2008-09-13)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - At least a dozen people were wounded on Saturday in the main city of Indian Kashmir as Muslim demonstrators clashed with troops in the latest anti-India protest to hit the region, police and witnesses said.

Iraq bombings kill at least 8 (2008-09-13)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two bombings in Iraq killed at least eight people on Saturday, one targeting police in Baghdad and another against Kurdish forces just outside the disputed town of Khanaqin, police said.

Police find 24 bodies dumped near capital (2008-09-13)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican police found 24 bodies dumped near a small town close to the capital on Friday in one of the worst incidents yet amid a recent increase in drug gang killings, the local public prosecutor said.

Afghan governor, 3 others die in blast near Kabul (2008-09-13)
KABUL (Reuters) - An Afghan provincial governor, who was also a former cabinet minister, was among four people killed in an apparent Taliban suicide bomb attack near Kabul on Saturday, Afghan police said.

Russian troops pull out of Georgian port region (2008-09-13)
POTI, Georgia (Reuters) - Russian troops withdrew from the region around Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti on Saturday, within a September 15 deadline set for the first phase of a pullback brokered by France.

Britain's Brown faces leadership challenge call (2008-09-13)
LONDON (Reuters) - A senior member of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's ruling Labour Party said on Saturday he should face a leadership challenge, piling more pressure on a premier struggling with economic downturn and weak poll ratings.

Thai ruling coalition begins search for new PM (2008-09-13)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Key officials in Thailand's ruling coalition huddled behind closed doors on Saturday to agree a replacement for Samak Sundaravej, who withdrew his bid for a new term as prime minister in face of an internal party revolt.

Freight, passenger traffic resume in Channel Tunnel (2008-09-13)
PARIS (Reuters) - Freight and passenger traffic resumed on Saturday in the Channel Tunnel linking Britain to continental Europe after a fire on Thursday that completely halted traffic, the Eurotunnel and Eurostar companies said.

Bolivian rivals meet as political tensions simmer (2008-09-13)
LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's government sought on Saturday to calm a wave of political violence, holding talks with an opposition leader soon after declaring martial rule in a region where 15 people died in clashes.

Russian troops withdraw from Georgian port (2008-09-13)
POTI, Georgia (Reuters) - Russian troops withdrew from Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti on Saturday, within a deadline set under a French-brokered deal, a Reuters reporter said.

Afghan governor dies in suicide blast near Kabul (2008-09-13)
KABUL (Reuters) - The governor of Afghanistan's Logar province was killed in a suicide attack near Kabul on Saturday, police said.

Mexican police find 24 bodies dumped near capital (2008-09-13)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican police found 24 bodies dumped near a small town close to the capital on Friday in one of the worst incidents yet amid a recent increase in drug gang killings, the local public prosecutor said.

At least 10 dead, 100 hurt in L.A. train crash (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Friday, with those figures expected to rise, after a freight train and commuter train collided head-on outside Los Angeles.

Myanmar blames "insurgents" for deadly bomb blasts (2008-09-13)
YANGON (Reuters) - Army-ruled Myanmar's state media blamed unnamed "insurgents" on Saturday for bomb attacks that killed two people and wounded 10 last week.

Typhoon hits Taiwan, causing landslides (2008-09-13)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - A typhoon pounded Taiwan on Saturday, bringing torrential rains and triggering landslides in the central and northern part of the island, the national fire agency said. One person was reported injured.

Bolivia declares martial law in protest-hit region (2008-09-13)
LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist government declared martial law on Friday in a remote Amazon region where at least 15 people were shot dead in a wave of political violence sweeping the impoverished country.

African Union hails Zimbabwe "turning point" (2008-09-13)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - The African Union (AU) has hailed Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal as a "turning point" for the nation and urged the world to give it full support.

Lehman fate in balance after 2nd day of emergency talks (2008-09-13)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bankers and regulators held a second day of emergency talks to tackle the crisis at investment bank Lehman Brothers and soothe financial markets after Treasury and Fed officials urged Wall Street chiefs to come up with their own solution.

Lehman fate in balance as talks extend to third day (2008-09-13)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators and bankers failed on Saturday to reach a deal to end the crisis at investment bank Lehman Brothers , and emergency talks were extended to a third day as authorities seek to calm jittery financial markets.

Lehman fate in balance as talks extend to third day (2008-09-13)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators and bankers failed on Saturday to reach a deal to end the crisis at investment bank Lehman Brothers, and emergency talks were extended to a third day as authorities seek to calm jittery financial markets.

Bolivia's Morales defiant after sign of compromise (2008-09-13)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales defied rightist opponents on Saturday by vowing to introduce divisive reforms just hours after signs of a compromise had emerged to halt violence that has killed 17 people and prompted martial law.

Hurricane Ike strikes at heart of Texas oil wealth (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike slammed into the most populated part of the Texas coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded seaside towns, paralyzed the oil hub of Houston and cut power to millions.

New breed of elite prostitutes cater to India's rich (2008-09-13)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Zeba, a 23-year-old model and actress says she's found the perfect job. The money is great, she rubs shoulders with the super rich and her working hours are convenient.

Bolivia's Morales defiant after unrest (2008-09-13)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales defied rightist opponents on Saturday by vowing to introduce divisive reforms just hours after signs of a compromise had emerged to halt violence that has killed 17 people and prompted martial law.

L.A. train crash kills 25; human error blamed (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - At least 25 people were killed in the head-on crash of a commuter train and a freight train near Los Angeles that officials on Saturday attributed to the failure of the passenger train engineer to stop at a red light.

Thai government, security chiefs meet on emergency rule (2008-09-13)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's acting prime minister met the heads of the police and army on Sunday to discuss the state of emergency in Bangkok, a state-run television channel said, amid speculation that emergency rule could be lifted.

"The Simpson's" wins 10th best cartoon Emmy (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Simpsons" once again claimed U.S. television's highest honor for a prime-time cartoon on Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, extending the show's record winning streak.

'Simpson's' wins 10th best cartoon Emmy (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Simpsons" once again claimed U.S. television's highest honor for a prime-time cartoon on Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, increasing its record winning streak.

"Simpson's" wins 10th best cartoon Emmy (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Simpsons" once again claimed U.S. television's highest honor for a prime-time cartoon on Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, increasing its record winning streak.

Solo in Nevada, Palin draws big crowd (2008-09-13)
CARSON CITY, Nevada (Reuters) - Out on the road as a solo act, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin fired up a large crowd in Nevada on Sunday by pledging to shake up Washington if elected with John McCain on November 4.

Lehman fate in balance as talks set to resume Sunday (2008-09-13)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bankers and regulators held a second day of emergency talks to tackle the crisis at investment bank Lehman Brothers and soothe financial markets after Treasury and Fed officials urged Wall Street chiefs to come up with their own solution.

Russian plane crashes, all 87 on board feared dead (2008-09-13)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Boeing airliner crashed in Russia's Siberia region on Sunday and all 87 people on board were believed to have been killed, Russian radio reported.

Lehman fate in balance as talks set to resume on Sunday (2008-09-13)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bankers and regulators held a second day of emergency talks to tackle the crisis at investment bank Lehman Brothers and soothe financial markets after Treasury and Fed officials urged Wall Street chiefs to come up with their own solution.

Pope, at Lourdes, remembers victims of terrorism (2008-09-13)
LOURDES, France (Reuters) - Pope Benedict prayed on Saturday at the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a French peasant girl 150 years ago, and asked the world not to forget the victims of terrorism and hatred.

Hurricane Ike slams Texas coast, Houston (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas and Louisiana coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles, cut power to millions and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Sudan accused of bombing Darfur rebels, villagers (2008-09-13)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Insurgent groups said Sudanese forces launched "very heavy" ground and air attacks on rebel positions and villages in North Darfur on Saturday, in the latest of a string of reported assaults.

Russian plane crashes, at least 87 dead (2008-09-13)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian Boeing-737 airliner with at least 87 people on board crashed in the Siberia region on Sunday and there were no survivors, news agencies quoted officials as saying.

Millions without power in Texas after Hurricane Ike (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas and Louisiana coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles, cut power to millions and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Five bombs explode in Indian capital, 20 killed (2008-09-13)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Five bombs exploded in quick succession in crowded markets and streets in the heart of India's capital New Delhi on Saturday, killing at least 20 people and injuring at least 90 more, police said.

Hurricane Ike damage may be less than feared (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas and Louisiana coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles, cut power to millions and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Hurricane Ike rakes Texas coast (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that flooded large areas along the Gulf of Mexico and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Hamas backs reconciliation but rejects pressure (2008-09-13)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said on Saturday the Islamist group supported reconciliation among Palestinians provided there was no external pressure and all issues were discussed.

Palin bids fond farewell to Alaska to campaign (2008-09-13)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin bid farewell to Alaska on Saturday to hit the campaign trail in the lower 48 states with a strong defense of her home state.

Deadly L.A. train crash blamed on human error (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The head-on crash of a Los Angeles commuter train and a freight train that has killed at least 18 people likely occurred because of an engineer's failure to stop at a red signal, officials said on Saturday.

Berlusconi calls on unions as Alitalia faces abyss (2008-09-13)
ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called airline unions to emergency talks on Saturday evening in a last-ditch effort to save national flag carrier Alitalia from collapse.

Tourist boat sinks in Paris, two seriously hurt (2008-09-13)
PARIS (Reuters) - A small tourist boat sank after hitting the pillar of a bridge in central Paris late on Saturday, police and the emergency services at the city hall said.

Hurricane Ike rakes Texas coast, Houston (2008-09-13)
HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike powered across the densely populated Texas coast and through Houston on Saturday, bringing ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles of coastline and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Regulators set to review Fannie, Freddie exit pay (2008-09-13)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Financial regulators have decided how multi-million dollar severance packages for the departing chief executives of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be limited.

87 feared dead in plane crash in Russia (2008-09-13)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Boeing-737 airliner on an internal flight crashed in Russia's Siberia region on Sunday and all 87 people on board were believed to have been killed, Russian news agencies reported.

Russian troops withdraw from Georgia port region (2008-09-13)
POTI, Georgia (Reuters) - Russian troops withdrew from the region around Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti on Saturday, within a September 15 deadline set for the first phase of a pullback brokered by France.

Death toll rises to 24 in Los Angeles train crash (2008-09-13)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The death toll in the head-on crash of a commuter train and a freight train outside Los Angeles has risen to 24 and more fatalities are expected, officials said on Saturday.

Death toll from China mine mudslide climbs to 254 (2008-09-13)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The death toll from a mudslide caused by the collapse of a mine waste reservoir in northern China has climbed to 254, state media said on Sunday.

Gunmen kill 4 Iraqi TV staff in Mosul (2008-09-13)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped and shot dead three Iraqi journalists from Iraq's Sharqiya TV station along with their driver in the volatile northern city of Mosul on Saturday, the station and police said.

Pakistanis battle militants, take two positions (2008-09-13)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani soldiers captured two militant strongholds and inflicted heavy casualties during fighting on Saturday in northwestern mountains near the Afghan border, a military spokesman said.

Sudan accused of bombing Darfur rebels (2008-09-13)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Insurgent groups said Sudanese forces launched "very heavy" ground and air attacks on rebel positions and villages in North Darfur on Saturday, in the latest of a string of reported assaults.

Regulator sets terms to review Fannie, Freddie exec payouts (2008-09-13)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Financial regulators have decided how multi-million dollar severance packages for the departing chief executives of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be limited.

China probes all milk powder in baby health scare (2008-09-12)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has launched a nationwide probe into all baby milk powders after a contaminant linked to the deaths and illness of thousands of pets in the United States last year was found in one brand of formula.

Texas holdouts urge Hurricane Ike to "bring it on!" (2008-09-12)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike may be taking aim for the low-lying coast of Texas, but grocery store worker Jacqueline Harris is staying put -- in a flimsy, wooden beach bar.

Japan's Koizumi backs female PM candidate Koike (2008-09-12)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi has backed Yuriko Koike in her bid to become Japan's first female leader, but an analyst said the backing of the popular politician was unlikely to lift her to victory.

Venezuela insults United States, expels ambassador (2008-09-12)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has thrust the OPEC nation into its worst diplomatic crisis for years by expelling the U.S. ambassador in a growing feud between Washington and Latin America's leftist leaders.

China counts down to space launch (2008-09-12)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is counting down to 9.10 p.m. (9:10 a.m. EDT) on September 25 for its third manned space flight that will include a space walk, local media reported on Friday.

Italian investors say Alitalia talks can't go on (2008-09-12)
ROME (Reuters) - The Italian investors meant to save Alitalia from collapse said on Friday they could not return to talks with unions that stalled overnight.

Amazon.com hires Microsoft exec: NY Post (2008-09-12)
(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc has appointed a senior Microsoft Corp executive to head its U.S. advertising sales as the global Internet retailer ramps up its online ad business, The New York Post reported.

Market turns positive on energy, financial shares (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - All three major indexes turned positive on Friday, erasing earlier losses, as higher oil prices boosted energy shares and financial stocks rebounded even as of shares Lehman Brothers remained lower.

Mexico's Cemex shares plunge on outlook cut (2008-09-12)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Shares of Mexico's Cemex plunged 7.5 percent in morning trade on Friday, after the cement maker cut its 2008 EBITDA forecast.

Poland's Jaruzelski goes on trial over martial law (2008-09-12)
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's last communist leader, General Wojciech Jaruzelski, and seven other Soviet-era officials went on trial on Friday over the declaration of martial law more than a quarter of a century ago.

Dalai Lama calls special meeting to discuss Tibet (2008-09-12)
DHARAMSALA, India (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama has called a special meeting of Tibetan exiles in November or December to discuss political unrest in Tibet this year and the future of the Tibetan movement, officials said on Friday.

Thailand's Samak pulls out of PM vote (2008-09-12)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Samak Sundaravej has withdrawn from next week's Thai parliamentary vote to choose a new prime minister, a close aide said on Friday.

Pakistan to protest new U.S. missile strike (2008-09-12)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Missiles fired by a U.S. drone aircraft killed 14 people in northwest Pakistan on Friday, security officials said, in a strike against suspected militants that drew condemnation from Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

U.S. and Venezuela escalate crisis (2008-09-12)
CARACAS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials on Friday, escalating a diplomatic crisis between leftist Latin American leaders and Washington that raises the specter of an oil supply cutoff.

GM to provide $10.6 billion to support Delphi (2008-09-12)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Delphi Corp said on Friday its former parent, General Motors Corp , would provide $10.6 billion, up from an earlier plan for $6 billion, to support the bankrupt auto parts maker's emergence from bankruptcy.

Alaska lawmakers decide to subpoena Palin's husband (2008-09-12)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska lawmakers voted on Friday to issue subpoenas to Gov. Sarah Palin's husband and 12 others linked to the Republican nominee for vice president as part of an investigation into whether she abused her power to fire a state trooper feuding with her family.

Reports conflict on JPMorgan talks with WaMu (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Shares of Washington Mutual Inc whipsawed on Friday amid conflicting reports that JPMorgan Chase & Co was in talks to acquire the battered savings and loan institution.

Freighter stranded near path of Hurricane Ike (2008-09-12)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - A ship with 22 people on board lost power and was stranded 90 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, near the path of Hurricane Ike, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday.

Chrysler sees U.S. auto market gains toward end 2009 (2008-09-12)
DETROIT (Reuters) - The U.S. auto market should start to see some improvement toward the end of 2009, Chrysler LLC President Jim Press said on Friday.

Bolivia split in two by protests (2008-09-12)
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia was split in two by protests and roadblocks on Friday, a day after eight people died in clashes between opponents and supporters of leftist President Evo Morales.

Lehman rescue hopes rise (2008-09-12)
LONDON (Reuters) - Expectations that a deal will emerge to save Lehman Brothers mounted on Friday after its plunging share price prompted intensive talks with U.S. officials about rescue options.

Lehman rescue talks hopes rise (2008-09-12)
LONDON (Reuters) - Expectations that a deal will emerge to save Lehman Brothers mounted on Friday after its plunging share price prompted intensive talks with U.S. officials about rescue options.

U.S. missile attack in Pakistan kills 14 (2008-09-12)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Fourteen people were killed in the northwestern Pakistani region of North Waziristan on Friday in a missile attack by a pilotless U.S. aircraft on suspected militants near the Afghan border, security officials said.

Channel Tunnel fire smolders, traffic still halted (2008-09-12)
LILLE, France (Reuters) - A fire in the Channel Tunnel was brought under control early on Friday, more than 12 hours after the blaze took hold on a freight train, paralyzing rail traffic between Britain and the continent.

U.S. firm ambushed again in Afghan south, 8 dead (2008-09-12)
KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban insurgents ambushed a U.S. security firm convoy in southwestern Afghanistan on Friday, killing four guards and four civilians, a provincial official said, the second attack on the firm in as many days.

Medvedev "would attack Georgia even if on track to NATO" (2008-09-12)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that even if Georgia were put on a firm path to NATO membership, he would not hesitate to attack it again if provoked.

JPMorgan in advanced talks to acquire WaMu: source (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co is in advanced discussions to acquire Washington Mutual Inc , a source familiar with the discussions said on Friday.

Walgreen offers to buy Longs for $3 bln including debt (2008-09-12)
(Reuters) - Walgreen Co said on Friday that it has proposed to acquire Longs Drug Stores Corp for $75 per share in cash transaction.

Deutsche Bank to swoop on $13 billion Postbank (2008-09-12)
DUESSELDORF/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank AG is poised to swoop on rival Deutsche Postbank AG in a deal valuing the retail lender at roughly $13 billion, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Health Net to pay $3.6 million in fine: report (2008-09-12)
(Reuters) - Health Net Inc has agreed with the California Department of Insurance to pay $3.6 million in penalties and about $14 million in reimbursements for medical charges, The Los Angeles Times reported.

J&J Vice Chairman Poon to retire in March (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson's board vice chairman, Christine Poon, who also is worldwide chairman of its pharmaceuticals group, will retire from the company and the board on March 1.

Lehman shares slide on Paulson bailout reluctance (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Concern that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc may fail to find a buyer because the U.S. government is reluctant to provide financial backing sent the investment bank's shares tumbling to a nearly 14-year low on Friday.

South Africa court to decide on Zuma case dismissal bid (2008-09-12)
PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - A South African court is due to decide on Friday on ruling party leader Jacob Zuma's request for the dismissal of a corruption case that could ruin his chances of becoming president next year.

Hurricane Ike delays cargo for space outpost (2008-09-12)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian and U.S. space agencies on Friday decided to delay a cargo shipment from docking at the International Space Station after Hurricane Ike forced the evacuation of the mission's control centre in Texas.

Serb region's move threatens Bosnia EU bid: official (2008-09-12)
SARAJEVO (Reuters) - The European Union's executive commission said on Friday that a decision by the Bosnian Serb authority to withdraw from the state power transmitter may hurt Bosnia's bid for EU integration.

Samak withdraws from Thai PM vote: aide (2008-09-12)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - The leader of Thailand's ruling party, Samak Sundaravej, has withdrawn from next week's parliamentary vote for a new prime minister, a close aide to the former premier said on Friday.

South African judge dismisses Zuma corruption case (2008-09-12)
PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - A South African judge on Friday threw out corruption charges against ANC leader Jacob Zuma, clearing the way for him to become the country's next president.

Alitalia to start layoff process Friday: union (2008-09-12)
ROME (Reuters) - Alitalia has told unions it will start ending labor contracts and sending layoff letters to its employees on Friday after talks with a group of investors to rescue the airline failed, a union official said.

Lehman seeks buyer after shares dive: sources (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc was forced into talks about a possible sale after the Wall Street investment bank's shares plunged more than 40 percent on Thursday, raising questions about its survival.

Australia grants Snoop Dogg visa, plus counseling (2008-09-12)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia granted gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg a visa on Friday after public complaints over a planned tour in October, but said he would be required to undergo counseling before arriving Down Under.

Channel Tunnel fire smolders, manager eyes restart (2008-09-12)
PARIS (Reuters) - A fire inside the undersea Channel Tunnel that broke out on Thursday and has halted rail traffic between Britain and continental Europe is close to being extinguished, an official in northern France said on Friday.

Emmys offer a bigger dose of reality (2008-09-12)
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Pope Benedict arrives on four-day France visit (2008-09-12)
PARIS (Reuters) - Pope Benedict began on Friday a four-day visit to France aimed at persuading the French that religion can contribute to modern secular societies.

Ford's Volvo Car says to cut more staff (2008-09-12)
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Volvo Car Corporation, owned by U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co , said on Friday it was cutting more jobs and bringing forward the closure of one shift at its operations in Sweden as market conditions deteriorate.

Oprah Winfrey tops list of most generous stars (2008-09-12)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - She's been named as the highest-paid TV celebrity and one of the world's most powerful women, but American talk-show host Oprah Winfrey is also a big giver, topping a list of the 30 most generous celebrities for the second year running.

GM, Ford shares rally more on loan prospects (2008-09-12)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co shares rose on Friday as industry analysts said they expected carmakers to get at least partial access to a $25 billion loan program from the U.S. government.

New York, Fidelity near auction-rate pact: source (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is close to reaching an agreement with Fidelity Investments that would settle the state's investigation into the brokerage's marketing of auction-rate securities, a person familiar with the talks said on Friday.

Indonesian party seeks anti-porn bill as Ramadan gift (2008-09-12)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian Islamic party is hoping an anti-pornography bill that has been in parliament for over three years will be passed within a few weeks as a "Ramadan present" for Muslims, a newspaper report said on Friday.

China says West is inciting unrest in Xinjiang (2008-09-12)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The governor of west China's tense Xinjiang region has lashed out at Western countries for instigating unrest in the area, but said their schemes would never succeed as only very few people supported separatism.

Amazon.com hires Microsoft exec: report (2008-09-12)
(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc has appointed a senior Microsoft Corp executive to head its U.S. advertising sales as the global Internet retailer ramps up its online ad business, The New York Post reported.

Zimbabwe combined opposition to have cabinet majority (2008-09-12)
HARARE (Reuters) - The two factions of Zimbabwe's MDC opposition will have one more cabinet seat than the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe under a power sharing deal, an opposition senator said on Friday.

Hurricane Ike closing in on Texas coast, Houston (2008-09-12)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike on Friday as the storm gathered strength on a collision course with the Texas Gulf Coast, threatening to swamp populous areas around Houston under a massive wave of water.

"House" star Hugh Laurie joins TV's richest list (2008-09-12)
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Britain's XL in administration, thousands stranded (2008-09-12)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's third largest package holiday operator, XL Leisure Group, said on Friday it had gone into administration and grounded all flights, leaving thousands of holidaymakers stranded.

Iranian foreign minister in Russia for talks (2008-09-12)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is to meet his Russian counterpart for talks on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Creative Arts Emmys honor unseen talent (2008-09-12)
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China probes milk powder in baby health scare (2008-09-12)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has launched a nationwide probe into all baby milk powders after a contaminant linked to the deaths and illness of thousands of pets in the United States last year was found in one brand of formula.

Zimbabwe opposition to have cabinet majority (2008-09-12)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's two opposition factions will have one more cabinet seat than the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe under a power-sharing deal, an opposition senator said on Friday.

China counts to manned space launch (2008-09-12)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is counting down to 9.10 p.m. (9:10 a.m. EDT) on September 25 for its third manned space flight that will include a space walk, local media reported on Friday.

Abbas vows to pursue talks after Olmert: report (2008-09-12)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has vowed to pursue peace talks with Ehud Olmert until the scandal-hit Israeli prime minister's last day in office, and with whoever succeeds him, an Israeli newspaper said on Friday.

Deutsche Bank to swoop on $13 billion Postbank: sources (2008-09-12)
DUESSELDORF/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank is poised to swoop on rival Postbank in a two-part takeover valuing the retail lender at roughly $13 billion, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Stock futures mixed; eyes on Lehman, Ike, data (2008-09-12)
Sept 12 (Reuters) - Dow Jones futures were up 0.2 percent, S&P 500 futures were up 0.02 percent and Nasdaq futures were down 0.13 percent at 5:47 a.m. EDT.

Ten said killed in U.S. missile attack in Pakistan (2008-09-12)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - At least 10 people were killed on Friday in a U.S. drone missile attack in the northwestern Pakistani region of North Waziristan, a haven for al Qaeda and Taliban militants, a security official said.

New York Film Festival focusing on China in '09 (2008-09-12)
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Alitalia unions get extra day to salvage bid (2008-09-12)
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's government has given Alitalia's unions one more day to avoid the collapse of a rescue bid for the airline, a government statement said on Friday.

Wall Street cued for lower open on Lehman woes (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a lower opening to what could be a volatile session on Friday as Wall Street frets about the fate of Lehman Brothers and fears mount about the investment bank's survival.

Producer prices biggest dip in almost two years (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Wholesale prices dropped by a bigger-than-expected 0.9 percent in August, the sharpest retreat in almost two years, the government said on Friday as a big decline in energy costs eased price pressures.

Washington Mutual falls after outlook, cut to junk (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc shares fell on Friday after the largest U.S. savings and loan projected another big write-down for soured loans and was downgraded to "junk" status by a leading credit rating agency.

One killed, 70 wounded in Indian Kashmir clashes (2008-09-12)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - One person was killed and 70 were wounded in Indian Kashmir on Friday when troops fired bullets and teargas shells to break up renewed protests by Muslims against New Delhi's rule in the disputed region.

Lehman races to find rescuer (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Concerns that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc may not arrange a U.S. government-backed takeover quickly sent its shares down early Friday after reports the investment bank was in talks with Bank of America raised investor hopes of a rescue overnight.

Futures extend losses after retail sales (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures extended losses on Friday following a report that showed retail sales fell unexpectedly in August.

U.S. firm ambushed again in Afghan south, 23 dead (2008-09-12)
KABUL (Reuters) - At least 23 people were killed when Taliban insurgents ambushed a U.S. security firm convoy in southwestern Afghanistan on Friday, provincial officials said, the second attack on the firm in as many days.

Car bomb kills 30 north of Baghdad: police (2008-09-12)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A car bomb killed 30 people and wounded 47 others outside a police station in a predominantly Shi'ite town north of Baghdad on Friday, Iraqi police said.

"Chorus Line" doc takes "Little Step" to big screen (2008-09-12)
TORONTO (Reuters) - "Every Little Step" is best described in a way unlike few movies before it. The film is a documentary, within a documentary.

Fed holds crisis talks as Lehman hunts for buyer (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York held emergency talks with officials of major Wall Street firms on Friday night as concerns grew that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc may fail to find a willing buyer to save the ailing institution.

Paris crowds greet pope on leafy Left Bank (2008-09-12)
PARIS (Reuters) - Paris's Left Bank, a haunt for Bohemian students and earnest philosophers, was invaded on Friday by Roman Catholic faithful who turned out in their thousands to catch a glimpse of Pope Benedict.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis could come to U.S. in '09 (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has surpassed its goal of admitting 12,000 Iraqi refugees this year and expects more, perhaps tens of thousands, next year, the State Department said on Friday.

Hurricane Ike menaces vulnerable Texas coast (2008-09-12)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike roared toward the Texas coast on Friday, threatening to drive a 20-foot wall of water into coastal communities and menacing Galveston and Houston, the nation's fourth largest city.

Hurricane Ike could be "potential catastrophe" (2008-09-12)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coast on Friday with a wall of water and U.S. officials warned it could be a potentially catastrophic storm and flood 100,000 homes.

Chrysler to offer buyouts to Detroit UAW workers (2008-09-12)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC will offer Detroit-area factory workers represented by the United Auto Workers union a new round of buyouts and early retirement incentives, union and company officials said on Friday.

Scientists race to crack the potato's genetic code (2008-09-12)
LIMA (Reuters) - Scientists around the world have teamed up to sequence the genome of the potato, hoping to crack the genetic code of one of the world's most important crops at a time of surging population growth and high food prices.

Wall Street falls amid Lehman, AIG worries (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Friday as fears about the survival of investment bank Lehman Brothers and the possibility of more mortgage-related losses at American International Group weighed on financial shares.

Three feared dead, 23 hurt in L.A. train crash (2008-09-12)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Three people were reported dead and 23 hurt on Friday after a freight train and commuter train collided outside Los Angeles.

Retail sales fall, raising recession fears (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Retail sales fell for a second month in a row in August, the government said on Friday, raising fears that faltering consumer spending was heightening the chances of a recession.

Checker's "Twist" tops all-time singles chart (2008-09-12)
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Producer prices slip 0.9 pct on cheaper oil (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - August wholesale prices dropped by a bigger-than-expected 0.9 percent, the sharpest retreat in almost two years, the government said on Friday as a big decline in energy costs eased price pressures.

Retail sales fall for second straight month (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Total sales at retailers in August fell for a second month in a row, according to a government report on Friday that showed consumers were coming under increasing pressure amid rising prices.

Obama tries to regain his stride (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After a difficult week that sparked Democratic worries, Barack Obama fired back at Republican presidential rival John McCain on Friday with new ads and promises of a retooled, sharper message.

Wall Street ends flat amid Lehman vigil (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks ended little changed on Friday as uncertainty about what shape or form an intervention to resolve the Lehman Brothers debacle fueled caution among investors.

Palestinian, Israeli films look beyond conflict (2008-09-12)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Israeli and Palestinian directors at the Toronto International Film Festival are looking past the tanks, checkpoints and bombings to find humanity in everyday people caught up in the violence.

Channel Tunnel fire put out, traffic still halted (2008-09-12)
LILLE, France (Reuters) - A fire in the Channel Tunnel was finally put out on Friday, almost 20 hours after the blaze took hold on a freight train, and the tunnel operator said passenger services were expected to resume later in the day.

Cisco to outline long-term growth strategy next week (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top U.S. network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc is set to outline its long-term growth strategy in an analyst meeting next Tuesday, with investors focused on when and how it will shake off the slowdown in U.S. technology spending.

Bolivia declares martial law in protest-hit region (2008-09-12)
LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist government declared martial law on Friday in a remote Amazon region where more than 10 people were killed in a wave of political violence sweeping the impoverished country.

Gene mutation underlies some mad cow disease: study (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A rare genetic mutation may underlie some cases of mad cow disease in cattle and its discovery may help shed light on where the epidemic started, U.S. researchers reported on Friday.

Media group to create new digital video "ecosystem" (2008-09-12)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A group of media industry companies said it is planning to build a digital world where video devices and content websites play together in perfect harmony, and consumers can safely store their digital content and access it anywhere in the world.

Lehman shares down on Paulson bailout reluctance (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Concern that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc may fail to find a buyer because the U.S. government is reluctant to provide financial backing sent the investment bank's shares tumbling to a nearly 14-year low on Friday.

"Project Runway" final six make it work in NY (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The final six contestants on U.S. television's "Project Runway" showed their design collections on Friday, hoping to become the hit show's winner and someday join the professionals on the fashion show circuit.

At least seven dead, 23 hurt in L.A. train crash (2008-09-12)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - At least seven people were killed and officials fear the death toll could reach 15 or higher after a freight train and commuter train collided head-on on Friday outside Los Angeles.

Two killed, 80 wounded in Indian Kashmir clashes (2008-09-12)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Two people were killed and 80 wounded in Indian Kashmir on Friday when troops fired bullets and teargas shells to break up renewed protests by Muslims against New Delhi's rule in the disputed region.

Mini antibodies: biotech's next big thing? (2008-09-12)
LONDON (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc's head of biotech research is excited about a new generation of "slimline" antibody medicines that may be successors to current blockbusters such as Avastin and Rituxan.

Government should not back loans to automakers: senator (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government should not back $25 billion or more in loans to help General Motors Corp and the other domestic auto companies, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee said on Friday.

South African judge throws out Zuma graft case (2008-09-12)
PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - A South African judge threw out corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma on Friday, clearing the way for him to become the country's next president.

Deutsche Bank swoops on $13 billion Postbank (2008-09-12)
FRANKFURT/BONN (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank swooped on rival Deutsche Postbank with a deal worth up to $13 billion that could give it control of Germany's biggest retail lender within three years.

Retail sales fall, wholesale prices soften (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales at retailers fell for a second month in a row during August, the Commerce Department reported on Friday in the latest sign that consumer spending is weakening.

Purity rings enter world of sex, drugs, rock'n' roll (2008-09-12)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Teen star Miley Cyrus wears one, so does "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks and the members of the hit boy band The Jonas Brothers.

Fashion week features few black runway models (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A dearth of black models strutting the catwalks is a persistent issue in the fashion world and while the numbers have improved, there are still too few, fashion observers say.

Hurricane Ike threatens Texas with wall of water (2008-09-12)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike moved on Friday within 24 hours of striking the densely populated Texas coast near Houston with a possible 20-foot (6-meter) wall of water in what may be the worst storm to hit Texas in nearly 50 years.

Medvedev condemns Georgia NATO membership promise (2008-09-12)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday NATO's promise to extend membership to Georgia was unjust, humiliating and intolerable to Moscow.

Bolivia president, opposition governor to talk (2008-09-12)
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's embattled leftist president, Evo Morales, scheduled talks with one of his main rivals on Friday after eight people died in violent protests by opponents to his socialist reforms.

Paulson "adamant" no goverment funds for Lehman: source (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is "adamant" that no government money be used in any deal that resolves the crisis at Wall Street investment bank Lehman Brothers, a source familiar with his thinking said on Friday.

Mugabe to keep major powers under deal (2008-09-12)
HARARE (Reuters) - President Robert Mugabe will keep his job and head the cabinet under a power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe, but the opposition outnumbers his ZANU-PF party among senior ministers, an opposition senator said on Friday.

Futures flat; Lehman buyout news, data awaited (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures were little changed on Friday as investors awaited news on the fate of Lehman Brothers after a slide in its stock this week heightened fears over whether the investment bank can survive.

Consumer mood hits 8-month high in September: survey (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer confidence soared unexpectedly to an eight-month high in September as lower fuel prices soothed inflation fears and made Americans more hopeful about the economy, a survey showed on Friday.

Bells ring in Moscow after 80-year exile in Harvard (2008-09-12)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A set of church bells rang out for the first time on Friday after being returned to Moscow's oldest monastery from the United States nearly 80 years after they were sold off as scrap under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Paulson "adamant" no government funds for Lehman: source (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is "adamant" that no government money be used in any deal that resolves the crisis at Wall Street investment bank Lehman Brothers, a source familiar with his thinking said on Friday.

Mladic's arrest would be dangerous: Serb prosecutor (2008-09-12)
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Any attempt to arrest war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic, vital for improving ties with the European Union, will be an extremely dangerous operation, Serbia's war crimes prosecutor said on Friday.

Wall Street opens lower on worries about Lehman (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Friday at the market open as fears mounted on Wall Street over the fate of investment bank Lehman Brothers .

U.S. plans to expel Venezuelan envoy, official says (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States plans to expel Venezuela's ambassador in Washington to retaliate for the oil-exporting Latin American nation's decision to expel the U.S. envoy in Caracas, a U.S. official said on Friday.

Wall St down as Lehman worries drag on financials (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were lower on Friday as uncertainty about a deal to rescue struggling investment bank Lehman Brothers hurt the financial sector, offsetting gains in energy shares due to rising oil prices.

Judge denies "squawk box" case dismissal (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday denied a motion to dismiss a charge of securities fraud against former brokers facing a second trial on allegations they misused brokerage firm "squawk boxes."

U.S. sends most-wanted banker Peirano to Uruguay (2008-09-12)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The United States has extradited a fugitive banker to Uruguay for trial on charges he embezzled more than $800 million, contributing to a financial panic that spread through several South American countries in 2002, federal agents said on Friday.

Fed holds emergency meeting on market developments (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York held a meeting on Friday evening with top representatives of major financial market firms to discuss recent market developments, a Fed official said.

Retail sales off but optimism rises (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales at U.S. retail stores fell for a second straight month in August as consumers facing a tough job market cut spending, but declining gasoline prices seemed to lift their spirits in September.

WaMu outlook weak but soothes some investors (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc's revelation that it plans another big write-down for soured loans but has enough capital to survive soothed some analysts and investors who were fearful that the housing crisis might cripple the largest U.S. savings and loan.

AIG could hold investor call as soon as Monday: source (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Under increasing pressure from shareholders, American International Group could announce details of its turnaround plan much sooner than expected, including possible asset sales and how it will shore up capital, according to a source familiar with developments.

Harvard endowment up 8.6 pct, grows to $36.9 billion (2008-09-12)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Harvard University, already America's richest, said on Friday that its endowment grew 8.6 percent to a new high of $36.9 billion in the last fiscal year when the broader stock market suffered double-digit losses.

Albanian witness in U.S. arms probe dies suddenly (2008-09-12)
TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania's government said on Friday it was looking into the sudden death of an arms industry figure who was helping prosecutors investigate a weapons sale to the United States and an explosion that killed 26 people.

Gene switch malfunctioning in chronic lung disease (2008-09-12)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Smokers who have chronic lung disease are much more likely to have a poorly working antioxidant defense system than other smokers, a finding that may lead to new treatments, U.S. researchers said on Friday.

Wagoner tells Congress: "not seeking bailouts" (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Detroit automakers are not seeking a government rescue, but need quick congressional action to free $25 billion in federally backed loans to help them retool plants and meet new fuel efficiency targets, the chief executive of General Motors Corp said on Friday.

Continental Air suspends Houston operation for Ike (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Continental Airlines Inc on Friday suspended operations at its Houston hub in Texas through Saturday due to Hurricane Ike.

Merrill now in shorts' sights as Lehman crumbles (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The crisis of confidence in Lehman Brothers has led to fallout throughout the financial sector -- especially for larger rival Merrill Lynch & Co Inc .

Fidelity settles N.Y. and Mass. auction rate probes (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fidelity Investments on Friday reached agreements with authorities in New York and Massachusetts to settle probes into its marketing of auction-rate securities.

Proposed new FBI rules draw civil liberties worries (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department unveiled proposed new rules on Friday for FBI investigations, changes a civil liberties group criticized for giving agents powers to investigate Americans without proper suspicion.

Concert pays tribute to Steinbeck, Guthrie (2008-09-12)
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Airing immodest shows could incur death penalty: Saudi cleric (2008-09-12)
RIYADH (Reuters) - The head of Saudi Arabia's Islamic Sharia courts has said owners of Arabic television stations airing immodest shows in Ramadan could face execution, Saudi web sites said Friday.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis may come to U.S. in '09 (2008-09-12)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has surpassed its goal of admitting 12,000 Iraqi refugees this year and expects more, perhaps tens of thousands, next year, the State Department said on Friday.

Chrysler to offer new buyouts to UAW workers (2008-09-12)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC will offer almost all of its 14,000 factory workers represented by the United Auto Workers union in Michigan a new and richer round of buyouts and early retirement incentives, union and company officials said on Friday.

Hurricane Ike could be "catastrophe" for Texas (2008-09-12)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Massive Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast on Friday, driving a wall of water into seaside communities and threatening catastrophic damage.

Brutal crime wave shakes Mexico to the core (2008-09-12)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A gruesome crime wave is shaking Mexico to its core, with children murdered, headless bodies left in piles and ordinary Mexicans losing the little faith they have in the police and government.

U.N. atom watchdog clears Libya, sounds wider warning (2008-09-12)
VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday it had verified Libya's elimination of a covert atom bomb project, but that the ease with which a Pakistani-led ring supplied it with weapon designs had alarming wider implications.

At least 10 dead, 100 hurt in L.A. train crash (2008-09-12)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Friday, with those figures expected to rise, after a freight train and commuter train collided head-on outside Los Angeles.

Bolivia declares martial law, Morales meets rival (2008-09-12)
LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist government declared martial law on Friday in an Amazon region where more than 10 people were killed in a wave of political violence sweeping the impoverished country.

Ike bears down on U.S. oil hub, threatens floods (2008-09-12)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Powerful Hurricane Ike bore down on the heart of the U.S. energy sector in Texas on Friday, leaving most production idled and threatening a fifth of the nation's refining capacity with howling winds and a possible 20-foot (6-meter) wall of water.

Walgreen offers to buy Longs for $3 billion including debt (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walgreen Co said on Friday that it offered to buy Longs Drug Stores Corp for $75 per share in cash, or $3 billion including debt, countering an offer from rival CVS Caremark that had been spurned by top investors.

Keep God, religion in society, Pope tells French (2008-09-12)
PARIS (Reuters) - Pope Benedict began a four-day visit to France on Friday with a plea to the French to keep God in their lives and let religion help create a better world.

Wall St. ends flat amid Lehman vigil; oil a boost (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks closed little changed on Friday in day of whipsaw moves as uncertainty over the fate of troubled investment bank Lehman Brothers kept investors anxious about the health of the U.S. financial system.

CORRECTED: Pakistan to protest new U.S. missile strike (2008-09-12)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Missiles fired by a U.S. drone aircraft killed 14 people in northwest Pakistan on Friday, security officials said, in a strike against suspected militants that drew condemnation from Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Seven dead, 23 hurt in L.A. train crash (2008-09-12)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - At least seven people were killed and dozens were hurt on Friday after a freight train and commuter train collided outside Los Angeles, officials said.

"Six Feet Under" creator digs up Lolita tale (2008-09-12)
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Medvedev "would attack Georgia even if on NATO track" (2008-09-12)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that even if Georgia were on a firm path to NATO membership, he would not hesitate to attack it under circumstances similar to last month's conflict.

Branson says to spend millions to block BA/AA deal (2008-09-12)
LONDON (Reuters) - Virgin Atlantic President Richard Branson said he was prepared to spend heavily to try to prevent a planned tie-up between British Airways, American Airlines and Spain's Iberia.

Palin defends record in Alaska, husband subpoenaed (2008-09-12)
WASILLA, Alaska (Reuters) - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin defended her record as governor of Alaska on Friday in the face of fierce Democratic attacks, while a state ethics panel subpoenaed her husband.

Explosions heard near U.S. naval base in Japan: police (2008-09-12)
TOKYO (Reuters) - No injuries had been reported after two explosions were heard late on Friday near a U.S. naval base where a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will soon dock south of Tokyo, Japanese police said on Saturday.

Bolivia violence abates, president to talk to rival (2008-09-12)
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales sought on Friday to halt a wave of political violence that killed 10 people, arranging talks with one of four rebel governors who fiercely oppose his socialist reforms.

Obama attacks McCain on Boeing deal, trade issues (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama endorsed on Friday a Pentagon decision to let the next administration resolve a thorny dispute among aerospace manufacturers for a $35 billion Air Force tanker program.

Afghans arrested over disputed air strike deaths (2008-09-12)
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan police have arrested three men on suspicion of giving false information which led to the death of civilians in a U.S. air strike in western Afghanistan last month, the interior ministry said on Friday.

Car bomb kills 25 north of Baghdad: police (2008-09-12)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide car bomb killed 25 people and wounded 40 others outside a police station north of Baghdad on Friday, Iraqi police said.

Broadway hopes "Shrek," "Billy" defy economic woes (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe gets naked, Tom Cruise's wife Katie Holmes does Arthur Miller and cartoon ogre Shrek vies with ballet-dancing Billy Elliot in a battle of the monster musicals.

AIG shares fall almost 30 percent on mortgage worries (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of American International Group Inc fell almost 30 percent on Friday as investors grew increasingly concerned that its large exposure to mortgages is backing it into a corner.

Ordinary cop movie is no "Righteous" thrill (2008-09-12)
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Channel Tunnel fire put out, traffic may resume soon (2008-09-12)
LILLE, France (Reuters) - A fire in the Channel Tunnel was put out on Friday almost 20 hours after it took hold on a freight train, and the tunnel operator said passenger services between Britain and France should resume slowly over the weekend.

AIG's chief under pressure as shares tumble (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A steep drop in American International Group Inc's shares on Friday was ratcheting up pressure on CEO Robert Willumstad to publicly come out and reassure investors he has a foolproof plan in hand to turn the insurer around.

More than 20 feared hurt in L.A. train crash (2008-09-12)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A commuter train and freight train collided near Los Angeles on Friday, with more than 20 people believed injured, fire officials said.

Texas, west La. ports shut; stranded ship OK (2008-09-12)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Ports from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana, including Houston, were shut Friday due to Hurricane Ike, officials of the U.S. Coast Guard and pilots groups said.

Once marginalized, R&B enjoys mainstream reign (2008-09-12)
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Walgreen offers to buy Longs for $3 bln including debt (2008-09-12)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walgreen Co said on Friday that it offered to buy Longs Drug Stores Corp for $3 billion, or $75 per share, in cash, including debt, countering an offer from CVS Caremark that had been spurned by top investors.

Stock futures signal lower Wall Street start (2008-09-11)
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World equities at 2-year low as dollar surges (2008-09-11)
LONDON (Reuters) - Worries about the global financial sector drove world equities to their lowest in more than two years for a second day on Thursday, while the U.S. dollar struck a one-year high against the euro.

India starts negotiating global nuclear deals (2008-09-11)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India said on Thursday it was negotiating agreements to buy nuclear technology and facilities from countries such as France and Russia, days after winning a waiver on a ban that had stopped it from accessing the global atomic market.

Lehman stumbles on broker downgrades (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers tumbled on Thursday after several brokers downgraded the shares on the investment bank and forecast further losses due to business uncertainty.

Baby dies as milk powder scare spreads across China (2008-09-11)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Tainted milk formula has killed one baby and caused the development of kidney stones in dozens of others who may have drunk the same product, Chinese authorities concluded on Thursday, in a grim reminder of a milk-powder scandal that killed 13 infants four years ago.

U.S. government workers in oil industry sex and drug scandal (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Interior Department employees who oversaw oil drilling on federal lands had sex and used illegal drugs with workers at energy companies where they were conducting official business, an internal government report said on Wednesday.

U.S. rebound questioned, French growth to slow: Lagarde (2008-09-11)
PARIS (Reuters) - Questions remain over the sustainability of the U.S. economic recovery, French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said on Thursday as she played down the risk of recession at home.

Thai ruling party backs Samak for PM (2008-09-11)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's ruling People Power Party (PPP) nominated leader Samak Sundaravej on Thursday to return as prime minister, putting it on a collision course with protesters hell-bent on stopping him from resuming office.

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico, aims at Texas (2008-09-11)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Thursday on a track that would skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch before slamming into the Texas coast on Saturday.

English actor brings Orson Welles to life (2008-09-11)
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Giant Buddha statue unearthed in Afghanistan (2008-09-11)
KABUL (Reuters) - Archaeologists have discovered a 19-metre (62-foot) Buddha statue along with scores of other historical relics in central Afghanistan near the ruins of giant statues destroyed by the Islamist Taliban seven years ago.

Transfer of U.S.-backed patrols a test for Iraq (2008-09-11)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Sunni Arab neighborhood patrols have been vital to cutting violence in Iraq. But how the Shi'ite-led government handles their future could foster sectarian reconciliation or start a new round of bloodshed.

South Ossetia aims to join Russia, leader says (2008-09-11)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia plans to become part of the Russian Federation, its leader said on Thursday.

Former Reuters editor Chipp dies aged 81 (2008-09-11)
LONDON (Reuters) - David Chipp, a former editor of Reuters and the first non-communist reporter to be based in Beijing after the revolution, has died at home aged 81.

Russian bombers will return in days from Venezuela (2008-09-11)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Two Russian long-range bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons will return to base from Venezuela in four days, the Russian Air Force was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying on Thursday.

CORRECTED: Giant Buddha statue unearthed in Afghanistan (2008-09-11)
KABUL (Reuters) - Archaeologists have discovered a 19-metre (62-foot) Buddha statue along with scores of other historical relics in central Afghanistan near the ruins of giant statues destroyed by the Islamist Taliban seven years ago.

Apple execs settle shareholder suits for $14 mln (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal judge in San Jose has given preliminary approval to a $14 million settlement of shareholder claims over backdating of stock options against current and former Apple Inc executives, court documents showed.

Doomsday fears come with territory (2008-09-11)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Doomsday predictions surrounding the start-up of Europe's Large Hadron Collider -- a giant particle-smasher designed to explore the origins of the universe -- come as little surprise to physicists.

Nicole Kidman tops Hollywood overpaid list (2008-09-11)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Nicole Kidman was named the most overpaid celebrity in Hollywood in the second annual list of least bankable stars by U.S. magazine Forbes, taking the top slot from fellow Australian Russell Crowe.

Apple execs settle shareholder suits for $14 million (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal judge in San Jose has given preliminary approval to a $14 million settlement of shareholder claims over backdating of stock options against current and former Apple Inc executives, court documents showed.

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico and aims at Tex (2008-09-11)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Thursday on a track that would skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch before slamming into the Texas coast on Saturday.

AC/DC announces North American tour dates (2008-09-11)
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Shirley Manson balancing acting with solo work (2008-09-11)
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Pension agency to go to court vs Delphi, GM: report (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - The U.S. government's pension insurance agency has told bankrupt auto parts maker Delphi Corp it would go to court on Friday to secure a claim on an additional $900 million in Delphi assets, The Wall Street Journal said.

"Coco Chanel" telepic boasts pleasing aroma (2008-09-11)
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West Bank settlers take over more land: report (2008-09-11)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli authorities and settlers have seized large tracts of land in the occupied West Bank for security zones around Jewish settlements beyond an Israeli-built barrier, a human rights group said on Thursday.

Sarah McLachlan splitting from husband (2008-09-11)
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Bush approved secret orders for Pakistan raids: report (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush secretly approved orders in July allowing U.S. special forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without approval from the Pakistan government, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

U.S. attacks Haqqani network again in Afghanistan (2008-09-11)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces targeted Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan and the southeast, including veteran commander Jalaluddin Haqqani's network, killing several militants, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

Australia police minister quits over dirty dance (2008-09-11)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - The police minister in Australia's most populous state was forced to quit on Thursday over reports he "dirty danced" in underwear over the chest of a female colleague in a drunken late-night office party.

Thai ruling party wants Samak as PM (2008-09-11)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday threw its weight behind leader Samak Sundaravej to return as prime minister, but it was not clear if he would accept the offer.

CORRECTED: Sarah McLachlan splitting from husband (2008-09-11)
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Analysts see tough 2008 for Lehman, widen loss view (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - Wall Street analysts cut their ratings and widened their 2008 loss estimates for Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, indicating that the troubled investment bank's efforts to shed risky assets may not be enough to curb rising losses.

Karzai backs U.S. strategy on militants in Pakistan (2008-09-11)
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday backed a proposed U.S. strategy that would involve hitting al Qaeda and Taliban militants in neighboring Pakistan, saying he had been calling for a changed approach for years.

Wall Street opens sharply lower on banking fears (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street opened more than 1 percent lower on Thursday as concerns about the health of the financial sector cut into investors' appetite for risk.

Apple execs settle shareholder suits (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal judge in San Jose has given preliminary approval to a $14 million settlement of shareholder claims over backdating of stock options against current and former Apple Inc executives, court documents showed.

Baby dies as new milk powder scare spreads across China (2008-09-11)
BEIJING (Reuters) - A health scare in China involving babies developing kidney stones after drinking possibly fake milk formula has spread across the country, state media said on Thursday.

Think tank to drum up new uses for molybdenum (2008-09-11)
VINA DEL MAR, Chile (Reuters) - Scientists from around the world have joined forces in what they call a "Molybdenum Offensive," to work out strategies by the end of this year that will boost demand for the resilient metal.

Pakistan kills militants; tension with U.S. grows (2008-09-11)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani security forces have killed 20 militants near the Afghan border, a security official said on Thursday, as tensions over how to tackle the Taliban and al Qaeda surfaced with the United States.

Thai protesters say will accept no PPP ministers (2008-09-11)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Protesters occupying Thailand's seat of government said on Thursday they would not accept any candidates from parliament's dominant People Power Party (PPP) as a replacement for disqualified Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Futures extend losses on jobless claims (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures extended losses on Thursday as a government report showing further deterioration in the labor market added to investors' concerns about the economy and the profit outlook.

Russia to cooperate with U.S. in fighting terrorism (2008-09-11)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is ready to continue to cooperate with the United States in fighting terrorism, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.

Jobless claims down in latest week (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits declined by 6,000 last week, the Labor Department reported on Thursday, but the longer-term trend toward a weakening labor market remained intact.

New York Times shares rise after Slim investment (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of The New York Times Co jumped as much as 8.8 percent on Thursday, a day after the U.S. newspaper publisher disclosed that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim had bought a 6.4 percent stake in the company.

No new Lourdes miracles despite eased criteria (2008-09-11)
PARIS (Reuters) - When Bishop Jacques Perrier said the Roman Catholic Church would ease some criteria for miracles, skeptics foresaw a wave of pious believers claiming they had been healed at the famous shrine in his diocese of Lourdes.

Is it fierce? Or prune? Fashionistas find buzzwords (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's not trendy, it's "on trend," and if clothes are really good, they're "fierce" or "dope." Don't like the lingo of fashion? Whatever.

Wall Street set to drop at open on banking woe (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a lower open on Thursday as concerns about the health of the financial sector cut into investors' appetite for risk.

Russian minister raps U.S. missile shield in Poland (2008-09-11)
WARSAW (Reuters) - Russia's foreign minister told Poland on Thursday a U.S. missile defence shield Warsaw has agreed to host poses a direct threat to his country's security but said Moscow remains open to further talks.

Cyprus starts talks, U.N. says time needed (2008-09-11)
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Leaders on ethnically divided Cyprus started reunification negotiations in earnest on Thursday, with the United Nations saying there was no quick fix to the decades-old conflict hindering Turkey's EU aspirations.

Child deaths fall slightly to 9.2 million in 2007: U.N. (2008-09-11)
LONDON (Reuters) - More than 9 million children globally died before their fifth birthday in 2007, down slightly from 2006, but a huge gap remains between rich and poor countries, especially in Africa, UNICEF said on Friday.

Kanye West arrested after scuffle at L.A. airport (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rap star Kanye West was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday after scuffling with photographers and smashing a camera, an airport spokesman said.

Kanye West arrested after scuffle at LAX (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rap star Kanye West was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday after scuffling with photographers and smashing a camera, an airport spokesman said.

Palin gets hero's welcome back in Alaska (2008-09-11)
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (Reuters) - Republican vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin returned home to Alaska on Wednesday to a hero's welcome as a new U.S. political star and promised her compatriots she would make the state proud.

NYC mayor seeks more sway over Ground Zero (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City should get more control over Ground Zero's long-delayed rebuilding by abolishing a state agency, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Wednesday, a day before the seventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Krispy Kreme loss narrows, revenue falls (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc posted a narrower quarterly loss, but revenue fell about 10 percent, and the company said its franchisees may close a "significant" number of stores in the future.

Venezuela investigates alleged plot to kill Chavez (2008-09-11)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela on Thursday interrogated military officers named in recordings of an apparent plan to kill President Hugo Chavez, in what may the firmest evidence in years of a barracks plot to oust him.

Rapper T.I. leads singles chart for 3rd week (2008-09-11)
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Eight killed in Bolivia clashes, U.S. tensions rise (2008-09-11)
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed as violent anti-government protests flared in Bolivia on Thursday, creating havoc in the natural gas industry and raising tensions with the United States.

British female artists top MOBO nominations (2008-09-11)
LONDON (Reuters) - British female artists dominate Britain's Music of Black Origin (MOBO) nominations this year, with R&B singer Estelle in the running for five prizes, it was announced on Thursday.

Many South Africans despair, despite democracy: Manuel (2008-09-11)
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The lives of many South Africans remain filled with despair nearly 15 years after the fall of apartheid, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Thursday.

Putin warns West against starting arms race (2008-09-11)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned the West on Thursday against starting an arms race in Europe by stationing a U.S. missile defense shield near Russia's borders and said there was no basis for a new Cold War.

Venezuela's Chavez expels U.S. ambassador (2008-09-11)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Thursday gave the U.S. ambassador 72 hours to leave the oil-rich South American country, saying the measure was a show of support for Bolivia.

Alabama debt session held but no deal reached (2008-09-11)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Creditors, insurers and lawyers for Alabama's Jefferson County met on a proposed restructuring of $3.2 billion of sewer debt on Wednesday but struck no bargain to avert a possible municipal bankruptcy.

Continental says new bag fee to generate $100 million (2008-09-11)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Continental Airlines on Thursday said it expects to see $100 million in revenue and cost savings related to a new $15 dollar fee to check a single bag.

Gaza ceasefire rattled by explosions along border (2008-09-11)
GAZA (Reuters) - Two bombs exploded on Thursday near Israeli troops patrolling the border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, causing no injuries, in the first such incident since a ceasefire took hold in June.

McCartney resists pressure to scrap Israel concert (2008-09-11)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Legendary Beatles star Paul McCartney said he was pressed to cancel his upcoming performance in Israel, but reassured Israeli fans in comments published on Thursday he would go ahead with the planned concert.

Bolivia's ousting of U.S. envoy "grave error": U.S. (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bolivia's ordering out of U.S. ambassador Philip Goldberg is a "grave error," the United States said on Thursday.

U.N.'s Ban denies failing (2008-09-11)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon denied on Thursday that his first year in office had been a failure and said recent criticisms he made of the U.N. bureaucracy's resistance to change had been misconstrued.

Robbers raid ancestral Obama home in Kenya (2008-09-11)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Suspected robbers have broken into the home of U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama's grandmother in a Kenyan village, local media said on Thursday.

British police chief condemned for bin Laden costume (2008-09-11)
LONDON (Reuters) - A senior British policeman is in trouble after he dressed as Osama bin Laden at a carnival days before the seventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Michael Phelps "nervous" ahead of "SNL" debut (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps on Thursday admitted to a case of nerves, but seemed confident he won't be a fish out of water when he makes his acting debut on "Saturday Night Live" this coming weekend.

Miner Cleveland-Cliffs offers to buy out Portman (2008-09-11)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - U.S. miner Cleveland-Cliffs Inc made a friendly A$560 million ($450.5 million) offer to buy out Australian iron miner Portman Ltd on Thursday, and is seeking a 30 percent stake in a second Australian miner.

Senate report says dividend taxes being dodged (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. financial institutions are using stock swaps and intricate loan transactions to help foreign investors avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes on dividends paid by U.S. companies, according to a Senate report to be released on Thursday.

Fed's Kohn says no sign home prices stabilizing (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn said on Thursday there was no clear evidence the plunge in U.S. house prices was coming to an end.

Russia wants guarantees over missile shield (2008-09-11)
WARSAW (Reuters) - Russia wants the United States and its European allies to provide convincing guarantees that a planned missile defense shield is not aimed against Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Thursday.

U.S. trade gap widens, jobless claims still high (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Record oil import prices propelled the U.S. trade deficit to a 16-month high in July, but a sharp price drop in August promised narrower deficits in future months, government reports showed on Thursday.

Scottish author Welsh finds relief in spoof film (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The topic of Scottish author Irvine Welsh's latest novel -- pedophilia -- is so harrowing that he worked on a spoof documentary film about a darts player while writing the book just to lighten his mood.

"Hills" star Lauren Conrad to pen book series (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lauren Conrad, star of the MTV reality show "The Hills," has signed a book deal for a young adult fiction series based on her own transformation from regular California teen to celebrity darling, HarperCollins Publishers said on Thursday.

WaMu sees $4.5 billion loss reserve, tries to soothe (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc , facing investor anxiety about its survival as mortgage losses mount, said on Thursday it expects to set aside $4.5 billion for loan losses in the third quarter, less than the prior quarter.

World equities at 2-yearr low as dollar surges (2008-09-11)
LONDON (Reuters) - Worries about the global financial sector drove world equities to their lowest in more than two years for a second day on Thursday, while the U.S. dollar struck a one-year high against the euro.

Futures drop as Lehman fuels investor angst (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures dropped on Thursday as concerns about the health of the financial sector cut into investors' appetite for risk.

Karzai opposes long-term presence of foreign troops (2008-09-11)
KABUL (Reuters) - President Hamid Karzai said on Thursday he opposed the long-term presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan, adding any new U.S. strategy to tackle militancy must involve a greater role for his government.

North Korea's Kim said recovering quickly, still rules (2008-09-11)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is on the mend from an apparent stroke, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday, with no signs he has lost his grip over a country that possibly has nuclear weapons.

North Korea's Kim recovering quickly, still rules (2008-09-11)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is on the mend from an apparent stroke, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday, with no signs he has lost his grip over a country that possibly has nuclear weapons.

Analysts see tough 2008 for Lehman, widen loss view (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - Wall Street analysts cut their ratings and widened their 2008 loss estimates for Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc , indicating that the troubled investment bank's efforts to shed risky assets may not be enough to curb rising losses.

Samak seeks Thai PM post again, party split (2008-09-11)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Samak Sundaravej accepted his party's nomination on Thursday to return as prime minister, two party officials said, resuming a collision course with protesters hell-bent on stopping him.

Hurricane Ike in Gulf of Mexico, headed for Texas (2008-09-11)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Thursday on a track that would skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch before slamming into the Texas coast late on Friday or early on Saturday.

Japan's NEC Electronics joins IBM on chip project (2008-09-11)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's NEC Electronics Corp <6723.T>, the world's No.12 chipmaker, said on Thursday it would team up with IBM and others on next-generation microchips in a bid to beat mounting development costs.

South Ossetia leader says aims to join Russia (2008-09-11)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia plans to become part of the Russian Federation, its leader said on Thursday, but Moscow's top diplomat said he was not aware of any such request.

SEC's New York attorney to leave: report (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's top New York enforcement attorney is expected to leave next month for a law firm, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

Nepal says to deport illegal Tibetans back to Tibet (2008-09-11)
KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's Maoist-led government will deport Tibetan exiles living illegally in the country, an official said on Thursday, a move likely aimed at stopping regular protests against its influential neighbor China.

Baby dies as new milk powder scare spreads across China (2008-09-11)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Tainted milk formula has killed one baby and caused the development of kidney stones in dozens of others who may have drunk the same product, Chinese authorities concluded on Thursday, in a grim reminder of a milk-powder scandal that killed 13 infants four years ago.

Live Nation signs ticketing deal with SMG (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Concert promoter Live Nation Inc said on Thursday it signed a seven-year deal to sell tickets at the North American arenas, stadiums and theatres managed by SMG.

Lehman survival questioned on scramble to sell assets (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's survival was called into question as its chief executive scrambled to sell assets to cover losses from toxic real estate investments, sending shares down as much as 46 percent.

AIG woes knock its market value below peers (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fears that American International Group Inc's large mortgage exposure could trigger another round of losses has rankled investors so much that the insurer has lost its iron grip as the world's industry leader by market value.

Greece unearths treasures at Alexander's birthplace (2008-09-11)
ATHENS (Reuters) - Archaeologists have unearthed gold jewellery, weapons and pottery at an ancient burial site near Pella in northern Greece, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, the culture ministry said on Thursday.

Prince to publish coffee table book (2008-09-11)
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U.S. pension agency warns of more Delphi claims (2008-09-11)
DETROIT (Reuters) - The U.S. pension insurance agency could file up to $2.5 billion in claims against bankrupt Delphi Corp's profitable foreign assets unless the auto supplier reaches a deal to resolve pension liabilities with former parent General Motors Corp this week.

Continental says luggage fee to generate $100 mln (2008-09-11)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Continental Airlines on Thursday said it expects to see $100 million in revenue and cost savings related to a new $15 dollar bag-check fee.

Hurricane Ike takes aim at Texas coast, Houston (2008-09-11)
GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike on Thursday as the storm gathered strength on a collision course with the Texas Gulf Coast, threatening to swamp populous areas around Houston under a massive wave of water.

Kanye West arrested after scuffle at LA airport (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rap star Kanye West was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday after scuffling with photographers and smashing a camera, an airport spokesman said.

Kanye West arrested after scuffle at LAX (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rap star Kanye West was arrested at the Los Angeles International airport on Thursday after a scuffle with photographers and is expected to be charged with vandalism, an airport spokesman said.

BofA in talks to buy Lehman: WSJ citing source (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - Bank of America Corp is in talks to buy Lehman Brothers, the Wall Street Journal, citing a source, said on Thursday .

De Niro and Pacino eye killing at box office (2008-09-11)
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Mariah Carey movie set for December release (2008-09-11)
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Lehman in sale talks as survival questioned: sources (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc was forced into talks about a possible sale after the Wall Street investment bank's shares plunged more than 40 percent on Thursday, raising questions about its survival.

Pentagon memorial unveiled as Sept 11 recalled (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a somber ceremony outside the Pentagon, President George W. Bush on Thursday dedicated the first major September 11 memorial on the seventh anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Pakistan kills up to 100 militants near Afghan border (2008-09-11)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani security forces killed up to 100 al Qaeda-linked militants in fierce clashes in a volatile tribal region near the Afghan border on Thursday, a security official said.

Lehman buyout talk, oil, GM lift Wall St. (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Thursday as a report by the Wall Street Journal that Bank of America is in talks to buy embattled investment bank Lehman Brothers drove a last-minute rebound in financial shares.

Pentagon down plays tanker termination fees (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department said on Thursday it expected the cost to taxpayers of postponing its troubled $35 billion aerial tanker program to be minimal.

Lehman in sale talks as survival questioned: sources (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc was forced into talks about a possible sale after the Wall Street bank's shares plunged more than 40 percent and cast doubts on its survival.

Iran ship firm dismisses U.S. charges, sanctions (2008-09-11)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - An Iranian shipping firm has denied U.S. accusations it had violated shipping rules and said Washington's sanctions would not harm its business, an Iranian news agency reported on Thursday.

Lehman in talks to sell-sources; survival questioned (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc has put itself up for sale as its survival was called into question, and its shares tumbled about 42 percent.

Wall Street slides on Lehman fear and bank woes (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Thursday as concerns about the health of the financial sector diminished the allure of riskier assets, extending a global equity rout.

Washington Mutual plummets below $2 a share (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc shares plunged as much as 25 percent to less than $2 for the first time since 1990 as investors worried about the credit loss and survival prospects for the largest U.S. savings and loan.

Liechtenstein prince calls Germany a "Fourth Reich" (2008-09-11)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Liechtenstein's Prince Hans-Adam II has dubbed Germany a "Fourth Reich," drawing fire from Jewish groups for trivializing Nazi crimes and stoking already tense relations between the two countries.

Looting, fires rage in South Ossetia: rights groups (2008-09-11)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Neither South Ossetia's local government nor the Russian army are providing adequate security for citizens in the breakaway territory after last month's Russia-Georgia war, rights groups said on Thursday.

Riskier U.S. home loans fell in 2007: regulators (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Home loans to higher-risk borrowers fell sharply in 2007, as did some riskier practices such as layering "piggyback" mortgages to finance home purchases, U.S. regulators said in a report on Thursday.

Bristol-Myers stands by $60 per share ImClone offer (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co stood by its $60-a-share offer for ImClone Systems Inc on Thursday, a day after the biotechnology company spurned Bristol's offer and said it had another bid for $70 a share.

McCain and Obama call political ceasefire for 9/11 (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama called a temporary halt to their fierce political skirmishing on Thursday in honor of the 7th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Channel Tunnel remains closed after freight blaze (2008-09-11)
PARIS (Reuters) - A major fire aboard a freight train damaged the undersea Channel Tunnel on Thursday, halting all rail traffic, including passenger services, between Britain and continental Europe, the tunnel operator said.

SEC opens probe into UAL share price drop: report (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Securities regulators have opened a preliminary investigation into UAL Corp's stock drop after an outdated story about its bankruptcy was treated as current, breaking news, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

House to vote next week on offshore drilling (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives could vote next week on energy legislation that would open nearly all of the U.S. coastline to offshore drilling while repealing some tax breaks for oil companies, Democratic leaders said on Thursday.

Lehman in sale talks as survival questioned: sources (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc was forced into talks about a possible sale after the Wall Street bank's shares plunged more than 40 percent and cast doubts on its survival.

Lehman in talks to sell: sources (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc has put itself up for sale as its survival was called into question, and its shares tumbled about 42 percent.

Hepatitis kills 110, infects 7,100 in Uganda: agency (2008-09-11)
KAMPALA (Reuters) - The death toll for highly infectious hepatitis E has risen to at least 110 people with 7,100 more infected since last year's outbreak began in northern Uganda, an aid agency said on Friday.

Merrill Lynch shares catch Lehman bug (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merrill Lynch & Co Inc's shares fell nearly 17 percent on Thursday as worries over Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's future raised questions on which investment bank may be next to face questions about its survival.

Accused drug lord in U.S. called Taliban backer (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An accused Afghan drug kingpin on trial in New York for conspiring to import more than $50 million worth of heroin was portrayed by prosecutors on Thursday as a warlord who helped the Taliban come to power.

New York lender admits to fraud of Fannie Mae (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former mortgage lender pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiring to commit fraud in a $44 million theft of payoff proceeds for refinanced mortgage loans funded by Fannie Mae.

WaMu cut to "junk," sees $4.5 billion loss reserve (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc was downgraded to below investment-grade status by Moody's Investors Service, after the largest U.S. savings and loan projected a $4.5 billion third-quarter increase in reserves for bad loans but said it has more than enough capital.

Venezuela cuts flights by U.S. airlines: report (2008-09-11)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela has ordered U.S. airlines to reduce flights later this month after the Bush administration questioned the country's airport security practices, a Venezuelan newspaper reported on Thursday.

Channel Tunnel rail services suspended after fire (2008-09-11)
LONDON (Reuters) - Channel Tunnel rail services between Britain and France were suspended on Thursday following a fire in the tunnel.

Russia's Putin says no basis for new Cold War (2008-09-11)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday there was no basis for a new Cold War, telling the West not to start an arms race in Europe.

Child deaths fall slightly to 9.2 mln in 2007: U.N. (2008-09-11)
LONDON (Reuters) - More than 9 million children globally died before their fifth birthday in 2007, down slightly from 2006, but a huge gap remains between rich and poor countries, especially in Africa, UNICEF said on Friday.

Zimbabwe talks resume, Mugabe casts doubt (2008-09-11)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's political parties resumed power-sharing talks on Thursday, but President Robert Mugabe cast doubt on earlier optimism that a deal with the opposition might be imminent.

Former Stasi members tell all in new German book (2008-09-11)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Former members of the Stasi come clean about their work for East Germany's infamous secret police in a new book that offers some of the most detailed personal accounts of its clandestine operations.

Karzai backs U.S. strategy on militants in Pakistan (2008-09-11)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai backed a proposed U.S. strategy on Thursday to hit al Qaeda and Taliban militants in neighboring Pakistan, but NATO said it would not join any cross-border U.S. raids.

Goldblum doesn't clown around in Holocaust film (2008-09-11)
TORONTO (Reuters) - To play a role some are already calling a tour de force in the film "Adam Resurrected," Jeff Goldblum visited Nazi-era concentration camps and spoke to Holocaust survivors.

Mexico and Cuba eyeing clampdown on U.S.-bound migrants (2008-09-11)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Cuba and Mexico are discussing how to clamp down on the flow of illegal Cuban immigrants through Mexico to the United States, Cuba's Ambassador Manuel Aguilera said on Thursday.

MGA unwilling to share Bratz revenue with Mattel (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - MGA Entertainment Inc will not share future revenue from its Bratz doll franchise with Mattel Inc to settle a copyright infringement lawsuit, MGA Chief Executive Isaac Larian told Reuters on Thursday.

Lehman in sale talks as survival questioned-sources (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc was forced into talks about a possible sale after the Wall Street investment bank's shares plunged more than 40 percent on Thursday, raising questions about its survival.

'Lincolniana' a must-hear any year (2008-09-11)
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Ikon Office to cut 250 jobs, take charge (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - Office equipment distributor Ikon Office Solutions said it will cut about 265 jobs in the United States to reduce costs.

AIG has $600 million Fannie, Freddie preferred: source (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc , the world's largest insurer, holds between $550 million and $600 million in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred shares, according to a source familiar with the investment.

Lehman shares drop as Wall Street questions survival (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers shares lost more than 40 percent on Thursday as Wall Street questioned whether the investment bank will survive because of its failure to sell assets to cover losses from toxic real estate investments.

U.S. trade gap widens to $62.2 billion in July on oil (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. trade deficit widened much more than expected in July as average oil prices jumped to a record $124.66 per barrel and the volume of crude oil imports grew to the highest in four years, a U.S. Commerce Department report showed on Thursday.

Music-WALKMEN-DET (2008-09-11)
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U.S. policy post 9/11 has increased terrorism: Syria (2008-09-11)
ROME (Reuters) - The "war on terror" declared by U.S. President George W. Bush after the September 11, 2001 attacks has caused more terrorism than it prevented, Syria's foreign minister said on Thursday.

Washington Mutual shares sink below $2 on capital worry (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc shares sank below $2 for the first time since 1990 as anxiety grew about the largest U.S. savings and loan's mortgage losses, capital needs and survival prospects.

Analysis confirms AIDS epidemic hits men hard (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - AIDS remains largely a disease of gay and bisexual men in the United States but also disproportionately infects black women, according to an analysis published on Thursday.

Bolivia protests deepen, tensions with U.S. rise (2008-09-11)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Violent anti-government protests mounted in Bolivia on Thursday, creating havoc with its key natural gas industry and increasing tensions with the United States.

Russia's Putin says no basis for new Cold War (2008-09-11)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned the West on Thursday against starting an arms race in Europe by stationing a U.S. missile defence shield near Russia's borders and said there was no basis for a new Cold War.

Wall St little changed as bank woes offset oil (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were little changed on Thursday as concerns about the health of the financial system left investors averse to risk, offsetting the positive impact of another drop in the price of oil.

Goldman Sachs is not buying Lehman: sources (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc is not pursuing an acquisition of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc , reflecting concerns that integrating two large investment banks would be too disruptive, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Venezuela cuts U.S. carriers' flights in spat (2008-09-11)
CARACAS (Reuters) - The government of President Hugo Chavez is cutting back Venezuelan flights by U.S. airlines, creating a new source of tension between the United States and one of its leading oil suppliers.

Channel Tunnel closed after truck catches fire (2008-09-11)
PARIS (Reuters) - A fire on a freight train forced the closure of the undersea Channel Tunnel on Thursday, halting all rail traffic, including passenger services, between France and Britain, the tunnel operator said.

Trade gap widens, jobless claims still high (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Record oil import prices propelled the U.S. trade deficit to a 16-month high in July, but a sharp price drop in August promised narrower deficits in future months, government reports showed on Thursday.

Washington Mutual sinks below $2, rallies by close (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc shares sank below $2 for the first time since 1990 as anxiety grew about its capital needs and survival prospects, before staging a powerful late rally.

U.N. envoy in dark after snub by Myanmar's Suu Kyi (2008-09-11)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A U.N. envoy said on Thursday he has no idea why Myanmar's detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi refused to meet him last month.

Venezuela's Chavez expels U.S. ambassador (2008-09-11)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday expelled the U.S. ambassador from the oil-exporting country in an escalating battle between Washington and Latin America's left-wing leaders.

"$5 a Day" a worthy road comedy (2008-09-11)
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Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (2008-09-11)
YANGON (Reuters) - Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday.

Palminteri's "Bronx Tale" still poignant (2008-09-11)
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Fed's Kohn says unclear if home prices stabilizing (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn said on Thursday there was no clear evidence the plunge in U.S. house prices was coming to an end.

Sarah Palin stirs passion in Hollywood (2008-09-11)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sarah Palin represents many things Hollywood liberals love to hate, from her opposition to gay marriage to her support for gun rights, yet she possesses two key qualities they admire -- star appeal and a great script.

Zimbabwe parties say reach power-sharing deal (2008-09-11)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's ruling party and the main opposition MDC have reached a power sharing deal, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and a government source said on Thursday.

Channel Tunnel rail services suspended after fire (2008-09-11)
PARIS (Reuters) - A truck caught fire as it was being transported through the Channel Tunnel on Thursday, forcing the suspension of all rail services between Britain and France, the tunnel operator said.

Treasury says GSE guarantees last past 2009 (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Treasury will guarantee the mortgage securities and debt issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that currently exist and those issued at least into 2010, the Treasury said.

Lehman survival questioned; scramble to sell assets (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's survival was called into question on Thursday as the company scrambled to sell assets to cover losses from toxic real estate investments, sending its shares down as much as 46 percent.

Karzai backs U.S. on Pakistan (2008-09-11)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai backed a proposed U.S. strategy on Thursday to hit al Qaeda and Taliban militants in neighboring Pakistan, but NATO said it would not join any cross-border U.S. raids.

Allergan says Botox works on chronic migraines (2008-09-11)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Allergan Inc said on Thursday that its popular Botox facial wrinkle-smoother worked as a treatment for adults suffering from chronic migraines, according to late-stage clinical data.

Channel Tunnel closed after freight blaze (2008-09-11)
PARIS (Reuters) - A fire on a freight train forced the closure of the undersea Channel Tunnel on Thursday, halting all rail traffic, including passenger services, between Britain and continental Europe, the tunnel operator said.

Ford tells union it has surplus of 4,000 workers (2008-09-11)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co has told the United Auto Workers union that it has about 4,000 more hourly workers than it needs because of slumping sales, a person familiar with the discussion said on Thursday.

Lehman looking for buyers for entire bank: source (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is in talks with potential buyers to sell itself, a source briefed on the matter said.

Study helps unlock secrets of how the brain sees (2008-09-11)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists who tricked monkeys by swapping images of sailboats for teacups have figured out how the brain learns to recognize objects, a finding that could lead to robots that "see."

US: Bolivia's expulsion of envoy was "grave error" (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bolivia's decision to expel U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg was a "grave error," the State Department said on Thursday, adding that U.S. aid to the South American country was under review.

AIG has up to $600 mln in Fan, Fred preferred: source (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc , the world's largest insurer, has exposure to between $550 million and $600 million in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred shares, according to a source familiar with the investment.

Wall Street turns higher as financials trim losses (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks turned higher on Thursday as battered financial shares trimmed losses as investors bet that authorities might work out a plan to stabilize embattled investment bank Lehman Brothers .

Israeli vehicle hit by blast near Gaza: residents (2008-09-11)
GAZA (Reuters) - A bomb exploded on Thursday near an Israeli army vehicle traveling along the border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the first such incident since a ceasefire took hold in June, Palestinian residents said.

Olmert says will quit immediately after party vote (2008-09-11)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Thursday he would resign immediately after his Kadima party chooses a new leader in an election scheduled for next week.

Lehman buyout talk, oil, GM lift Wall Street (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Thursday as a report that major investment bank Lehman Brothers is shopping itself to possible suitors, including Bank of America, drove a last-minute rebound in financial shares.

Lucky break allowed dinosaurs to rule Earth: study (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thanks to a big stroke of luck 200 million years ago, dinosaurs beat out a fearsome group of creatures competing for the right to rule the Earth, scientists said on Thursday.

Colombia's Uribe signals he will not run in 2010 (2008-09-11)
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe signaled he may not run for a third term in 2010, opening a possible battle among politicians to succeed the popular U.S.-backed leader.

Lehman looking for buyers for entire bank: source (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is in talks with potential buyers to sell itself, a source briefed on the matter said.

Goldman may take $2 billion mark-to-market loss: Deutsche (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc may incur mark-to-market losses of about $2 billion from its remaining exposure to troubled assets, said Deutsche Bank analyst Mike Mayo, who cut his third-quarter earnings outlook for the company.

Pakistan kills 100 as tension with U.S. grows (2008-09-11)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani forces killed up to 100 al Qaeda-linked militants in fierce clashes near the Afghan border on Thursday, a security official said, as tensions grew with the United States over how to tackle militancy.

Goldman Sachs not buying Lehman: sources (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Contrary to market speculation, Goldman Sachs Group Inc is not pursuing an acquisition of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc , reflecting concerns that integrating two investment banks would be too disruptive, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Ex-AIG CEO, others settle shareholder lawsuit (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Four former executives of American International Group Inc , including ex-CEO Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, agreed on Thursday to settle a long-standing shareholder lawsuit for $115 million.

NBC says sold 85 pct of 2009 Super Bowl commercials (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - NBC Universal, fresh off its record-setting Olympic coverage, has sold 85 percent of the commercial time available for the 2009 Super Bowl, with a dozen spots selling for $3 million each.

Movie shows apartheid's cruelty and contradictions (2008-09-11)
TORONTO (Reuters) - In apartheid-era South Africa, a country where race meant everything, Sandra Laing was a poster child for injustice, classified "colored" even though her parents were white.

Planning a bailout? Italy shows the way (2008-09-11)
MILAN (Reuters) - Italy may have earned a bad name for changing the rules to rescue its corporations, but in these straitened times Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's bespoke bailout of airline Alitalia puts him in illustrious company.

Wall Street slightly lower as bank woes offset oil (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Thursday in choppy trade as concerns about the financial sector dulled the allure of riskier assets, offsetting falling oil prices.

New way to protect against heart damage explored (2008-09-11)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An enzyme that helps the body break down alcohol also works to limit damage during a heart attack, and an experimental drug can crank up this protective role, scientists said on Thursday.

Samak seeks Thai PM post party again, party split (2008-09-11)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Samak Sundaravej accepted his party's nomination on Thursday to return as prime minister, the official party spokesman said, resuming a collision course with protesters hell-bent on stopping him.

Venezuela's Chavez ejects U.S. ambassador (2008-09-11)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday ordered the U.S. ambassador out of the oil exporting country in an escalating battle between Washington and Latin America's left-wing leaders.

Russia's Putin says no basis for new Cold War (2008-09-11)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday there was no basis for a new Cold War and told the West not to start an arms race in Europe.

France says no one killed in Channel Tunnel fire (2008-09-11)
PARIS (Reuters) - No one was killed in a blaze in the Channel Tunnel on Thursday, the French Interior Ministry said, adding that a chemicals truck had caught fire as it was being transported between France and Britain.

BofA in talks to buy Lehman: WSJ citing source (2008-09-11)
(Reuters) - Bank of America Corp is in talks to buy Lehman Brothers, the Wall Street Journal, citing a source, said on Thursday .

Venezuela cuts flights by U.S. airlines-report (2008-09-11)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela has ordered U.S. airlines to reduce flights after the United States questioned the country's airport security, a Venezuelan newspaper reported on Thursday.

Wall Street pares losses on oil, Lehman hopes (2008-09-11)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks pared losses on Thursday as oil prices dropped toward $100 a barrel and investors bet that authorities might work out a plan to stabilize embattled investment bank Lehman Brothers.

Boeing virtual fence for Mexico border on hold: report (2008-09-10)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is putting off plans for a "virtual fence" being built by Boeing Co along the Mexico border and instead will focus on getting a physical fence in place, the Wall Street Journal said.

Futures cut gains after Lehman posts loss (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures sharply pared gains on Wednesday after U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers posted a quarterly loss and slashed its annual dividend, weighed by fallout from the mortgage crisis.

Pakistani and Afghan leaders eye new ties (2008-09-10)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A pledge by Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to fight militants could build trust between the uneasy U.S. allies, but differences in security strategies could undermine their efforts, analysts said.

North Korea dismisses reports leader Kim is ill (2008-09-10)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea on Wednesday dismissed reports that leader Kim Jong-il might be seriously ill, a development that could trigger a power shift in Asia's only communist dynasty.

Index futures rise; all eyes on Lehman (2008-09-10)
(Reuters) - Stock index futures rose before the start of Wall Street trading, indicating the markets may be in for a rebound after the previous session's steep losses.

China raises death toll from mine mudslide to 128 (2008-09-10)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The death toll from a massive mudslide caused by the collapse of a mine waste reservoir after heavy rain two days ago has risen to 128 people, state television said on Wednesday.

Lehman to announce initiatives; KDB talks uncertain (2008-09-10)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is set to announce its "key strategic initiatives" on Wednesday that could include plans to sell a package of British real estate assets to BlackRock Inc

Stock futures rise; all eyes on Lehman (2008-09-10)
(Reuters) - Stock index futures rose before the start of Wall Street trading, indicating the markets may be in for a rebound after the previous session's steep losses.

North Korea's Kim is fine, his deputy says (2008-09-10)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is not ill, a top official in the secretive state was quoted as saying on Wednesday, dismissing speculation of a possible power shift in the world's first communist dynasty.

Scientists start up giant "Big Bang" machine (2008-09-10)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Scientists at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) started up a huge particle-smashing machine on Wednesday, aiming to re-enact the conditions of the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Old Mutual CEO resigns; sees $135 million writedowns (2008-09-10)
LONDON (Reuters) - British insurer Old Mutal said on Wednesday Chief Executive Jim Sutcliffe would resign with immediate effect, and would be replaced by Julian Roberts.

North Korea's Kim Jong-il not seriously ill: official (2008-09-10)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is not seriously ill, a top official in the secretive state was quoted as saying on Wednesday, dismissing speculation of a possible power shift in the world's first communist dynasty.

Fading hopes after deadly China mudslide (2008-09-10)
TASHAN, China (Reuters) - Angry residents wailed and protested as rescuers in northern China kept hunting on Wednesday for dozens of victims feared trapped by a deluge of mud after a mine waste reservoir collapsed.

U.S. artist "made to dance" by Israeli security (2008-09-10)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli airport security officers made an African American member of the New York-based Alvin Ailey dance troupe perform steps for them before letting him enter the country, the group said on Tuesday.

Russian troops dismantle west Georgia checkpoints (2008-09-10)
KHOBI, Georgia (Reuters) - Russian soldiers were dismantling checkpoints in western Georgia on Wednesday, a Georgian official and a Reuters witness said, two days after Moscow pledged to pull back forces from deep inside its neighbor.

Walgreen fights tobacco sale ban in pharmacies: report (2008-09-10)
(Reuters) - Walgreen Co has asked a San Francisco state court to block implementation of a recently passed city order banning sale of tobacco products at pharmacies, effective October 1, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Lehman to announce initiatives; KDB talks over (2008-09-10)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers is set to announce key initiatives on Wednesday that could include plans to sell a package of British real estate assets to BlackRock Inc to raise much-needed capital to survive the global credit crisis.

NY rockers Sonic Youth return to indie ranks (2008-09-10)
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Thai parties huddle ahead of Friday's PM vote (2008-09-10)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - The parties in Thailand's ruling coalition met behind closed doors on Wednesday to agree a replacement prime minister for Samak Sundaravej, who was removed by the courts for hosting TV cooking shows while in office.

Five line up to be Japan PM; aim fire at opposition (2008-09-10)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Five ruling party candidates vying to become Japan's next prime minister differed on Wednesday over how to stimulate a faltering economy, but they united in an unusually harsh attack on the opposition, as they eyed a likely election.

Coca-Cola to address anti-trust fear on Huiyuan deal (2008-09-10)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co plans to seek approval under China's antitrust law for its $2.5 billion bid for top domestic juice-maker China Huiyuan Juice Group, the final obstacle to what would be the largest foreign takeover of a local firm, Huiyuan said on Wednesday.

Sex-for-secrets "spy" appears in South Korean court (2008-09-10)
SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) - A North Korean woman accused of obtaining state secrets from South Korean military officers for sexual favors appeared in court on Wednesday in handcuffs and wearing a baseball hat and surgical mask.

Mbeki Zimbabwe mediation to end soon: Swaziland (2008-09-10)
MBABANE (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki has told the king of Swaziland that he expects to end his latest mediation efforts in Zimbabwe by the end of this week, Swaziland's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Angola's ruling MPLA wins parliamentary poll (2008-09-10)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos's ruling MPLA party scored a landslide parliamentary election victory on Wednesday with nearly 82 percent of the vote, provisional final results showed.

Oil rebounds from 5-month low as OPEC cut surprises (2008-09-10)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Oil rebounded as much as over $1 on Wednesday from a five-month low, after OPEC agreed to a small but unexpected production cut that some analysts said showed their resolve to keep prices above $100 a barrel.

Berkshire tightens insurance for bank deposits: report (2008-09-10)
(Reuters) - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc has told one of its units to stop insuring bank deposits above the amount guaranteed by the U.S. federal government, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Abandoned baby found at Beijing Bird's Nest toilets (2008-09-10)
BEIJING (Reuters) - A visitor to Beijing's National "Bird's Nest" Stadium was shocked to find a new-born baby abandoned in one of the venue's toilets, local media reported on Wednesday.

CFOs more optimistic about economy: survey (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chief financial officers are more optimistic about the direction of the U.S. economy, but remain concerned about consumer demand and weak credit markets, according to a quarterly survey.

Toronto film festival lacking Oscar sheen (2008-09-10)
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Afghans hail Bush's move to send more troops (2008-09-10)
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan welcomed on Wednesday a U.S. decision to send more troops but reiterated that the strengthening of Afghan security forces was the long-term answer to defeat militants.

Lawyers for Enron investors to get $688 million in fees (2008-09-10)
(Reuters) - Lawyers representing investors in collapsed energy firm Enron Corp will get about $688 million in fees for recovering $7.2 billion from its lenders, auditors and directors, court documents revealed.

Nokia in corporate e-mail deal with Microsoft (2008-09-10)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia Oyj said on Wednesday it has signed a deal with Microsoft to expand corporate e-mail access to 80 million Nokia phones as the world's top handset maker battles Blackberry-maker RIM .

KDB seeking control of Lehman for $6 billion: report (2008-09-10)
SEOUL (Reuters) - State-run Korea Development Bank is seeking a controlling stake in Lehman Brothers for about $6 billion, Yonhap reported on Wednesday, citing a high ranking KDB official.

Coalition meets ahead of Thai PM vote Friday (2008-09-10)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - The parties in Thailand's ruling coalition huddled behind closed doors on Wednesday to agree a replacement prime minister for Samak Sundaravej, who was removed by the courts for hosting a TV cooking show while in office.

Analysts see Bear Stearns-like fate for Lehman at worst (2008-09-10)
(Reuters) - The most attractive option for Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is to reduce troubled assets and raise capital, according to at least two analysts, who see a Bear Stearns-like bailout for Lehman in a worst case scenario.

CFOs more optimistic about U.S. economy -- survey (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chief financial officers are more optimistic about the direction of the U.S. economy, but remain concerned about consumer demand and weak credit markets, according to a quarterly survey.

Tribune Co published link to old story that hit UAL (2008-09-10)
(Reuters) - Tribune Co said on Tuesday a link to a six-year-old article on UAL Corp's 2002 bankruptcy had appeared on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's website before other news organizations mistakenly presented the article as new.

Retail clinic users often have no regular doctor (2008-09-10)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Health clinics in drug and grocery stores tend to attract patients without a primary care doctor who might otherwise fall through the cracks, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

Scientists send first beam round particle-smasher (2008-09-10)
GENEVA (Reuters) - International scientists working at an underground complex started up a huge particle-smashing machine on Wednesday aiming to recreate the conditions of the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Pentagon cancels air tanker request round: lawmaker (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon has canceled requests for proposal in a $35 billion aerial-refueling competition, U.S. Representative Norm Dicks said on Wednesday.

Wall St rises on Lehman, tech, FedEx (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Wednesday after embattled Lehman Brothers announced steps that investors said may help the investment bank bolster its capital position, easing worries about its stability.

Hathaway's ex pleads guilty in New York to fraud (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Italian businessman who dated Hollywood star Anne Hathaway and did a deal with supermarket mogul Ron Burkle pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of fraud in which he lied about links to the Vatican.

Senator seeks to have sex sting plea voided (2008-09-10)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Lawyers for U.S. Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho asked a Minnesota Court on Wednesday to void the guilty plea he made following his arrest last year in a men's toilet sex-sting operation.

NY rockers Sonic Youth return to indie ranks (2008-09-10)
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Deutsche unit to pay record fine for short sales (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank Securities Inc has agreed to pay a $575,000 fine for short-selling violations in the largest penalty to date from NYSE Regulation.

"King of kitsch" meets Sun King in Versailles show (2008-09-10)
VERSAILLES, France (Reuters) - King Louis XIV was a visionary patron of the arts but he could never have imagined an inflatable lobster, a porcelain statue of Michael Jackson or a giant balloon dog gracing his beloved Versailles palace.

Lehman plans sales, posts $3.9 billion quarterly loss (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said it plans to sell a majority stake in its investment management unit and spin off commercial real estate assets, but failed to announce specific transactions and posted a third-quarter loss of $3.93 billion.

U.N. prosecutor optimistic on Mladic arrest (2008-09-10)
BELGRADE (Reuters) - The United Nations chief war crimes prosecutor said on Wednesday he was optimistic that Serbia would succeed in its efforts to arrest remaining war crimes fugitives.

Mexico's Cafe Tacuba lead Latin Grammy nominations (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mexican rock group Cafe Tacuba led the Latin Grammy Award nominations on Wednesday, picking up six nominations in a list that recognized new talent as well as better-known names.

Iran says keen to resume talks on nuclear program (2008-09-10)
LONDON (Reuters) - Iran is keen to resume talks with major powers on its disputed nuclear program to clear up "ambiguities" in the discussions, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari said on Wednesday.

Fourteen killed in grenade attack in Pakistan mosque (2008-09-10)
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Suspected Islamist militants killed at least 14 people in a gun and grenade attack on a mosque in Pakistan's restive northwest on Wednesday, officials said.

U.S. waited too long to try Klansman, court says (2008-09-10)
MIAMI (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors waited decades too long to try a former Ku Klux Klansman on charges of holding two black men at gunpoint while companions beat and killed them in 1964, an appeals court said in throwing out his conviction.

Big Bang experiment gets turned on (2008-09-10)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Physicists around the world, some in pajamas and others with champagne, celebrated the first tests on Wednesday of a huge particle-smashing machine they hope will simulate the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Court says Dutch not to blame for Srebrenica deaths (2008-09-10)
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - A Dutch court on Wednesday threw out claims from survivors of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre that Dutch U.N. troops guarding the Bosnian town allowed Bosnian Serb forces to murder their relatives.

Pope to find unlikely ally in France's Sarkozy (2008-09-10)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict and French President Nicolas Sarkozy would appear to be unlikely allies in a battle to inject more Christian values back into Europe.

OPEC says to cut output as supplies swell (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - After hours of wrangling, OPEC on Wednesday agreed to revise its complex output targets and said the move would effectively cut supplies by half a million barrels per day (bpd).

CORRECTED: Scientists send first beam round particle-smasher (2008-09-10)
GENEVA (Reuters) - International scientists working at an underground complex started up a huge particle-smashing machine on Wednesday aiming to recreate the conditions of the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Flat open eyed; Lehman offsets tech, FedEx (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a flat to higher open on Wednesday as uncertainty about the outlook for investment bank Lehman Brothers tempered news of positive outlooks from chip maker Texas Instruments and shipper FedEx .

NBC shows return to iTunes after year-long feud (2008-09-10)
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Wall Street loses ground as financials weigh (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and the S&P 500 briefly turned negative in choppy trade on Wednesday as persistent worries about the health of the financial sector punctured an earlier bounce.

CORRECTED: IAEA's ElBaradei will not seek another term (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed ElBaradei plans to leave office after his third term expires in November 2009, according to an IAEA memo released on Wednesday.

IAEA's ElBaradei will not seek another term (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed ElBaradei plans to leave office after his third term expires in November 2009, according to an IAEA memo released on Wednesday.

Angola's MPLA wins parliamentary poll, extends rule (2008-09-10)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA party secured a landslide parliamentary election victory on Wednesday, setting the stage for changes that critics fear could make the presidency even more powerful and weaker other institutions.

Strong quake hits southern Iran near oil port (2008-09-10)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake struck southern Iran on Wednesday near Bandar Abbas, site of a major Iranian oil refinery, and a provincial official said there could be fatalities.

Lipstick comments color presidential campaign (2008-09-10)
ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) - With the U.S. presidential race tightening in a struggle for women voters, John McCain on Wednesday seized on a remark about lipstick by rival Barack Obama as a sexist attack on his running mate.

Energy, tech gains drive S&P, Nasdaq higher (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended gains on Wednesday as gains in the energy and tech sectors drove the Nasdaq and S&P 500 indexes up more than 1 percent each.

Pentagon cancels tanker competition for now (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday canceled a $35 billion air tanker competition between Northrop Grumman Corp and Boeing Co for now, saying the contest had become too emotional and complex to be decided before the Bush administration leaves office in January.

IAEA chief ElBaradei will not seek another term (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel laureate who has probed a rash of alleged atomic bomb programs, plans to leave office after his third term expires next year, officials said on Wednesday.

CORRECTED: NY rockers Sonic Youth return to indie ranks (2008-09-10)
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Washington Mutual at 17-year low, debt risk soars (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc stock sank as much as 30 percent to its lowest level in 17 years and the perceived risk of its debt soared on concern it won't find a buyer or raise enough capital to combat soaring mortgage losses.

Huge star explosion aimed gamma ray burst at Earth (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A gigantic explosion of a star halfway across the universe long ago aimed a burst of gamma rays directly at Earth, an international team of scientists said on Wednesday.

Merrill, Goldman, Morgan fall after Lehman (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of top U.S. investment banks fell on Wednesday after Lehman Brothers posted a steeper-than-expected quarterly loss and slashed its annual dividend.

IAEA chief ElBaradei will not seek third term (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei will not seek a third term when his current tenure expires in November 2009, according to an IAEA memo released on Wednesday.

Israeli army helicopter crashes in Israel: radio (2008-09-10)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli military helicopter crashed in northern Israel on Wednesday, Israel's Army Radio reported.

Kenny Chesney tops country music award nominations (2008-09-10)
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Kenny Chesney, country music's reigning "entertainer of the year," received seven nominations for the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday.

India orders probe as South Asia floods and disease strike (2008-09-10)
PATNA, India (Reuters) - Authorities battling devastating floods in eastern India ordered a probe on Wednesday to determine whether negligence contributed to the disaster, while more people drowned and diseases spread across South Asia.

CFOs more optimistic about U.S. economy: survey (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chief financial officers are more optimistic about the direction of the U.S. economy, but remain concerned about consumer demand and weak credit markets, according to a quarterly survey.

U.S. frets nuts-and-bolts will hinder Iraqi security (2008-09-10)
MUTHANNA AIR FIELD, Iraq (Reuters) - The mechanics First Lieutenant Ahmed Abbas commands are capable enough, but the Iraqi army officer complains they can't work miracles without spare parts for broken-down Humvees.

EU sees lower euro zone 2008 growth, higher inflation (2008-09-10)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone economic growth will halve in 2008 from 2007 and inflation will be much higher because of financial turmoil, soaring commodity prices and housing market shocks, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

Futures rise after sell-off (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday as investors looked to scour the market for beaten-down shares, a day after Wall Street had its worst slide in one and a half years.

Anger after 128 killed by huge China mudslide (2008-09-10)
TASHAN, China (Reuters) - Angry residents wailed and protested as rescuers in northern China hunted on Wednesday for dozens of victims still missing two days after a deluge of sludge from a collapsed mine waste reservoir killed at least 128 people.

IAEA chief ElBaradei will not seek another term (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed ElBaradei plans to leave office after his third term expires in November 2009, according to an IAEA memo released on Wednesday.

Lehman plans sales, sees $3.9 billion loss (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said it plans to sell a majority stake in its investment management division and spin off commercial real estate assets as the struggling U.S. investment bank fights to raise capital.

Iran quake may have caused deaths, says official (2008-09-10)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - An earthquake which shook southern Iran may have caused fatalities and rescue teams are heading to the area, a provincial official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Dow, S&P 500 futures drop on Lehman jitters (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial stock index futures dropped on Wednesday as uncertainty about the outlook for Lehman Brothers flared anew after the U.S. investment bank posted quarterly results.

South Korea's KDB confirms talks with Lehman ended (2008-09-10)
SEOUL (Reuters) - State-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) confirmed on Wednesday it was no longer in talks with Lehman Brothers over a possible multi-billion dollar investment in the troubled U.S. bank.

Scientists send first beam round atom-smasher (2008-09-10)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) started up a huge particle-smashing machine on Wednesday, aiming to re-enact the conditions of the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Scientists start world's biggest physics experiment (2008-09-10)
GENEVA (Reuters) - International scientists celebrated the successful start of a huge particle-smashing machine on Wednesday aiming to recreate the conditions of the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Disney says business resilient despite economy (2008-09-10)
LONDON (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co.'s business is proving resilient in the face of tough economic conditions although the crisis is not over yet, Chief Executive Robert Iger said on Wednesday.

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico, aims at Texas (2008-09-10)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike swirled over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, targeting Texas near the U.S. offshore oil patch after toppling decrepit buildings in Cuba's capital and ripping the communist-run island from end to end.

Coca-Cola bid for Huiyuan to test China antitrust law (2008-09-10)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co plans to seek approval under China's antitrust law for its $2.5 billion bid for top domestic juice maker Huiyuan, the final obstacle to what would be the largest foreign takeover of a local firm.

Lehman strategic plan in sight as KDB talks end (2008-09-10)
SEOUL/LONDON (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers will try to regain investor confidence on Wednesday with a set of "key strategic initiatives" as hopes for a Korean-led rescue crumbled only hours ahead of the planned announcement.

Pentagon cancels tanker refueling contract rerun (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Department of Defense is to cancel the recompetition of a $35 billion aerial refueling tanker contract on Wednesday, saying it is impossible to decide a winner by January, which was the expected deadline, a source familiar with the situation said.

ImClone says has received $70 share buyout offer (2008-09-10)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Biotechnology company ImClone Systems Inc said on Wednesday that it has received an offer from a large pharmaceuticals company to buy ImClone for $70 a share in cash.

CORRECTED: IAEA chief ElBaradei will not seek another term (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei will not seek a fourth term when his current tenure expires in November 2009, according to an IAEA memo released on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe rivals resume talks, voice optimism (2008-09-10)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's political rivals returned to power-sharing talks on Wednesday with hopes growing of an agreement soon to end the political crisis.

T-Mobile to offer Android smartphone soon: sources (2008-09-10)
FRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile unit is set to start selling a mobile phone based on Google Inc's Android software within weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.

Pentagon hands tanker tangle to next president (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department has ended for now a $35 billion transatlantic aerial-refueling competition, handing a nagging seven-year headache to the next administration and boosting Boeing Co's hopes to keep Airbus planes out of the Air Force fleet.

Son of Sarkozy marries Jewish heiress (2008-09-10)
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's 22-year-old son Jean, who has launched his own political career, married a member of the Jewish family that founded one of France's biggest retailers on Wednesday.

Energy, techs lead Wall St. higher (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks closed higher on Wednesday as OPEC's move to shore up oil prices boosted energy shares and Texas Instruments' outlook soothed fears about technology spending.

Lehman sets asset sales plan, posts $4 billion loss (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers, desperate for capital and fighting for its survival, unveiled a plan to shed weak assets and sell a stake in its funds business, but investors were skeptical and its shares hit new lows.

Doomsday fears come with territory, scientists say (2008-09-10)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Doomsday predictions surrounding the start-up of Europe's Large Hadron Collider -- a giant particle-smasher designed to explore the origins of the universe -- come as little surprise to physicists.

Bolivia tells U.S. ambassador to leave, protests mount (2008-09-10)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist president, Evo Morales, ordered the U.S. ambassador on Wednesday to leave the country, blaming him for intensified opposition protests that shut down a natural gas pipeline to Brazil.

"Early warning" auto safety data made public (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Documents and figures about fatalities, injuries and property damage from U.S. automotive accidents were posted online on Wednesday by the government, acting under a court order and following years of pressure from consumer and safety groups to make the information public.

South Korea on alert for possible changes in North (2008-09-10)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's president convened an emergency meeting of his cabinet to prepare for possible changes in North Korea after speculation its leader Kim Jong-il had suffered a stroke, an official said on Thursday.

Jewish West Bank settlers grab more land: report (2008-09-10)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank have annexed tens of thousands of acres of land, some of it privately owned by Palestinians, an Israeli human rights group said on Thursday.

Angels clinch West with 4-2 win over Yankees (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Angels clinched the American League West division with a 4-2 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Wednesday.

Bush authorizes commando raids in Pakistan: report (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush secretly approved orders in July that for the first time allow U.S. special forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without the approval of the Pakistani government, The New York Times reported on Thursday.

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico, aims at Tex (2008-09-10)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Wednesday on a track that would skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch before slamming into the Texas coast on Saturday.

Mistakes but no regrets says Britney Spears' mom (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lynne Spears says every mother makes mistakes but she has no regrets about letting her daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn pursue their dreams of stardom.

Health of largest U.S. financials improving: IIF (2008-09-10)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The health of the largest U.S. financial firms is on the mend as the fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis begins to moderate, the managing director of a leading international banking lobby said on Thursday.

Scientists launch huge particle-smasher experiment (2008-09-10)
GENEVA (Reuters) - International scientists celebrated the successful start of a huge particle-smashing machine on Wednesday which aims to simulate the conditions of the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Mobile companies like cash from data, but worry about devices (2008-09-10)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. mobile phone companies have begun to see substantial returns from delivering data and not just voice, fueled by greater openness on their networks, industry leaders said on Wednesday.

Northern Japan quake has magnitude 7 (2008-09-10)
TOKYO (Reuters) - An earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on Thursday had a preliminary magnitude of 7, the meteorological agency said on Thursday.

Northrop gets potential $5.1 billion U.S. carrier deal (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Northrop Grumman Corp won a contract worth up to $5.1 billion over seven years to complete the design and build the future Gerald R. Ford, the first in a new class of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the Defense Department said on Wednesday.

Strong quake jolts northern Japan: media (2008-09-10)
TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake jolted Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday, public broadcaster NHK said.

OPEC says to trim excess output and talk to Russia (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - OPEC on Wednesday deepened its links with major non-OPEC producer Russia and said it was cutting back output by around half a million barrels per day.

Tribune blames Google for UAL bankruptcy story (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tribune Co on Wednesday blamed technology owned by search engine company Google Inc for treating an outdated story about UAL Corp's bankruptcy as current, breaking news.

"Dark Knight" plans re-release for Oscar push (2008-09-10)
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Strong quake hits northern Japan, no damage seen (2008-09-10)
TOKYO (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 struck off the coast of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday, the Japanese meteorological agency said, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Rights group calls on China to end torture (2008-09-10)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is not doing enough to end torture by police and in jails where the practice is still widespread, a human rights group said a in new report. Human Rights in China said there was "ample evidence" of torture being used to extract confessions and as a tool of political repression.

Subprime lawsuits outpace S&L cases: study (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. subprime-mortgage crisis has now spurred more federal lawsuits than the savings and loan debacle of the late 1980s and early 1990s ever did, data released on Wednesday shows.

Pentagon admits Afghan strategy not succeeding (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military conceded it was not winning the fight against an increasingly deadly insurgency in Afghanistan and said on Wednesday it would revise its strategy to combat militant safe havens in Pakistan.

Earthquake strikes in northern Chile copper area (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck in northern Chile on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Indonesia issues tsunami alert after strong quake (2008-09-10)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's meteorology agency issued a tsunami warning on Thursday after a strong quake, measured at 7.6 on the Richter scale, hit the eastern Indonesian Moluccas islands.

Ruffalo and Hawke on target in gritty crime drama (2008-09-10)
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Chrysler to introduce 7 major models in 2010: executive (2008-09-10)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC plans to introduce seven major vehicle models in 2010 and expects to produce electric-drive vehicles not long after that, Co-President Jim Press told reporters on Wednesday.

RIM launches its first BlackBerry flip phone (2008-09-10)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Research In Motion Ltd is launching a flip version of its popular BlackBerry Pearl smartphone, a move that reasserts its push into the retail consumer market.

Wiggles trump Kylie Minogue on Aussie rich list (2008-09-10)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Children's entertainment group The Wiggles are Australia's richest performers, but pop star Kylie Minogue is only a few million dollars short of the top spot on a list laden with Hollywood actors and singers.

Paris Hilton lights up Toronto film festival (2008-09-10)
TORONTO (Reuters) - It's not easy being Paris Hilton, always being photographed by the paparazzi doing things as mundane as ordering a hamburger at a drive-in.

Hathaway's ex pleads guilty to fraud (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Italian businessman who dated Hollywood star Anne Hathaway and did a deal with supermarket mogul Ron Burkle pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of fraud in which he lied about links to the Vatican.

Chrysler to introduce 7 major models in 2010: executive (2008-09-10)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC plans to introduce seven major vehicle models in 2010 and remains on track to meet its internal financial targets for 2008, Vice Chairman and President Jim Press told reporters on Wednesday.

Pulte tops customer satisfaction rankings: study (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The housing downturn has forced U.S. home builders to improve customer service, resulting in the highest-ever overall customer satisfaction level as measured by an annual survey.

China's big quake doubles chances of more (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's giant earthquake in May near Chengdu caused so much geologic stress in the Tibetan Plateau that it doubled the chance of more big quakes along three neighboring faults, scientists reported.

Energy, Lehman plan, tech lift Wall St (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose in choppy trade on Wednesday as rising oil prices lifted shares of energy companies and strategic steps outlined by Lehman Brothers calmed concerns about the investment bank's outlook.

Israeli army helicopter crashes in Israel (2008-09-10)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli Cobra attack helicopter crashed in northern Israel on Wednesday in what appeared to be a training accident, an army spokesman said.

Russia accuses EU of twisting Georgia peace deal (2008-09-10)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused European Union leaders on Wednesday of unscrupulously distorting a Russia-EU deal on the deployment of international ceasefire monitors in Georgia.

Indicted former leader to be treated in Serbia (2008-09-10)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, on trial in The Hague on war crimes charges, has returned temporarily to Serbia for a medical procedure, the U.N. war crimes tribunal said on Wednesday.

Pentagon punts tanker decision to next president (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department ended for now a $35 billion transatlantic aerial-refueling competition, handing a nagging seven-year headache to the next administration and boosting Boeing Co's hopes to keep Airbus planes out of the Air Force fleet.

Energy, tech drive up market, offset financials (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Wednesday as OPEC's move to shore up oil prices pushed energy shares higher and a reassuring outlook from Texas Instruments relieved concerns about technology spending, offsetting growing concerns about the health of the banking sector.

Iran quake kills 4, oil terminal unscathed (2008-09-10)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake struck southern Iran on Wednesday near Bandar Abbas, site of a major oil refinery, killing at least four people and injuring 26, officials and state media said.

Crime still pays for director Guy Ritchie (2008-09-10)
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U.S. to sell $7 bln missile-defense system to UAE (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon has proposed the sale of an advanced U.S. missile defense system valued at up to $7 billion to the United Arab Emirates, the Pentagon said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Bank of America settles Massachusetts ARS case (2008-09-10)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp agreed on Wednesday to buy back billions of dollars in illiquid securities to settle a probe that had been initiated by the state of Massachusetts.

U.S. to include Pakistan in Afghanistan strategy (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military, faced with rising insurgent violence in Afghanistan, will revise its strategy for region to include militant safe havens in neighboring Pakistan, the top U.S. military officer said on Wednesday.

Israel's Barak warns of growing Hezbollah arsenal (2008-09-10)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas have amassed more than 40,000 rockets since the 2006 war with Israel, putting most of the Jewish state within range, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe's Mugabe hopes for a deal on Thursday (2008-09-10)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said on Wednesday he was hopeful that a power-sharing deal could be signed with the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change on Thursday.

Energy and tech lift Wall Street, indexes rise over 1 percent (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday as OPEC's move to shore up oil prices boosted energy shares and Texas Instruments' strong outlook eased fears about technology spending, offsetting anxiety about the banking sector.

Boeing CFO says strike more costly than last (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co's chief financial officer said on Wednesday he would be happy if the strike by the company's machinists were resolved in a month, but warned that the work stoppage could be more costly than the previous month-long strike in 2005.

ImClone says it received $70-a-share buyout offer (2008-09-10)
BOSTON (Reuters) - ImClone Systems Inc said on Wednesday it has received a takeover offer of $70 a share from a large pharmaceutical company, topping an earlier bid of $60 a share from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and sending its shares up 7 percent.

WaMu stock down 22 percent over accounting rules (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc shares slumped 22 percent on Wednesday on fears that new accounting rules may dissuade potential buyers for the distressed savings and loan.

Indonesia lifts tsunami alert after strong quake (2008-09-10)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's meteorology agency lifted a tsunami warning issued on Thursday after a strong undersea quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the eastern Moluccas islands.

Zimbabwe rivals hopeful of power-sharing deal (2008-09-10)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said on Wednesday he was hopeful that a power-sharing deal could be signed with the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change on Thursday

U.S. charges Afghan prisoner at Guantanamo (2008-09-10)
MIAMI (Reuters) - U.S. military prosecutors filed charges on Wednesday against an Afghan prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, alleging he committed war crimes by storing and hiding anti-tank mines in his homeland.

Restaurant chains bet on consumer thirst (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Whether hot or ice-cold, beverages have become a key offering as restaurant chains ranging from McDonald's Corp and Wendy's International Inc to Pinkberry try to spur traffic and additional sales.

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico, aims at Texas (2008-09-10)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Wednesday on a track that would skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch before slamming into the Texas coast on Saturday.

U.S. government workers in oil industry sex, drug scandal (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Interior Department employees who oversaw oil drilling on federal lands had sex and used illegal drugs with workers at energy companies where they were conducting official business, an internal government report said on Wednesday.

South Korean cemetery keeps Cold War alive (2008-09-10)
PAJU, South Korea (Reuters) - There is no resting in peace at South Korea's "Enemy Cemetery."

U.S. government workers in oil industry sex and drug scandal (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Interior Department employees who oversaw oil drilling on federal lands had sex and used illegal drugs with workers at the energy companies they regulated, an internal government report said on Wednesday.

Mistakes, but no regrets says Britney Spears' mom (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lynne Spears says every mother makes mistakes but she has no regrets about letting her daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn pursue their dreams of stardom.

Bolivia asks U.S. ambassador to leave, protests mount (2008-09-10)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Leftist President Evo Morales on Wednesday asked the U.S. ambassador to leave Bolivia, blaming him for intensified opposition protests that shut down a key natural gas pipeline to Brazil.

Apple officers settle shareholder suits for $14 million (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal judge in San Jose has given preliminary approval to a $14 million settlement of shareholder derivative claims against current and former Apple Inc executives, court documents showed.

Marilyn Monroe tryst sofa up for auction (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A sofa on which actor Glenn Ford supposedly made love with Marilyn Monroe is to be auctioned off in October.

Wall St. gains as energy, tech offset bank fears (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Wednesday as OPEC's move to shore up oil prices boosted energy shares and Texas Instruments' outlook soothed fear about technology spending even as worries persisted about the health of the banking sector.

Northrop gets U.S. carrier deal worth up to $5.1 billion (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Northrop Grumman Corp has won a contract worth up to $5.1 billion to complete the design and build the future Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship in a new class of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the Defense Department said on Wednesday.

Son of Sarkozy marries heiress (2008-09-10)
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's 22-year-old son Jean, who has launched his own political career, married a member of the family that founded one of France's biggest retailers on Wednesday.

Medical "home" plan cut hospital admissions: study (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new system that assigned a medical "home" to patients, usually a primary care practice, cut hospital admissions by 20 percent and costs by 7 percent, according to a report published on Wednesday.

Washington Mutual tumbles 30 percent to 17-year low (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc shares sank 30 percent to a 17-year low and the perceived risk of its debt soared on worries the largest U.S. savings and loan will not find a buyer or raise enough capital to combat soaring mortgage losses.

Sarah McLachlan splitting from husband (2008-09-10)
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Television finds unlikely ally in troubled economy (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's been a tough run for the television business, with all the buzz around new media and those killer devices that let audiences skip right through commercials.

Mexicans fleeing drug war help El Paso house market (2008-09-10)
EL PASO, Texas (Reuters) - Mexicans fleeing a gruesome drug war are buying homes across the border in El Paso, helping keep the Texan city's property market afloat despite the worst U.S. housing crisis in decades.

Chavez lashes out at U.S. over "suitcase scandal" (2008-09-10)
CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday derided as a "show" a U.S. trial of a Venezuelan man accused of acting as a foreign agent in a scandal over an attempt to smuggle $800,000 into Argentina in a suitcase.

Palestinian police make a difference in Hebron (2008-09-10)
HEBRON, West Bank (Reuters) - A new chapter in the history of the biblical town of Hebron is being inscribed in a Palestinian police blotter.

Two killed in Israeli army helicopter crash (2008-09-10)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Two Israeli pilots were killed on Wednesday when their Cobra attack helicopter crashed in northern Israel in what appeared to be a training accident, the military said.

New NASA rocket passes initial design review (2008-09-10)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA on Wednesday cleared the launch system being developed to replace the space shuttle for a detailed design review, confident the Ares rocket will meet technical, safety and budget requirements.

New Fox drama "Dollhouse" suspends production (2008-09-10)
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Bolivia asks U.S. ambassador to leave (2008-09-10)
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian leftist President Evo Morales on Wednesday asked U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg to leave the South American country after accusing him of instigating protests against his government.

Anne Hathaway breaks silence on boyfriend arrest (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Anne Hathaway says she felt like "a rug was pulled out from under me" when her Italian boyfriend, Raffaello Follieri, was arrested on fraud charges and that she is still looking for a new place to live.

Energy and tech lift Wall Street (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday as OPEC's move to shore up oil prices boosted energy shares and Texas Instruments' strong outlook eased fears about technology spending, offsetting anxiety about the banking sector.

IAEA chief ElBaradei will not seek fourth term (2008-09-10)
VIENNA (Reuters) - U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei plans to leave office after his third term runs out next year, officials said on Wednesday.

Strong quake jolts northern Japan: media (2008-09-10)
TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake jolted Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday, public broadcaster NHK said.

Study could boost forecasts for Vesuvius eruptions (2008-09-10)
LONDON (Reuters) - The magma pool feeding the Italian volcano that destroyed Pompeii in AD 79 has shifted in the past 2,000 years, a discovery that could help in predicting future eruptions, researchers said in the journal Nature.

Lehman plans sales, posts $4 billion quarterly loss (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc plans to sell a majority stake in its asset management unit and spin off commercial real estate holdings, hoping to restore investor confidence and ensure its survival after reporting a record quarterly loss of about $4 billion.

Chrysler to introduce 7 major models in 2010 (2008-09-10)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Chrysler LLC plans to introduce seven major vehicle models in 2010 and remains on track to meet its internal financial targets for 2008, Vice Chairman and President Jim Press told reporters on Wednesday.

Ike could reach Cat 4 strength before landfall: NHC (2008-09-10)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike could reach Category 4 strength in the next 48 hours before making landfall, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday.

McCain and Obama on same side in war on cancer (2008-09-10)
NORFOLK, Virginia (Reuters) - If there is one war John McCain and Barack Obama agree on, it's the one against cancer.

Peace breaks out in war about IRA movie (2008-09-10)
TORONTO (Reuters) - After months of complaints, a former infiltrator into the Irish Republican Army has dropped protests of a film about his life, praising the final version and insisting that a cash settlement had nothing to do with his decision.

Anne Hathaway's ex admits to fraud (2008-09-10)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Italian businessman who dated Hollywood star Anne Hathaway and did a deal with supermarket mogul Ron Burkle, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of fraud in which he lied about links to the Vatican.

Bank of America settles an auction-rate probe (2008-09-10)
BOSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp agreed on Wednesday to buy back $4.5 billion of illiquid auction-rate securities, settling a probe led by Massachusetts regulators.

"Mad Men" spins bright future from past (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The characters drink like fish, smoke like chimneys, treat women like doormats and are some of the most admired men on U.S. television.

Young Jeezy, New Kids lead U.S. album chart (2008-09-10)
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Mexico's Cafe Tacuba leads Latin Grammy nominations (2008-09-10)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mexican rock group Cafe Tacuba led the field of Latin Grammy contenders on Wednesday, picking up six nominations in a list that recognized new talent like singer-songwriter Kany Garcia of Puerto Rico and established superstars like Andres Calamaro.

Russia troops prepare to leave Georgia buffer zone (2008-09-10)
KHOBI, Georgia (Reuters) - Russian soldiers began dismantling checkpoints in western Georgia on Wednesday in line with a French-brokered ceasefire deal, but disagreement broke out over the international force that will replace them.

RIM launches first BlackBerry flip phone (2008-09-10)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Research In Motion Ltd is launching a flip version of its popular BlackBerry Pearl smartphone, a move that reasserts its push into the retail consumer market.

Pentagon passes tanker decision to next president (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon is ending for now a $35 billion transatlantic aerial-refueling competition, handing a seven-year headache to the next administration and boosting Boeing Co's hopes to keep Airbus planes out of the fleet.

Indian girl kills self over "Big Bang" fear: family (2008-09-10)
BHOPAL, India (Reuters) - A teenage girl in central India killed herself on Wednesday after being traumatized by media reports that a "Big Bang" experiment in Europe could bring about the end of the world, her father said.

Pentagon admits Afghan strategy not succeeding (2008-09-10)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military conceded it was not winning the battle against an increasingly deadly insurgency in Afghanistan and said on Wednesday it would revise its strategy for the region to include militant safe havens in neighboring Pakistan.

Bulgaria to extend Markov "poisoned umbrella" probe (2008-09-10)
SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria has decided to extend its investigation into the murder in 1978 of dissident Georgi Markov in London with a poison-tipped umbrella, a top investigator said on Wednesday.

Big fund firms among top holders in sinking stocks (2008-09-10)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Some of America's biggest and best-known mutual fund companies likely suffered heavy losses multiple times this week because they had large holdings in the market's worst performing stocks.

GM says plans hybrid cars for Europe in three years (2008-09-10)
BERLIN (Reuters) - General Motors Corp plans to launch hybrid cars in Europe in around three years, GM Europe chief Carl-Peter Forster said on Wednesday.

U.S. hires lawyer for Google/Yahoo inquiry (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has hired Sandy Litvack, who was its former antitrust chief and Walt Disney Co's former vice chairman, to consult on its probe of Google Inc's search advertising deal with Yahoo , a source close to the investigation said.

Fannie, Freddie need restructuring to limit risks: IMF (2008-09-09)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The U.S. government's move to take control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will help shore up the housing market, the banking system and the wider economy, a senior International Monetary Fund official said on Tuesday.

Futures rise on lower oil, mortgage optimism (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures rose on Tuesday as a decline in oil prices and mortgage rates buoyed sentiment as did positive broker actions on bellwethers including Hewlett-Packard .

U.S. court revives cases against Enron executives (2008-09-09)
(Reuters) - A ruling in the federal appeals court in New Orleans on Monday revived Texas state court fraud cases targeting Enron Corp's former leaders and more than a dozen financial institutions accused of playing a role in the company's collapse, legal documents showed.

U.S. frees cameraman working for Baghdad TV station (2008-09-09)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military has released an Iraqi cameraman who works for a television station in Baghdad after detaining him in a raid last week.

Afghans ready to open graves to prove civil deaths (2008-09-09)
AZIZABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Relatives of Afghans killed in a U.S.-led coalition raid in western Herat province on Tuesday offered to dig open graves to back up claims of large-scale civilian deaths.

LL Cool J makes a grand "Exit" on new album (2008-09-09)
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UK's BG gives up battle for Australia's Origin (2008-09-09)
LONDON (Reuters) - UK gas producer BG Group admitted defeat in its hostile takeover bid for Australian utility and gas fields owner Origin Energy , after Origin formed a joint venture with U.S. oil major ConocoPhillips

MSNBC votes off feuding anchors (2008-09-09)
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Lone Star submits papers to avoid Seoul sanctions (2008-09-09)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Lone Star has submitted documents requested by South Korean authorities that could help the private equity house avoid sanctions including the forced sale of its shares in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB), already offered to HSBC.

KDB mum on Lehman deal, eyes top 3 Asia spot (2008-09-09)
SEOUL (Reuters) - State-owned Korea Development Bank (KDB) on Tuesday kept mum on its talks with Lehman Brothers over a possible investment, but said it was aiming to be a top three investment bank in Asia within the next five years.

Credit Suisse sees opportunities in market crisis (2008-09-09)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss bank giant Credit Suisse Group said on Tuesday it was in good shape despite the subprime-led financial crisis and looked to seize opportunities arising from the turmoil.

Google and HSBC back African Internet project (2008-09-09)
LONDON (Reuters) - Internet firm Google and Europe's biggest bank HSBC have thrown their weight behind an ambitious plan to provide cheap, high-speed Web access to 3 billion people in Africa and other emerging markets.

Angry South Asia flood victims protest in streets (2008-09-09)
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Fresh monsoon flooding brought more death and distress across South Asia on Tuesday, while many of the hundreds of thousands of flood victims in relief camps complained of poor facilities.

U.S. targets Haqqani network in Afghan east (2008-09-09)
KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S military said on Tuesday it had targeted the network of veteran Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani during an operation in eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan, and detained two suspected militants.

The stage is set for a spunky season on Broadway (2008-09-09)
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U.S. targets Haqqani network in Afghan east, 2 held (2008-09-09)
KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S military said on Tuesday it had targeted the network of veteran Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani during an operation in eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan, and detained two suspected militants.

Group seeks end to gridlock on health reform (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Frustrated by the political bickering that has blocked U.S. health care reform for years, a coalition of business and labor groups has joined with an advocacy group for the elderly to try to break the gridlock and achieve success under the next president.

Nokia says eyes more Internet buys (2008-09-09)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia's Internet offering is far from ready and the world's top cellphone maker is seeking further acquisitions to speed up roll out of new services, Niklas Savander, the head of the unit, said in an interview.

North Korea used taekwondo group to plot murder: report (2008-09-09)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea infiltrated an international taekwondo group, using it as a front to send out spies and plot the killing of a South Korean president who ruled for much of the 1980s, newspapers said on Tuesday.

U.S. hiring seen weaker in fourth quarter: Manpower (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A measure of U.S. employment expectations fell to its lowest level since 2003, amid signs the U.S. job market slowdown is spreading to economies around the globe, according to a quarterly survey by Manpower Inc released on Tuesday.

Angola's ruling MPLA set for victory, eyes reforms (2008-09-09)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA is heading for a landslide victory in the parliamentary election, a result which will give it the power to make sweeping changes to the oil-rich African nation's institutions.

Iraq parliament speaker wants poll law row resolved (2008-09-09)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliamentary speaker has summoned the heads of political parties to a meeting on Wednesday to try to speed up passage of a stalled provincial elections law, officials said on Tuesday.

Angola's MPLA set for huge parliamentary majority (2008-09-09)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA is headed for a landslide victory in the parliamentary election, giving it the power to make sweeping changes to the oil-rich African nation's institutions, preliminary results showed on Tuesday.

U.S. Muslim leader W. Deen Mohammed dead at 74 (2008-09-09)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former U.S. Nation of Islam leader W. Deen Mohammed, who succeeded his father, Elijah Muhammad, as head of the black nationalist group, died on Tuesday at age 74, his family said.

South Ossetia says finds 500 of 1,600 civilian dead (2008-09-09)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Authorities in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia said on Tuesday they had located the remains of 500 of the 1,600 people they say died during Georgia's August 7/8 bombardment and invasion.

Google, HSBC back cheap Web access for Africa (2008-09-09)
LONDON/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Google and Europe's biggest bank HSBC have thrown their weight behind a plan to provide cheap, high-speed Web access via satellite to millions in Africa and other emerging markets.

Hospitals fail colon cancer quality check (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most U.S. hospitals are failing to meet a key quality benchmark for care of colon cancer patients -- checking enough lymph nodes after surgery to see if the cancer has spread, researchers said on Tuesday.

House leadership weighs loans for automakers (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives is discussing an auto industry request to set in motion at least $25 billion in government-backed loans to help beleaguered U.S. carmakers retool plants to make more efficient cars and trucks, majority leader Steny Hoyer said on Tuesday.

Jobs unveils Apple's "thinnest" iPod (2008-09-09)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A thin and smiling Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs launched a much thinner, curved iPod nano music player and joked about the state of his much-discussed health on Tuesday.

Lebanon president calls rival leaders for talks (2008-09-09)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman invited rival leaders on Tuesday for talks next week that were set to focus on the fate of the military wing of Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.

CORRECTED: Democrats question Fannie, Freddie CEO exit pay (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democrats on Tuesday criticized the multimillion-dollar pay packages awarded to the former chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at a time when taxpayers could foot a massive bill for the companies' bailout.

N. Korea's Kim may have had stroke: U.S. official (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may have had a stroke within the past couple of weeks, a U.S. intelligence official said on Tuesday.

Mysteries of universe to be probed in giant project (2008-09-09)
GENEVA (Reuters) - International physicists at a vast underground complex near Geneva launch a 20-year project on Wednesday to re-enact the "Big Bang" to try to explain the origins of the universe and how it came to harbor life.

Lehman sinks more than 40 percent on capital worry (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc shares sank more than 40 percent on Tuesday on concern that talks on a possible investment from Korea Development Bank had broken down and that the fourth-largest Wall Street investment bank would be unable to raise needed capital.

Pakistan's Zardari vows to work with neighbors (2008-09-09)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Asif Ali Zardari was sworn in as president of Pakistan on Tuesday and vowed to work with neighbors, particularly Afghanistan, after a period of strained relations between the two U.S. allies over Taliban violence.

Jailed lawyer Lerach facing prison probe: report (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - William Lerach, a U.S. plaintiffs' lawyer jailed for his part in a kickback scheme, faces a disciplinary probe for allegedly offering a prison guard his San Diego Chargers football season tickets, according to a legal newspaper.

Apple's Jobs shows new iPods, jokes about death (2008-09-09)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A thin and smiling Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs launched a much thinner, curved iPod nano music player and joked about the state of his much-discussed health on Tuesday.

Brent oil falls below $100 a barrel (2008-09-09)
LONDON (Reuters) - Brent crude oil prices fell below $100 a barrel for the first time in five months on Tuesday on expectations that OPEC would leave formal output targets unchanged and as Hurricane Ike's threat to U.S. Gulf of Mexico energy infrastructure receded.

"Food, Inc." filmmaker lets them eat burgers (2008-09-09)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner still eats hamburger, despite what he learned as he made "Food, Inc.," a frank and sometimes gruesome expose of the profit-driven food business in the United States.

Accused Afghan drug lord goes on trial in New York (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An accused Afghan heroin kingpin went on trial on Tuesday in a case that his lawyers said will show how the United States once cooperated with and then turned against an international drug smuggler.

Afghans say will open graves to show civilian deaths (2008-09-09)
AZIZABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Relatives of Afghans killed in a U.S.-led coalition raid in western Herat province offered on Tuesday to dig up graves to support claims of large-scale civilian deaths.

Thai PM down but far from out after court verdict (2008-09-09)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Constitutional Court ordered Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to stand down on Tuesday, accusing him of breaking the law by hosting cooking shows on commercial television while in office.

Wall Street falls on energy drag, economic worry (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell in choppy trade on Tuesday as a drop in oil prices dragged shares of energy companies lower and investors worried anew about the economy's health, prospects for the financial sector and the corporate profit outlook.

Fox Searchlight wins "Wrestler" bidding war (2008-09-09)
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Angola's ruling MPLA near victory, eyes reforms (2008-09-09)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA is heading for a landslide victory in the parliamentary election, a result which will give it the power to make sweeping changes to the oil-rich African nation's institutions.

Keanu Reeves gets his "Day" on Imax (2008-09-09)
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Democrats criticize Bush's troop plan for both wars (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. Democrats on Tuesday criticized President George W. Bush for not sending enough resources to Afghanistan to combat soaring violence and for pulling too few American troops out of Iraq.

U.S. consumer confidence hits 11-month high: IBD (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence improved in September to its strongest reading since October 2007, implying American's confidence is in recovery mode, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

Financials down with Lehman, Nasdaq drops 2 percent (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled further on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq Composite Index falling 2 percent as worries about Lehman Brothers' ability to raise much-needed cash battered the financial sector.

Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai hopeful on power-sharing talks (2008-09-09)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Tuesday there had been a positive development in power-sharing talks with President Robert Mugabe, and hoped to deal with outstanding issues on Wednesday.

Texas court grants stay of high-profile execution (2008-09-09)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - A Texas court on Tuesday stayed the execution of Charles Dean Hood, the day before he was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection for two murders, a Texas newspaper reported.

McDonald's August same-store sales rise 8.5 percent (2008-09-09)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp on Tuesday said global sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose 8.5 percent in August, beating some analysts' expectations, as an Olympics advertising blitz bolstered results.

Global economy faces tough test, says IMF's Lipsky (2008-09-09)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The global economy faces its most difficult test in many years with growth slowing sharply as high commodity prices put pressure on inflation, a senior International Monetary Fund official said on Tuesday.

Poll shows big shift to McCain among white women (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain has gained huge support and now leads Democrat Barack Obama among white women voters since naming Sarah Palin as his running mate, according to a survey published on Tuesday.

EU to offer Ukraine deeper ties but no entry pledge (2008-09-09)
PARIS (Reuters) - European Union leaders met Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko for talks in Paris on Tuesday where the bloc was set to offer Kiev closer ties but stop short of a firm membership pledge.

Reynolds to cut about 570 jobs, change brand focus (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tobacco company Reynolds American Inc said on Tuesday it will cut about 570 jobs and change its focus on some cigarette brands, as it tries to boost growth in a declining U.S. cigarette market.

Ike heads for western Cuba, Gulf oil threat eases (2008-09-09)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Strong wind gusts howled through blacked-out Havana and thousands huddled in shelters on Tuesday as Hurricane Ike churned toward western Cuba on a path that began to look less threatening for the heart of U.S. oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Beyonce to release new album in November (2008-09-09)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Beyonce will release her third solo album in the United States on November 18, her Columbia Records label said on Monday.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers deny aircraft was shot down (2008-09-09)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers denied on Tuesday a Sri Lankan air force claim it had shot down one of the rebel group's aircraft for the first time.

N. Korea's Kim may have had stroke: Western source (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may have had a stroke within the past couple of weeks, a Western intelligence official said on Tuesday.

Thai court orders PM to quit, stalemate drags on (2008-09-09)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai court ordered the prime minister to quit on Tuesday for hosting TV cooking shows, but his party said it would re-elect him within the week and protesters vowed to keep up a campaign that has paralyzed the government.

Russia says troops to stay in Georgia for long time (2008-09-09)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will keep its troops inside two Georgian separatist regions for a long time and their presence is not affected by an agreement to pull out troops, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Wall St seen opening up on lower oil, mortgages (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a higher open on Tuesday as a drop in oil prices and mortgage rates buoyed sentiment as did positive broker actions on bellwethers including Hewlett-Packard .

Ike spins toward western Cuba and aims at Gulf oil (2008-09-09)
HAVANA (Reuters) - A weakened Hurricane Ike swept toward western Cuba early on Tuesday after it ripped a swath of destruction and killed four people on the eastern end of the island, and is expected to strengthen as it aims for Gulf of Mexico oil fields.

North Korea's Kim unseen at anniversary parade: report (2008-09-09)
TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il failed to appear at a parade on Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the country's founding, Kyodo news agency said in a report from Pyongyang.

Russia plans 7,600 force in Georgia rebel regions (2008-09-09)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's military announced plans on Tuesday to station about 7,600 troops in Georgia's separatist regions, a sharp increase on the numbers deployed before Moscow sent in troops last month.

Stock futures point to further gains on Wall Street (2008-09-09)
(Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall Street on Tuesday, adding to the previous session's sharp gains in the wake of the bailout of troubled mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and as a drop in oil prices eases worries over inflation and corporate costs.

Some 140,000 Entergy customers still without power (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 140,000 customers in Entergy Corp's service area in Louisiana remained without power Tuesday, more than a week after Hurricane Gustav hit the coast on September 1 and caused massive damage to the company's transmission system.

North Korea fetes birthday, questions over Kim (2008-09-09)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea celebrated its 60th birthday party on Tuesday, just as the hermit state appears to be backing away from a nuclear disarmament deal, but there was no immediate sign of the expected triumphal military parade.

Bayer shares gain on talk of Pfizer interest (2008-09-09)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Shares in German drugs and chemicals group Bayer rose nearly 4 percent on Tuesday on market talk of takeover interest from U.S. rival Pfizer, traders said.

Thai court ousts PM for TV cooking show (2008-09-09)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Constitutional Court ordered Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to stand down on Tuesday, accusing him of breaking the law by hosting TV cooking shows while in office.

Blast in Afghan east kills 3 U.S. coalition troops (2008-09-09)
KABUL (Reuters) - A roadside bomb exploded in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday killing three soldiers from the U.S.-led coalition forces and a local contractor working with them, the U.S. military said.

R&B star Beyonce to release new album in November (2008-09-09)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Beyonce will release her third solo album in the United States on November 18, her Columbia Records label said on Monday.

Chances for Zimbabwe deal slim: ZANU-PF official (2008-09-09)
HARARE (Reuters) - Prospects for a power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe look remote and the current round of negotiations is unlikely to produce a breakthrough, a senior ruling ZANU-PF party official said on Tuesday.

Pakistan's Zardari sworn in as president (2008-09-09)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was sworn in as president on Tuesday, in what allies and investors hoped was a step toward stability after months of uncertainty.

Bayer rises on talk of Pfizer interest: traders (2008-09-09)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Shares in Germany's Bayer rose on market talk of takeover interest from U.S. rival Pfizer , traders said on Tuesday.

IMF's Lipsky: global economy faces tough test (2008-09-09)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The global economy faces its most difficult test in many years with economic growth slowing sharply even as high commodity prices put pressure on inflation, a senior International Monetary Fund official said on Tuesday.

U.S. hospitals fail colon cancer quality check (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most U.S. hospitals are failing to meet a key quality benchmark for care of colon cancer patients -- checking enough lymph nodes after surgery to see if the cancer has spread, researchers said on Tuesday.

Hundreds feared missing, 56 dead after China mudslide (2008-09-09)
XIANGFEN, China (Reuters) - More than 50 people were killed and hundreds more may be missing in north China after a reservoir of mining waste collapsed, burying cars and homes under a wall of sludge.

U.S. team to assess Georgia's military needs (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it would examine how to rebuild Georgia's military in the wake of its small ally's devastating war with Russia.

Sirius XM chief: regular radio "sucks" (2008-09-09)
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Sarah Palin docu wins record ratings for Fox News (2008-09-09)
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Bacteria glue points to superbug vaccine: scientist (2008-09-09)
LONDON (Reuters) - A sticky glue secreted by drug-resistant bacteria could help scientists develop an effective vaccine against "superbugs," U.S. researchers told a conference on Wednesday.

"Hole in the Wall" a cut above usual game shows (2008-09-09)
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NBC shows return to iTunes after yearlong feud (2008-09-09)
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Critical shortage of internal medicine MDs foreseen (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Only 23 percent of U.S. medical students plan to practice internal medicine and just 2 percent intend to become general practitioners, leading to a possible healthcare crisis, researchers reported on Tuesday.

U.S. artist "made to dance" by Israeli security men (2008-09-09)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli airport security officers made an African American member of the New York-based Alvin Ailey dance troupe perform steps for them before letting him enter the country, the group said on Tuesday.

Five race to be Japan PM, election seen near (2008-09-09)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Five candidates put their hands up on Wednesday to become Japan's next prime minister, with former foreign minister Taro Aso the odds-on favorite to win the race and call a snap election soon.

Russia criticizes U.S. for pulling nuclear deal (2008-09-09)
IRKUTSK, Russia (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday it regretted a decision by U.S. President George W. Bush to freeze a major bilateral civilian nuclear pact but said Moscow wanted nuclear cooperation with the United States to continue.

Twenty-five wounded in Indian Kashmir violence (2008-09-09)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - More than two dozen people, including 10 policemen, were injured in Kashmir on Tuesday when police clashed with hundreds of demonstrators in fresh protests against Indian rule, police and witnesses said.

Democrats question Fannie, Freddie CEO exit pay (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democrats on Tuesday criticized the multimillion-dollar pay packages awarded to the former chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at a time when taxpayers could foot a massive bill for the companies' bailout.

Hurricane Ike moves into Gulf of Mexico from Cuba (2008-09-09)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike moved off Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday on a path that should steer it away from the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch after ripping the island from one end to the other.

Democrats question Fannie, Freddie CEO pay (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Democrats on Tuesday criticized the multimillion-dollar pay packages awarded to the former chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at a time when taxpayers could foot a massive bill for the companies' bailout.

U.S. allies in Iraq to drop to "handful": official (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. allies involved in the Iraq war will be reduced to just a "handful" in the next 90 days, a senior Bush administration official said on Tuesday.

New York yellow cab owners sue over green plan (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A group of New York taxi owners is suing the city over a plan to turn the entire fleet of cabs "green" by 2012, saying the plan compromises safety and is unconstitutional.

Dim hopes for rescuers searching China mudslide (2008-09-09)
LINFEN, China (Reuters) - Rescuers in north China kept hunting on Wednesday for dozens of victims feared trapped under a deluge of mud after a reservoir for mine waste collapsed, killing more than 50 people.

Oil jumps $1 as OPEC surprises with output cut (2008-09-09)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped more than $1 a barrel on Wednesday, reversing early losses after OPEC unexpectedly agreed to effectively cut production by just over 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from July levels.

North Korean leader Kim collapsed: report (2008-09-09)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has collapsed and is ill, a South Korean government official was quoted as saying on Wednesday, but analysts said it was not clear how serious his condition might be.

Texas city plans to convert human waste to energy (2008-09-09)
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - San Antonio unveiled a deal on Tuesday that will make it the first U.S. city to harvest methane gas from human waste on a commercial scale and turn it into clean-burning fuel.

N.Y. cops to accept crime photos, videos from public (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City crime fighting and city officials can now receive photos and videos from citizens faced with anything from a dangerous crime-in-progress to a pothole, officials said on Tuesday.

NY cops to accept crime photos, videos from public (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City crime fighting and city officials can now receive photos and videos from citizens faced with anything from a dangerous crime-in-progress to a pothole, officials said on Tuesday.

Fannie and Freddie bailout frustrates U.S. voters (2008-09-09)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Bush administration's bailout of U.S. mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac frustrated many voters who worried it would set a bad precedent and that well-paid executives would go scot-free.

Oil prices pare losses after OPEC reverts to 2007 (2008-09-09)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices clawed back deep early losses to stand about 50 cents lower on Wednesday after OPEC formally agreed to return to its 2007 production target of 28.8 million barrels per day (bpd).

Dow, Nasdaq pare gains after housing data (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and the Nasdaq Composite Index pared gains in skittish trade on Tuesday following a report that showed a steeper-than-expected drop in pending sales of existing U.S. homes in July.

Lehman shares sink 45 percent on capital worries (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc shares sank 45 percent on Tuesday on growing concern the fourth-largest Wall Street investment bank won't raise sufficient capital to survive the global credit crisis.

Apple's Jobs shows new iPods, jokes about health (2008-09-09)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A thin and smiling Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs launched a much thinner, curved iPod nano music player and joked about the state of his much-discussed health on Tuesday.

Obama joins critics of Fannie, Freddie pay packets (2008-09-09)
RIVERSIDE, Ohio (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Tuesday denounced the possibility of rich exit pay packets for the outgoing chiefs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as lawmakers weighed how to restructure the seized mortgage finance companies.

Wall Street skids on Lehman worries, energy (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks finished sharply lower on Tuesday, with the benchmark S&P 500 suffering its worst percentage decline since late February 2007, as financial shares sold off on worries about Lehman Brothers' ability to raise much-needed cash.

North Korean diplomat says Kim not ill: Kyodo (2008-09-09)
TOKYO (Reuters) - A senior North Korean diplomat on Wednesday denied media reports suggesting North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is ill, calling it a "conspiracy plot," Kyodo news agency reported.

Belfast man accused of $46.7 million bank heist (2008-09-09)
BELFAST (Reuters) - A former bank employee appeared in court on Tuesday accused of involvement in a 26.5 million pound ($46.7 million) robbery that almost derailed efforts to broker a deal between feuding politicians in Northern Ireland.

McDonald's August sales beat view; shares up (2008-09-09)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp said global sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose a stronger-than-expected 8.5 percent in August, helped by growth in Europe and an Olympics advertising blitz.

CBS chief offers optimistic view of ad market (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - CBS Corp Chief Executive Les Moonves said national TV advertising remained strong and some local advertising was recovering -- suggesting that marketers haven't cut budgets as deeply as some feared.

Morocco "goat plague" poses regional threat: FAO (2008-09-09)
ROME (Reuters) - Millions of sheep and goats in Morocco could be killed by a virus which poses a risk to other north African and European countries but not humans, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday.

Absence prompts doubt over N.Korean leader's health (2008-09-09)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il failed to appear at a triumphal military parade on Tuesday celebrating his state's 60th birthday, and a U.S. intelligence official said he may have suffered a stroke.

Alaska town forged Republican "northern light" (2008-09-09)
WASILLA, Alaska (Reuters) - In Sarah Palin's hometown of Wasilla, folks pray hard and when they go fishing they also arm themselves against bears.

Iowa meat packer faces child labor law charges (2008-09-09)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Iowa attorney general's office filed a criminal complaint against a kosher meat packing plant in Postville, Iowa, on Tuesday, alleging the company violated several state child labor laws.

Iran demands U.N. response to Israeli "threats" (2008-09-09)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iran demanded on Tuesday a "resolute and clear response" from the United Nations to what it called dangerous threats against it by Israel, and said Tehran would not hesitate to respond to any attack.

Australia PM Rudd flags arms build-up (2008-09-09)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia will rapidly beef up its naval strength and extend a A$60 billion ($48 billion) weapons build up to counter an emerging "arms race" across the Asia-Pacific region, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.

CORRECTED: Judge orders Mattel, MGA CEOs to talk about Bratz (2008-09-09)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal judge in California has ordered the chiefs of Mattel Inc and MGA Entertainment Inc into talks aimed at settling a copyright dispute over MGA's Bratz doll franchise.

"Positive development" in Zimbabwe talks: MDC (2008-09-09)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's president and opposition leader said on Tuesday there had been progress in power-sharing talks and outstanding issues should be dealt with on Wednesday.

Wall St slips on energy drag, profit-taking (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slipped at the open on Tuesday as weaker oil prices dragged down energy shares and a bout of profit-taking hit financials after Monday's surge.

July pending home sales fell 3.2 percent: NAR (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pending sales of existing U.S. homes fell more sharply than expected in July, partially erasing gains from the previous month, data from a real estate trade group showed on Tuesday.

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico, targets Texas (2008-09-09)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike swirled over the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, targeting Texas near the U.S. offshore oil patch after toppling decrepit buildings in Cuba's capital and ripping the communist-run island from end to end.

Stuffed ballots, biased campaign tainted Georgia vote: OSCE (2008-09-09)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ballot-box stuffing, beatings of opposition activists, biased news coverage and government officials campaigning for President Mikheil Saakashvili's party tainted Georgia's parliamentary elections this year, Europe's main election watchdog said on Tuesday.

NATO aircraft misfires in Afghan east, 2 dead (2008-09-09)
KABUL (Reuters) - A bomb fired by a NATO-led coalition aircraft missed its target in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday and struck a house, killing two civilians and wounding 10, the alliance said, the latest in a mounting toll of civilian casualties.

Obama warns on Fannie, Freddie golden parachutes (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama warned U.S. regulators on Tuesday it would be "a gross violation of the public trust" if they did not use their power to block excessive severance payments to executives leaving Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Hurricane Ike hits western Cuba, oil threat eases (2008-09-09)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Strong winds howled in the streets of Havana and thousands huddled in shelters as Hurricane Ike made its second Cuban landfall on Tuesday on a path that began to look less threatening for the heart of U.S. oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dim hopes, anger after China mudslide (2008-09-09)
TASHAN, China (Reuters) - Angry residents wailed and protested as rescuers in northern China kept hunting on Wednesday for dozens of victims feared trapped by a deluge of mud after a reservoir for mine waste collapsed, killing more than 50 people.

OPEC agrees to surprise output cut, oil price rises (2008-09-09)
VIENNA (Reuters) - After hours of wrangling, OPEC on Wednesday agreed to revise its complex output targets and said the move would effectively cut supplies by half a million barrels per day (bpd).

Pentagon brass meet on tanker, statement due later (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Pentagon and Air Force leaders met on Tuesday to finalize plans for a $35 billion aerial-refueling competition, and plan to issue a statement later Tuesday, according to a source told about the plans.

Western religions attacked in film "Religulous" (2008-09-09)
TORONTO (Reuters) - You won't find the word "religulous" in a dictionary but it's a good bet it will be on protest signs when the documentary of that name, a jab-in-the-eye at Western religion, hits movie theaters in October.

Democrats criticize Bush troop plan for both wars (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's plan to keep most U.S. troops in Iraq and shift a few thousand to Afghanistan drew quick criticism on Tuesday from top Democrats, led by presidential hopeful Barack Obama who said it was not enough to combat escalating violence in Afghanistan.

Judge orders Mattel, MGA CEOs to talk about Bratz (2008-09-09)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A federal judge in California has ordered the chiefs of Mattel Inc and MGA Entertainment Inc into talks aimed at settling a copyright dispute over MGA's Bratz doll franchise.

Five race to be Japan PM; election seen near (2008-09-09)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Five candidates lined up on Wednesday to become Japan's next prime minister, with former foreign minister Taro Aso the odds-on favorite to win the race and call a snap election soon.

Jeff Goldblum dazzles in Holocaust drama (2008-09-09)
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Danity Kane's MTV fame reels in marketers (2008-09-09)
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Fears on Lehman, financials send market into skid (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks plunged on Tuesday, driving the benchmark S&P 500 to its worst day in one and a half years, as concern about Lehman Brothers' ability to raise much-needed capital reignited fears about the broader financial sector.

Viewers unlikely to "Disturb" Fox sitcom (2008-09-09)
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Alive Jobs unveils Apple's "thinnest" iPod (2008-09-09)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs poked fun at reports of his poor health on Tuesday as he introduced new iPod nano and Touch music players.

Sex Pistols to release concert DVD in October (2008-09-09)
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Al Franken wins Senate nomination (2008-09-09)
MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Al Franken, a comedian and former liberal radio talk show host, won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday to run for a U.S. Senate seat from Minnesota.

AIG shares fall on fresh mortgage market concerns (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of American International Group Inc , the world's biggest insurer, fell sharply on Tuesday as investors worried that the company's large exposure to the mortgage markets could trigger the need to raise fresh capital.

Jobs unveils Apple's "thinnest" iPod nano (2008-09-09)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs poked fun at reports of his poor health at a new product presentation on Tuesday, walking by a screen that said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."

Unproven therapies used on traumatized kids: study (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many doctors and therapists use unproven approaches such as drugs, art or play therapy on children suffering trauma when old-fashioned talk therapy has been shown to work, a report released on Tuesday said.

Fears about Lehman and financials drag down market (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks sank on Tuesday as fears about further problems in the financial sector resurfaced on anxiety about the ability of Lehman Brothers to raise much-needed capital.

U.S. vision researchers share major Portugal award (2008-09-09)
LISBON (Reuters) - Two U.S. researchers whose work could boost efforts to eradicate blindness have won a 1 million euro ($1.41 million) prize, Portugal's Champalimaud Foundation said on Tuesday.

Streisand, Freeman, the Who among Kennedy honorees (2008-09-09)
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Wall Street extends losses as S&P warns on Lehman (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended their sharp losses on Tuesday and the S&P 500 fell more than 2 percent after Standard & Poor's said it may cut credit ratings of Lehman Brothers Holdings.

Lehman Brothers to announce results Wednesday (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said it will announce third-quarter results on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. The company said it will announce "key strategic initiatives" and hold a conference call at 8 a.m. to "discuss the firm's expected financial results, outlook and strategy."

Pending homes sales drop in July (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Economists put a positive spin on some negative headlines for U.S. housing and wholesale inventory data on Tuesday.

Poland gears for welcome, costly end to army draft (2008-09-09)
WARSAW (Reuters) - This summer, just before Russia's war with Georgia, the Polish government approved a long-planned bill aligning the NATO member with others in Europe by ending conscription.

Hurricane Ike leaves Cuba, targets Texas (2008-09-09)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike moved away from Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, targeting Texas near the U.S. offshore oil patch after shredding crumbling old buildings in Havana and ripping the communist-run island from end to end.

Lehman sinks as much as 40 percent on capital worry (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc shares fell as much as 40 percent on Tuesday to their lowest level in nearly a decade on concern the fourth-largest Wall Street investment bank would be unable to raise needed capital.

Streisand, Freeman, the Who among Kennedy honorees (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Singer-actress Barbra Streisand, who performs for Barack Obama at a Hollywood fundraiser next week, will herself be feted in the U.S. capital later this year for her contributions to American culture and the arts.

Hurricane Ike topples Havana buildings (2008-09-09)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike toppled decrepit buildings in Havana and raked over western Cuba still recovering from the more powerful Gustav as it made a second landfall on the island on a path that may steer it away from the heart of Gulf of Mexico oilfields.

Jobs unveils Apple's "thinnest" iPod (2008-09-09)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs poked fun at reports of his poor health on Tuesday as he introduced new iPod nano and Touch music players.

Pentagon brass meet on tanker, no statement Tuesday (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Pentagon and Air Force leaders met on Tuesday to finalize plans for a $35 billion aerial-refueling competition, and officials plan a statement later this week, according to sources told about the plans.

Fears about Lehman and financials bruise Wall Street (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks sank on Tuesday, as concern about Lehman Brothers' ability to raise much-needed capital battered financial shares on renewed fears about the impact of mortgage losses.

CORRECTED: Wall Street skids on Lehman worries, energy (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks finished sharply lower on Tuesday, with the benchmark S&P 500 suffering its worst percentage decline since late February 2007, as financial shares sold off on worries about Lehman Brothers' ability to raise much-needed cash.

Lehman shares sink, to make announcement Wednesday (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc shares sank 45 percent on Tuesday on growing concern the fourth-largest Wall Street investment bank won't be able to raise the capital it desperately needs to survive the global credit crisis.

Obama and Palin battle over pet spending projects (2008-09-09)
FLINT, Michigan (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama criticized Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Monday for portraying herself as a crusader against wasteful spending on pet local projects while aggressively pursuing the money for Alaska.

U.S. may be vulnerable to sovereign funds: report (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States' current reliance on foreign governments for financing represents a strategic vulnerability, according to a report by the Council of Foreign Relations released on Tuesday.

Indian favorite to win Booker - but not Rushdie (2008-09-09)
LONDON (Reuters) - Tales from rural India, secretive Ireland and strike-riven northern England are all vying for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction, one of the world's most prestigious literary awards.

Israel's Olmert, ministers to discuss Iranian nukes (2008-09-09)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will discuss Iran's nuclear program at a special meeting of senior ministers on Wednesday, officials said.

Zimbabwe power-sharing deal looks remote: ZANU-PF (2008-09-09)
HARARE (Reuters) - Prospects for a power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe look remote and the current negotiations are unlikely to produce a breakthrough, a senior ruling ZANU-PF party official said on Tuesday.

Lehman sinks 45 percent on capital worries (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc shares sank 45 percent on Tuesday on growing concern the fourth-largest Wall Street investment bank won't be able to raise sufficient capital to survive the global credit crisis.

Betancourt urges U.N. recognition for terror victims (2008-09-09)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt called at a U.N. conference on Tuesday for U.N.-backed international status for victims of terrorism with centralized data to publicize their plight.

Pooping puffin paralyzes Canada Conservative event (2008-09-09)
WINNIPEG (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper wanted to talk about his promised diesel tax cut on Tuesday but found himself sidetracked by his Conservative Party's depiction of a puffin pooping on his chief rival.

U.S. looks to rebuilding Georgia's military (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it would examine how to help rebuild Georgia's military after Tbilisi's devastating war with Russia, risking renewed Russian wrath over military aid to the small U.S. ally.

Big Bang project gets rap treatment online (2008-09-09)
GENEVA (Reuters) - A project to re-enact the "Big Bang" at CERN near Geneva on Wednesday is getting the rap treatment on the Internet from a group of young people working there.

Wall Street falls on economy worries, energy shares (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as a drop in oil prices dragged down shares of energy companies and investors worried anew about the economy's health and prospects for the financial sector.

BofA close to new Yankee Stadium deal: report (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp is close to finalizing a deal worth as much as $20 million a year to become the biggest sponsor of the new Yankee Stadium, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.

Russia wants arms embargo on Georgia, U.S. sees ploy (2008-09-09)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia's U.N. envoy asked the Security Council on Tuesday to impose an arms embargo on Georgia, which Russia invaded last month to stop Tbilisi from retaking a Kremlin-backed separatist enclave.

Zimbabwe parties hopeful on talks breakthrough (2008-09-09)
HARARE (Reuters) - President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Tuesday they have made progress in power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe and are to address outstanding issues on Wednesday.

Lehman sinks as much as 40 percent on liquidity worries (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc shares fell as much as 40 percent to their lowest level in nearly a decade on Tuesday on growing concern that Wall Street's fourth-largest investment bank would be unable to raise needed capital.

Wall St extends losses as financials sag (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell further on Tuesday as traders shed financial shares on renewed fears about further losses and write-downs tied to persistent problems related to the housing market.

Alec Baldwin puts politics on hold for "Lymelife" (2008-09-09)
TORONTO (Reuters) - If actor Alec Baldwin ever ran for public office, he says he might have to think about changing his name to something more ethnic.

FedEx says EPS to top estimates (2008-09-09)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Package delivery company FedEx Corp said on Tuesday that its fiscal first-quarter earnings will be better than originally forecast, as fuel prices continue to fall off their recent highs, sending its shares up five percent after the closing bell.

"Women" remake a wipeout (2008-09-09)
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Alaska refuge land-trade decision delayed a year (2008-09-09)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - A decision on a proposed land trade that would open up parts of Alaska's Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge to oil and natural gas development has been delayed for a year as officials gather further information on market values of the land involved, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

U.S. oil prices drop to near $102 a barrel (2008-09-09)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell more than $1 after Tuesday's settlement to $102.06 a barrel, the lowest crude oil price since early April.

Democrats hit Bush on troop plan for both wars (2008-09-09)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's plan to keep most U.S. troops in Iraq and shift a few thousand to Afghanistan drew quick criticism on Tuesday from top Democrats, led by presidential hopeful Barack Obama who said it was not enough to combat escalating violence in Afghanistan.

Charities feel chill from weak economy (2008-09-09)
KANSAS CITY/CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Newhouse shelter in Kansas City has helped thousands of abused women and their children over the past 37 years. But last month, the women were forced to move out and the staff started looking for new jobs.

Lenders agree to new student loan conduct: NYAG (2008-09-09)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Several U.S. student lending companies have agreed to changes in the direct marketing of loans, including a ban on some contests, mailing and advertising practices, officials said on Tuesday.

Sarkozy flies to Russia to seek new Georgia deal (2008-09-08)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy flies to Moscow on Monday seeking to thrash out a lasting peace deal for Georgia that will persuade Russia to pull its troops out of positions deep inside the ex-Soviet state.

U.S. seizes Fannie, Freddie, aims to calm market (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, launching what could be its biggest bailout ever to support the U.S. housing market and ward off more global financial market turbulence.

Origin eyes $8 billion joint venture with Conoco to fend off BG (2008-09-08)
PERTH/LONDON (Reuters) - Origin Energy Ltd , fending off an $11 billion hostile bid from Britain's BG Group Plc , is to spin off its coalbed methane assets into a joint venture with U.S. oil major ConocoPhillips .

China and Japan hail U.S. mortgage rescue as doubts linger (2008-09-08)
TOKYO/BASEL (Reuters) - China and Japan, the biggest buyers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae bonds, praised Washington for its rescue of the ailing mortgage giants, but investors had no illusions the bailout would end the global credit market misery.

Georgia and Russia in Hague court over conflict (2008-09-08)
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Georgian accusations that Russia committed human rights violations against ethnic Georgians in the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia went before an international court on Monday.

Landslide in Philippine mining town kills 14 (2008-09-08)
MANILA (Reuters) - Rescuers pulled four more bodies from under tonnes of mud on Monday, bringing to 14 the death toll from a weekend landslide in the southern Philippines that buried a mining village, officials said.

U.S. seizes Fannie, Freddie, aims to calm market (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , launching what could be its biggest bailout ever to support the U.S. housing market and ward off more global financial market turbulence.

Futures signal Wall Street jump on Fannie, Freddie plan (2008-09-08)
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Russia in legal bid to ban "extremist" U.S. cartoon (2008-09-08)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Prosecutors in Russia want to ban the award-winning satirical U.S. cartoon South Park, calling the series "extremist" after receiving viewer complaints, a spokeswoman said on Monday.

Freddie, Fannie plan protects taxpayers: Paulson (2008-09-08)
LONDON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said in an interview with U.S. radio broadast on Monday that a plan to take control of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae had been structured in a way to protect U.S. taxpayers.

Altria to buy UST for $10.3 billion: report (2008-09-08)
(Reuters) - Cigarette maker Altria Group Inc has agreed to buy Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco maker UST Inc for about $10.3 billion in cash, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Killer Ike pounds Cuba on way to Mexico Gulf (2008-09-08)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike pounded northeastern Cuba with 120 mile per hour (195 kph) winds, torrential rains and massive waves that rolled through coastal towns on Monday on a path toward the Gulf of Mexico oil fields and possibly New Orleans.

Japan PM contenders clash over spending, taxes (2008-09-08)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The frontrunner to become Japan's next leader will to pledge tax cuts and bigger government spending to boost the economy, a newspaper said on Monday, a contrast with rivals worried about the country's huge debt.

U.S. talks with Fannie, Freddie turned sour: sources (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amicable talks between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the U.S. mortgage finance companies' regulator about an aid package ended abruptly as policy-makers resolved in recent days to seize the firms, industry sources with knowledge of the events said.

China and Japan hail U.S. mortgage bailout as doubts linger (2008-09-08)
TOKYO (Reuters) - China and Japan, the biggest buyers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae bonds, praised Washington for its rescue of the ailing mortgage giants, but investors harbored no illusions the bailout would end the global credit market misery.

Los Angeles Opera goes Hollywood (2008-09-08)
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Serena bounces away with U.S. Open crown (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The drama queen came face-to-face with the comeback queen at Flushing Meadows on Sunday. Jelena Jankovic provided the on-court theatrics and Serena Williams bounced away with the U.S. Open trophy.

Death toll hits 43 in Cairo shanty town rockslide (2008-09-08)
CAIRO (Reuters) - The death toll from a rockfall that sent boulders crashing down on dozens of houses in a crowded Cairo shanty town has risen to 43, with more people still missing, Egyptian security sources said on Monday.

U.S. seizes Fannie and Freddie (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac launching what could be its biggest bailout ever to support the U.S. housing market and ward off more global financial market turbulence.

China frets at U.S. risk after Fannie/Freddie bailout (2008-09-08)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury's takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is good news in the short term for China, the biggest holder of the giant mortgage lenders' debt, but Beijing's huge U.S. exposure still poses a serious risk, a prominent government researcher said on Monday.

Toronto's film buyers see the light (2008-09-08)
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U.S. to look again at civilian deaths in Afghan raid (2008-09-08)
KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it planned to reopen an investigation into civilian deaths in a coalition air strike in western Afghanistan last month after new evidence

Asian banks rally on Fannie, Freddie bailout (2008-09-08)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Shares in Asian banks soared on Monday after the U.S. government took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , reassuring investors worried about exposure to the mortgage giants' bonds and the value of other risky debt assets.

Thai court to rule on PM's case on Tuesday (2008-09-08)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Constitutional Court will rule on Tuesday whether Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej violated the constitution by hosting television cooking shows while in office, a judge said on Monday. If found guilty of conflict of interest, Samak will have to step down, potentially satisfying thousands of protesters barricaded within his official compound for two weeks.

Britney Spears sweeps at MTV Video Music Awards (2008-09-08)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A year after her disastrous comeback attempt at the MTV Video Music Awards, Britney Spears swept the event on Sunday, winning the first three "Moonman" statuettes of her career.

NBC sets "Muppets Christmas" (2008-09-08)
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South Africa's Mbeki to meet Zimbabwe parties in Harare (2008-09-08)
HARARE (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating in Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks, will meet with the country's political parties in Harare on Monday in his latest bid to end the country's political turmoil.

Universal Pics to back digital cinema upgrade: report (2008-09-08)
(Reuters) - Universal Pictures has agreed to back rollout of digital cinema equipment in U.S. theaters, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

U.S. drones hit Taliban commander's Pakistan base (2008-09-08)
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Missiles fired by U.S. drone aircraft killed at least three people on Monday in a Pakistani village near the Afghan border where a religious school founded by an old friend of Osama bin Laden is located, witnesses said.

Blast rock Pakistani stronghold of Taliban commander (2008-09-08)
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Huge explosions were heard on Monday in a Pakistani village close to the Afghan border where a religious school founded by an old friend of Osama bin Laden is located, witnesses said.

Altria to buy UST for $10.3 billion: WSJ (2008-09-08)
(Reuters) - Cigarette maker Altria Group Inc has agreed to buy Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco maker UST Inc for about $10.3 billion in cash, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Patriots QB Brady suffers serious knee injury: reports (2008-09-08)
BOSTON (Reuters) - New England quarterback Tom Brady suffered a serious knee injury in the Patriots' 17-10 season-opening victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, media reports said.

U.S. says new evidence of civilian deaths in raid (2008-09-08)
KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it has new evidence of civilian deaths in a coalition air strike in western Afghanistan last month, and is sending an officer to review the findings.

Russia aims to corner energy markets: U.S. official (2008-09-08)
ROME (Reuters) - Russia aims to corner energy markets, a senior U.S. official said on Monday as Vice-President Dick Cheney arrived in Italy during a tour that has taken in eastern European states.

U.S. hedge fund Fairfield, Swiss private bank merge (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. hedge fund Fairfield Greenwich Group has merged with Swiss private bank Banque Benedict Hentsch, bringing their combined assets under management to more than $18 billion.

Japan PM contenders clash over spending and taxes (2008-09-08)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The frontrunner to become Japan's next leader will pledge tax cuts and bigger government spending to boost the economy, a newspaper said on Monday, a contrast with rivals worried about the country's huge debt.

Judge halts unofficial Harry Potter lexicon (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Monday halted publication of an unofficial encyclopedic companion to the popular Harry Potter book series in a copyright case author J.K. Rowling argued would threaten other authors.

Russia agrees troops pullout from Georgia heartland (2008-09-08)
MEIENDORF CASTLE, Russia (Reuters) - Russia agreed to completely withdraw its troops from Georgia's heartland within a month on Monday, but there was no commitment to scale back its military presence in two Georgian separatist regions.

Spielberg ripped off Hitchcock classic: lawsuit (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Steven Spielberg and major Hollywood studios stole the plot from Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1954 film "Rear Window" in making last year's "Disturbia," a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday said.

Apple shares decline ahead of Tuesday event (2008-09-08)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc shares fell as much as 5 percent on Monday ahead of a highly anticipated event on Tuesday when the maker of the Mac, iPod and iPhone is expected to roll out a new iPod Nano and may give an update on iPhone sales.

U.S. warns Forest Labs on hypertension drug ad (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators have warned Forest Laboratories Inc for promoting its hypertension drug Bystolic to doctors without properly noting the medication's risk, according to a letter released on Monday.

Fannie Mae faces investor lawsuit (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fannie Mae is the subject of an investor lawsuit seeking class-action status that accuses the mortgage giant of misrepresenting the company's capital needs, court documents filed on Monday said.

Peru arrests 20 over ties to Mexican drug cartel (2008-09-08)
LIMA (Reuters) - Peruvian police have arrested 20 people suspected of working for Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel and seized 2.5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in boat bumpers, Peru's interior ministry said on Monday.

Jury selection begins in O.J. Simpson robbery trial (2008-09-08)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jury selection began on Monday in the Las Vegas robbery and kidnapping trial of O.J. Simpson, and the judge told prospective panelists to put the former football star's 1990s murder trial out of their minds.

London Stock Exchange crippled by system outage (2008-09-08)
LONDON (Reuters) - The London Stock Exchange suffered its worst systems failure in eight years on Monday, forcing the world's third largest share market to suspend trading for about seven hours and infuriating its users.

Boeing strike impact to be felt globally (2008-09-08)
TOKYO/PARIS (Reuters) - Aerospace groups dusted off contingency plans on Monday for a potentially lengthy strike at Boeing, whose workers halted production for a third day, while shares in the parent of European rival Airbus got a sharp boost.

Wall St. rallies on Fannie, Freddie bailout (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks ended sharply higher on Monday as investors bet Washington's bailout of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would stabilize the U.S. housing sector and boost world financial markets.

Fannie, Freddie bailout greeted with joy, trepidation (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street greeted the U.S. government's seizure of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a sigh of relief on Monday, hoping it would provide some relief to ongoing crises in housing and credit markets.

Scientists hope for surprises in Big Bang experiment (2008-09-08)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Scientists involved in a historic "Big Bang" experiment to begin this week hope it will turn up many surprises about the universe and its origins -- but reject suggestions it will bring the end of the world.

Judge rejects Samueli plea deal, delays sentencing (2008-09-08)
SANTA ANA, California (Reuters) - A California judge on Monday rejected a proposed plea agreement sentence of probation and a fine for Broadcom Corp co-founder Henry Samueli as too lenient, and postponed the sentencing until later this month.

Wall Street soars on Fannie, Freddie bailout (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Monday as investors bet Washington's bailout of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would stabilize the U.S. housing sector and calm jittery world financial markets.

Scientologists charged with fraud in France: source (2008-09-08)
PARIS (Reuters) - A French judge has ordered two branches of the Church of Scientology and seven of its leaders to stand trial for fraud, a judicial source said on Monday.

Some 180,000 Entergy customers still without power (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 180,000 customers in Entergy Corp's service area in Louisiana remained without power Monday, one week after Hurricane Gustav caused massive damage to the company's transmission system when it hit September 1-3.

Angola ruling party near big election victory (2008-09-08)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA took an insurmountable lead in a parliamentary election and is on track to extend its 33-year rule despite opposition protests that the poll was badly flawed.

Lebanese sign reconciliation deal in volatile city (2008-09-08)
TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) - Rival Lebanese leaders signed on Monday a reconciliation deal aimed at ending four months of sporadic sectarian fighting in a volatile northern city that had raised fears of a rise of Islamist militancy.

Three Britons found guilty in liquid bomb plot (2008-09-08)
LONDON (Reuters) - Three Britons were found guilty on Monday of conspiracy to kill using homemade liquid bombs, but a jury failed to agree that they intended to blow up transatlantic airliners in an al Qaeda-style attack.

Conoco to pay up to $8 billion for Origin venture (2008-09-08)
PERTH (Reuters) - Origin Energy Ltd , fending off an $11 billion hostile bid from Britain's BG Group Plc , has partnered U.S. major ConocoPhillips to help develop its coal seam gas through a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

U.S. drones kill 16 in missile attack in Pakistan (2008-09-08)
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Missiles fired by U.S. drones killed 16 people, including Pakistani and Afghan Taliban fighters, on Monday in a strike targeting a religious school founded by an old friend of Osama bin Laden, intelligence officials and Pakistani villagers said.

U.S. judge halts unofficial Harry Potter lexicon (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Monday ruled in favor of Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc and author J.K. Rowling over the publication of an unofficial encyclopedic companion to the popular Harry Potter book series.

Bailout stings Fannie, Freddie stocks, bolsters debt (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares in mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac plunged while their debt soared Monday, one day after the U.S. government took over the companies, as investors bet the action would wipe out stockholders but fully guarantee their bonds.

OPEC ministers gather, set for no change (2008-09-08)
VIENNA (Reuters) - OPEC ministers on Monday gathered in Vienna ahead of a meeting to review output policy, but were widely expected to leave formal targets unchanged, especially as a powerful hurricane could lift oil prices.

Wall Street jumps after move on Fannie, Freddie (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened sharply higher on Monday after the government's takeover of troubled mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac raised hopes of a recovery in the U.S. housing market, sparking a global equity rally.

Al Qaeda video slams Iran, "Crusader" war: TV (2008-09-08)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda has issued a video marking the September 11 attacks, in which deputy group leader Ayman al-Zawahri slams Iran and says Islam faces a "Crusader" war, Al Jazeera television said on Monday.

Mbeki meets Zimbabwe parties in Harare (2008-09-08)
HARARE (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki met with Zimbabwe's rival parties on Monday, amid growing doubts over his chances of securing a power-sharing deal to end the political crisis.

Patriots' Brady out for season with knee injury (2008-09-08)
FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (Reuters) - New England Patriots quarterback and twice Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady will miss the remainder of the season with an injury to his left knee, the team said on Monday.

Bush administration freezes Russia nuclear pact (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Monday froze a lucrative civilian nuclear pact with Russia, the first big penalty imposed on Moscow after its war with Georgia but one that can be reversed.

U.S. drones hit Taliban commander's Pakistan house (2008-09-08)
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Missiles fired by U.S. drones killed at least three people on Monday in a Pakistani village near the Afghan border where a religious school founded by an old friend of Osama bin Laden is located, witnesses said.

Angola ruling party poised for election triumph (2008-09-08)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA may be declared the winner of the country's disputed parliamentary election as early as Monday when authorities release a round of results expected to show the party with an insurmountable lead.

Indian Kashmir shuts over election plan, violence (2008-09-08)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Indian Kashmir shut down for a day on Monday when separatists called a strike to protest against plans to hold elections in the disputed region and the killing of Muslims by police during pro-independence rallies.

South Asia flood victims plead for food, safe water (2008-09-08)
PATNA, India (Reuters) - Hungry villagers pleaded with authorities to rescue them from flooded homes in eastern India on Monday, as devastating floods continued to haunt millions in South Asia.

Wall St trims gains, Nasdaq turns lower on techs (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks pared gains on Monday as weakness in technology shares pushed the Nasdaq into negative territory.

Canada's Conservatives could be headed for big win (2008-09-08)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's Conservatives appeared to be riding a wave of public support on Monday that could hand them their first majority government since 1988, but the party did all it could to minimize such expectations.

Russia agrees troops pullout from Georgia: Sarkozy (2008-09-08)
MEIENDORF CASTLE, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed at Moscow talks on Monday to pull his troops out of Georgia proper within a month, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy said.

Mbeki to meet Zimbabwe parties in Harare (2008-09-08)
HARARE (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki will meet Zimbabwe's rival parties in Harare on Monday in a new attempt to secure a power-sharing deal amid growing doubts over his chances of success.

Malaysia government MPs fly to Taiwan as Anwar plan looms (2008-09-08)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's ruling coalition took 41 of its lawmakers to Taiwan for a study tour on Monday, at a time when opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been trying to entice MPs to defect in his campaign to unseat the government.

Sarkozy in Russia to seek new Georgia peace deal (2008-09-08)
MEIENDORF CASTLE, Russia - (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Russia on Monday to seek a lasting peace deal for Georgia that will persuade Russia to pull its troops out of positions deep inside the ex-Soviet state.

Eni to buy First Calgary in C$923 million deal (2008-09-08)
MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's Eni SpA has agreed to buy Canada's First Calgary Petroleums Ltd in a cash deal worth C$923 million ($865 million), the latest in a series of acquisitions aimed at boosting its oil reserves worldwide.

Russia aims to corner energy market: U.S. official (2008-09-08)
ROME (Reuters) - Russia aims to extend its control over energy deliveries to the West and it is important that European countries push forward on efforts to diversify routes for oil and gas supplies, a senior U.S. official said on Monday.

U.S. drones kill 13 in missile attack in Pakistan (2008-09-08)
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Missiles fired by U.S. drones killed 13 people, including 7 foreign militants, on Monday in a Pakistani village where a religious school founded by an old friend of Osama bin Laden is located, intelligence officials and witnesses said.

Opposition says Angolan voters coerced in election (2008-09-08)
LUANDA (Reuters) - The leader of Angola's largest opposition party said on Monday people had been forced to vote against their wishes in the country's parliamentary election and he was contesting the results

Hurricane Ike weakens to Category 2 over Cuba (2008-09-08)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike weakened into a Category 2 storm on Monday after roaring ashore in northeastern Cuba, but forecasters say it could regain intensity as it spins toward the U.S. oil hub in the Gulf of Mexico and possibly New Orleans.

Japan PM contenders clash over spending, taxes (2008-09-08)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The frontrunner to become Japan's next leader will pledge tax cuts and bigger government spending to boost the economy, a newspaper said on Monday, a contrast with rivals worried about the country's huge debt.

Futures rally after Fannie, Freddie bailout (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures rallied on Monday, putting Wall Street on track for a surge of 2 percent or more at the open, as the bailout of U.S. home finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stoked a global equity surge.

India to sell nuclear deal to world, soothe critics (2008-09-08)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will take its civilian nuclear deal with the United States to the world looking to secure fuel supplies and reactor technology, analysts said, while seeking to soothe critics with a strong non-proliferation pitch.

OPEC ministers gather, hurricane drives oil price (2008-09-08)
VIENNA (Reuters) - OPEC ministers on Monday gathered in Vienna ahead of a meeting to review output policy, but were widely expected to leave formal targets unchanged, especially as a powerful hurricane could lift oil prices.

North Korea fetes birthday, questions about Kim (2008-09-08)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea marked the 60th anniversary of its founding on Tuesday with what is expected to be the biggest parade of its military might just as the reclusive state appears to be backing away from a nuclear disarmament deal.

China mudslide death toll rises, hundreds may be missing (2008-09-08)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The death toll from a mud and rock slide in northern China has climbed to 34, state media said on Tuesday, but hundreds may be missing after the slip which triggered the collapse of a warehouse filled with mine waste.

CORRECTED: Spielberg ripped off Hitchcock classic - lawsuit (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Steven Spielberg and major Hollywood studios stole the plot from Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1954 film "Rear Window" in making last year's "Disturbia," a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday said.

Buyer calls Plaza Hotel suite "attic-like," sues (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The buyer of a $53.5 million penthouse apartment in New York's famed Plaza Hotel says the apartment turned out to be an "attic-like space" with low ceilings and obstructed views, and he is suing for a refund plus damages.

Fannie, Freddie shares dive, debt rallies on bailout (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's stocks took a dive while their debt soared Monday, as investors bet the U.S. government's takeover of the mortgage finance firms would wipe out shareholders but fully guarantee their bonds.

Toronto documentary gets real about kung fu dream (2008-09-08)
TORONTO (Reuters) - They went to kick butt and gain enlightenment, but what the men in new documentary "The Real Shaolin" found in China was loneliness, pain, bad food and angry kung fu teachers.

Al Qaeda video slams Iran, "Crusader" war: TV (2008-09-08)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda has issued a video marking the September 11 attacks, in which deputy group leader Ayman al-Zawahri accuses Iran of taking part in a Western "Crusader" war against Islam, Al Jazeera television said on Monday.

Marines hand ex-Taliban stronghold to Afghans (2008-09-08)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. Marines handed over control of a former Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan to the Afghan army and their British mentors on Monday after killing more than 400 militants in a four-month operation, the NATO-led force said.

No deal on Zimbabwe, talks resume Tuesday (2008-09-08)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe power-sharing talks will resume on Tuesday after President Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai failed to secure a breakthrough on Monday.

Federer outwits Murray to win five in a row (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The footwork was precise, the touch was sublime, the impeccable Swiss timing was back and Roger Federer glided away with a fifth successive U.S. Open crown on Monday.

Benny Golson saxes nostalgic (2008-09-08)
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Oasis singer Noel Gallagher attacked on stage (2008-09-08)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Oasis singer Noel Gallagher was attacked on stage in Canada during a concert by the British band on Sunday night, sending him to hospital with a suspected broken rib.

Former Fannie Mae execs sued in investor complaint (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Four former top executives of Fannie Mae were sued on Monday, one day after the mortgage finance giant was seized by the U.S. government, in an investor lawsuit that claims the four lied about the company's financial position and artificially inflated its share price.

"Blah Girls" bring teen voice to celeb gossip (2008-09-08)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - They're called the Blah Girls and they've got plenty to say about celebrities, most of it cheeky.

Computer mouse prompted U.S. emergency agency scare (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A reportedly leaking, smelly package that forced an evacuation of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters turned out to be a harmless computer mouse, a fire department official said on Monday.

Tommy Lee Jones sues for "No Country" profits (2008-09-08)
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Sri Lanka says shoots down rebel plane after raid (2008-09-08)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan jets shot down a Tamil Tiger plane after the rebels launched a pre-dawn bombing raid on a military base near the northern frontline on Tuesday, the military said.

Houston exec part of fifth group bidding for Cubs (2008-09-08)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The fifth group bidding for the Chicago Cubs baseball team includes a Houston businessman who runs his own freight-forwarding company and was a star pitcher in college, a source familiar with the sales process said.

Lyric Stage brilliantly brings 'West Side Story' to life (2008-09-08)
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Boeing strikers picket but also hunt, improve homes (2008-09-08)
EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Visit a Boeing worker's picket line expecting to find hundreds of workers worried about putting bread on the table because they were driven to strike by an uncaring employer and you might be surprised.

Perrineau traveling to indie thriller (2008-09-08)
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Shoes, Shoes, Shoes Step to Center Stage (2008-09-08)
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Dow, S&P gain on Fannie, Freddie bailout (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 rose on Monday as investors bet Washington's bailout of U.S. home finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will stabilize the housing market and ease the credit crisis.

Russia says to send nuclear warship to Caribbean (2008-09-08)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday it would send a heavily-armed nuclear-powered cruiser to the Caribbean for a joint naval exercise with Venezuela, its first major maneuvers on the United States' doorstep since the Cold War.

Federer downs Murray to win fifth U.S. Open (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer clinched his fifth successive U.S. Open crown and a 13th grand slam title with a 6-2 7-5 6-2 victory over British sixth seed Andy Murray Monday.

Mbeki to meet Zimbabwe parties in Harare (2008-09-08)
HARARE (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki flew into Harare on Monday to meet Zimbabwe's rival parties, amid growing doubts over his chances of securing a power-sharing deal to end the political crisis.

UAL says press report on bankruptcy is untrue (2008-09-08)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - UAL Corp , parent of United Airlines, said a Chicago Tribune story about a possible bankruptcy filing is "untrue."

AU chairman backs Sudan's Bashir over court (2008-09-08)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The chairman of the African Union affirmed support for deferring any war crimes indictment against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir during a visit to Khartoum on Monday.

Al Qaeda video slams Iran, "Crusader" war (2008-09-08)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda has issued a video marking the September 11 attacks, in which deputy group leader Ayman al-Zawahri accuses Iran of taking part in a Western "Crusader" war against Islam, Al Jazeera television said on Monday.

Russia legal bid to ban "South Park" (2008-09-08)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Prosecutors in Russia want to ban the award-winning satirical U.S. cartoon "South Park," calling the series "extremist" after receiving viewer complaints, a spokeswoman said on Monday.

MSNBC removes feuding anchors (2008-09-08)
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Fifty five wounded in Indian Kashmir violence (2008-09-08)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - At least 55 people were wounded on Monday when police opened fire during a one-day strike in Indian Kashmir, held in protest against the killing of Muslims during independence rallies and plans to hold elections.

Thai PM meets aides ahead of critical court ruling (2008-09-08)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will meet senior aides later on Monday to consider options ahead of a court ruling that could force him from power, a senior government source said.

Russia says to send battleship to Caribbean Sea (2008-09-08)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will send a nuclear-powered battleship to the Caribbean for a joint naval exercise with Venezuela, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Sarkozy urges compliance with Georgia ceasefire (2008-09-08)
MEIENDORF CASTLE, Russia - (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Russia on Monday to comply with a ceasefire agreement which Western governments say obliges Moscow to pull out troops that are still deep inside Georgia.

Death toll hits 51 in Cairo shanty town rockslide (2008-09-08)
CAIRO (Reuters) - The death toll from a rockfall that sent boulders crashing down on dozens of houses in a crowded Cairo shanty town rose to 51 on Monday, with a number of people still missing, Egyptian security sources said.

Ex-colleague of disgraced lobbyist faces charges (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Republican congressional aide who worked with disgraced U.S. lobbyist Jack Abramoff was arrested on Monday on charges of public corruption and obstructing justice, the Justice Department said.

McCain takes 4-point lead over Obama in poll (2008-09-08)
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Reuters) - Republican John McCain heads into the final stretch of the U.S. presidential campaign with a 4-point lead over Democrat Barack Obama, a USA Today/Gallup poll released on Sunday showed.

Hurricane Ike takes aim at western Cuba, Gulf oil (2008-09-08)
HAVANA (Reuters) - A weakened Hurricane Ike swept toward western Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico oil fields on Monday after its high winds and heavy rains ripped a wide swath of destruction through the eastern side of the island, killing at least four people.

Financials lead surge on Fannie, Freddie plan (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks surged on Monday as investors bet that Washington's bailout of U.S. home finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would help stabilize the housing market and the outlook for financials.

Financials lead surge on Fannie/Freddie plan (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks surged on Monday as investors bet that Washington's bailout of U.S. home finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would help stabilize the housing market and the outlook for financials.

Madonna dedicates "Like a Virgin" to pope in Rome (2008-09-08)
ROME (Reuters) - Pop star Madonna, once accused by the Vatican of staging one of the most satanic shows in history, dedicated her hit "Like a Virgin" to the pope at a sold-out concert in Rome over the weekend.

Wall Street surges on Fannie, Freddie plans (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks surged on Monday as investors bet that Washington's bailout of home finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would help stabilize the housing market and the outlook for financials.

GM recalls nearly 300,000 HHR wagons for latch glitch (2008-09-08)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp will recall almost 300,000 Chevrolet HHR wagons because of a problem with a storage bin latch, according to a notice filed by federal safety regulators on Monday.

McCain, Obama tied in opinion polls (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are dead even in two public opinion polls released on Monday as they head into the final eight weeks of the race for the White House.

Three Britons found guilty in liquid bomb plot (2008-09-08)
LONDON (Reuters) - Three Britons were found guilty on Monday of plotting to kill people using homemade liquid bombs, but a jury failed to agree that they intended to blow up transatlantic airliners.

Altria to buy UST for $10.4 billion (2008-09-08)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Altria Group Inc has agreed to buy smokeless tobacco company UST Inc for $10.4 billion, the companies said on Monday, in a move that will combine the Marlboro cigarette brand with the Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco products.

Futures surge on Fannie, Freddie bailout (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rallied on Monday, putting Wall Street on track for a surge of 2 percent or more at the open, as the government bailout of U.S. home finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stoked a global equity surge.

U.S. warns Forest Labs over hypertension drug ad (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators have warned Forest Laboratories Inc for promoting its hypertension drug Bystolic without properly noting the medication's risk, according to a letter released on Monday.

Angola ruling party poised for big election win (2008-09-08)
LUANDA (Reuters) - The ruling MPLA may be declared the winner of Angola's disputed parliamentary election as early as Monday when authorities release a round of results expected to show the party with an insurmountable lead.

Fannie, Freddie bailout greeted with joy and anxiety (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street greeted the U.S. government's seizure of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Monday, hoping it would provide at least temporary respite from the troubles plaguing housing and credit markets.

Wachovia names Zwiener CFO, Steel's first big hire (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wachovia Corp on Monday named David Zwiener chief financial officer, the first major hire announced since Robert Steel became chief executive of the fourth-largest U.S. bank in July.

Hurricane Ike heads for western Cuba, Gulf oil (2008-09-08)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike blew through the warm Caribbean Sea toward western Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico oilfields on Monday after ripping the eastern side of the island with high winds and torrential rains that left a broad path of destruction.

Bush to unveil Iraq troop plans as soon as Tuesday (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush could announce as soon as Tuesday that he wants to withdraw one combat brigade of about 4,000 troops from Iraq early next year, leaving force levels largely unchanged until he leaves office.

North Korea's Kim collapsed due to illness: report (2008-09-08)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Jong-il collapsed last month, a South Korean official in Beijing was quoted as saying, as analysts wondered whether the reclusive leader will appear at his state's anniversary festivities on Tuesday.

Hubble crew faces higher risk of debris hit: NASA (2008-09-08)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - The shuttle crew being dispatched to work on the Hubble Space Telescope faces a higher-than-usual chance of disaster due to orbital debris, the shuttle program manager said on Monday.

Fannie, Freddie bailout greeted with cautious optimism (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage rates fell on Monday after the government seized control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, raising hopes the plan would provide at least temporary respite from troubles in housing and credit markets.

UNITA accepts MPLA victory in Angola election (2008-09-08)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's largest opposition party UNITA said on Monday it accepted the results of the country's parliamentary election, which showed the ruling MPLA party winning a landslide victory.

U.S. judge halts unofficial Harry Potter lexicon (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Monday halted publication of an unofficial encyclopedic companion to the popular Harry Potter book series in a copyright case author J.K. Rowling argued would threaten other writers.

Prison guards union to press Schwarzenegger recall (2008-09-08)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's prison guards union said on Monday it will seek the recall of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger after he ordered a pay cut for its members amid the state's protracted budget deadlock.

Bush to order 8,000 troops out of Iraq (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Tuesday will announce plans to withdraw about 8,000 American troops from Iraq by February 2009 and deploy soldiers to Afghanistan where violence has climbed.

U.S. consumer credit rose in July: Fed (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer credit expanded at the slowest pace in seven months in July as banks tightened lending standards, a Federal Reserve report on Monday showed.

Angola's ruling MPLA holds lead in parliamentary vote (2008-09-08)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA holds an insurmountable lead in a parliamentary election and is within reach of winning a coveted two thirds majority of the seats, according to results released on Monday.

U.S. drones kill 23 in missile attack in Pakistan (2008-09-08)
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Missiles fired by U.S. drones killed 23 people, mostly relatives of a Taliban commander close to Osama bin Laden, in a region of Pakistan near the Afghan border on Monday, witnesses and intelligence officials said.

Hollywood lowers the hype at Toronto film festival (2008-09-08)
TORONTO (Reuters) - The stars are here but the Oscar hype is on low volume at the Toronto film festival this year as major studios hold their promotional fire for movies looking to win awards until later in the year.

Lehman meeting with buyers for Neuberger: report (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is meeting with potential buyers of its Neuberger Berman asset management unit, according to a report, causing shares of Wall Street's fourth-largest investment bank to fall as much as 19.6 percent on concern that it is desperate for cash.

Getting to know you: Palin boosts McCain campaign (2008-09-08)
ALBUQUERQUE (Reuters) - John McCain's backers are reveling in the crowds his White House campaign has drawn in the 10 days since he made Alaska's little-known governor Sarah Palin his running mate.

TV show helps raise $100 mln to fight cancer (2008-09-08)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A television celebrity fund-raiser aimed at accelerating research into the treatment of cancer has helped raise more than $100 million, organizers of the "Stand Up To Cancer" group said on Monday.

UAL shares walloped by new posting of old news (2008-09-08)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A nearly 6-year-old news story on the 2002 bankruptcy filing of UAL Corp resurfaced on the Internet on Monday, clobbering the airline's shares briefly as some traders mistook the report as current and plausible news.

Patriots' Brady out for remainder of season (2008-09-08)
FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (Reuters) - New England Patriots quarterback and twice Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady will miss the remainder of the season with an injury to his left knee, the team said on Monday.

McCain's surge: After convention, he catches Obama (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain got a bounce in opinion polls from his convention and now runs even or slightly ahead of Democratic rival Barack Obama with eight weeks to go in the White House race.

Dow, S&P rise after Fannie, Freddie bailout (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P rose on Monday on hopes a government takeover of U.S. mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will aid the housing market and stabilize credit markets.

Georgia, Russia in Hague court over conflict (2008-09-08)
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Georgia accused Russia of committing human rights violations against ethnic Georgians in the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in hearings before the U.N's highest court on Monday.

Hurricane Ike batters Cuba, threatens Gulf oil, gas (2008-09-08)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike raged through Cuba on Monday, blowing off roofs, toppling trees and flattening sugar cane fields like a giant lawn mower on a path toward U.S. oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico.

Suspicious package probed at emergency agency (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A leaking, smelly package in the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency mail room forced an evacuation of the headquarters building, a fire department official said on Monday.

Fannie and Freddie shares dive, debt rallies (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's stocks took a dive while their debt soared Monday, as investors bet the U.S. government's takeover of the mortgage finance firms would wipe out shareholders but fully guarantee their bonds.

California union to seek Schwarzenegger recall (2008-09-08)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's prison guard union said on Monday it will seek the recall of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger after he ordered a pay cut for its members amid the state's protracted budget deadlock.

U.S. plans $7 billion missile-defense sale to UAE (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration is planning to sell the United Arab Emirates an advanced U.S. missile defense system valued at up to $7 billion that could be used to defend against Iran, people who have attended briefings on the matter said on Monday.

Bush administration yanks Russia nuclear pact (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush has pulled a lucrative civilian nuclear accord with Russia, the State Department said on Monday, the first tangible U.S. penalty imposed on Russia after its war with Georgia.

Homage to Mussolini troops fans Italy fascist row (2008-09-08)
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's defence minister paid homage to pro-Nazi troops on Monday, the second senior conservative in two days to voice sympathy with fascism.

Thai PM vows to fight on despite court threat (2008-09-08)
UDON THANI, Thailand (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej vowed on Monday not to resign or dissolve parliament ahead of a court ruling that could force him from power in less than 24 hours.

Fannie and Freddie shares tumble,debt rallies on bailout (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's stocks took a dive while their debt soared on Monday, as investors bet the U.S. government's takeover of the mortgage finance firms would wipe out shareholders but fully guarantee their bonds.

Outage cripples London Stock Exchange (2008-09-08)
LONDON (Reuters) - The London Stock Exchange suffered its worst systems failure in eight years on Monday, forcing the world's third largest share market to suspend trading for most of the day and infuriating its users.

Balkan Muslim youth embrace Ramadan fast (2008-09-08)
SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Mela Softic stopped drinking alcohol a month ago as part of her preparations for Ramadan fasting that began last Monday.

Probe completes asteroid fly by (2008-09-08)
BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Space Agency obtained on Saturday the first images of an asteroid 360 million km (224 million miles) from earth, part of a space mission which scientists hope will help them understand the origins of the planets.

Opening surge seen on Fannie, Freddie plan (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks headed for a sharply higher open on Monday, with the benchmark S&P 500 set to jump 2 percent or more, as the government bailout of U.S. home finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac spurs a global equity surge.

Minnie Driver delivers baby boy (2008-09-08)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British actress Minnie Driver has delivered a baby boy after refusing to reveal the father's identity, celebrity magazines reported on Monday.

"Lucky Ones" a predictable, Iraq-themed road trip (2008-09-08)
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N.Korea used taekwondo group to plot murder: report (2008-09-08)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea infiltrated an international taekwondo group, using it as a front to send out spies and plot the killing of a South Korean president who ruled for much of the 1980s, newspapers said on Tuesday.

Oil falls $1 as strong dollar counters storm fears (2008-09-08)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Oil prices fell back toward a five-month low on Tuesday, resuming a near two-week slide as a resurgent U.S. dollar drove investors away from commodities and OPEC appeared set to sit tight on production policy.

Thai ruling party vows to stick with Samak as PM (2008-09-08)
UDON THANI, Thailand (Reuters) - Thailand's ruling People Power Party (PPP) said on Tuesday it would renominate Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej as premier if a court disqualified him for hosting TV cooking shows while in office.

Breakaway MDC faction will not work with ZANU-PF (2008-09-08)
HARARE (Reuters) - A breakaway faction of Zimbabwe's opposition MDC said on Monday it will remain independent and not work with the ruling ZANU-PF if no power-sharing deal was reached with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Russia ready for Georgia buffer pullout: Medvedev (2008-09-08)
MEIENDORF CASTLE, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday Russia would pull out from buffer zones around South Ossetia if an international force is in place and there is a guarantee Georgia refrains from using force again.

Hundreds feared missing after China mudslide (2008-09-08)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Hundreds of people may be missing after a mud slide triggered the collapse of a reservoir of iron ore waste in northern China, burying houses and sweeping away cars in a wall of thick sludge, killing at least 34 people.

EA delays new Harry Potter game, stock dips (2008-09-08)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc has delayed until next summer its latest Harry Potter video game, one of its more popular franchises that had been expected to boost earnings and revenue this fiscal year.

Polish man accused of jailing, raping daughter (2008-09-08)
WARSAW (Reuters) - A Polish court on Monday ordered the detention of a man accused by his daughter of keeping her imprisoned for six years and raping her repeatedly, in a case that recalled that of Austrian Josef Fritzl.

Bulgaria casts doubt on London "poisoned umbrella" killing (2008-09-08)
SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria is closing its probe into a Cold War killing, the murder of dissident Georgi Markov in London, but an investigator said no evidence existed to back up the theory that he was stabbed with a poison-tipped umbrella.

Three British men found guilty in bomb plot (2008-09-08)
LONDON (Reuters) - A court found three British Muslim men guilty on Monday of planning to kill people as part of a terrorist plot involving homemade liquid bombs.

McCain, Obama tied at 48 percent: opinion poll (2008-09-08)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama are dead even at 48 percent in the race for the White House, according to a CNN/Time poll released on Monday.

Templeton aims to grow sovereign wealth fund business (2008-09-08)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Franklin Templeton Investments has appointed an executive to spearhead efforts to improve ties with sovereign wealth funds in a bid to manage more of the $2-3 trillion controlled by these state-owned entities.

U.S. takes over Fannie, Freddie (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an aggressive move to help the distressed U.S. housing market and economy.

Government seizes control of GSEs (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an aggressive move to help the distressed U.S. housing market and economy.

Government takes over embattled Fannie, Freddie (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an aggressive move to help the distressed U.S. housing market and economy.

Menacing Hurricane Ike powers toward Cuba, Gulf (2008-09-07)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled toward Cuba as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm on Sunday and was forecast to sweep into the central Gulf of Mexico as a large and powerful storm echoing Hurricane Gustav.

Tsvangirai challenges Mugabe to new election (2008-09-07)
GWERU, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday his party would rather withdraw from power-sharing talks than sign an unsatisfactory deal and challenged President Robert Mugabe to call a new poll.

Angola ruling party on course for big election win (2008-09-07)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA headed on Sunday for a landslide victory in a parliamentary election which opposition parties have branded illegitimate, preliminary results showed.

GSE plan expected at Treasury news conference (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director James Lockhart will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. on Sunday, the Treasury Department said.

Pakistan's Zardari urged to get new image and focus (2008-09-07)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's new president, Asif Ali Zardari, must dispel the perception he is an artful politician and urgently address a deteriorating economy and worsening militant violence, newspapers said on Sunday.

Angola ruling party maintains big lead in vote count (2008-09-07)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA is maintaining a big lead over the opposition in the country's parliamentary election, according to preliminary results released on Sunday.

Europe wants to work with U.S. on Georgia: minister (2008-09-07)
CERNOBBIO, Italy (Reuters) - The European Union wants to work closely with the United States in resolving the Georgian crisis, Italy's foreign minister said after meeting U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday.

Prosecutor becomes figure in mortgage mess (2008-09-07)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Thomas O'Brien, the U.S. Attorney for California's Central District, is emerging as a likely prosecutor in criminal cases expected from the U.S. mortgage meltdown.

Madonna dedicates "Like a Virgin" to pope (2008-09-07)
ROME (Reuters) - Pop star Madonna, once accused by the Vatican of staging one of the most satanic shows in history, surprised fans by dedicating her hit "Like a Virgin" to the pope at a sold-out concert held in Rome.

Venice hails cinema's comeback king Mickey Rourke (2008-09-07)
VENICE (Reuters) - Eleven days of red carpet galas, 21 films in competition and countless interviews, photo calls and parties at the Venice film festival boiled down to just one man in the end -- Mickey Rourke.

Lebanese hold reconciliation talks in volatile city (2008-09-07)
TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) - Lebanese Sunni Muslim leader Saad al-Hariri held talks with an Alawite community leader in a volatile northern city overnight, paving the way for agreement to end four months of sectarian tensions, politicians said on Sunday.

Kuwait to discuss war payment in historic Iraq visit (2008-09-07)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Kuwait's prime minister will travel to Baghdad this week in the Gulf state's first high-level visit to Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded his tiny neighbor in 1990, an Iraqi government official said on Sunday.

Pakistan's Zardari urged to change image and focus (2008-09-07)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's new president, Asif Ali Zardari, must dispel the perception he is an artful politician and urgently address a deteriorating economy and worsening militant violence, newspapers said on Sunday.

Ferocious Hurricane Ike threatens Cuba and Gulf (2008-09-07)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled toward Cuba as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm on Sunday and was forecast to sweep into the central Gulf of Mexico as a large and powerful storm echoing Hurricane Gustav.

Iran to hold three-day war games: report (2008-09-07)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's armed forces will begin three days of war games on Monday involving anti-aircraft defense systems, Iranian media said on Sunday.

Mexico and U.S. win as politics mix with soccer (2008-09-07)
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The United States and Mexico reeled off wins in CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers on Saturday on a day that mixed soccer with politics.

Police recommend charging Israel's Olmert: report (2008-09-07)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police recommended to prosecutors on Sunday that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert be indicted in a corruption investigation, Israeli media reported.

Mudslide buries houses in Philippine south, 8 dead (2008-09-07)
MANILA (Reuters) - Rescue workers pulled eight bodies buried under tonnes of mud after days of monsoon rains loosened soil and buried about 20 makeshift houses near a mining town in the southern Philippines, an army spokesman said on Sunday.

Anti-tank mine kills 5, wounds 3 in Cambodia (2008-09-07)
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A truck hit an anti-tank mine in a former stronghold of Cambodia's ultra-communist Khmer Rouge guerrillas, killing at least five people and wounding three, police said on Sunday.

Japan ruling party executive keen for Nov election (2008-09-07)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The best strategy for Japan's ruling bloc is to hold a snap election, probably in November, to make the most of a hoped-for ratings boost after picking a new prime minister, a ruling party executive said on Sunday.

U.S. forces and Afghan police kill over 20 Taliban (2008-09-07)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - U.S.-led soldiers, backed by air support, and Afghan police killed more than 20 Taliban fighters in two separate clashes, officials said on Sunday.

Unidentified warship captures 14 Somali pirates: government (2008-09-07)
BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) - A warship off pirate-ridden Somali waters captured 14 pirates and destroyed their boat, the fisheries minister for the northern Puntland region said on Sunday.

Tsvangirai challenges Mugabe to new election (2008-09-07)
GWERU, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - MDC opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday that it would be better for his party to pull out of power-sharing talks in Zimbabwe than accept an unsatisfactory agreement.

Serena Williams wins third U.S. Open title (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Serena Williams won her ninth grand slam title by beating tenacious Serbian Jelena Jankovic 6-4 7-5 in a high-quality U.S. Open women's final on Sunday.

Fannie, Freddie bailout offers bank stocks reprieve (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Financial stocks may rise on Monday after the U.S. government took over troubled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , but this may be only a temporary reprieve given the long list of woes banks are currently battling.

Light, or train, at end of tunnel? (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - For weeks the U.S. economy appeared to be approaching the light at the end of a tunnel, but now it seems the light may be an oncoming train.

Asian banks surge on Fannie, Freddie bailout (2008-09-07)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Shares in Asian banks soared on Monday after the U.S. government took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , reassuring investors worried about exposure to the troubled mortgage giants' bonds and the value of other risky debt assets.

Ricky Gervais sees dead people in "Ghost Town" (2008-09-07)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Ricky Gervais sees dead people. And he has found them to be a demanding bunch in his new movie "Ghost Town" as they clamor for help and attention from the only man who knows they're there.

Only two of China's quake orphans finds new parents (2008-09-07)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Nearly four months an earthquake killed nearly 90,000 people in China's Sichuan province, only two of 88 orphans eligible for adoption had found a new home, local officials and state media said on Monday. Tens of thousands of Chinese families offered to take in orphans after the May 12 disaster, but most had found homes with relatives, leaving just 88 to be put up for adoption.

Britney Spears sweeps at MTV Awards (2008-09-07)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A year after her disastrous comeback attempt at the MTV Video Music Awards, Britney Spears swept the event on Sunday, winning the first three "Moonman" statuettes of her career.

Hurricane Ike pounds Cuba on way to Gulf (2008-09-07)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike pounded northeastern Cuba with 120 mile per hour (195 kph) winds, torrential rains and massive waves that rolled through coastal towns on Sunday on a path toward the Gulf of Mexico oil fields and possibly New Orleans.

U.S. seizes Fannie, Freddie, aims to calm markets (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, launching what could be its biggest bailout ever in a bid to support the U.S. housing market and ward off more global financial market turbulence.

Israeli police seek criminal charges against Olmert (2008-09-07)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police said on Sunday Prime Minister Ehud Olmert should face criminal charges, issuing a non-binding recommendation in a corruption scandal driving him from office in the midst of peace talks with the Palestinians.

U.S. seizes Fannie, Freddie, aims to calm markets (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , launching what could be its biggest bailout ever in a bid to support the U.S. housing market and ward off more global financial market turbulence.

Royal Bank of Canada considered buying Lehman: report (2008-09-07)
LONDON (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Canada considered buying Lehman Brothers in July, but decided against the move because it doubted the U.S. bank's ability to shore up its balance sheet, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

GSE rescue could scare bears (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bears have reigned supreme on Wall Street so far in September thanks to growing concern about economies worldwide, but their grip on stocks faces a big challenge after the U.S. government's weekend seizure of control of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Hurricane Ike slams into Cuba, drenches Haiti (2008-09-07)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike roared ashore in northeastern Cuba on Sunday with 120 mph (195 kph) winds, torrential rains and massive waves that rolled through coastal towns as the storm headed on a path toward the Gulf of Mexico oil fields and possibly New Orleans.

Canadian soldier killed on patrol in Afghanistan (2008-09-07)
TORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian soldier was killed and seven wounded on Sunday when their armored vehicle struck an explosive device while on patrol in southern Afghanistan, the Canadian government said.

Boeing strike threatens global aero industry (2008-09-07)
EVERETT, Washington/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 27,000 machinists prepared for a third day of strike action, halting production at the plane maker's Seattle-area plants in protest at Boeing's contract offer and what they see as plans to shift more jobs to non-union and foreign companies.

Nicolas Cage bombs at box office with "Bangkok" (2008-09-07)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Less than a year after starring in the biggest movie of his volatile career, Nicolas Cage led the North American box office to its worst weekend in five years on Sunday with one of his weakest.

Advertiser group objects to Google-Yahoo tie up (2008-09-07)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Association of National Advertisers sent a letter objecting to the proposed Internet search advertising partnership between Yahoo Inc and Google Inc to government regulators reviewing the deal, the group said on Sunday.

Rome mayor's fascist evil comments spark outcry (2008-09-07)
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's left accused Rome's right-wing mayor of trying to rewrite history after he declared that racist laws enacted during Italy's fascist era -- rather than fascism itself -- were "absolute evil."

Powerful Hurricane Ike heads for Cuba, Gulf (2008-09-07)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Ferocious Hurricane Ike ripped off roofs in the southern Bahamas on Sunday and Cuba scrambled to move hundreds of thousands of people inland, away from a storm eventually headed toward the U.S. Gulf oil patch and possibly New Orleans.

Congress seen passing India nuke deal eventually (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The odds of the U.S. Congress passing a U.S.-India civil nuclear deal this year are long, U.S. congressional aides and analysts said on Sunday, but the deal is all but certain to win approval eventually.

Patriots overcome Brady injury to beat Chiefs (2008-09-07)
BOSTON (Reuters) - The New England Patriots survived a game-ending knee injury to MVP quarterback Tom Brady to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 on the opening weekend of the NFL season on Sunday.

Futures soar after U.S. takes over GSEs (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures surged on Sunday, pointing to a sharply higher open when Wall Street opens on Monday, after the U.S. government seized control of troubled mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac .

Britney Spears fails to surprise at MTV awards (2008-09-07)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A year after her disastrous performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, Britney Spears opened the event's 25th annual installment on Sunday in anti-climactic fashion, leaving the singing to others.

WaMu picks Meridian's Fishman as new CEO: report (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc , the largest U.S. savings and loan, is replacing Chief Executive Kerry Killinger, making him the latest high-profile casualty of the credit crisis, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Sunday.

Spike Lee offers blood, hope in World War Two film (2008-09-07)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Filmmaker Spike Lee was focusing on the past when he made a movie about oft-forgotten the role of black soldiers in World War Two, a war film with both blood and schmaltz set in Tuscany.

S&P, Fitch slash Fannie, Freddie preferreds to junk (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings on Sunday cut the ratings on preferred stock of troubled housing finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to junk status after dividends were eliminated in a takeover by the U.S. government.

Hurricane Ike lashes Cuba on way to Gulf of Mexico (2008-09-07)
HAVANA (Reuters) - High winds and heavy rains whipped eastern Cuba on Sunday as Hurricane Ike closed in after adding to the misery and deaths in Haiti and ripping through the southern Bahamas on a path to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico and possibly New Orleans.

Nicolas Cage movie "Bangkok" bombs at box office (2008-09-07)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Less than a year after starring in the biggest movie of his volatile career, Nicolas Cage returned to the top of the North American box office on Sunday with one of his weakest.

Petraeus to hand over U.S. Iraq command Sept 16 (2008-09-07)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. General David Petraeus, credited with helping staunch violence in Iraq, will hand over command of U.S. forces there to Lieutenant-General Raymond Odierno on September 16, a military spokesman said on Sunday.

Lehman announces senior management changes (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc said on Sunday it has named Eric Felder and Hyung Soon Lee as global co-heads of fixed income, following the departure of current global head Andrew Morton.

Dollar resurgence and emerging decline (2008-09-07)
LONDON (Reuters) - Investors are likely to be wrestling this week with two new factors that have arisen to complicate an already tricky environment -- a sharp about-face in currency trading and signs of trouble in emerging markets.

Hurricane Ike makes landfall on northeast Cuba (2008-09-07)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike, packing 120 mile per hour winds (195 kph) and heavy rains, made landfall on the northeastern coast of Cuba on Sunday, the Cuban Meteorology Institute said.

Three China mine accidents kill 42, trap 18 (2008-09-07)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Three Chinese coal mine accidents in just four days killed at least 42 people, trapped 18, and left three missing, media reported on Monday.

Hurricane Ike heads for Cuba, Gulf of Mexico (2008-09-07)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike killed at least 37 people in Haiti and ripped off rooftops in the southern Bahamas on Sunday as Cuba scrambled to get hundreds of thousands out of the path of a storm headed toward the U.S. Gulf oil patch and possibly New Orleans.

Iraq says historic Kuwait visit delayed (2008-09-07)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah will visit Iraq after Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, an Iraqi government official said on Sunday.

Government takes control of embattled Fannie, Freddie (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government announced on Sunday that it was taking control of troubled mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, effectively wiping out shareholders' interest in the publicly traded companies.

Afghan kidnappings damage business revival (2008-09-07)
KABUL (Reuters) - When foreigners are kidnapped in Afghanistan it always makes headlines, but it rarely rates a mention when Afghans are abducted in their own country as worsening security and poverty fuel crime.

Hong Kong votes for new legislature as economy slows (2008-09-07)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - A low electoral turnout in Hong Kong's legislative polls on Sunday could undermine the democratic camp's drive for political reforms in the China-ruled city.

Oil surges $2 to near $109 on hurricane threat (2008-09-07)
PERTH (Reuters) - Oil jumped than $2 to near $109 a barrel on Monday, rebounding from a five-month low on worries that Hurricane Ike would tear through the Gulf of Mexico, and on hopes that a U.S. bailout of its top mortgage lenders would help temper an economic downturn.

Patriots survive Brady's knee injury to defeat Chiefs (2008-09-07)
BOSTON (Reuters) - The New England Patriots survived a game-ending knee injury to MVP quarterback Tom Brady to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 on the opening weekend of the NFL season on Sunday.

WaMu ousts CEO Killinger: report (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington Mutual Inc has ousted Kerry Killinger as its chief executive, and will replace him with Alan Fishman, who is now chairman of mortgage broker Meridian Capital Group, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Sunday.

Workers clear path to access Cairo rock fall site (2008-09-07)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian workers cut through a railway embankment on Sunday to bring heavy earth-moving equipment to the site of a rock fall which killed at least 31 people in a Cairo shantytown.

Government takes control of embattled Fannie, Freddie (2008-09-07)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government announced on Sunday that it was taking control of troubled mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , effectively wiping out shareholders' interest in the publicly traded companies.

Immigrant death sparks revenge riot in Spain (2008-09-07)
ROQUETAS DE MAR, Spain (Reuters) - Immigrants went on a rampage in a southern Spanish town overnight, setting fire to homes and cars and throwing stones at police, after a Senegalese man was stabbed to death, police said on Sunday.

Unidentified warship captures 14 Somali pirates (2008-09-07)
BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) - An unidentified warship off pirate-ridden Somali waters captured 14 pirates and destroyed their boat, a minister of the northern Puntland region said on Sunday.

Olmert promotes West Bank settler buyout plan (2008-09-07)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday it was time to consider offering compensation to Jewish settlers who volunteer to leave parts of the West Bank that Israel would hand to the Palestinians in a statehood deal.

Angola ruling party set for big win in disputed poll (2008-09-07)
LUANDA (Reuters) - The leader of Angola's largest opposition party said on Sunday he was contesting the results of the country's parliamentary election, which showed the ruling party headed for a landslide victory.

Hedge fund Paulson to weigh buying bank stocks: report (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Paulson & Co, a prominent New York hedge fund, will weigh buying shares or convertible bonds in banks and other financial institutions that need capital, the Financial Times reported on its website on Sunday.

Battered stocks face another tough week (2008-09-07)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The bears have been in firm control on Wall Street so far in September, and with anxiety about the health of the United States and world economies on the rise, they probably will not choose this week to go into hibernation.

Iran to hold presidential election in June 2009 (2008-09-07)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will hold its 2009 presidential election on June 12, when conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is widely expected to stand for a second four-year term despite criticism over his economic policies.

McCain says he will include Democrats in Cabinet (2008-09-07)
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Reuters) - Republican nominee John McCain said in an interview aired on Sunday he would bring Democrats into his Cabinet and administration as part of his attempt to change the political atmosphere in Washington.

Anne Hathaway lights up patchy Venice fest (2008-09-06)
VENICE (Reuters) - Mickey Rourke and Anne Hathaway are among the favorites to win top actor and actress prizes at the Venice film festival awards ceremony on Saturday, while the race for the coveted Golden Lion for best picture is wide open.

Silver State becomes 11th failed bank in 2008 (2008-09-06)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators closed Silver State Bank on Friday, the 11th U.S. bank to fail this year as the struggling economy and falling home prices take their toll on financial institutions.

Tropical Storm Hanna moves ashore at Carolinas (2008-09-06)
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Fall Out Boy rolls out viral campaign for "Folie" (2008-09-06)
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"Gimme More" songwriter steps up to the mic (2008-09-06)
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Fall Out Boy rolls out viral campaign for "Folie" (2008-09-06)
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Hispanic radio targets young listeners (2008-09-06)
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Woman locked in cabin in Sweden for nine years (2008-09-06)
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A 58-year-old man suspected of keeping a woman locked up in a tiny cabin in southern Sweden for nine years has been ordered by a court to be held in custody, local media reported.

Voting in Angola parliamentary poll resumes: report (2008-09-06)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Voting in Angola's parliamentary election resumed on Saturday for an unscheduled second day after widespread delays prevented voters from casting ballots on Friday, the African nation's state-run media reported.

Woman locked in cabin for nine years (2008-09-06)
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A 58-year-old man suspected of keeping a woman locked up in a tiny cabin in southern Sweden for nine years has been ordered by a court to be held in custody, local media reported.

Tropical Storm Hanna moves ashore at Carolinas (2008-09-06)
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Christina Applegate in telethon for cancer research (2008-09-06)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Cancer survivors Christina Applegate, Patrick Swayze, Sheryl Crowe, cyclist Lance Armstrong and dozens of other celebrities "stood up" to battle the disease in a charity television fund-raiser on Friday.

Hispanic radio targets young listeners (2008-09-06)
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Columbia snares two more "Spider-Man" films (2008-09-06)
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Boeing machinists strike as talks fail (2008-09-06)
NEW YORK/EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 27,000-strong machinists' union walked off the job on Saturday after the plane maker failed to improve its contract offer after two days of emergency talks.

Landslide hits east Cairo shanty town, kills 31 (2008-09-06)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Thirty-one people were killed and 23 injured when a massive rockslide hit a crowded Cairo shanty town on Saturday, sending rocks and boulders crashing down on dozens of houses, security and medical sources said.

European space probe completes asteroid fly by (2008-09-06)
BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Space Agency obtained on Saturday the first images of an asteroid 360 million km (224 million miles) from earth, part of a space mission which scientists hope will help them understand the origins of the planets.

Obama and McCain spar over Social Security (2008-09-06)
TERRE HAUTE, Indiana (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama warned the elderly on Saturday that Republican rival John McCain would put their retirement income in danger.

Thai PM says no chance of a coup, going to U.N (2008-09-06)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's embattled prime minister said on Sunday there was no chance of a coup against his government and that he would go to the U.N. General Assembly session in New York later this month as scheduled.

Venezuela to host Russia navy exercise in Caribbean (2008-09-06)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Several Russian ships and 1,000 soldiers will take part in joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea later this year, exercises likely to increase diplomatic tensions with Washington, a pro-government newspaper reported on Saturday.

Two more "Spider-Man" films on the way (2008-09-06)
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Russia accuses West of warship provocation (2008-09-06)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused the West on Saturday of acting provocatively in and around the Black Sea, where the United States is using warships to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia.

Cairo landslide kills five, toll expected to rise (2008-09-06)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Five people were killed and eight injured when a rockslide hit a shanty town in Cairo on Saturday, with the death toll expected to rise, security sources said.

Boeing machinists walk off the job as talks fail (2008-09-06)
NEW YORK/EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 27,000-strong machinists' union walked off the job on Saturday after the plane maker failed to improve its contract offer following two days of emergency talks.

Ferocious Hurricane Ike threatens Cuba, Gulf (2008-09-06)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike charged toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico as a ferocious Category 4 storm on Saturday, while Tropical Storm Hanna drenched the U.S. Atlantic coast after barreling ashore in the Carolinas.

China counts down to third manned space launch (2008-09-06)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China, still patting itself on the back after a hugely successful Olympics, will launch a three-man space flight this month, with all systems already in final preparation, state media said on Sunday.

Hurricane Ike strengthens into Category 4 storm (2008-09-06)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike strengthened into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane on Saturday as it churned westward across the Atlantic on a path that would take it through the Bahamas toward Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Zardari wins Pakistan election (2008-09-06)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, swept to victory in a presidential election on Saturday.

Tropical Storm Hanna makes U.S. landfall (2008-09-06)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Hanna sloshed ashore along the U.S. Atlantic Coast between the border of South and North Carolina early on Saturday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Boeing machinists strike (2008-09-06)
NEW YORK/EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 27,000-strong machinists' union walked off the job on Saturday after the plane maker failed to improve its contract offer after two days of emergency talks.

Tropical Storm Hanna heads inland (2008-09-06)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Hanna headed inland on Saturday after barreling ashore between South and North Carolina and beginning a rain-swept march up the U.S. Atlantic Coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Bhutto's widower goes from prison to presidency (2008-09-06)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Asif Ali Zardari has completed a traumatic journey from prison to the presidency of Pakistan.

Voting in Angola poll resumes amid controversy (2008-09-06)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Voting in Angola's parliamentary election resumed on Saturday for an unscheduled second day amid charges the poll had been chaotic and violated the African nation's electoral law.

Nuclear nations approve disputed India trade waiver (2008-09-06)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Forty-five nations approved a U.S. proposal on Saturday to lift a global ban on nuclear trade with India in a breakthrough towards sealing a controversial U.S.-Indian atomic energy deal.

Dalai Lama's pro-independence brother dies in U.S. (2008-09-06)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama's brother, a Buddhist monk-turned-CIA translator who helped train Tibetan resistance fighters in a guerrilla war against Chinese rule, has died at his U.S. home. He was 86.

Russia accuses West of provocation in Georgia (2008-09-06)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused the United States on Saturday of provoking Moscow by using warships to deliver relief aid to its ally Georgia, with which Russia fought a brief war last month.

Alitalia adviser to meet BA on rescue plan: report (2008-09-06)
CERNBOBBIO (Reuters) - Alitalia's adviser will soon present its rescue plan for the airline to British Airways , considered by Italy as a possible foreign partner for the bankrupt airline, an executive told a newspaper.

Treasury plan won't help Fannie, Freddie shareholders: Frank (2008-09-06)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shareholders, including preferred stockholders, will not fair well under a proposed U.S. Treasury takeover of the two housing finance companies, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank told Reuters on Saturday.

Pakistani legislators vote for president (2008-09-06)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Members of Pakistan's parliament and four provincial assemblies voted in a presidential election on Saturday to choose a replacement for Pervez Musharraf, who resigned last month.

Cairo landslide kills 10, toll expected to rise (2008-09-06)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Ten people were killed and 19 injured when a rockslide hit a shanty town in Cairo on Saturday, with the death toll expected to rise, security sources said.

U.S. urges N.Korea to make next move (2008-09-06)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States remains willing to remove North Korea from a list of terror-sponsoring states as soon as the North agrees rules to check its nuclear disclosures, Washington's envoy in disarmament talks said on Saturday.

U.S. to take control of Fannie and Freddie: reports (2008-09-06)
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government plans to put government sponsored mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under federal control, the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers reported late Friday, in what could be the largest financial bailout in the nation's history.

Silver State is 11th failed bank this year (2008-09-06)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Silver State Bank, which recently included Republican presidential candidate John McCain's son on its board, was closed by regulators on Friday, becoming the 11th bank to fail this year, as the struggling economy and falling home prices take their toll on financial institutions.

Landslide hits east Cairo shanty town, kills 11 (2008-09-06)
CAIRO (Reuters) - At least 11 people were killed and 19 injured when a massive rockslide hit a crowded Cairo shanty town on Saturday, sending rocks and boulders crashing down on dozens of houses, security sources said.

Zardari wins Pakistan election (2008-09-06)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, won a presidential election on Saturday, according to an unofficial tally of results.

Rice meets Gaddafi on Libya visit (2008-09-06)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi -- once reviled as a "mad dog" by a U.S. president -- on Friday on a historic visit which she said proved that Washington had no permanent enemies.

DSG sought bid from Media Markt, but rebuffed: report (2008-09-06)
LONDON (Reuters) - Germany's Media Markt, Europe's biggest electrical goods retailer, has rejected a request from DSG International Plc to consider a bid for its closest rival, the Financial Times said on its Web site.

Hanna nears Carolinas before run up East Coast (2008-09-06)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Hanna charged closer to the Carolinas early on Saturday, lashing the coast with heavy rains before striking land and running up the U.S. East Coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Voting in Angola poll resumes (2008-09-06)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Voting in Angola's parliamentary election resumed on Saturday for an unscheduled second day after widespread delays prevented voters from casting ballots on Friday, the African nation's state-run media reported.

Voting resumes in Angola: report (2008-09-06)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Voting in Angola's parliamentary election resumed on Saturday for an unscheduled second day after widespread delays prevented voters from casting ballots on Friday, the African nation's state-run media reported.

Iraq wants answers on reported U.S. spying (2008-09-06)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will seek an explanation from U.S. officials about a report asserting the United States spied on Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi government spokesman said on Friday.

Pakistan's Zardari wins vote: unofficial result (2008-09-06)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, won a presidential election on Saturday, according to an unofficial tally of results.

Pakistan presidency vote begins (2008-09-06)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Members of Pakistan's parliament and four provincial assemblies began voting in a presidential election on Saturday to choose a replacement for Pervez Musharraf, who resigned last month.

N.Korea urged to make next move (2008-09-06)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States remains willing to remove North Korea from a list of terror-sponsoring states as soon as the North agrees rules to check its nuclear disclosures, Washington's envoy in disarmament talks said on Saturday.

Casualties feared as quake rattles Afghanistan (2008-09-06)
KABUL (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 5.6 struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday and officials said they expected casualties.

"Bangkok" a skillful action excursion (2008-09-06)
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Dalai Lama's brother dies in U.S (2008-09-06)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Taktser Rinpoche, the pro-independence eldest brother of the Dalai Lama, has died in his U.S. home, a family member and a Tibet advocacy group said on Saturday. He was 86.

Heart says "Barracuda" use is fishy (2008-09-06)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The rock group Heart, angry that its '70s hit "Barracuda" is being used as the unofficial theme song for Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, is taking aim at the Alaska governor.

Fannie, Freddie's boards meet Saturday to mull government plan (2008-09-06)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The boards of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were set to meet on Saturday to discuss a government plan to place the companies under federal control, sources said.

Rice seeks closer Maghreb counter-terror links (2008-09-06)
ALGIERS (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pushed for closer north African counter-terrorism cooperation on Saturday on a tour of an oil-rich region periodically hit by violence blamed on al Qaeda.

Voting in Angola election resumes amid controversy (2008-09-06)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Voting in Angola's parliamentary election resumed on Saturday for an unscheduled second day amid charges the poll had been chaotic and violated the African nation's electoral law.

China to press N.Korea on nuclear dispute: U.S. envoy (2008-09-06)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China will "reach out" to get North Korea to accept rules to vet its nuclear disclosures, a U.S. envoy said after talks on Saturday seeking to revive momentum in the North's faltering atomic disarmament steps.

Iran rejects French warning it risks Israeli strike (2008-09-06)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran dismissed on Saturday a warning by France's president that the Islamic Republic was taking a dangerous gamble over its nuclear program because one day its arch-foe Israel could strike.

Treasury to ensure stable Fannie, Freddie: Barney Frank (2008-09-06)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank said on Saturday that the U.S. Treasury Department plans to ensure the stability of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Nicolas Cage on target in "Bangkok Dangerous" (2008-09-06)
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Mickey Rourke film wins top prize in Venice (2008-09-06)
VENICE (Reuters) - Hollywood outsider Mickey Rourke capped his big screen comeback on Saturday when "The Wrestler," in which he plays a lonely, washed out fighter, won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice festival.

Powerful Hurricane Ike threatens Cuba, Gulf (2008-09-06)
KEY WEST, Florida (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike charged toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico as a ferocious storm on Saturday while Tropical Storm Hanna drenched the U.S. Atlantic coast after barreling ashore in the Carolinas.

Obama, McCain to appear at Ground Zero on 9/11 (2008-09-06)
TERRE HAUTE, Indiana (Reuters) - Presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama will appear together on September 11 in New York at the site where the World Trade Center collapsed after being hit by hijacked planes in 2001.

Voting ends in Angolan election (2008-09-06)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Voting in Angola's parliamentary election has ended after being extended for a day because of widespread delays and disorganization at polling stations, the African nation's electoral commission announced on Saturday.

Obama tells elderly he will protect retirement (2008-09-06)
NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama warned the elderly on Saturday that Republican rival John McCain would put their retirement income in danger.

An Old West shootout at the Toronto film festival (2008-09-06)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Westerns have been around as long as moving pictures, and two movies at this week's Toronto film festival, including Ed Harris's "Appaloosa," show how the old standard has taken wildly different looks over a century.

Soccer diplomacy brings Turkey's Gul to Armenia (2008-09-06)
YEREVAN (Reuters) - Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited neighbouring Armenia on Saturday to attend a soccer match he said could help end almost a century of hostility and aid security in the Caucasus.

EU gambles on next U.S. president, result secret (2008-09-06)
AVIGNON, France (Reuters) - Europeans do not get to vote in the November U.S. presidential election, but many wish they did, and their foreign ministers decided that they would at least take a gamble behind closed doors.

Killer landslide hits east Cairo shanty town (2008-09-06)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Thirty-one people were killed and 23 injured when a massive rockslide hit a crowded Cairo shanty town on Saturday, sending rocks and boulders crashing down on dozens of houses, security and medical sources said.

Hanna hits U.S., Ike menaces Cuba, Gulf (2008-09-06)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Hanna barreled ashore between South and North Carolina on Saturday and began a rain-swept march up the U.S. Atlantic Coast, while fierce Hurricane Ike menaced Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico.

Sudanese forces attack Darfur rebel bases: insurgents (2008-09-06)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese forces launched ground and air attacks on two rebel bases in North Darfur on Saturday, killing an unknown number of people, insurgent groups said.

Mickey Rourke caps comeback with Venice film win (2008-09-06)
VENICE (Reuters) - Hollywood outsider Mickey Rourke capped his big screen comeback on Saturday when "The Wrestler," in which he plays a lonely, washed out fighter, won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice festival.

Landslide hits east Cairo shanty town, kills 20 (2008-09-06)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Twenty people were killed and 23 injured when a massive rockslide hit a crowded Cairo shanty town on Saturday, sending rocks and boulders crashing down on dozens of houses, state news agency MENA said.

Government plan for Fannie, Freddie to hit shareholders (2008-09-06)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government plans to takeover Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and all shareholders of the two mortgage giants will take a hit, an influential lawmaker said on Saturday.

Michael J. Fox, James Cameron on Canada's Walk of Fame (2008-09-06)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Step aside Tinsletown. Toronto, dubbed "Hollywood North" for its active film industry, has its own star-studded "Walk of Fame," and its biggest red carpet yet was rolled out on Saturday for this year's Canadian inductees.

Angola ruling party on track for big election win (2008-09-06)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Preliminary results from Angola's parliamentary election show the ruling MPLA headed for a landslide victory over its opponents, the African nation's electoral commission said late on Saturday.

Quake rattles Afghanistan, no casualties (2008-09-06)
MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 5.6 hit Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday, but caused no casualties, a provincial official said.

British school caters to children of Kazakh elite (2008-09-06)
ALMATY (Reuters) - Kazakh businessman Serzhan Zhumashov says some of his friends laughed when he came up with the idea of opening a British school in his home country five years ago.

Mexicans protest crime at soccer match (2008-09-06)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Mexican soccer fans dressed in white at an international game in the Azteca Stadium on Saturday to protest rising crime and a brutal drug war that has killed more than 2,700 people this year.

Storm Hanna hits U.S., Ike menaces Cuba, Gulf (2008-09-06)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Hanna barreled ashore between South and North Carolina on Saturday and began a rain-swept march up the U.S. Atlantic Coast, while fierce Hurricane Ike menaced Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico.

Two NATO soldiers killed in eastern Afghanistan (2008-09-06)
KABUL (Reuters) - Two soldiers of the NATO-led force were killed in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, the alliance said.

Donny and Marie bring G-rated variety to Vegas (2008-09-06)
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Iran rejects French warning of Israeli strike risk (2008-09-06)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran dismissed on Saturday a warning by France's president that the Islamic Republic was taking a dangerous gamble over its nuclear program because one day its arch-foe Israel could strike.

Dalai Lama's pro-independence brother dies in U.S (2008-09-06)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama's brother, a Buddhist monk-turned-CIA translator who helped train Tibetan resistance fighters in a guerrilla war against Chinese rule, has died at his U.S. home. He was 86.

Two more 'Spider-Man' films on the way (2008-09-06)
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Hurricane Ike weakens but still menaces Cuba (2008-09-06)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike weakened on Saturday but still menaced Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico as a potentially ferocious storm while Tropical Storm Hanna drenched the U.S. Atlantic coast after barreling ashore in the Carolinas.

China opens Games, pledges disabled rights (2008-09-06)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing opened the Paralympic Games in spectacular fashion on Saturday, an event China's leaders hope will show them in a compassionate light.

Angola ruling party on course for big election win (2008-09-06)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's ruling MPLA headed on Sunday for a landslide victory in parliamentary elections which opposition parties have branded illegitimate, preliminary results showed.

Hurricane Ike strengthens to Category 3 storm again (2008-09-06)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike strengthened again into a dangerous Category 3 hurricane on Saturday as it churned westward across the Atlantic on a path that would take it through the Bahamas toward Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Mickey Rourke picture wins top prize in Venice (2008-09-06)
VENICE (Reuters) - U.S. movie "The Wrestler," in which Mickey Rourke sealed his comeback from the Hollywood wilderness with a stunning performance, won the Venice film festival's Golden Lion for best picture on Saturday.

"The Wrestler" wins Venice Golden Lion (2008-09-06)
VENICE (Reuters) - U.S. movie "The Wrestler" won the Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice film festival on Saturday, winding up the 11-day competition on the Lido waterfront.

Hurricane Ike menaces Cuba, Hanna sloshes into U.S. (2008-09-06)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike menaced Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico as a potentially ferocious storm while Tropical Storm Hanna began a rain-swept march up the U.S. Atlantic coast after barreling ashore on Saturday in the Carolinas.

Zardari wins Pakistan election; bomb kills 16 (2008-09-06)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, swept to victory in a presidential election on Saturday.

Breast MRIs delay cancer treatment by weeks: study (2008-09-06)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who get an MRI scan wait about three weeks longer before their surgery and are far more likely to get a mastectomy than women who have only a mammogram, U.S. researchers said on Saturday.

Unpopular Japan PM scores with parting shot (2008-09-05)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was unpopular with voters but T-shirts printed with his huffy parting shot are now a hit.

Seven dead in air raid in west Afghanistan: official (2008-09-05)
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Seven people, including two children, were killed in an air strike in the western Afghan province of Farah on Friday, a district official said, adding the raid was aimed at the house of a Taliban commander.

Dell plans to sell computer factories: report (2008-09-05)
(Reuters) - Dell Inc is trying to sell computer factories around the world in efforts to cut cost and improve profitability, the Wall Street Journal said.

"Bangkok Dangerous" kicks off fall movie season (2008-09-05)
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Rice set for historic Libya visit, to meet Gaddafi (2008-09-05)
LISBON (Reuters) - Condoleezza Rice travels to Libya on Friday, the first trip there by a U.S. secretary of state in 55 years, signaling improved ties between the two countries.

U.S. warship in Russian-patrolled Georgian port (2008-09-05)
POTI, Georgia (Reuters) - The flagship of the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet dropped anchor off Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti on Friday, where Russian troops have been patrolling since last month's war with Georgia.

Lawyers fear massacre if Iranians in Iraq handed over (2008-09-05)
GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States risks a Srebrenica-style massacre if its forces in Iraq hand over responsibility for more than 3,000 exiled opposition Iranians to Iraqi authorities, an international lawyers' group has said.

Abbas doubts peace deal possible this year (2008-09-05)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted as saying on Friday that he doubted a full peace deal with Israel could be reached this year and urged the next U.S. administration to continue negotiations.

Stock futures point to lower opening, data eyed (2008-09-05)
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BofA wants terms others got in bond deal: report (2008-09-05)
(Reuters) - Bank of America Corp wants to settle state and federal probes into the marketing of auction-rate securities on similar terms similar to those reached with other major banks, Bloomberg said.

"Dark Knight" reigns as new Imax king (2008-09-05)
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S.Africa's Mbeki expected in Zimbabwe for mediation (2008-09-05)
HARARE (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki is expected in Harare on Monday to continue mediation efforts to break a deadlock in power-sharing talks, a Zimbabwean official said on Friday.

Cheney visits Ukraine divided on NATO (2008-09-05)
KIEV (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney discusses the Georgia crisis on Friday with Ukrainian leaders, whose country is deeply divided over NATO membership and distracted by a domestic political crisis.

Samsung Elec mulls SanDisk buy (2008-09-05)
SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS>, the world's top maker of memory chips, said it may buy flash memory maker SanDisk , which is valued at $3.2 billion, in a deal that could reshape a struggling industry.

Hong Kong democrats face tough fight in legislative polls (2008-09-05)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp faces a stern test in city-wide legislative elections on Sunday, with rival pro-Beijing candidates poised to further erode the camp's waning influence over the city's political future.

Bollywood film depicts terror threat in Mumbai (2008-09-05)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - An anonymous call threatening to bomb Mumbai city sets off a hair-raising search for the attackers in a new Bollywood thriller opening on Friday, the latest in a slew of Indian films based on terrorism.

Treasury near GSE bailout plan: report (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department is close to finalizing a plan to buttress mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Treasury won't comment on Fannie, Freddie story (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Treasury Department spokeswoman on Friday declined comment on a Wall Street Journal story saying a plan was near completion for a financial backstop for mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Abbas says doubts peace deal possible this year (2008-09-05)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was quoted as saying on Friday that he doubted a full peace deal with Israel could be reached this year and urged the next U.S. administration to continue negotiations.

Fans line up to see "Rent" last time on Broadway (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jeanne Hopkins flew all the way from California to line up to put her name in a lottery for a $20 ticket to see one of the last Broadway performances of the hit musical "Rent," which closes on Sunday after 12 years.

Pimco names El-Erian CEO; Thompson to retire (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pacific Investment Management Co, the world's biggest manager of bond funds, named Mohamed El-Erian as its sole chief executive after co-CEO Bill Thompson retires at the end of the year.

Qaeda video vows more Denmark attacks (2008-09-05)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda issued new threats against Denmark in an Internet video released on Friday, saying an attack on the Danish Embassy in Pakistan is just the start of its retaliation for perceived insults to the Prophet Mohammad.

U.S. says 2 civilians among 8 dead in Afghan strike (2008-09-05)
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Two civilians were among eight people killed in a U.S.-led coalition operation in western Afghanistan on Friday, the U.S. military said, the latest in a mounting toll of civilian deaths that has outraged Afghans.

NFL average ticket price rises 7.9 percent: study (2008-09-05)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Football fans will have to open their wallets wider this season as ticket prices in the National Football League continue to rise despite the weak U.S. economy, according to a study by a sports marketing firm.

Goldman cuts Merrill to "sell," sees new writedowns (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merrill Lynch & Co Inc , battered by over $40 billion in write-downs, will incur fresh write-downs, according to a Goldman Sachs research report, and its shares dropped 3.2 percent on Friday.

Altria in advanced talks to buy UST-source (2008-09-05)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Cigarette company Altria Group Inc is in advanced talks to buy Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco maker UST Inc , a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Friday.

CORRECTED: Czechs, hosting shield, seek U.S. help with planes (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Czech Republic wants Washington's help to upgrade its military transport planes but denied it is seeking a bonus for hosting part of a U.S. missile shield that has fueled tensions with Russia.

Fierce Hurricane Ike targets Gulf, Hanna nears (2008-09-05)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Fierce Hurricane Ike weakened as it charged across the Atlantic on Friday and took aim at south Florida and the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico while Tropical Storm Hanna was set to crash ashore in the Carolinas after killing at least 136 people in Haiti.

Wall Street cuts losses as financials bounce (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks pared losses in volatile trade on Friday, and the Dow briefly turned positive, as financial shares rose on short-covering, offsetting concerns about the economy after a bleak labor market report.

Zambia ruling party picks Banda to run for president (2008-09-05)
LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia's ruling MMD party chose the country's vice president, Rupiah Banda, on Friday as its candidate to fight a November election to replace the late President Levy Mwanawasa, a party official said.

Home foreclosures reach record high (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. home foreclosures and the rate of homes entering foreclosure rose to record highs in the second quarter, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Friday.

Thousands protest against Indian rule in Kashmir (2008-09-05)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Thousands of Muslims staged sit-in protests in parts of Indian Kashmir on Friday, resuming demonstrations against New Delhi's rule in the disputed Himalayan region after a three-day break, witnesses said.

Growth fears hit world stocks, European FX (2008-09-05)
LONDON (Reuters) - A wave of risk aversion hit financial markets on Friday, pushing world stocks to their lowest in more than two years and knocking European currencies and oil as fears intensified about the global economic slowdown.

Russia says Cheney fanning Georgian aggression (2008-09-05)
KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia accused the United States on Friday of encouraging Georgian aggression by supporting Tbilisi's NATO membership bid.

Wall St set to slide at open on jobs data (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a lower open on Friday after a government report showed the U.S. labor market deteriorated further in August, pushing the unemployment rate to its highest in more than 4-1/2 years.

Wall St falls further on economic worry (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks extended losses on Friday, pushing the benchmark S&P 500 index down more than 1 percent, as a government report showing growing job losses in August added to worries about the economy and profit outlook.

Nokia warning pushes futures down further (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures fell further on Friday after Nokia slashed its third-quarter market share outlook, heightening investors' concern about the global slowdown and the profit outlook.

CORRECTED: Nokia warns on Q3 as price war bites, shares drop (2008-09-05)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's top mobile phone maker Nokia warned it would lose market share this quarter as it refused to participate in a price war waged by some rivals to combat weak economies, hitting its shares.

Home foreclosures reach record high (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Home foreclosures and the rate of homes entering the foreclosure process rose to record highs in the second quarter, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Friday.

Rourke seals comeback in "iconic" wrestler role (2008-09-05)
VENICE (Reuters) - Mickey Rourke seals his comeback with a critically acclaimed performance as a lonely, washed out wrestler whose life painfully echoes that of the troubled Hollywood outsider.

Petraeus says Qaeda still undefeated in Iraq (2008-09-05)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda remains a dangerous force in Iraq despite a general decline in violence and U.S. troops must continue to confront the militant group, the outgoing top U.S. general in the country said.

Rice set for historic Libya visit, meeting Gaddafi (2008-09-05)
LISBON (Reuters) - Condoleezza Rice hailed as "historic" her trip to Libya later on Friday, the first by a U.S. secretary of state to the former pariah nation in 55 years and a visit aimed at erasing decades of enmity.

Some 500,000 Entergy customers still without power (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 500,000 customers in Entergy Corp's service area in Louisiana and Arkansas remained without power Friday morning after Hurricane Gustav caused massive damage to the company's transmission system when it hit Louisiana Monday.

Jobless rate at 4-1/2 year high (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly shot up to 6.1 percent in August, the highest in over 4-1/2 years, as employers cut payrolls for an eighth straight month and a decline in labor markets accelerated.

CORRECTED: Jobless rate at 5-year high (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly shot up to 6.1 percent in August, its highest in nearly five years, as employers cut payrolls for an eighth straight month and labor markets showed signs of accelerating decline.

Alleged Colombian drug boss arrested in Madrid (2008-09-05)
MADRID (Reuters) - A Colombian accused by the U.S. authorities of heading one of the most violent drug trafficking networks in South America has been arrested in a Madrid hotel, the U.S. Embassy in the city said on Friday.

Futures dive on bleak August jobs data (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures sharply extended losses on Friday as a government report showed the U.S. economy shed 84,000 jobs in August, significantly more than economists had expected, and the unemployment rate climbed to a 4-1/2-year high.

August jobless rate at 4-1/2 year high (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly shot up to 6.1 percent in August, its highest in more than 4-1/2 years, as employers cut payrolls for an eighth straight month and labor markets showed signs of accelerating decline.

Futures drop before jobs data; Merrill dives (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures fell on Friday as mounting concerns about a global economic slowdown diminished investors' appetite for risk and investors braced for the government's report on August non-farm payrolls.

Two civilians, eight Taliban killed in Afghan raid-army (2008-09-05)
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A U.S.-led coalition air strike killed a woman and child and eight Taliban fighters in western Afghanistan on Friday, a top Afghan army official said.

Two civilians, eight Taliban killed in Afghan raid: army (2008-09-05)
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A U.S.-led coalition air strike killed a woman and child and eight Taliban fighters in western Afghanistan on Friday, a top Afghan army official said.

Iraq eyes Lockheed F-16 fighter aircraft purchase (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Iraqi government has asked for information about possibly buying 36 F-16 fighter aircraft built by Lockheed Martin Corp, the U.S. Defense Department said Friday.

Nokia warns on Q3 as rivals, economy take toll (2008-09-05)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's top mobile phone maker Nokia warned on Friday that the soft global economy, tough competition from rivals and a weak handset portfolio would hit its market share in the third quarter.

Thai PM buys time with referendum plan (2008-09-05)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has bought some time with a referendum aimed at defusing street protests, but it will do nothing to resolve Thailand's fundamental political conflict, analysts say.

Columbia Bancorp to close mortgage business, cut jobs (2008-09-05)
(Reuters) - Columbia Bancorp , the holding company for Columbia River Bank, said it plans to close its mortgage banking division, affecting about 39 jobs, as it strives to cut costs amid a difficult mortgage market.

Pakistan president to face security, economic crises (2008-09-05)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's new president, almost certain to be the widower of Benazir Bhutto, will have to contend with a host of critical problems including militant violence and an economy in crisis.

Angry Djokovic sets up Federer showdown (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick put in a show-stopping performance at the U.S. Open on Thursday night but only the fired up Serbian was left standing to take an encore -- albeit from a hostile Flushing Meadows crowd.

Angolans vote in first election in 16 years (2008-09-05)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angolans voted on Friday for the first time in 16 years in a parliamentary election expected to extend the ruling party's hold of more than three decades in the booming oil-rich African nation.

Don't go home yet, Indian state warns flood victims (2008-09-05)
PURNEA, India (Reuters) - Authorities battling a massive deluge in eastern India issued public warnings on Friday of more floods to come and asked villagers not to return home from temporary shelters yet.

Aso, six others line up so far in Japan PM race (2008-09-05)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Former foreign minister Taro Aso, frontrunner to become Japan's next leader, faced a growing field of six would-be rivals on Friday, as the ruling party hoped a vibrant leadership race would revive its dismal voter ratings.

Tarantino's take on WWII draws fire in Germany (2008-09-05)
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Polish prosecutors probe possible CIA jail (2008-09-05)
WARSAW (Reuters) - The prosecutor's office is investigating allegations that there was a CIA prison in Poland where al Qaeda suspects were questioned and guards might have used methods close to torture, the prime minister's top adviser said on Friday.

Suspected U.S. drone attack kills 5 in Pakistan (2008-09-05)
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Five Islamist militants were killed on Friday in a missile attack by a suspected U.S. drone in Pakistan's North Waziristan region, in a stepped up campaign against militants near the Afghan border.

Goldman cuts Merrill to sell, sees fresh writedowns (2008-09-05)
(Reuters) - Merrill Lynch & Co , battered by more than $40 billion of write-downs tied largely to mortgages, will likely incur fresh write-downs, in addition to those assumed after its recent sale of repackaged debt to Lone Star Funds, said an analyst at Goldman Sachs, who cut the stock to a "sell."

Altria in advanced talks to buy UST for $10 bln: report (2008-09-05)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Altria Group Inc is in advanced talks to buy Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco maker UST Inc for $10 billion, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing people close to the negotiations.

Rural Thais say Bangkok protests hit livelihoods (2008-09-05)
By Nopporn Wong-Anan BAAN BANGSAI, Thailand (Reuters) - Rural Thais say the middle class Bangkok protesters occupying Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's compound are destroying their livelihoods and should end their three-month campaign to topple the government.

Investment scheme sparks clashes in Chinese city (2008-09-05)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Discontent over a banned investment scheme erupted into two days of clashes between residents and security forces in a small city in southern China, according to reports on Friday.

Iraq seeks to buy 36 F-16 fighters from U.S.: report (2008-09-05)
(Reuters) - The Iraqi government is seeking to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S., American military officials familiar with the request told the Wall Street Journal.

Australia swears in first woman governor-general (2008-09-05)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's 25th governor-general was sworn into office as the representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth on Friday, with republicans holding out little hope that Australia will abolish the job any time soon.

Pimco appoints El-Erian as CEO (2008-09-05)
(Reuters) - Pacific Investment Management Co, the manager of the world's biggest bond fund, named Mohamed El-Erian as its chief executive to replace Bill Thompson, who will retire at the end of the year.

Air strike kills 7 in west Afghanistan, official says (2008-09-05)
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Seven people, including two children, were killed in an air strike in western Afghanistan on Friday that was aimed at the house of a Taliban commander, a district official said.

Growth fears hit world stocks (2008-09-05)
LONDON (Reuters) - A wave of risk aversion hit financial markets on Friday, pushing world stocks to their lowest in more than two years, and knocking European currencies and oil as fears about the slowing global economy intensified.

New book says U.S. spied on Iraqi leaders: report (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has spied on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders, according to U.S. journalist Bob Woodward's fourth book on President George W. Bush, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

South Korea says critical moment for North nuclear deal (2008-09-05)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's chief nuclear envoy on Friday pressed North Korea to halt plans to rebuild a mothballed nuclear plant that makes arms-grade plutonium and instead return to the bargaining table.

Voting begins in Angola parliamentary election (2008-09-05)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angolans began voting on Friday in a parliamentary election expected to extend the ruling party's more than three-decade rule in the booming oil-rich African nation.

Rebels seize U.N. food supply in Philippine south (2008-09-05)
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine Muslim guerrillas halted a United Nations convoy and seized food supplies intended for tens of thousands of people displaced by weeks of fighting on a southern island, police said on Friday.

Kanye West ends VMA boycott (2008-09-05)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A year after vowing never to perform on the MTV Video Music Awards again, hip-hop star Kanye West will close the show's 25th annual ceremony in Hollywood on Sunday, joining a lineup that includes Christina Aguilera and the Jonas Brothers, organizers said.

Wall Street flat as financials offset weak data (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed in volatile trade on Friday as a bounce in financial shares offset concerns about the economy after a bleak labor market report.

Nokia warns on Q3 as price war bites, shares dro (2008-09-05)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Top cellphone maker Nokia Oyj said it had sacrificed market share in the third quarter to defend profits in the midst of a price war, sending its shares as much as 14 percent lower on Friday.

Storms delay space shuttle launch to Hubble (2008-09-05)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Space shuttle Atlantis' launch on a final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope has been delayed because of tropical storms, NASA said on Friday.

Boeing machinists to strike as contract talks fail (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK/EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 27,000-strong machinists' union declared it will strike at midnight Pacific time on Friday, as the plane maker failed to improve its contract offer after two days of emergency talks.

Disgraced track star Jones leaves Texas prison (2008-09-05)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. sprinter Marion Jones left a federal prison in Texas on Friday after serving a six-month sentence for lying to prosecutors about steroid use that helped her win five medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Boeing workers prepare to strike as deadline nears (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK/EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Boeing Co's machinists prepared for a strike on Friday as the plane-maker and its largest union tried to hammer out a last-ditch deal on their latest three-year contract.

GE gets "Wells notice" in SEC accounting probe (2008-09-05)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - General Electric Co said on Friday it had been notified by U.S. regulators that a civil complaint could be filed against the company following a more than three-year-long probe into its use of hedge accounting for derivatives and other accounting matters.

Capitol police find weapons in car (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Capitol police found a grenade, several weapons and ammunition in a car near the Capitol building on Friday and arrested the driver, a police spokeswoman said.

Safety compliance gaps noted for some U.S. airlines (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three major airlines were among 11 U.S. airlines that failed during an unprecedented industry review to demonstrate full compliance with government safety directives, regulators said on Friday.

Mickey Rourke delivers tour de force as "Wrestler" (2008-09-05)
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Nevada bank becomes 11th failed bank in 2008: FDIC (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators closed Silver State Bank on Friday, the 11th U.S. bank to fail this year as the struggling economy and falling home prices take their toll on financial institutions.

Citi could sell Primerica, Texas business: Ladenburg's Bove (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup could sell its Primerica financial services unit and its First American banking subsidiary in Texas as the bank continues to restructure its business, Ladenburg Thalmann analyst Richard Bove said in a research note.

"Idol" grad Pickler writes from the heart (2008-09-05)
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Fierce Hurricane Ike targets Miami, Hanna nears (2008-09-05)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Fierce Hurricane Ike weakened slightly as it charged across the Atlantic on Friday and took aim at south Florida while Tropical Storm Hanna was set to crash ashore in the Carolinas after killing at least 136 people in Haiti.

New York Times to consolidate paper's sections (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Times Co plans to consolidate some sections in the metropolitan edition of its namesake newspaper to reduce costs, the publisher said on Friday.

Jankovic to meet Serena in title clash (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams each had one eye on the weather as they booked their places in the U.S. Open women's final with efficient victories in blustery conditions on Friday.

Venice remembers steel factory deaths in two films (2008-09-05)
VENICE (Reuters) - "Is my face burnt? I don't want to die!" shouts a steel worker engulfed in a fire last December at a ThyssenKrupp plant in northern Italy, shortly before dying with six of his colleagues.

Dow, S&P end higher on financials, down for week (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The broader stock market ended its worst week since May with modest gains on Friday, as a rally in financial stocks helped the market reverse earlier steep losses after a government report showed further deterioration in the U.S. labor market.

Rock group Heart says "Barracuda" use is fishy (2008-09-05)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The rock group Heart, angry that its 70's hit "Barracuda" is being used as the unofficial theme song for Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, is biting back at the Alaska governor.

U.S. seeks $8 billion from Congress for highway funding (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration on Friday sought $8 billion immediately from Congress to close a fast growing shortfall in tax receipts used to reimburse states for highway construction projects.

John McCain speech draws record TV ratings (2008-09-05)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A record 38.9 million U.S. TV viewers watched John McCain accept the Republican nomination for president on Thursday, slightly more than the 38.3 million people who tuned in for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's speech, Nielsen Media Research reported.

Washington to pull plans for Russian nuclear deal (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration will withdraw a civilian nuclear pact with Russia soon as a penalty for its invasion of Georgia last month, a State Department official said on Friday.

Mexico meat exports to U.S. suspended (2008-09-05)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico has suspended meat exports to the United States while producers check conditions at their plants to comply with U.S. sanitary regulations, U.S. officials and Mexican meat producers said.

India and U.S. chip away opposition to nuclear deal (2008-09-05)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Forty-five countries considering lifting a ban on nuclear trade with India welcomed an Indian pledge on Friday to honor non-proliferation pacts it has not signed, but some felt it did not go far enough, diplomats said.

India pledges seen inadequate for nuclear deal (2008-09-05)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Forty-five countries considering lifting a ban on nuclear trade with India welcomed an Indian pledge on Friday to honor non-proliferation pacts it has not signed but some felt it did not go far enough, diplomats said.

Nuclear suppliers hold up U.S.-India deal: diplomats (2008-09-05)
VIENNA (Reuters) - A U.S. push to lift a global ban on nuclear trade with India stalled on Saturday when a revised proposal failed to win over nations because it did not bind India to refrain from more nuclear bomb tests, diplomats said.

Job woes, Nokia fallout hit Wall St (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell for a fifth straight day on Friday as a government report showing further deterioration in the U.S. labor market added to worries about the profit outlook and the impact of the housing slump on the economy.

McCain draws record 38.9 mln viewers, bests Obama (2008-09-05)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A record 38.9 million U.S. TV viewers tuned in to watch John McCain accept the Republican nomination for president on Thursday, beating the record set last week by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, Nielsen Media Research reported.

Nokia warns on Q3 as price war bites, shares drop (2008-09-05)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's top mobile phone maker Nokia warned it would lose market share this quarter as it refused to participate in a price war waged by some rivals to combat weak economies, hitting its shares.

Continental introduces $15 fee for 1st checked bag (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Continental Airlines Inc said on Friday it will charge a $15 service fee for a first checked bag for certain customers who buy economy-class tickets.

Rice arrives in Tripoli to meet Gaddafi (2008-09-05)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Top U.S. diplomat Condoleezza Rice arrived in Tripoli on Friday on the first trip by a U.S. secretary of state to Libya since 1953, and said it was proof that Washington had no "permanent enemies."

McCain pledges to change partisan Washington (2008-09-05)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin kicked off a two-month battle for the White House on Friday with a promise that "change is coming," a theme co-opted from their Democratic rivals.

Weak U.S. jobs data hits stocks, lifts bonds (2008-09-05)
LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks extended losses to fresh two-year lows while save-haven government bonds rallied on Friday after a surprisingly weak U.S. jobs report deepened worries about the health of the global economy.

Financial rally lifts Dow, S&P; week ends lower (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks ended their worst week in months with modest gains on Friday, as bargain-hunting among financial stocks offset a government report showing further deterioration in the U.S. labor market.

U.S. to take control of mortgage giants: reports (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government plans to put troubled mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under federal control, the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers reported on Friday.

Iraq eyes Lockheed F-16 fighter aircraft purchase (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Iraqi government has asked for information about buying 36 F-16 fighter aircraft built by Lockheed Martin Corp , the U.S. Defense Department said Friday.

Wall St drops as weak jobs data sparks anxiety (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened lower on Friday after a government report showed the U.S. labor market deteriorated further in August, pushing the unemployment rate to its highest level in nearly five years.

Jobless rate at 5-year high (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly shot up to 6.1 percent in August, its highest in nearly five years, as employers cut payrolls for an eighth straight month and labor markets showed signs of accelerating decline.

Bank of America says ready to settle on auction rates (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp , said it is ready to settle federal and state probes into the marketing of auction-rate securities, joining eight other companies that reached agreements.

Altria in advanced talks to buy UST: source (2008-09-05)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Cigarette company Altria Group Inc is in advanced talks to buy Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco maker UST Inc , a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Friday.

U.S. appeals to Ukraine to unite with West (2008-09-05)
KIEV (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney appealed to Ukraine's divided leaders on Friday to unite and forge closer links with the West, pledging Washington's support for Kiev to join the NATO military alliance.

Tax chairman Rangel failed to report income (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - House Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, failed to report $75,000 of income from a villa he owns in the Dominican Republic, his attorney said on Friday.

Boeing machinists to strike as contract talks fail (2008-09-05)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 27,000-strong machinists' union declared it will strike at midnight on Friday, as the plane maker failed to improve its contract offer after two days of emergency talks.

Angola extends election after opposition protests (2008-09-05)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's first election for 16 years will go into an unscheduled second day on Saturday, the official in charge said after opposition parties had condemned the vote as chaotic and demanded a re-run.

Nokia losing market share as price war bites (2008-09-05)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia Oyj , the world's biggest cellphone maker, said it expects to lose market share in the third quarter as it fights to maintain profit margins, sending its shares as much as 14 percent lower.

Hurricane Ike heads for Bahamas and Florida: NHC (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike with winds near 125 miles per hour will likely reach the Bahamas early next week and South Florida by mid-week, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. EDT report Friday.

Nuclear group voices doubts about trade with India (2008-09-05)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Forty-five countries mulling dropping a ban on nuclear trade with India welcomed an Indian pledge on Friday to uphold non-proliferation standards but some felt it did not go far enough, diplomats said.

Bank of America: Ready to settle on auction rates (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America Corp , said it is ready to settle federal and state probes into the marketing of auction-rate securities, joining eight other companies that reached agreements.

Rourke, Hathaway lead in Venice as U.S. films shine (2008-09-05)
VENICE (Reuters) - A late flurry of independent U.S. pictures at the Venice film festival has blown the competition wide open ahead of the awards ceremony on Saturday.

Pakistan's new president to face crises (2008-09-05)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's new president, almost certain to be the widower of Benazir Bhutto, will have to contend with a host of critical problems including militant violence and an economy in crisis.

GE receives "'Wells notice" in hedge accounting probe (2008-09-05)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - General Electric Co said on Friday it had been notified by U.S. regulators they were considering filing a civil complaint against the company following a three-year probe into GE's use of hedge accounting for derivatives.

Rice meets Gaddafi on historic Libya visit (2008-09-05)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Top U.S. diplomat Condoleezza Rice met Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Friday on a historic trip to the north African country she said was proof that Washington had no "permanent enemies."

Alleged court love affair shadows Texas execution (2008-09-05)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Days before the scheduled execution of a convicted killer, Texas' attorney general has asked for a review of allegations by the condemned inmate that the judge and prosecutor in the case were having an affair.

Voters say economy overshadows political hoopla (2008-09-05)
CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Trudy Tucker doesn't know if the back-to-back U.S. political conventions addressed the financial worries she has raising four children -- she was too busy to watch.

Chris Cornell, Timbaland prepare to 'Scream' (2008-09-05)
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Woman locked in cabin in Sweden for 9 years: report (2008-09-05)
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A 58-year-old man suspected of keeping a woman locked up in a tiny cabin in southern Sweden for nine years has been ordered by a court to be held in custody, local media reported.

Rice meets Gaddafi on historic Libya visit (2008-09-05)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi -- once reviled as a "mad dog" by a U.S. president -- on Friday on a historic visit which she said proved that Washington had no permanent enemies.

U.S. offers to help Cuban victims of Gustav (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has offered to help Cuban victims of Hurricane Gustav by sending aid through relief organizations instead of the government of President Raul Castro, the State Department said on Friday.

Hurricane Ike threatens Gulf (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike may be on course toward a potentially dangerous route into the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, a U.S. emergency official said on Friday.

Hurricane Ike targets Gulf, Hanna nears U.S (2008-09-05)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Fierce Hurricane Ike weakened as it charged across the Atlantic on Friday and took aim at south Florida and the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico while Tropical Storm Hanna was set to crash ashore in the Carolinas after killing at least 136 people in Haiti.

Al Qaeda video vows more Denmark attacks (2008-09-05)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda issued new threats against Denmark in an Internet video released on Friday, saying an attack on the Danish embassy in Pakistan was the start of its retaliation for perceived insults to the Prophet Mohammad.

Capitol police find weapons, explosive in car (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Capitol police found an improvised explosive device along with several weapons and ammunition in a car near the Capitol building on Friday and took the driver into custody, a spokeswoman said.

Bhutto's widower set to become Pakistan's president (2008-09-05)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was poised on Saturday to win an election to become president.

Haiti finally gets a new government (2008-09-05)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haitian Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis belatedly took office on Friday with a promise to aid those left destitute by recent storms while preparing for looming Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike targets Gulf, Hanna's toll rises (2008-09-05)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Fierce Hurricane Ike weakened as it charged across the Atlantic on Friday and took aim at south Florida and the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico, while Tropical Storm Hanna buffeted the Carolinas after killing at least 529 people in Haiti.

McCain accepts party's nomination, promises jobs (2008-09-05)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain cast himself as an independent-minded reformer on Thursday, vowed "change is coming" if he is elected president and promised to create millions of jobs by developing new energy sources.

Czechs, hosting shield, seek U.S. help with planes (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Czech Republic wants Washington's help to upgrade its military transport planes but denied it is seeking a bonus for hosting part of a U.S. missile shield that has fueled tensions with Russia.

Angolan extends election after opposition protests (2008-09-05)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's first election for 16 years goes into an unscheduled second day on Saturday after opposition parties condemned the vote as chaotic and demanded a re-run.

Hurricane Ike targets Gulf, Hanna nears U.S. (2008-09-05)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Fierce Hurricane Ike weakened as it charged across the Atlantic on Friday and took aim at south Florida and the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico, while Tropical Storm Hanna buffeted the Carolinas after killing at least 136 people in Haiti.

Boeing workers prepare to strike as talks go on (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co's machinists prepared for a strike on Friday as the plane maker and its largest union tried to hammer out a last-ditch deal on their latest three-year contract.

Angolan opposition parties condemn election (2008-09-05)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's UNITA opposition demanded a re-run of Friday's parliamentary election because of widespread delays at polling stations, describing the country's first vote in 16 years as a "mess."

Chris Cornell, Timbaland prepare to "Scream" (2008-09-05)
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Mayhem reigns in Toronto's "Midnight Madness" films (2008-09-05)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Forget red carpets and polite Hollywood stars. Mayhem reigns at the Toronto film festival's "Midnight Madness" movies that kicked off, literally, with an early Friday morning screening of "JCVD" in which aging action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme pokes fun at his own career.

Iraq wants explanation on reported U.S. spying on PM (2008-09-05)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will seek an explanation from U.S. officials about a report asserting the United States spied on Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi government spokesman said on Friday.

Nearly 500 dead in flooded Haitian town: police (2008-09-05)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Haitian police found 495 corpses when muddy floodwaters began to recede on Friday from the port city of Gonaives following days of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Hanna, the town's police commissioner said on Friday.

Greenberg could pay fine of up to $100 million: report (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, the former CEO of American International Group Inc , could face a fine of up to $100 million to settle three-year-old civil fraud charges brought by New York's attorney general, according to business news channel CNBC on Friday.

McCain draws record 38.9 million viewers, bests Obama (2008-09-05)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A record 38.9 million U.S. TV viewers watched John McCain accept the Republican nomination for president on Thursday, beating the record set last week by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, Nielsen Media Research reported.

U.S. jobless rate at 5-year high (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An unexpectedly steep 84,000 U.S. jobs were lost in August and the national unemployment rate hit a five-year high of 6.1 percent, fanning worry ahead of November's presidential vote about rising recession risks.

Jobless rate at 5-year high (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An unexpectedly steep 84,000 U.S. jobs were lost in August and the national unemployment rate hit a five-year high of 6.1 percent, fanning worry ahead of November's presidential vote about rising recession risks.

Serena and Jankovic to meet in title clash (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams each had one eye on brewing thunderstorms as they booked their places in the U.S. Open women's final with efficient victories in blustery conditions on Friday.

Rice arrives on historic Libya visit (2008-09-05)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Top U.S. diplomat Condoleezza Rice arrived in Tripoli on Friday on the first trip by a U.S. secretary of state to Libya since 1953, and said it was proof that Washington had no "permanent enemies."

McCain and Obama clash on economy (2008-09-05)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama, back on the campaign trail after their party conventions, clashed over the ailing U.S. economy on Friday as unemployment hit its highest monthly rate in nearly five years.

Alabama group files suit over Jefferson County debt (2008-09-05)
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - An Alabama activist group has filed a lawsuit seeking to cancel $6.6 billion in debt and related swaps issued by Jefferson County, claiming the county faces financial disaster because of misdeeds by Wall Street firms, corrupt local politicians and others.

U.S., Libyan relations "off to a good start": Rice (2008-09-05)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - U.S. and Libyan relations are "off to a good start," Condoleezza Rice said on Friday as she became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit the North African country in 55 years.

Regulators close Silver State Bank in Henderson, Nevada (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators closed Silver State Bank on Friday, the 11th U.S. bank to fail this year as the struggling economy and falling home prices take their toll on financial institutions.

U.S. filmmaker provisionally released in Nigeria (2008-09-05)
LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigerian authorities provisionally released a U.S. journalist late on Friday, almost a week after he was arrested for filming the army in the oil-producing Niger Delta, his colleagues and a rights group said.

Zambia ruling party chooses Banda for president (2008-09-05)
LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia's ruling MMD party chose the country's vice president, Rupiah Banda, on Friday as its candidate to contest a presidential election due in November, a party official said.

Rourke, Hathaway light up patchy Venice film fest (2008-09-05)
VENICE (Reuters) - Mickey Rourke and Anne Hathaway are among the favorites to win top actor and actress prizes at the Venice film festival awards ceremony on Saturday, while the race for the coveted Golden Lion for best picture is wide open.

Fierce Hurricane Ike targets Gulf, Hanna nears U.S. (2008-09-05)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Fierce Hurricane Ike weakened as it charged across the Atlantic on Friday and took aim at south Florida and the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico while Tropical Storm Hanna was set to crash ashore in the Carolinas after killing at least 136 people in Haiti.

Angolan opposition demands election re-run (2008-09-05)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angola's UNITA opposition demanded a re-run of Friday's parliamentary election because of widespread delays at polling stations, describing the country's first vote in 16 years as a "mess."

Some 500,000 Entergy customers still lack power (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 500,000 customers in Entergy Corp's service area in Louisiana and Arkansas remained without power on Friday, four days after Hurricane Gustav caused massive damage to the company's power grid.

Disgraced U.S. sprinter Jones leaves Texas prison (2008-09-05)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Former U.S. sprinter Marion Jones left a federal facility in Texas on Friday after serving a six-month sentence for lying to prosecutors about steroid use that helped her win five medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Neglect threatens infrastructure: U.S. security chief (2008-09-05)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has increased security to protect its levees, dams and power grids from terrorists, but neglect of ordinary upkeep exposes such critical infrastructure to dangerous decay, the U.S. homeland security chief said on Friday.

Partner in U.S. publisher Farrar, Straus & Giroux dies (2008-09-05)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Robert Giroux, who rose to become a partner in U.S. publishing house Farrar, Straus & Giroux, has died at the age of 94, the New York Times reported on Friday.

Hurricane Ike targets Gulf as Hanna hits Carolinas (2008-09-05)
SALVO, North Carolina (Reuters) - Fierce Hurricane Ike weakened as it charged across the Atlantic on Friday and took aim at south Florida and the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico, while Tropical Storm Hanna buffeted the Carolinas after killing at least 529 people in Haiti.

Prescription drug abuse seen up, cocaine down (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More young adults abused prescription pain drugs last year but their use of cocaine and methamphetamines fell, while illicit drug use by baby boomers in their late fifties soared, a U.S. agency said on Thursday.

First instant replay confirms Rodriguez homer (2008-09-04)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Major League Baseball's instant replay system was used for the first time on Wednesday when umpires upheld a home run by Alex Rodriguez during the New York Yankees' 8-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Pakistan protests to U.S. envoy over border raid (2008-09-04)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - An angry Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador to protest against a raid on a Pakistani border village in which officials said 20 people, including women and children were killed, an official said on Thursday.

CORRECTED: Ex-priest in Australia faces 93 child sex charges (2008-09-04)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - A former priest has been charged with 93 child sex offences stemming from an alleged paedophile ring at a Catholic boy's school, police said on Wednesday.

Nestle appoints new division heads as Polman leaves (2008-09-04)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss food group Nestle has appointed new regional heads in the Americas and Europe as its Americas head and former chief financial officer, Paul Polman, is leaving the company.

Merrill's bad debt sale to South Korea agency stalls (2008-09-04)
(Reuters) - Merrill Lynch & Co's talks to sell bad loans to Korea Asset Management Corp (KAMCO) faced a deadlock due to a disagreement over price, the South Korean state agency said on Thursday.

Thai PM refuses to quit as crisis drags on (2008-09-04)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Defiant Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej refused to quit as his opponents vowed on Thursday to keep up a street campaign to unseat him, setting the scene for more political uncertainty.

Boeing union rejects company offer, votes to strike (2008-09-04)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - The International Association of Machinists, Boeing Co's largest labor union, said on Wednesday that its members rejected the plane maker's latest three-year contract offer and voted to walk off their jobs at midnight.

Seven killed in Dubai helicopter crash (2008-09-04)
DUBAI (Reuters) - A helicopter crashed off the coast of Dubai on Wednesday killing all seven people on board, the civil aviation authority said on Thursday.

Boeing union says postpones strike for 48 hours (2008-09-04)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - The International Association of Machinists, Boeing Co's largest labor union, said on Wednesday that it will postpone a potential strike for 48 hours to allow more time to negotiate with the company.

Serena tops Venus in quarter-final thriller (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Serena Williams fought off 10 set points to prevail in the greatest duel yet with sister Venus, a heart-stopping 7-6 7-6 victory that put her in the U.S. Open semi-finals on Wednesday.

"Twilight" author drops new book after Web leak (2008-09-04)
CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) - Stephenie Meyer, author of the best-selling young adult "Twilight" books, has put the fifth and final installment in the series on hold in protest after a partial draft was posted on the Internet.

EU, U.S. to issue new Boeing 777 safety rules: report (2008-09-04)
(Reuters) - U.S. and European air-safety regulators, concerned by potentially dangerous ice build-ups in the fuel systems of some long-haul jets, will issue new operating rules for about 220 Boeing 777 planes, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

Venice festival schedules showdown with Toronto (2008-09-04)
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Jolie posters not "Wanted" in UK, watchdog rules (2008-09-04)
LONDON (Reuters) - Angelina Jolie might ooze Hollywood glamour, but if she's armed and looking dangerous, the actress is not welcome in Britain.

Mugabe to form cabinet if MDC does not sign deal (2008-09-04)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said he will go ahead and form a cabinet if opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai does not sign a power-sharing deal on Thursday, state media reported.

Assad says "crucial" round of talks with Israel postponed (2008-09-04)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - A "crucial" round of indirect talks between Syria and Israel has been postponed because of the resignation of an Israeli negotiator, President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday.

Cablevision rolls out wireless Web in NY suburbs (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York cable TV operator Cablevision Systems Corp has started rolling out a free Wi-Fi network for subscribers who want to access the Web via laptops and other wireless devices.

U.S. says prescription drug abuse up, cocaine down (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More young adults abused prescription pain drugs last year but their use of cocaine and methamphetamines fell, while illicit drug use by baby boomers in their late fifties soared, a U.S. agency said on Thursday.

Thai PM refuses to quit, crisis drags on (2008-09-04)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Defiant Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej refused to quit as his opponents vowed on Thursday to keep up a street campaign to unseat him, setting the scene for more political uncertainty.

Palin energizes Republicans, now McCain's turn (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential nominee John McCain has a new attack dog. Her name is Sarah Palin, and she bites hard.

Russia's NLMK to buy U.S. Beta Steel for $400 million (2008-09-04)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Novolipetsk Steel, the Russian steel maker owned by billionaire Vladimir Lisin, has agreed to acquire U.S. hot-rolled steel producer Beta Steel in a $400 million cash deal to expand its presence in North America.

Boeing workers vote to strike, but walkout delayed (2008-09-04)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co's largest labor union said its members rejected the plane maker's contract offer and voted to strike, but the union agreed to postpone a walkout for 48 hours to allow more time for negotiations.

Cheney in Georgia to show support against Russia (2008-09-04)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Georgia on Thursday to signal support for its government after Russia crushed Georgian forces in a brief war last month and pushed deep into the ex-Soviet state's territory.

Police to advise Israel's Olmert be indicted-reports (2008-09-04)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Police are likely to recommend on Sunday indicting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges, Israeli media reported on Thursday.

Assad says "crucial" talks with Israel postponed (2008-09-04)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - A round of indirect talks between Syria and Israel has been postponed, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday.

Regulators probing oil supply data: report (2008-09-04)
(Reuters) - Commodity market regulators are probing whether energy market players are injecting false crude oil supply data into the marketplace, the Wall Street Journal said.

BP close to deal with Russian partners: source (2008-09-04)
LONDON (Reuters) - BP is close to a deal with its oligarch co-owners of TNK-BP that would see board changes at the Russian oil major, the departure of TNK-BP's BP-nominated chief executive, and which could lead to 20 percent of TNK-BP being floated, an industry source said on Thursday.

Service sector seen shrinking in August (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. service sector likely shrank modestly in August, as a pullback in consumer spending pinched retailers and other non-manufacturing industries for a second straight month.

Unilever names Nestle's Polman as CEO, shares leap (2008-09-04)
LONDON (Reuters) - Unilever Plc/NV named Paul Polman, a consumer goods veteran who missed out on the top job at Swiss food group Nestle SA last year, as its new chief executive on Thursday, sending its shares surging.

Regional powers to discuss North's nuclear restart (2008-09-04)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Four regional powers plan to meet in Beijing in the next few days to discuss North Korea's steps towards restarting its ageing nuclear plant that makes arms-grade plutonium, officials said on Thursday.

Dubai helicopter crash kills 7, shuts oilfield (2008-09-04)
DUBAI (Reuters) - A helicopter crashed into an oil rig off the coast of Dubai on Wednesday killing all seven people on board and forcing the closure of the Rashid oilfield, the civil aviation authority and oil services company said.

Cheney: Russian actions in Georgia "illegitimate" (2008-09-04)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney said on Thursday that Russia had cast doubt on its reliability as an international partner with an "illegitimate" attempt to change Georgia's borders.

Russia's NLMK to buy U.S. firm Beta Steel for $400 million (2008-09-04)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Novolipetsk Steel , the Russian steel maker owned by billionaire Vladimir Lisin, has agreed to pay $400 million in cash to acquire U.S. hot-rolled steel maker Beta Steel and expand its presence in North America.

Rate decisions ahead, global stocks stable as dollar slips (2008-09-04)
LONDON (Reuters) - Global equities stabilized on Thursday after hitting a two-year low while the dollar trimmed recent gains ahead of European interest rate decisions and the British pound touched a trade-weighted 12-year low.

Regional powers try to stop North's nuclear restart (2008-09-04)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Four regional powers plan to meet in Beijing in the next few days to discuss how to halt North Korea's steps towards restarting its ageing nuclear plant that makes arms-grade plutonium, officials said on Thursday.

Sovereign funds pump $25.5 billion into global M&A: data (2008-09-04)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Sovereign funds have invested $25.5 billion so far this year to buy stakes in global companies such as Citigroup and Merrill Lynch , up 66 percent from a year earlier, Thomson Reuters data showed on Thursday.

Private sector cuts 33,000 jobs in August: report (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private employers cut 33,000 jobs in August, according to a private report by ADP Employer Services released on Thursday.

Wal-Mart August same-store sales rise 3 percent (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Thursday reported a higher-than-expected 3 percent increase in August sales at U.S. stores open at least a year, excluding fuel.

Bank of England holds interest rates at 5.0 percent (2008-09-04)
LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England left interest rates on hold at 5.0 percent for a fifth month running on Thursday, but expectations are rising that recession worries could prompt a cut before the end the year.

Thailand plans referendum to end crisis (2008-09-04)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand plans to hold a national referendum to end a political crisis over a street campaign against the government, embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Thursday after rejecting calls to quit.

Merrill falters in sale to Korea Asset: report (2008-09-04)
(Reuters) - Merrill Lynch & Co's talks to sell a significant amount of bad loans to Korea Asset Management Corp are faltering because of a dispute over price, Bloomberg said.

Category 4 Hurricane Ike fiercer as Hanna strengthens (2008-09-04)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike strengthened rapidly into an fiercely dangerous Category 4 hurricane in the open Atlantic on Wednesday and Tropical Storm Hanna intensified to a lesser degree as it swirled over the Bahamas toward the southeast U.S. Coast.

Futures point to lower start on Wall Street (2008-09-04)
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Mississippi River reopens to barges after Gustav (2008-09-04)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The entire Mississippi River, the most important U.S. commercial waterway, has reopened to barge traffic after being closed near New Orleans due to Hurricane Gustav, said the U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday.

Global econ fears send Asian stocks to 2-year lows (2008-09-04)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian shares fell to new two-year lows on Thursday as further signs of a slowing global economy -- from the United States to the euro zone -- hit export-dependent sectors such as technology.

Wal-Mart August sales above Wall Street view (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said August sales at U.S. stores open at least a year rose a better-than-expected 3 percent and gave an optimistic forecast for September as shoppers seek low prices on groceries and school supplies.

U.S. detains second Iraqi cameraman this week (2008-09-04)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military arrested an Iraqi cameraman on Thursday, his family and employer said, two days after the detention of a freelance photographer working for the Reuters news agency.

Japan fiscal reformer to challenge Aso for PM (2008-09-04)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese economics minister Kaoru Yosano lined up on Thursday to challenge frontrunner Taro Aso in the race to become the next prime minister, setting up a clash over economic policy as Japan skirts with recession.

Pimco: Treasury needed to stop asset deflation (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - To stop a sell-off of debt and other assets, the U.S. government will have to bring in new policies to open up the Treasury Department's balance sheet, said the manager of the world's biggest bond fund on Thursday.

Business productivity up, but jobs scarce (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. businesses boosted their productivity strongly in the second quarter but it was at the expense of weakening labor market, government reports on Thursday showed.

ECB to hold rates, may shake up collateral rules (2008-09-04)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is widely expected to leave interest rates at 4.25 percent later on Thursday, with a new set of staff economic projections and a likely rejig of collateral rules set to provide this month's fireworks.

BP and Russian partners agree TNK-BP deal (2008-09-04)
LONDON (Reuters) - BP agreed a deal with the oligarch co-owners of TNK-BP on Thursday that overhauls the Russian oil major's management and sets a possible flotation of up to 20 percent of the company, ending months of increasingly hostile dispute.

Toll Brothers posts Q3 net loss; sees Q4 rev below Q3 (2008-09-04)
(Reuters) - Luxury home builder Toll Brothers swung to a third-quarter net loss, hurt by write-downs and weakened demand in most markets amid the nation's housing slump, and forecast sequentially lower revenue in the fourth quarter on higher costs.

Futures slip before data; Wal-Mart gains (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures slipped on Thursday as investors turned cautious ahead of key economic reports, offsetting news of a solid August sales report from Wal-Mart Stores .

Cheney offers support for Georgia, slams Russia (2008-09-04)
TBILISI (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney vowed on Thursday to stand by Georgia in its showdown with Russia, calling Moscow's military push into the ex-Soviet state an "illegitimate" act that cast grave doubt on its reliability.

Four killed in suspected U.S. drone attack in Pakistan (2008-09-04)
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - Four Islamist militants were killed and five wounded in a missile attack by a suspected U.S. drone in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region on Thursday, security officials and witnesses said.

Boeing workers vote to strike, delay it until Fri (2008-09-04)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co faces a walkout by 27,000 workers on Friday after members of its largest labor union rejected the planemaker's contract offer and voted to strike unless a compromise is reached in time.

BG Group up on talk of Exxon Mobil interest: traders (2008-09-04)
LONDON (Reuters) - Shares in BG Group rose as much as 5.1 percent on Thursday as traders cited market talk of bid interest from Exxon Mobil .

Dow falls 2 percent as job worries weigh on market (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks pushed further into the red on Thursday, led by a more than 2 percent slide in the Dow industrials as concerns about a sluggish labor market made investors worry about future profit growth.

Palin mocks Obama, readies Republicans for McCain (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican presidential nominee John McCain has a new attack dog. Her name is Sarah Palin, and she bites hard.

Cheney says U.S. stands by Georgia, condemns Russia (2008-09-04)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney vowed on Thursday to stand by Georgia in its showdown with Russia, saying Moscow's military push into the ex-Soviet state was an "illegitimate" act which cast doubt on its reliability.

Advent merges airport retailers Dufry, Hudson (2008-09-04)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Private equity firm Advent International is merging Swiss duty-free retailer Dufry AG with its U.S. airport retailer Hudson by means of a share swap that leaves it a majority stake in Dufry.

Pakistanis furious over U.S.-led border raid (2008-09-04)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan is determined to defend its territorial integrity, the country's foreign minister said on Thursday, as anger mounted over a raid by U.S.-led troops on a remote border village.

JP Morgan to exit municipal swaps: report (2008-09-04)
(Reuters) - JP Morgan Chase & Co will stop selling interest-rate swaps to government borrowers in the $2.6 trillion U.S. municipal bond market roiled by an antitrust probe and the near bankruptcy of Alabama's most-populous county, Bloomberg reported.

Zimbabwe's opposition says lost faith in talks (2008-09-04)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party has lost faith in power-sharing talks with President Robert Mugabe and will leave him to form a government alone rather than be forced into a deal, a party official said on Thursday.

Pakistan anxious as Zardari poised for presidency (2008-09-04)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani legislators are set to elect as president the late Benazir Bhutto's controversial widower Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday, making a choice many Pakistanis see leading to a fresh phase of political instability.

Job woes, economy set stage for weak open (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a lower open on Thursday, weighed down by signs of deterioration in the

Wall Street sinks on labor market jitters, economy (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Thursday, weighed down by signs of deterioration in the labor market and concern over the outlook for corporate profits.

Wall St. sinks on labor market jitters, economy (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Thursday, weighed down by signs of deterioration in the labor market and concern over the outlook for corporate profits.

ECB leaves rates on hold, global tightening nears end (2008-09-04)
FRANKFURT/LONDON (Reuters) - The European Central and Bank of England both held interest rates steady on Thursday, reinforcing the view of investors that the global rates cycle has peaked as growth risks start to outweigh inflation worries.

Wal-Mart leads better sales for discount retailers (2008-09-04)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - U.S. discount retailers, led by Wal-Mart Stores Inc , posted stronger-than-expected August sales on Thursday as shoppers sought last-minute deals on back-to-school items and other products.

Afghans seek punishment for civilian deaths in raid (2008-09-04)
AZIZABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Hundreds of Afghans gathered near a village bombed by U.S.-led coalition forces to call on the government to punish those responsible for civilian deaths in the raid.

U.S. says nuclear states nearing deal on India trade (2008-09-04)
VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday nuclear supplier nations were making progress towards agreement on lifting a ban on trade with India, after Washington revised a proposal for the move to meet a raft of objections.

Private sector cuts 33,000 jobs in August (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. private employers cut 33,000 jobs in August, according to a private report by ADP Employer Services that may not bode well for Friday's monthly jobs report by the government.

Business productivity up but jobs scarce (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. businesses boosted their productivity strongly in the second quarter but it was at the expense of weakening labor market, government reports on Thursday showed.

JPMorgan exits municipal swaps business (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co said it is shuttering a unit that structured interest rate swaps for municipal borrowers, as regulators scrutinize the bank's role in the business.

Ex-lobbyist Abramoff sentenced to four years by judge (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whose corruption scandal shook up Washington's power elite and contributed to the Republican loss of control in Congress, was sentenced on Thursday to four years in federal prison.

U.S. special forces carried out Pakistan raid (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. commandos entered Pakistan this week to attack an al Qaeda target near the Afghan border in a move that could signal more intense U.S. efforts to thwart cross-border militant violence, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Hathaway's sparks early awards buzz (2008-09-04)
VENICE (Reuters) - Anne Hathaway's dark role in "Rachel Getting Married," which premiered this week in Venice, is generating early Oscar buzz, with several critics hailing her departure from previous fairytale and comic characters.

AIG may park risky assets in new company: report (2008-09-04)
(Reuters) - Insurer American International Group is considering forming a separate company to hold risky credit assets, which have caused it record losses in the past three quarters, the New York Post reported.

Iraq film explores soldiers' addiction to danger (2008-09-04)
VENICE (Reuters) - In "The Hurt Locker," the latest film about the war in Iraq, a bomb disposal expert takes risks beyond the call of duty as he comes to realize that only one thing makes him feel truly alive -- dicing with death.

Boeing workers vote to strike, delay it until Friday (2008-09-04)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co faces a walkout by 27,000 workers on Friday after members of its largest labor union rejected the planemaker's contract offer and voted to strike unless a compromise is reached in time.

BP loosens TNK-BP grip to end fight with oligarchs (2008-09-04)
LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - BP bowed to demands from its partners in TNK-BP to ease its grip on Russia's third-largest oil producer to end a bitter dispute that had knocked BP's shares and rattled investor confidence in Russia.

Karzai promises punishment for Afghan civil casualties (2008-09-04)
AZIZABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday visited grieving relatives of civilians said to have died in a U.S.-led coalition strike last month, promising swift punishment for those responsible.

Wall St opens down on job woes, economy (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell at the open on Thursday as weak U.S. labor market data sparked concern about the profit outlook and sent the Dow industrials down 1 percent.

Alitalia to cut less than 5,000 jobs, minister says (2008-09-04)
ROME (Reuters) - Layoffs at bankrupt airline Alitalia should be less than 5,000, Italy's Labour Minister Maurizio Sacconi said on Thursday after meeting with unions.

Detroit mayor pleads guilty, to leave office (2008-09-04)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded guilty on Thursday to obstruction of justice in a plea agreement that will force him from office and cap a scandal that had threatened to affect the presidential campaign in a key battleground state.

Kellogg stands by 2008 earnings forecast (2008-09-04)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Kellogg Co on Thursday stood by its earnings forecast for 2008.

CFTC probing false oil inventory reports: report (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. futures market regulator is investigating whether companies are reporting false oil inventory levels to benefit their trading positions, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Palin mocks Obama ahead of McCain's Republican address (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Republican presidential nominee John McCain has a new attack dog. Her name is Sarah Palin, and she bites hard.

Americans pick pet over partner for desert island (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than two thirds of Americans would rather be stranded on a desert island with their pet than with their partner, a poll showed on Thursday.

Ukraine coalition deadlocked, no enthusiasm for poll (2008-09-04)
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine faced the prospect of an early election on Thursday after President Viktor Yushchenko's party rejected calls to rejoin the ruling coalition, but political leaders showed little enthusiasm for a snap poll.

Cheney vows to support Georgia, slams Russia (2008-09-04)
TBILISI (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney vowed on Thursday to stand by Georgia in its showdown with Russia, calling Moscow's military push into the ex-Soviet state an illegitimate act that cast doubt on its reliability.

Shuttle Atlantis hauled to launch pad in Florida (2008-09-04)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA hauled the space shuttle Atlantis to the seaside launch pad on Thursday, hopeful a trio of storms churning over the Atlantic Ocean will steer clear of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Japan reformers to challenge Aso for PM (2008-09-04)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese economics minister Kaoru Yosano and former defense minister Yuriko Koike lined up on Thursday to challenge frontrunner Taro Aso in the race to become prime minister, setting up a clash over economic policy as Japan skirts with recession.

Toll Brothers posts net loss; sees Q4 revenue below Q3 (2008-09-04)
(Reuters) - Luxury home builder Toll Brothers swung to a third-quarter net loss, hurt by write-downs and weakened demand in most markets amid the nation's housing slump, and forecast sequentially lower revenue in the fourth quarter on higher costs.

Pakistani policemen kidnapped; 36 militants killed (2008-09-04)
KOHAT, Pakistan (Reuters) - Militants in Pakistan have kidnapped 26 police recruits on their way to college, police said on Thursday, while security forces killed 36 Islamist insurgents in clashes elsewhere in the northwest.

Futures add to losses after ADP job report (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures added losses on Thursday as a weaker-than-expected reading on U.S. private-sector employment by ADP Employer Services pointed to further deterioration in the U.S. labor market.

Jobless claims push futures further down (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell further on Thursday after a government report showing an unexpected jump in the number of people filing for jobless benefits added to concern about the U.S. labor market.

Mervyn's suit blames ex-owners for bankruptcy (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Department-store chain Mervyn's Holdings LLC has sued its former private-equity owners, saying the firms stripped out real estate then leased it back to Mervyn's at higher rates, pushing it into bankruptcy, according to court documents.

Stocks remain lower after ISM data (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks stayed in the red on Thursday as concerns about a sluggish labor market overshadowed a report that showed the vast U.S. service sector expanded slightly in August.

FDA staff note deaths in Pfizer bone drug study (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A higher percentage of patients treated with an experimental Pfizer Inc drug for osteoporosis died during a clinical trial compared with a placebo, U.S. drug reviewers said in an analysis released on Thursday.

BP, Russian partners settle TNK dispute (2008-09-04)
LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - BP agreed a deal with the oligarch co-owners of TNK-BP on Thursday that overhauls the Russian oil major's management and sets a possible flotation of up to 20 percent of the company, ending months of hostile dispute.

Kanye West ends brief boycott of MTV video awards (2008-09-04)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A year after vowing never to perform on the MTV Video Music Awards again, hip-hop star Kanye West will close the show's 25th annual ceremony in Hollywood on Sunday, joining a lineup that includes Christina Aguilera and the Jonas Brothers, organizers said.

U.N. to consider Somalia force when things improve (2008-09-04)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council parried on Thursday a request from Somalia to send a peace-keeping force to the violence-torn nation, saying it would consider doing so when conditions there had improved.

Alaska gas project hailed by Palin still embryonic (2008-09-04)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - A long-delayed natural gas pipeline championed by Gov. Sarah Palin that would carry supplies from Alaska to Canada and then to the lower 48 states exists in concept only and is years away from fruition.

Angry Argentine commuters torch train in rush hour (2008-09-04)
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Furious commuters in Argentina set fire to a train on Thursday over delays during the morning rush hour, incidents the government later blamed on leftist activists.

Ciena outlook weak, warns of order delays (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Communications equipment maker Ciena Corp reported a 59 percent drop in quarterly profit and forecast current quarter revenue that would be far below Wall Street estimates because of order delays, triggering a 20 percent fall in its shares.

Lone Star may sue S.Korea govt on KEB deal: paper (2008-09-04)
SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. private equity house Lone Star is seriously considering suing the South Korean government if it delays approval beyond September of the firm's $6.3 billion sale of shares in a local bank, a newspaper reported on Friday.

Boeing workers vote to strike, walkout delayed (2008-09-04)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co's largest labor union said its members had rejected the plane maker's contract offer and voted to strike, but the union agreed to postpone a walkout for 48 hours to allow more time for negotiations.

Filipino Americans take stock in old country (2008-09-04)
MANILA (Reuters) - Alan Marasigan looks like any other Filipino as he fiddles with his cell phone inside a shopping mall in Manila. But his American accent and perfect English give him away.

Connelly, Bettany to star in Darwin biopic (2008-09-04)
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In New York, a socialite goes by any other name (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - With her trademark cascade of curled blonde hair pinned to the side, Tinsley Mortimer is a charity ball staple, attends countless fashion shows and is one of the most recognizable faces in New York society.

U.S. child vaccination rates hit record levels (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. toddlers got the recommended vaccinations against childhood diseases at record levels in 2007, federal health officials said on Thursday, as they urged parents to continue to trust vaccine safety.

Rapper T.I. retains lead on singles chart (2008-09-04)
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Entergy to restore most Louisiana power in a week (2008-09-04)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Entergy Corp officials on Thursday said power should be restored in 70 percent of the Louisiana parishes where Entergy supplies power within one week as thousands of workers continue to repair damage from Hurricane Gustav which slammed the state's coast Monday.

Suspected U.S. missiles kill 4 militants in Pakistan (2008-09-04)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired missiles at house in Pakistan's Waziristani tribal region on Thursday, killing four Islamist militants a day after U.S. commandoes killed 20 people in a cross-border assault.

Obama gets first intelligence briefing (2008-09-04)
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - Sen. Barack Obama got his first intelligence briefing as the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate this week and spy agencies are ready to do the same for Republican rival Sen. John McCain, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.

NATO, Afghans to coordinate to avoid civilian deaths (2008-09-04)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO and Afghanistan agreed on Thursday they needed to coordinate more closely to avoid civilian casualties in operations against militants, an alliance spokesman said.

Wall St falls 2 pct on labor, economic gloom (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slid on Thursday, pushing major indexes down 2 percent, as economic reports pointing to a worsening labor market sparked concern about the outlook for corporate profits.

New fingerprint method could unlock cold cases (2008-09-04)
LONDON (Reuters) - It's a discovery that would make even Sherlock Holmes proud.

Hedge fund Atticus denies liquidation rumors: report (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hedge fund company Atticus Capital denied market rumors it was liquidating its positions and closing down and said it had a large net capital position and was looking for investment opportunities, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Sudan Catholics turn to Darfur saint (2008-09-04)
KHARTOUM/JUBA (Reuters) - In a dusty church in Khartoum's Jeberona camp for displaced persons, the congregation claps and sings beneath a portrait of a smiling woman who has become a focus of hope for a divided country.

Ex-Refco chief reports to serve prison term (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Phillip Bennett, the former chief executive of collapsed commodities broker Refco, reported to prison on Thursday to serve a 16-year sentence for fraud, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.

McCain takes stage at Republican convention (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain promised Americans on Thursday that "change is coming" to Washington if he is elected president on November 4 and he pledged to overcome partisan rancor by working with Democrats.

Michael Moore to release free documentary on Web (2008-09-04)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Firebrand filmmaker Michael Moore will release his latest documentary exclusively on the Internet for free on September 23, eschewing a traditional theatrical rollout, he said on Thursday.

CORRECTED: Fed officials see soft economy; point to rate hold (2008-09-04)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Reuters) - Senior Federal Reserve officials on Thursday said the U.S. economy seems on the verge of another slowdown while the most severe inflation threats may have passed, hinting that the central bank could keep interest rates at current levels for some time.

War films take new strategy at Toronto fest (2008-09-04)
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Fed's Fisher says not certain inflation will ease (2008-09-04)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic growth is softening amid still fragile financial markets, but it is not clear that this will curb inflation as hoped, a top Federal Reserve official said on Thursday.

FDA staff note deaths in Pfizer bone drug study (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Osteoporosis patients who received a low dose of an experimental Pfizer Inc pill were more likely to die within five years than others who got a placebo, U.S. drug reviewers said in an analysis released on Thursday.

U.S. financial overhaul a topic for 2009: CEO group (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A trade group representing the largest U.S. companies says it does not expect Congress to start tackling the complex task of overhauling the U.S. financial regulation system this year.

Wall St. sinks on labor market, global growth fears (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled about 2 percent on Thursday, battered by more signs of weakness in the U.S. labor market and increasingly sluggish growth overseas, raising worries about the corporate profit outlook.

Thai PM plans referendum to end crisis (2008-09-04)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand plans to hold a national referendum to end a political crisis over street protests against the government, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Thursday after rejecting calls to quit.

Target scores Aguilera hits album exclusive (2008-09-04)
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Hovnanian, Toll Brothers post quarterly losses (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two large U.S. home builders posted quarterly losses amid the steep U.S. housing decline, but Hovnanian Enterprises' results were far worse than Wall Street had expected, while Toll Brothers' loss was half what analysts had anticipated.

U.S. services, productivity up but job market weak (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dominant U.S. service sector improved last month and businesses boosted productivity in the second quarter but the labor market continues to struggle, government reports on Thursday showed.

More saving than splurging in lean back-to-school (2008-09-04)
LOS ANGELES/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - This back-to-school season, high school student Tony Lopez is sticking to basics like jeans and shirts so he has enough money to buy his football equipment and go out on weekends.

McCain takes stage at Republican convention (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain takes his turn at center stage of his big St. Paul party on Thursday to lay out why he should be elected U.S. president, after his No. 2, Sarah Palin, excited Republican loyalists.

Cuba to appeal spy case to U.S. Supreme Court (2008-09-04)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba said on Thursday it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court part of a lower court decision against five Cuban agents who have been imprisoned nearly 10 years on espionage charges.

BoE leaves rates on hold as global tightening nears end (2008-09-04)
LONDON/STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Bank of England held interest rates steady on Thursday with investors expecting the European Central Bank to do likewise, marking the likely peak of the global rates cycle as growth risks start to outweigh inflation worries.

Wall Street, funds urge SEC to keep ratings in rules (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Securities regulators are locking horns with some of America's most powerful mutual funds and Wall Street players over plans to scrap requirements that money market funds hold investment-grade securities.

Gene may hold key to neutralizing HIV: U.S. study (2008-09-04)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The AIDS virus is especially hard to fight because few people develop antibodies to neutralize it, but U.S. researchers said on Thursday they have found an immunity gene that may offer a new way to fight back.

Lobbyist Abramoff gets four years in prison (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whose corruption scandal shook up Washington's power elite and contributed to the Republican loss of control in Congress, was sentenced on Thursday to four years in federal prison.

Lehman weighs real estate spinoff: report (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is considering a plan to put some $32 billion of its commercial real estate and mortgage assets in a new company and spin it off, Bloomberg reported on its website on Thursday.

FBI arrests ex-Credit Suisse broker (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An indicted former Credit Suisse broker was in U.S. custody on Thursday to face charges over deceptive sales of subprime-related auction-rate debt, the FBI said.

Experts offer scaled-back sea level rise forecast (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Worldwide sea levels may rise by about 2.6 to 6.6 feet by 2100 thanks to global warming, but dire predictions of larger increases seem unrealistic, U.S. scientists said on Thursday.

JJ Abrams offers terrifying sci-fi on TV's "Fringe" (2008-09-04)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sci-fi fans be afraid. Be very afraid. The creator of hit TV shows "Lost" and "Alias" has a new project hitting airwaves next week that promises to sweep away old-fashioned notions of the genre and replace them with the most out there concepts of what the future holds.

Incoming Detroit mayor mulling forensic audit (2008-09-04)
DETROIT (Reuters) - The incoming mayor for Detroit said on Thursday that he was considering a forensic audit of the financially strapped city's finances.

Pakistani al Qaeda suspect refuses U.S. strip search (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Pakistani woman suspected of links to al Qaeda has refused a strip search, delaying her trial in New York on charges she grabbed a U.S. soldier's gun in Afghanistan and tried to kill her American interrogators.

Rice set for historic Libya visit, meeting Gaddafi (2008-09-04)
LISBON (Reuters) - Condoleezza Rice travels to Libya on Friday, the first trip there by a U.S. secretary of state in 55 years, signaling improved ties between the two countries.

World's richest got even richer last year: report (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The old saying holds true: The rich do get richer.

Lobbyist Abramoff gets 4 more years in prison (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced on Thursday to serve four more years in prison in a corruption scandal that rocked Washington's power elite and helped Republicans lose control of Congress.

World's richest got even richer last year: report (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The old saying holds true: The rich do get richer.

Bush advised to back modest troop cuts in Iraq (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. defense officials have recommended that President George W. Bush withdraw one combat brigade from Iraq but not until early next year, Pentagon sources said on Thursday.

Russia, NATO loom in Cheney's Ukraine visit (2008-09-04)
KIEV (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney will reassure Ukrainian leaders of U.S. backing on Friday as they grapple with a domestic political crisis and face up to the fallout from Russia's conflict with Georgia.

McCain says "change is coming" to America (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain cast himself as an independent-minded reformer on Thursday and said he had the scars to prove it in a speech that promised Americans "change is coming" if they elect him on November 4.

Fed's Yellen: Can't totally rule out a rate cut (2008-09-04)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Reuters) - San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen said on Thursday that another cut to benchmark interest rates was unlikely, but cannot be completely ruled out.

Next U2 album pushed to early 2009 (2008-09-04)
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Pentagon wants modest U.S. troop cut in Iraq: sources (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. defense officials have recommended that President George W. Bush withdraw one combat brigade from Iraq but not until early next year, Pentagon sources said on Thursday.

South Korea wants North to keep nuclear plant shut (2008-09-04)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's chief nuclear envoy on Friday pressed North Korea to halt plans to rebuild a mothballed nuclear plant that makes arms-grade plutonium and instead return to the bargaining table to discuss disarmament.

CORRECTED: Michael Moore to release free documentary on Web (2008-09-04)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Firebrand filmmaker Michael Moore will release his latest documentary exclusively on the Internet for free on September 23, eschewing a traditional theatrical rollout, he said on Thursday.

Wall St plummets on signs of labor weakness (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks plummeted on Thursday, with the Nasdaq slumping more than 3 percent, as investors grew anxious over more signs of weakness in the U.S. labor market and sluggish growth overseas.

U.S. crude oil ends down over $1 despite stock draw (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended more than $1 lower on Thursday, despite government data showing a surprise drawdown in domestic crude stocks last week.

Services, productivity up but job market weak (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dominant U.S. service sector improved last month and businesses boosted productivity in the second quarter but evidence of labor market weakness overshadowed other data the day before a key jobs report.

Fed officials see soft economy; point to rate hold (2008-09-04)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Reuters) - Senior Federal Reserve officials on Thursday said the U.S. economy seems on the verge of another slowdown while the most severe inflation threats may have passed, hinting that the central bank could keep interest rates at current levels for some time.

China puts squeeze on military spending abuses (2008-09-04)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese military officials face intensified scrutiny for abusing or mishandling the nation's fast-rising defence budget, state media reported on Friday.

Angola holds 1st vote in 16 years, MPLA confident (2008-09-04)
LUANDA (Reuters) - Angolans head to the polls on Friday for the first time in 16 years in an election widely expected to extend the ruling party's more than three-decade control over the oil-rich African nation.

Conflict, cartoon, Hathaway lead Venice film charge (2008-09-04)
VENICE (Reuters) - A hand-drawn Japanese cartoon, the tale of a clash between native Indians and white settlers in Brazil and a portrayal of Ethiopia's bloody past are favorites to win the Venice film festival's top prize on Saturday.

Maasai warrior hairdressers break taboos (2008-09-04)
MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - Maasai warrior Lempuris Lalasho went to Kenya's tourist haven Mombasa to find a white woman to marry, but he ended up working as a hairdresser, a profession that is taboo in his culture.

U.S. municipal swaps seen outlasting Jeff County, JPMorgan (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. municipal swap market should survive the recent high-profile exit by JPMorgan Chase and an Alabama's county's ill-fated deals because well-crafted swaps save state and local governments money.

Pakistan raid may signal more U.S. attacks (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. commandos attacked an al Qaeda target in Pakistan this week in an operation that could signal more intense American efforts to thwart militant attacks in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Microsoft kicks off $300 million Windows marketing push (2008-09-04)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp kicked off a $300 million marketing campaign on Thursday, aimed at improving the image of its Windows Vista operating system and strike back at Apple Inc's "Mac vs. PC" ads.

Microsoft kicks off $300 mln Windows marketing push (2008-09-04)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp kicked off a $300 million marketing campaign on Thursday, aimed at improving the image of its Windows Vista operating system and strike back at Apple Inc's "Mac vs. PC" ads.

Undated video shows Qaeda leader reported killed (2008-09-04)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda issued on Friday an Internet video featuring senior group leader Mustafa Abu al-Yazid who was reported to have been killed last month, but it was not immediately clear when the footage was made.

"RocknRolla" finds Ritchie back with a vengeance (2008-09-04)
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"Seinfeld" hits the road to connect with new fans (2008-09-04)
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Discounters still bright spot for weak retail (2008-09-04)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - U.S. discounters, led by Wal-Mart Stores Inc , remained a bright spot in a weak retail industry in August, as shoppers sought back-to-school deals, while department stores and luxury chains disappointed.

Toronto film festival gets off to a romantic start (2008-09-04)
TORONTO (Reuters) - The curtain rose on the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday night with romance "Passchendaele" playing to a packed theater and starting a 10-day parade of films and stars at one of the world's top movie gatherings.

Gene trawl shows curing cancer harder than thought (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cancer experts who probed every gene in tumors from two of the hardest-to-treat cancers found that cancer is much more complicated than anyone thought -- and say they found why a cure is so unlikely after a tumor has spread.

Take Two profits strong on "Grand Theft Auto" lift (2008-09-04)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Video game publisher Take Two Interactive Software made a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on strong "Grand Theft Auto 4" sales, but cut its current-quarter outlook due to the delayed release of a new game.

Global growth, U.S. job fears hammer Wall Street (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Wall Street had its steepest decline in more than two months on Thursday, as more signs of weakness in the labor market and increasingly sluggish growth overseas fueled fears about the ability of the U.S. economy to stage a recovery.

Raising vegetables under Canada's midnight sun (2008-09-04)
INUVIK, Northwest Territories (Reuters) - Amanda Joynt reached down and picked a fresh tomato from the vine. That's no small feat when you are living 200 km (120 miles) above the Arctic Circle in Canada's Far North.

Hathaway sparks early awards buzz (2008-09-04)
VENICE (Reuters) - Anne Hathaway's dark role in "Rachel Getting Married," which premiered this week in Venice, is generating early Oscar buzz, with several critics hailing her departure from previous fairytale and comic characters.

McCain takes stage at Republican convention (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain takes his turn at his big St. Paul party on Thursday to lay out why he should be elected U.S. president, after his No. 2, Sarah Palin, excited Republican loyalists with a speech that drew 37 million viewers.

Sony recalls 438,000 laptops on burn concern (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Corp has launched a voluntary recall of 438,000 Vaio portable computers, citing a potential hazard that could cause the machines to overheat or possibly burn a user.

McCain to take stage at Republican convention (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain takes his turn at his big St. Paul party on Thursday to lay out why he should be elected U.S. president, after his No. 2, Sarah Palin, excited Republican loyalists with a speech that drew 37 million viewers.

EIA says not aware of oil data probe (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Energy Information Administration said on Thursday it is unaware of any investigation by federal market regulators of the agency's weekly report on oil inventory levels.

Lehman weighs real estate spinoff: Blooomberg (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is considering a plan to put some $32 billion of its commercial real estate and mortgage assets in a new company and spin it off, Bloomberg reported on its website on Thursday.

Hathaway's dark role sparks early awards buzz (2008-09-04)
VENICE (Reuters) - Anne Hathaway's dark role in "Rachel Getting Married," which premiered this week in Venice, is generating early Oscar buzz, with several critics hailing her departure from fairytale and comic characters.

Hurricane Ike threatens Bahamas, Hanna toll grows (2008-09-04)
GONAIVES, Haiti (Reuters) - Powerful Hurricane Ike weakened slightly as it charged across the Atlantic toward the Bahamas and the United States on Thursday while Tropical Storm Hanna's death toll from floods in Haiti grew to 90.

Thai PM's referendum plan finds little support (2008-09-04)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A national referendum proposed by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to end a political crisis in Thailand was dismissed by critics on Friday as a stalling tactic that would resolve little and simply prolong the unrest.

Edwards heads back to "ER" in guest spot (2008-09-04)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Anthony Edwards, one of the original stars of the NBC hospital drama "ER," will return to the landmark TV show in November in flashback scenes playing his now-deceased character of Dr. Mark Greene.

George Washington biopic gets green light (2008-09-04)
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New York to sue student loan company: report (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's state attorney general is planning to sue the student loan company, Goal Financial, accusing it of engaging in illegal practices to lure customers, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

Tobacco caused 2.4 million U.S. cancers: report (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tobacco use caused 2.4 million cases of cancer in the United States from 1999 to 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday.

Fed's Yellen says U.S. economy faces subpar growth (2008-09-04)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Reuters) - U.S. economic growth will be "subpar" in the second half of the year and interest rates must be set at levels that reflect the "substantial headwinds" facing the economy, San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen said on Thursday.

Credit strains linger, Pimco pleads for help (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Banks and businesses are still having trouble raising money, according to data on Thursday that reinforced the prospect that the year-long U.S. credit crisis will persist for the foreseeable future.

Sarkozy warns Iran it risks Israeli attack (2008-09-04)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Iran on Thursday it was taking a dangerous gamble in seeking to develop nuclear weapons because one day its arch-foe Israel could strike.

Bush gets Pentagon's view on Iraq troop cuts (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. defense officials gave President George W. Bush their views this week on the pace and size of future U.S. troop cuts in Iraq after a substantial drop in violence there, officials said on Thursday.

Meeting planned next week on reviving Doha: Schwab (2008-09-04)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior trade officials will meet in Geneva next week to explore options for reviving world trade talks two months after the negotiations collapsed, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said on Thursday.

Cheney vows backing for Georgia, condemns Russia (2008-09-04)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney vowed on Thursday to stand by Georgia in its showdown with Russia, calling Moscow's war against the ex-Soviet state an illegitimate act that cast doubt on its reliability.

Boeing workers frustrated, angry at strike delay (2008-09-04)
EVERETT, Washington (Reuters) - Less than a day after voting to strike, Boeing workers expressed frustration and anger on Thursday at the decision by union leaders to postpone a walkout and negotiate further with the company.

Wall Street sinks on labor market, global growth fears (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled about 2 percent on Thursday, battered by more signs of weakness in the U.S. labor market and increasingly sluggish growth overseas, raising worries about the corporate profit outlook.

Storms shake faith of businesses in New Orleans (2008-09-04)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - For New Orleans cafe owner Kappa Horn, the inconvenience of a hurricane like Gustav, which roared through town this week, is shutting down the business and laying off staff.

Hanna death toll rises as Ike threatens Bahamas (2008-09-04)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Powerful Hurricane Ike charged across the Atlantic toward the Bahamas and the U.S. east coast on Thursday while Tropical Storm Hanna's death toll from floods and mudslides in Haiti grew to 90.

Wall St tumbles on labor market, global growth fears (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks sank on Thursday, as more signs of weakness in the labor market and increasingly sluggish growth overseas heightened concerns about the corporate profit outlook.

Wall St. tumbles on signs of labor market weakness (2008-09-04)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks sank on Thursday, as more signs of weakness in the labor market and increasingly sluggish growth overseas heightened concerns about the corporate profit outlook.

McCain to take stage at Republican convention (2008-09-04)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain takes his turn at center stage of his big St. Paul party on Thursday to lay out why he should be elected U.S. president, after his No. 2, Sarah Palin, excited Republican loyalists.

Gustav provides test for rising Louisiana governor (2008-09-03)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has been considered a rising star among conservative Republicans but not until Hurricane Gustav did he face a major test of his leadership credentials.

New York foreclosures up; Miami, LA market better (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York home foreclosures rose in August from July, signaling a potential drop in prices, but the Los Angeles and Miami markets showed a slight improvement, real estate research website PropertyShark.com said on Wednesday.

Oil falls on demand, Gustav threat passes (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell nearly a dollar to below $109 a barrel Wednesday, weighed down by slowing demand in the United States and other consuming nations and signs the U.S. oil sector would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

GM, Ford, Toyota post US sales decline; Nissan up (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co posted double-digit declines in U.S. vehicle sales on Wednesday as uncertain economic conditions undercut a renewed incentives push by Detroit automakers and deepened an industry slowdown.

Bush surveys Gustav damage as evacuees stream home (2008-09-03)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - President George W. Bush heads to storm-battered Louisiana on Wednesday to survey damage from Hurricane Gustav as tens of thousands who fled New Orleans prepare to return to a "dark and hot" city struggling to restore power and maintain basic services.

North Korea begins reassembling nuclear reactor: media (2008-09-03)
TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea has begun reassembling its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, able to make material for atomic bombs, in violation of U.S. conditions for improved diplomatic relations, U.S. and Japanese media reported.

Hathaway plays ex-junkie in new family drama (2008-09-03)
VENICE (Reuters) - Actress Anne Hathaway takes on an unusually dark role as a former drug addict returning home for her sister's wedding in "Rachel Getting Married," a new film about a dysfunctional family haunted by the death of a child.

MUFG executive rejects report to invest in Lehman (2008-09-03)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) <8306.T> has no plans to invest in U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers , an executive at Japan's largest bank said, rejecting a media report that it was considering taking a stake.

Aso rivals seek candidates in Japan leadership race (2008-09-03)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Opponents of Taro Aso, the outspoken frontrunner to become Japan's next prime minister, scrambled to agree on alternative candidates on Thursday in the wake of Yasuo Fukuda's sudden resignation this week.

Infant abductions rare in U.S., study finds (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Infant abductions are increasingly rare in the United States, with the average kidnapper likely to be an overweight woman who has feigned pregnancy, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Thai PM says no reason for government to quit (2008-09-03)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Thursday he saw no reason for his government to resign in the face of a three-month old street campaign by opposition activists.

Entergy reconnects New Orleans to power grid (2008-09-03)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Entergy Corp officials were able to restore two large transmission lines overnight, allowing the state's largest utility to reconnect New Orleans to the statewide power grid, officials said on Wednesday.

Czech city bids to be global biotech hub (2008-09-03)
BRNO, Czech Republic (Reuters) - Just a few steps from the monastery where Gregor Mendel pioneered the field of genetics some 150 years ago, Czech officials hope to nurture their own biotech revolution.

LA's fast-food ban draws skepticism (2008-09-03)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A ban on new fast-food restaurants in poor Los Angeles neighborhoods has made headlines around the world, but residents say they don't plan to give up their cheeseburgers, fried chicken and tacos anytime soon.

Oil slips on soft demand, Gustav threat passes (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell slightly to below $109 a barrel Wednesday, weighed down by slowing demand in the United States and other consuming nations and signs the U.S. oil sector would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

GMAC to cut 5,000 jobs at ResCap mortgage unit (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - GMAC LLC said on Wednesday it plans to cut 5,000 jobs at its Residential Capital LLC mortgage unit, or 60 percent of that work force, and shut its 200 GMAC Mortgage retail offices to combat persistently weak housing and credit markets.

Boeing machinists vote on contract, threaten strike (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Almost 27,000 Boeing Co workers are voting on the plane maker's latest three-year contract offer on Wednesday, urged by their union to reject it and walk off their jobs at midnight, raising the possibility of the fourth Boeing strike in 20 years.

Mackenzie Philips charged with heroin possession (2008-09-03)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "One Day at Time" television star Mackenzie Phillips was charged on Wednesday with cocaine and heroin possession after being arrested last week while going through airport security.

New Kids On The Block hope new album has right stuff (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hit '80s boy band New Kids On The Block are no longer kids, but all five men are hoping they still have the "right stuff" after reuniting and releasing their first album in 14 years this week.

NASA seeks next Carl Sagan - and extraterrestrial life (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, famous for its manned missions to the moon, announced the creation of the Carl Sagan Postdoctoral Fellowships in Exoplanet Exploration on Wednesday.

California police cars idled amid high pump prices (2008-09-03)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Police in California's capital of Sacramento will idle more than a third of their squad cars this month due to high gasoline prices and a trimmed budget, a spokesman for the city's police department said on Wednesday.

Sotheby's sues CNET founder over painting payments (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sotheby's auction house sued CNET Networks Inc. founder Halsey Minor on Wednesday for failing to pay more than $13 million owed for three paintings, including Edward Hicks' "Peaceable Kingdom."

FBI doubles bounty for Boston Irish mobster (2008-09-03)
BOSTON (Reuters) - The FBI doubled the bounty on Wednesday for information leading to the arrest of fugitive Boston Irish mobster James "Whitey" Bulger, an inspiration for the Oscar-winning film "The Departed."

Thai PM says will not quit or dissolve parliament (2008-09-03)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Thursday he would neither quit nor dissolve parliament in the face of a three-month old street campaign by opposition activists.

Thai PM refuses to quit or call snap election (2008-09-03)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej rejected calls for his resignation on Thursday, saying he will not "jump ship" in the face of a three-month-old street campaign to unseat him.

Palin touts small-town roots, slaps Obama (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Sarah Palin touted her small-town roots and swiped at Democrat Barack Obama during a highly anticipated speech to the Republican convention on Wednesday, ridiculing her critics as "the Washington elite" who did not understand everyday life in America.

U.S. does not believe North Korea rebuilding Yongbyon (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea has begun moving around some previously stored equipment at its Yongbyon nuclear plant but does not appear to be trying to rebuild the facility, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.

Market briefly rises on data, then swoons again (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks briefly rose in choppy trade on Wednesday on a government report that showed a rise in factory orders, but the market quickly resumed its slide.

Ospraie's Anderson forced to shut flagship (2008-09-03)
BOSTON (Reuters) - In the world of palladium, gold and soy beans, hedge-fund manager Dwight Anderson was known as an imposing figure with an appetite for risk.

Kerkorian firm settles GM securities probe with SEC (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda investment firm settled a regulator's allegations that it was misleading about its plan to cut its stake in General Motors Corp , the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday.

Bush surveys Gustav response as evacuees head home (2008-09-03)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - President George W. Bush made a quick visit to Louisiana on Wednesday to survey damage from Hurricane Gustav as New Orleans officials lifted roadblocks to allow tens of thousands who fled the city to return despite widespread power outages.

Iraq Kurds and government end standoff over northern town (2008-09-03)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi government and minority Kurds resolved a dispute over control of an ethnically mixed town on Wednesday, Iraqi officials said, ending a standoff that had threatened to trigger violence.

Ex-Credit Suisse brokers accused in fraud scheme (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two former Credit Suisse brokers were charged on Wednesday with fraud and conspiracy over deceptive sales of subprime-related auction-rate debt, government officials said, part of an industrywide probe of the securities.

Americans cut down on summer driving: survey (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans' legendary love of the open road appeared to be on the wane this summer as they confronted escalating fuel prices and a weakening economy.

U.S. professor guilty in military secrets case (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A retired professor of electrical engineering at the University of Tennessee was convicted on Wednesday of violating U.S. arms export controls and passing sensitive data to a Chinese national, the U.S. Justice Department said.

U.S. study clears measles vaccine of autism link (2008-09-03)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists who tried to replicate a study that once tied a measles vaccine with autism said on Wednesday they could not find any link and hope their study will encourage parents to vaccinate their children to combat a rash of measles outbreaks.

McCain camp blames media for Palin controversy (2008-09-03)
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Metal band Slipknot scores first chart-topper (2008-09-03)
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Ike grows to major hurricane, Hanna strengthens (2008-09-03)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike strengthened rapidly into a major Category 3 hurricane in the open Atlantic on Wednesday and Tropical Storm Hanna intensified to a lesser degree as it swirled over the Bahamas toward the southeast U.S. Coast.

H&R Block posts smaller 1st-quarter loss (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - H&R Block Inc , the largest U.S. tax preparer, reported a quarterly loss that was 56 percent smaller than a year earlier on Wednesday, after shedding its money-losing mortgage operations to focus on its tax business.

Statins fight stroke in older people too (2008-09-03)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Older people who have had a stroke or mini-stroke benefit from cholesterol-lowering statin drugs just as much as younger people do, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

Greece gets antiquities back from U.S. collector (2008-09-03)
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece celebrated on Wednesday the return of two rare smuggled antiquities from a prominent U.S. collector and expressed hope other ancient Greek treasures housed overseas would one day be sent home.

Ledger voted top summer movie villain (2008-09-03)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Heath Ledger's chilling portrayal of the Joker in Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight" easily surpassed rivals to be named the summer's best movie villain in a poll released on Wednesday.

H&R Block posts smaller loss (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - H&R Block Inc , the largest U.S. tax preparer, reported a quarterly loss that was 56 percent smaller than a year earlier on Wednesday, after shedding its money-losing mortgage operations to focus on its tax business.

"Next Top Model" brings transgender in from cold (2008-09-03)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - When "America's Next Top Model" chose Isis Tsunami as a contestant for its new season that starts on Wednesday, the TV show didn't just put the first transgender woman in the running for its coveted title.

Global growth worries push Wall St. lower (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell in skittish trade on Wednesday as signs of increasingly sluggish growth in the world economy left investors worried about the outlook for consumer spending and corporate profits.

Global growth concerns unsettle Wall St. (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq stock indexes fell on Wednesday as signs of increasingly sluggish growth in the United States and the rest of the world rattled investors already unsettled about the outlook for consumer spending and corporate profits.

MUFG rejects report to invest in Lehman (2008-09-03)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group <8306.T> said it has no plans to invest in U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers , rejecting a media report that it may bid for a stake.

Palin touts small-town roots, rips Obama (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Sarah Palin touted her small-town roots and swiped at Democrat Barack Obama during a highly anticipated speech to the Republican convention on Wednesday, ridiculing her critics as out-of-touch elitists who do not understand everyday life in America.

Ike strengthens into major Category 4 hurricane (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike strengthened rapidly into an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm in the Atlantic Ocean with 135 mph (215 kph) winds late on Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

U.S. carmakers' Aug sales drop, but some hope seen (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co on Wednesday cut second-half production targets, likely putting a drag on their results, but held out hope that the near-freefall in sales seen in the summer had slowed somewhat in August as consumer confidence steadied.

Thai PM refuses to quit, protest drags on (2008-09-03)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej rejected calls for his resignation on Thursday, saying he would not "jump ship" in the face of a three-month-old street campaign to unseat him.

Ike grows to Category 4 hurricane, Hanna strengthens (2008-09-03)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike strengthened rapidly into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane in the open Atlantic on Wednesday and Tropical Storm Hanna intensified to a lesser degree as it swirled over the Bahamas toward the southeast U.S. Coast.

Honda August U.S. auto sales fall 7.3 percent (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co Ltd <7267.T> said on Wednesday that U.S. auto sales fell 7.3 percent to 146,855 units in August.

Tech stocks fall on worries of holiday spending (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bearish comments from U.S. technology companies fueled fears that the weak economy would hurt holiday season sales of mobile phones and other consumer electronics, driving shares sharply lower on Wednesday.

"Peanuts" animator Bill Melendez dies (2008-09-03)
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Letterman says McCain jokes "not entirely fair" (2008-09-03)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - David Letterman is feeling a bit remorseful about poking fun at the advanced age of Republican presidential contender John McCain, telling Rolling Stone magazine that his McCain jokes are "not entirely fair."

CORRECTED: Brother in Bayou fraud case pleads guilty (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The brother of the former CFO of the collapsed Bayou hedge fund pleaded guilty on Wednesday to concealing fraud of investors, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Ike grows to hurricane, Hanna seen doing same (2008-09-03)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Ike strengthened into a hurricane in the open Atlantic on Wednesday and Tropical Storm Hanna threatened to do the same as it swirled over the Bahamas toward the southeast U.S. Coast.

Bush heads to Louisiana as state claws back from storm (2008-09-03)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - President George W. Bush heads to storm-battered Louisiana on Wednesday to survey damage from Hurricane Gustav as tens of thousands who fled New Orleans prepare to return to a "dark and hot" city struggling to restore power and maintain basic services.

GM, Ford, Toyota post U.S. sales decline (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co posted double-digit declines in U.S. vehicle sales on Wednesday as uncertain economic conditions undercut a renewed incentives push by Detroit automakers and deepened an industry slowdown.

Reuters seeks information on Iraqi photographer's arrest (2008-09-03)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Reuters is seeking additional information on the detention of a freelance photographer working for the international news agency in Iraq.

U.S. does not see North Korea rebuilding Yongbyon (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that North Korea had begun to move stored equipment at its Yongbyon nuclear complex but could not confirm reports that it had begun to reassemble the facility.

Jazz Fest closes with a bebop feast (2008-09-03)
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Isabel Bayrakdarian: Tango Notturno (2008-09-03)
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An Open Letter To Thelonious (2008-09-03)
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First Flight (2008-09-03)
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Hovnanian reports deeper loss (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hovnanian Enterprises on Wednesday reported a deeper quarterly loss that lagged Wall Street's estimates, hurt by record foreclosures and poor consumer confidence.

Brother in Bayou fraud case pleads guilty (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The brother of the former CFO of the collapsed Bayou hedge fund pleaded guilty on Wednesday to concealing fraud of investors, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

North Korea moves mothballed equipment at Yongbyon (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea has taken out of storage some mothballed equipment at its Yongbyon nuclear complex in what appeared a sign of displeasure over talks on ending its atomic programs, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Racial disparities seen in U.S. breast cancer care (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Doctors are less likely to give black women radiation therapy after surgery to remove early-stage breast cancer than white women, researchers said on Wednesday, adding to evidence of racial disparities in U.S. medicine.

Plans for kidnapping, bombs at convention: documents (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Self-described anarchists discussed kidnapping delegates and practiced throwing Molotov cocktails to disrupt the Republican National Convention, according to court documents released on Wednesday.

Flaps not extended on ill-fated Spanair jet: report (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Wing flaps on a Spanair jetliner that crashed in Spain last month killing 154 people were not fully extended before take off, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

Palin defends qualifications, slaps Obama (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Sarah Palin defended her small-town roots and swiped at Democrat Barack Obama during a highly anticipated speech to the Republican convention on Wednesday, ridiculing her critics as "the Washington elite" who did not understand everyday life in America.

July factory orders stronger than expected (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders at U.S. factories jumped by a bigger-than-expected 1.3 percent in July, helped by a rise in transportation orders, a Commerce Department report showed on Wednesday.

Fed report says economy slows, with some price relief (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Economic activity has been slow across most of the United States in recent weeks, but there has been some relief from high commodity and energy prices, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

Global growth concerns rattle Wall St. (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slipped in choppy trade on Wednesday as signs of increasingly sluggish growth in the world economy left investors worried about the outlook for consumer spending and corporate profits.

NATO states seek to reassure Baltics (2008-09-03)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO states back a U.S. call to show the alliance is prepared to defend Baltic members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from any attack after Russia's intervention in Georgia, an alliance spokesman said on Wednesday.

IRA no longer a threat to peace, watchdog says (2008-09-03)
DUBLIN (Reuters) - The Irish Republican Army's ruling Army Council is no longer operational and the guerrilla group does not pose a threat to peace in Northern Ireland, an independent watchdog said on Wednesday.

Syria pledges to help France solve Iran dispute (2008-09-03)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday that any attack on Iran would be a disaster and he pledged to help find a peaceful solution to the nuclear dispute between the West and Tehran.

J.C. Penney, Kohl's August same-store sales fall (2008-09-03)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - J.C. Penney Co Inc and Kohl's Corp said on Wednesday sales at stores open at least a year declined in August as consumers curbed back-to-school spending in a weak economy.

Christian Wallumr�D: Nordic Neo-Chamber Adventure (2008-09-03)
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Herbie Hancock (2008-09-03)
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Maria Schneider (2008-09-03)
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It's Magic (2008-09-03)
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Esperanza (2008-09-03)
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Sharp Turns (2008-09-03)
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The Remedy: Live At The Village Vanguard (2008-09-03)
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Harriet Tubman (2008-09-03)
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Door (2008-09-03)
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Ukrainian coalition threatened by bickering (2008-09-03)
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Wednesday the coalition government had collapsed and he threatened to call a parliamentary election.

Kashmir's "children of conflict" rise in anger (2008-09-03)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - The protesters organize with Facebook, YouTube as well as via messages from local mosques. They eschew violence, but are seething with anger.

Corrected: Oil falls on demand, Gustav threat passes (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices fell nearly a dollar to below $109 a barrel Wednesday, weighed down by slowing demand in the United States and other consuming nations and signs the U.S. oil sector would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

U.S., South Korea to discuss North's nuclear restart (2008-09-03)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Nuclear envoys from South Korea and the United States will meet in Beijing on Thursday to discuss North Korea's moves to restart an ageing nuclear plant that makes arms-grade plutonium, South Korean media said.

Edwards wins FDA approval for mitral heart valve (2008-09-03)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Edwards Lifesciences Corp said on Wednesday that it won U.S. regulatory approval for a device to replace diseased mitral valves, one of the most common forms of heart valve abnormalities.

July factory orders strong, August auto sales off (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders at U.S. factories jumped more than expected in July, a government report showed on Wednesday, but U.S. automakers reported dismal sales in August, raising fears of renewed economic headwinds.

GM extends employee pricing offer, adds '09 models (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp has extended its employee-level pricing discount program by one month through September and added a number of 2009 model year vehicles to the offer, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Global growth worries rattle Wall St.; Dow rises (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq fell on Wednesday as signs of increasingly sluggish growth in the United States and the rest of the world rattled investors already unsettled about the outlook for consumer spending and corporate profits.

August retail sales expected to show weakness (2008-09-03)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Major U.S. retailers are expected to post softer August sales as consumers spent less on back-to-school items, with the results helping to set analysts' expectations for the all-important holiday season.

Betancourt 2nd most popular politician in Colombia (2008-09-03)
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Ingrid Betancourt, rescued in July after six years in leftist rebel captivity, is the second most popular politician in Colombia after President Alvaro Uribe, according to a Gallup poll released on Wednesday.

Fox News riding high on Palin (2008-09-03)
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GMAC to cut 5,000 jobs at ResCap mortgage unit (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - GMAC LLC, the auto finance and mortgage company, plans to eliminate about 5,000 jobs at its Residential Capital LLC unit and close all 200 GMAC Mortgage retail offices to combat weak housing and credit markets.

Bush backs McCain, Republicans bash Obama (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush saluted Republican John McCain as the man to replace him on Tuesday at a convention featuring assaults on Democrat Barack Obama and a strong defense of McCain's No. 2, Sarah Palin.

U.S. envoy to U.N. defends Pakistan, Afghan contacts (2008-09-03)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Wednesday defended himself against criticism from State Department officials who suggested he had had unauthorized contacts in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Oprah throws party for U.S. Olympic medalists (2008-09-03)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Talk show host Oprah Winfrey threw a rousing welcome home party for more than 150 U.S. Olympic medal winners on Wednesday that was a salute to the athletes and a pep rally for efforts to bring the 2016 summer games to America.

Dead rapper 2Pac tops "overrated" music list (2008-09-03)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Dead rapper Tupac "2Pac" Shakur, the hip-hop icon who sold more records after he was murdered than during his brief career, is the most overrated person in music, according to music magazine Blender.

Rice announces $1 billion in aid for Georgia (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday announced at least $1 billion in aid to help U.S. ally Georgia rebuild after its conflict with Russia over the separatist enclave of South Ossetia last month.

Ford August U.S. sales fall 26.6 percent (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Wednesday that sales fell 26.6 percent in August amid steep declines in large pickup trucks and SUVs, and cut its second-half production plans.

Global growth worries push Wall St lower (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell in skittish trade on Wednesday as signs of increasingly sluggish growth in the world economy left investors worried about the outlook for consumer spending and corporate profits.

Ford U.S. sales fall 26.6 percent in August (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Wednesday that sales fell 26.6 percent in August amid steep declines in large pickup trucks and SUVs, and cut its second-half production plans.

Hovnanian reports deeper quarterly loss (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hovnanian Enterprises Inc reported a deeper quarterly loss that lagged Wall Street estimates, hurt by record foreclosures and poor consumer confidence, sending its shares down more than 4 percent.

Palin prepares for first time in spotlight (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Sarah Palin has dominated the Republican convention for days without saying a word, but on Wednesday she takes the spotlight with a prime-time speech that will introduce her to American voters and try to answer questions about her experience and life story.

Navistar net tops estimates; company raises forecast (2008-09-03)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Navistar International Corp , the U.S. truck- and engine-maker, reported stronger-than-expected earnings on Wednesday, partly due to strong orders for its military products.

U.S. to announce $1 billion aid for Georgia: official (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration will announce on Wednesday a package of roughly $1 billion dollars in aid to help rebuild war-torn U.S. ally Georgia, which battled Russia over a separatist enclave last month, an administration official said.

Corrected: Wall St set to open lower on economy worry (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were poised to slip at the open on Wednesday as investors fretted about the economy's health and the outlook for the beleaguered financial services sector.

Wall St set to open lower on economy worry (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were poised to slip at the open on Wednesday as investors fretted about the economy's health and the outlook for the beleaguered financial services sector.

Jerusalem dig uncovers ancient city walls (2008-09-03)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli archaeologists unveiled on Wednesday a 2,100-year-old Jerusalem perimeter wall -- along with beer bottles left behind by 19th century researchers who first discovered the stone defenses.

North Korea begins reassembling nuclear facility: report (2008-09-03)
TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea has begun reassembling its Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs in violation of U.S. conditions for improved diplomatic relations, media reported.

Russia's top diplomat to have shield talks in Poland (2008-09-03)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will travel to Poland next week for talks on a plan, opposed by Moscow, to station parts of the U.S. missile shield on Polish soil, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

Futures point to weaker Wall Street opening (2008-09-03)
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Oil falls below $109 on demand as Gustav threat eases (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell below $109 a barrel on Wednesday, weighed down by slowing demand in the United States and other consuming nations and signs the U.S. oil sector would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

Bangkok strikes fall flat, but protests drag on (2008-09-03)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A strike by public sector unions to pile more pressure on Thailand's prime minister had little impact on daily life in Bangkok on Wednesday, a day after emergency rule was imposed to quash anti-government protests.

Tibet unrest looms in post-Dalai Lama era (2008-09-03)
BEIJING (Reuters) - A spell in hospital by the Dalai Lama highlights enormous complexities likely to arise when the 73-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner does pass away.

Shots fired at Pakistani PM's motorcade (2008-09-03)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Shots were fired at Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's motorcade near Islamabad's airport on Wednesday but some officials said he was not in it at the time.

Thai foreign minister quits as Bangkok protests drag on (2008-09-03)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's foreign minister has quit, local media reported on Wednesday, dealing another blow to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej a day after he invoked emergency rule against protesters seeking to unseat him.

Porsche sales fall 45 pct in August in North America (2008-09-03)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Porsche sales in North America nearly halved to 1,516 vehicles last month as demand for its core 911 sports coupe plummeted ahead of the model's upcoming facelift, the company said on Thursday.

Nissan U.S. August sales up (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co <7201.T> said on Wednesday its U.S. sales rose 13.6 percent in August to 108,493 vehicles, as easing gasoline prices increased demand for large trucks and SUVs.

Toyota August U.S. auto sales down 9.4 percent (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> said on Wednesday its U.S. auto sales fell 9.4 percent in August, led by a 16.4 percent drop in truck sales.

Wall St. extends losses, Nasdaq drops 1 pct (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended losses on Wednesday as fear of slowing global growth sent the Nasdaq down more than 1 percent.

North Korea moves stored Yongbyon equipment: U.S. (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea has begun moving around some previously stored equipment at its Yongbyon nuclear plant but does not appear to be trying to rebuild the facility, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.

Pakistan raid based on bad intelligence: official (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Suspected U.S. commandos blamed for killing 20 people in Pakistan were acting on faulty intelligence that was never shared with Pakistani forces inside the country, a Pakistani official said on Wednesday.

AT&T says fixed Northeast U.S. mobile data outage (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - AT&T Inc said on Wednesday that its mobile data services such as Web surfing had stopped working very early on Wednesday, primarily affecting customers in the Northeastern United States and that the company had fixed the problem just before noon.

Ex-Credit Suisse brokers indicted over ARS (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two former Credit Suisse AG brokers have been indicted on fraud and conspiracy charges in connection with the sale of auction-rate securities, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Oil falls below $108 on demand, Gustav threat passes (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell more than $2 to below $108 a barrel on Wednesday, weighed down by slowing demand in the United States and other consuming nations and signs the U.S. oil sector would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

Market flat; economic worry offsets energy (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were little changed in skittish trade on Wednesday as fears about a global economic slowdown were offset by strength in energy shares, including Exxon Mobil Corp .

July factory orders stronger than expected (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders at U.S. factories jumped more than expected in July, helped by a rise in transportation orders, a government report showed on Wednesday, as exports buoyed an economy hit by a deep housing downturn and tight credit.

Liberty Media to split off Liberty Entertainment (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Liberty Media Corp will spin off its stake in DirecTV Group and other assets into a publicly traded company called Liberty Entertainment Group SA , taking the first step to simplify ownership of the satellite TV provider.

Oil falls below $109 on demand, Gustav threat passes (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell below $109 a barrel on Wednesday, weighed down by slowing demand in the United States and other consuming nations and signs the U.S. oil sector would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

European gloomy, U.S. vulnerable (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK/PARIS (Reuters) - Major economies on both sides of the Atlantic are increasingly vulnerable to each other's weakness, as the euro zone teeters on the brink of recession while the United States is barely muddling through, data showed on Wednesday.

Bleak Japanese animation film brings war to screen (2008-09-03)
VENICE (Reuters) - The presence of two Japanese animation movies in competition at the Venice film festival this year has created a contest within a contest, and brought to the big screen two strikingly different pictures.

CORRECTED: July factory orders stronger than expected (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders at U.S. factories jumped more than expected in July, helped by a rise in transportation orders, a government report showed on Wednesday, as exports buoyed an economy hit by a deep housing downturn and tight credit.

Lehman lifeline plan in doubt as Korean banks cool (2008-09-03)
SEOUL (Reuters) - A lifeline from South Korea for troubled investment bank Lehman Brothers appeared in doubt on Wednesday as the bank leading the plan said nothing had been decided, and other lenders denied interest in taking part.

U.S. has deep interest in Caucasus allies: Cheney (2008-09-03)
BAKU (Reuters) - Vice-President Dick Cheney said on Wednesday the United States had a "deep interest" in the security of its allies in the Caucasus, while Russia said U.S. support for Georgia was stirring up instability.

Hanna looms off U.S. as Atlantic storms rev up (2008-09-03)
NASSAU (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to regain hurricane strength when it takes aim at the U.S. East Coast later this week as more potentially deadly storms rev up in the Atlantic Ocean, U.S. forecasters said on Wednesday.

Global growth worries push Wall St lower (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell in skittish trade on Wednesday as signs of increasingly sluggish growth in the world economy left investors worried about the outlook for consumer spending and corporate profits.

Ex-Credit Suisse broker Butler pleads not guilty (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Credit Suisse broker Eric Butler pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to criminal charges accusing him and a colleague of defrauding investors through deceptive sales of subprime-related auction-rate debt.

Wall St opens lower on economy, financial worry (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks dipped on Wednesday as investors fretted about the economy's health and the outlook for the beleaguered financial services sector.

Chambers says Cisco clients mixed on economy (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc is seeing mixed views from its customers around the world, Chief Executive John Chambers said in response to a question about global technology demand in an interview with CNBC.

Iraq to reopen Abu Ghraib prison, include museum (2008-09-03)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq plans to renovate and reopen Abu Ghraib prison, the notorious site of executions and torture under Saddam Hussein and later of a U.S. prisoner abuse scandal.

Israel gripped by suspected child murders (2008-09-03)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel was transfixed on Wednesday by the deaths of two children who police believe were drowned by their mothers, cases that stirred emotions already reeling from the suspected killing of a girl by her grandfather.

U.S. growth sluggish in face of credit crunch: Fed (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic activity was slow in August amid slack consumer spending, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday, while one official warned that the credit crunch had offset low Fed interest rates.

CORRECTED: Pearl Jam musician prepares solo debut (2008-09-03)
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"Catastrophe" seen in Haiti as Atlantic storms rev up (2008-09-03)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - President Rene Preval on Wednesday warned of an "extraordinary catastrophe" in Haiti in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hanna, comparing it to a storm that killed more than 3,000 people in the flood-prone Caribbean country four years ago.

Pearl Jam musician prepares solo debut (2008-09-03)
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Carmakers' August sales drop, but some hope seen (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Detroit automakers' sales declined by 20 percent to 34 percent in August, but aggressive discounts and lower gas prices helped the battered industry do better than many Wall Street analysts had feared.

Boeing machinists vote on contract, urged to strike (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Almost 27,000 Boeing Co workers are set to vote on the plane maker's latest three-year contract offer on Wednesday, urged by their union to reject it and walk off their jobs at midnight, raising the possibility of the fourth Boeing strike in 20 years.

Palin tries to silence media storm in debut (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Sarah Palin has dominated the Republican convention for days without saying a word, but on Wednesday she takes the spotlight with a prime-time speech that will introduce her to American voters and try to answer questions about her experience and life story.

Corrected: Global growth worries push Wall St lower (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell in skittish trade on Wednesday as signs of increasingly sluggish growth in the world economy left investors worried about the outlook for consumer spending and corporate profits.

Ex-Credit Suisse brokers accused in ARS scheme (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two former Credit Suisse brokers were charged on Wednesday with fraud and conspiracy over deceptive sales of subprime-related auction-rate debt, government officials said, part of an industrywide probe of the securities.

Brain protein holds key to fertility (2008-09-03)
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists have discovered the crucial ovulation-triggering role played by a small protein molecule in the brain, a finding that could hold the key to new therapies for infertility.

Staples profit falls, but sees sales stabilizing (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Staples Inc , the world's largest office products retailer, posted a 16 percent fall in quarterly profit as its small-business customers bought less furniture and office supplies, hurt by the weak U.S. economy.

Hathaway plays ex-drug junkie in new family drama (2008-09-03)
VENICE (Reuters) - Actress Anne Hathaway takes on an unusually dark role as a former drug addict returning home for her sister's wedding in "Rachel Getting Married," a new film about a dysfunctional family haunted by the death of a child.

Vatican says not questioning moment of death (2008-09-03)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican distanced itself on Wednesday from an article in its newspaper that suggested re-opening the debate on when a person can be considered dead for reasons of transplants.

UAE says to register stateless people (2008-09-03)
DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates has set up a body to resolve the cases of thousands of stateless people by registering those without identity papers, an Interior Ministry official said in remarks published on Wednesday.

Motley Crue rocker marks National Recovery Month (2008-09-03)
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Brother in Bayou fraud case pleads guilty (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A brother of the convicted Bayou hedge fund founder who faked his own death to avoid going to prison for defrauding investors, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to concealing the fraud, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

GM U.S. auto sales fall 20 percent in August (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp said on Wednesday that U.S. light vehicle sales fell 20.3 percent in August to 308,817 units, pressured by the sharp downturn in demand for light trucks.

Tropical storm Ike grows into Atlantic hurricane (2008-09-03)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Ike strengthened into a hurricane in the open Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday with winds of 80 miles per hour (130 km/hour) winds, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

MUFG has no plans to invest in Lehman: executive (2008-09-03)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) <8306.T> has no plans to invest in U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers , an executive at Japan's largest bank said, responding to a media report that it was considering taking a stake.

Syria warns of global "disaster" if Iran attacked (2008-09-03)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned on Wednesday that any attack on Iran would be a "disaster," pledging to help find a peaceful solution between the West and Tehran to the nuclear dispute.

Fed Beige Book: Activity slows, some price relief (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Economic activity has been slow across most of the United States in recent weeks, but there has been some relief from high commodity and energy prices, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday.

Bush visits Louisiana as state claws back from storm (2008-09-03)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - President George W. Bush heads to storm-battered Louisiana on Wednesday to survey damage from Hurricane Gustav as tens of thousands who fled New Orleans prepare to return to a "dark and hot" city struggling to restore power and maintain basic services.

New Pumpkins single heads to "Guitar Hero" (2008-09-03)
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Japan's Aso draws party support for PM race (2008-09-03)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Hawkish former foreign minister Taro Aso has the backing of half of the ruling party's branches to become Japan's next prime minister after Yasuo Fukuda's abrupt resignation, a media survey showed on Wednesday.

School's back in session with glossy "90210" (2008-09-03)
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Morrissey splits with manager after 3 months (2008-09-03)
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New Scott Weiland solo disc on the way (2008-09-03)
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Shooting spree leaves six dead in Washington state (2008-09-03)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - A man shot and killed six people and wounded two more during a shooting spree that lasted a few hours and included a high-speed chase in a rural area north of Seattle, local police said on Tuesday.

Oil slides $1 to below $109 on economy fears (2008-09-03)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil dropped more than $1 to below $109 on Wednesday, deepening this week's sharp fall as traders looked past Hurricane Gustav to focus on a wobbly global economy and the gloomy outlook for energy demand.

Coca-Cola buys Chinese juice maker for $2.5 bln (2008-09-03)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co will pay $2.5 billion for Chinese juice maker Huiyuan <1886.HK>, triple its value, strengthening the world's leading drinks maker's hold on a booming market in the biggest foreign takeover in China.

CORRECTED: Oil dips 0.5 percentt to $109 (2008-09-03)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil dipped half a dollar to near $109 on Wednesday, deepening this week's sharp drop as traders looked past Hurricane Gustav to focus on a wobbly global economy and the gloomy outlook for energy demand.

"Guitar Man" Jerry Reed dies at age 71 (2008-09-03)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer and actor Jerry Reed, known as "The Guitar Man" of country music, has died at the age of 71, ending a career that took him from writing hit songs like "When You're Hot, You're Hot" to major acting roles in Hollywood.

Anti-government strike by Thai unions fizzles (2008-09-03)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A strike by public sector workers in Bangkok started slowly on Wednesday, with few services affected in the Thai capital a day after emergency rule was imposed to quash anti-government protests.

Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai says new talks unlikely soon (2008-09-03)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said power-sharing talks are deadlocked and are unlikely to resume soon, South Africa's Talk Radio 702 reported on Wednesday.

Journalist in Russia's Dagestan killed (2008-09-03)
MAKHACHKALA, Russia (Reuters) - A prominent journalist in Dagestan in Russia's North Caucasus died on Wednesday from wounds received in an attack overnight, regional police said.

Sarah Palin makes Republican convention debut (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Sarah Palin has dominated the Republican convention for days without making a public appearance but on Wednesday she takes the spotlight with a prime-time speech that will introduce her to American voters.

Philippines ends peace talks with Muslim rebels (2008-09-03)
MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has ended peace talks with the country's largest Muslim rebel group, the president's spokesman said on Wednesday, ending an 11-year peace process that has been marred by violence and disagreement.

Oil drops below $110 as Gustav fades (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil fell below $110 a barrel on Tuesday for the first time since April as traders bet the U.S. oil industry would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

Oil falls below $109 on demand, Gustav threat eases (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell below $109 a barrel on Wednesday, weighed down by slowing demand in the United States and other consuming nations and signs the U.S. oil sector would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

Russia says Washington fanning Georgia instability (2008-09-03)
BAKU/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia accused the United States of stirring up instability in Georgia on Wednesday, hours after U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney landed in the region to show support for Washington's ex-Soviet allies.

Kerviel and aide in court on Socgen rogue trades case (2008-09-03)
PARIS (Reuters) - Jerome Kerviel, blamed by French bank Societe Generale for the trading scandal that cost it billions of euros, appeared for a court hearing on Wednesday along with his former aide Thomas Mougard.

GM sees Hummer sale by early '09, tough times ahead (2008-09-03)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - General Motors expects to sell its Hummer brand by the end of this year or early in 2009, as it shores up capital to survive a deep industry slump amid record losses, its chief operating officer said.

Scientists use particle accelerator to date wine (2008-09-03)
PARIS (Reuters) - French scientists have devised a way of using particle accelerators to authenticate vintage wines, one of France's top research bodies said this week.

North Korea reassembling nuclear facility: report (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea has begun reassembling its Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs in violation of U.S. conditions for improved diplomatic relations, Fox News reported on Tuesday.

KDB made Lehman offer; HSBC may trump Koreans: report (2008-09-03)
SEOUL (Reuters) - State-controlled Korea Development Bank (KDB) proposed buying 25 percent of Lehman Brothers for up to $5.3 billion, a newspaper reported, but other Korean banks rumored to be joining a KDB bid consortium denied they were involved.

Palin to try to silence media storm in debut (2008-09-03)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Sarah Palin has dominated the Republican convention for days without making a public appearance but on Wednesday she takes the spotlight with a prime-time speech that will introduce her to American voters.

North Korea begins reassembling nuclear facility: report (2008-09-03)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea has begun reassembling its Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs in violation of U.S. conditions for improved diplomatic relations, Fox News reported on Tuesday.

Afghans accept U.S. probe offer on civilian deaths (2008-09-03)
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan has accepted a U.S. proposal for a tripartite investigation into civilian casualties in a coalition air strike in western Herat province last month, a foreign ministry official said on Wednesday.

Hezbollah attempts to kidnap Israelis foiled: Barak (2008-09-03)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas have tried to abduct Israelis abroad and several such attempts have been thwarted, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said.

Oil falls to $108 on demand as Gustav threat eases (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell to $108 a barrel on Wednesday, weighed down by slowing demand in the United States and other consuming nations and signs the U.S. oil sector would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

Coca-Cola buys Chinese juice maker for $2.5 billion (2008-09-03)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co will pay $2.5 billion for Chinese juice maker Huiyuan <1886.HK>, triple its value, strengthening the world's leading drinks maker's hold on a booming market in the biggest foreign takeover in China.

Nuclear states mull U.S.-India deal again as clock ticks (2008-09-03)
VIENNA (Reuters) - Forty-five nations meet on Thursday to try to bridge differences over a move to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India, needed to seal a U.S.-Indian atomic deal but seen by some as a threat to non-proliferation.

August auto sales seen down 10th straight month (2008-09-03)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Automakers are expected to post a 10th consecutive month of U.S. sales declines on Wednesday as incentives on slow-selling trucks and SUVs and General Motors Corp's employee pricing promotion failed to ignite demand from struggling consumers in August.

Lily Allen thanks police over friend's "kidnap" (2008-09-03)
LONDON (Reuters) - Lily Allen has thanked London police for rescuing a close friend of hers who she said had been kidnapped for ransom.

GM senior exec sees lower U.S. vehicles sales in '08 (2008-09-03)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - General Motors Corp expects U.S. vehicle sales at a "low 14 million units" in 2008 down from 16 million last year, its chief operating officer said on Wednesday.

Futures drop as Lehman, fund fallout weigh (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell on Wednesday as news of the demise of a hedge fund partly owned by Lehman Brothers rekindled worries about the outlook for the beleaguered financial services sector.

Williams sisters and Nadal to light up New York (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Open should really come alive on Wednesday when the Williams sisters clash in a blockbuster quarter-final and men's top seed Rafael Nadal bids for a semi-final place.

GMAC to cut 5,000 jobs (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - GMAC LLC said on Wednesday it plans to cut 5,000 jobs at its Residential Capital LLC mortgage unit, or 60 percent of that work force, and shut its 200 GMAC Mortgage retail offices as it combats weak credit and housing markets.

Shots fired at Pakistani PM; he is safe: spokesman (2008-09-03)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Shots were fired at Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's motorcade on Wednesday but he was not hurt, his spokesman said.

Abu Dhabi to put $1 billion into film venture: reports (2008-09-03)
DUBAI (Reuters) - The government of Gulf Arab oil state Abu Dhabi will invest $1 billion in a media firm that will produce eight feature films a year in ventures with Hollywood, Bollywood and local producers, media reported on Wednesday.

Pakistani PM escapes assassination bid (2008-09-03)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Shots were fired at Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's motorcade on Wednesday but he was not hurt, his spokesman said.

Staples quarterly profit falls (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Staples Inc , the world's largest office products retailer, said on Wednesday that quarterly profit fell as customers cut back on spending in the troubled U.S. economy.

Inept response to floods outrages India (2008-09-03)
PURNEA, India (Reuters) - For several days, Urmi Mahato and her family were glued to the radio and TV, eager for information on rising floodwaters and waiting for the government to tell them whether and when to evacuate their home.

Ospraie fund to close after August hit (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hedge fund manager Ospraie Management LLC will close its flagship fund after it plunged 27 percent in August on losses in energy, mining and natural resources equity holdings, in one of the biggest ever closures of a commodities-focused hedge fund.

Ukrainian president threatens to call snap poll (2008-09-03)
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko threatened on Wednesday to call an early parliamentary election after he said the country's coalition government had collapsed.

Some 814,000 Entergy customers still without power (2008-09-03)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 814,000 customers in Entergy Corp's service area in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi remained without power Wednesday morning after Hurricane Gustav caused massive damage to the company's transmission system after making landfall in Louisiana Monday morning.

Coca-Cola to buy Huiyuan in largest China takeover (2008-09-03)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co , the world's largest soft drinks maker, offered to buy juice maker China Huiyuan <1886.HK> for a hefty premium, marking the biggest takeover in China by a foreign company.

Suspected U.S. troops kill 20 in Pakistan attack (2008-09-03)
WANA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Foreign commandos from Afghanistan backed by three helicopter gunships carried out a pre-dawn attack inside Pakistan on Wednesday, killing 20 people, including women and children, a provincial governor said.

Palestinians study options if peace talks fail (2008-09-03)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Support among Palestinians for a binational state with Israel will grow should U.S.-brokered talks on creating an independent Palestine fail, a Palestinian think tank forecast in a new report released on Wednesday.

New Pumpkins single heads to 'Guitar Hero' (2008-09-03)
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New Pumpkins single heads to "Guitar Hero" (2008-09-03)
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McCain's Republican convention off to slow start (2008-09-02)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Not only is Gustav slowing Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's big convention party, it also is sparing him from Democratic criticism that his election would amount to a third Bush term.

KDB confirms Lehman talks; Korea bank shares fall (2008-09-02)
SEOUL (Reuters) - State-owned Korea Development Bank (KDB) confirmed on Tuesday it was in talks with Lehman Brothers over a possible joint investment in the U.S. bank with other Korean banks, sending local banking shares lower.

UK's Brown unveils housing market support plan (2008-09-02)
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled plans on Tuesday to boost the country's slumping housing market as he launched a fightback after nearly a year trailing in the opinion polls.

Thai army chief baulks at protest crackdown (2008-09-02)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Army chief Anupong Paochinda said on Tuesday he would not use force to evict protesters occupying the prime minister's official compound despite a state of emergency giving him the power to do so. "If we thought we could use police and soldiers to get them out with a peaceful conclusion, we would do it. But we think that that would create more problems," he told a news conference after a man died in clashes between pro and anti-government protesters.

"Insensitive" movies a magnet for protesters (2008-09-02)
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Alcatel-Lucent names new management (2008-09-02)
PARIS (Reuters) - Alcatel-Lucent named its new top management on Tuesday as Philippe Camus, a former key executive at planemaker Airbus's parent EADS , and Ben Verwaayen, the former head of British Telecom .

Stressed mothers may raise fat children: study (2008-09-02)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Millions of poor children in the United States may be getting fat before age 10 because their mothers are stressed out and the youngsters seek escape in unhealthy comfort food, researchers said on Tuesday.

Williams sisters set up clash, Nadal tested (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Williams sisters will hold another family reunion on centre court at the U.S. Open after registering wins on Monday that set up a tiebreaking, sibling clash in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

New Orleans levees hold as Gustav winds down (2008-09-02)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav weakened to a tropical storm by late Monday after crashing into the Louisiana coast and menacing New Orleans, where rebuilt levees managed to hold floodwaters out of the city devastated by Katrina three years earlier.

On first scan, little oil damage seen from Gustav (2008-09-02)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Several major U.S. refiners said early checks on Monday showed their facilities were unharmed by Hurricane Gustav, but at least two others were said to be considering dipping into the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to keep operations going after the storm shut down key waterways.

Lone Star may face order to sell KEB shares: regulator (2008-09-02)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's top financial regulator said on Tuesday it may consider fining U.S. investment firm Lone Star after it failed to submit regulatory documents, and that may result in an order to sell shares in Korea Exchange Bank <004940.KS>.

Jack Johnson bids soothing farewell to summer (2008-09-02)
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Lethargy in Venice at film fest's halfway point (2008-09-02)
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Tarantino gets his German girl (2008-09-02)
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Marilyn Monroe film footage found in Australia (2008-09-02)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - An amateur film of Marilyn Monroe on the set of "Some Like It Hot" has surfaced in Australia almost 50 years after it was shot and is being put up for auction.

MySpace to launch "High School Musical" contest (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - MySpace plans to launch a contest on Tuesday to market the latest in Walt Disney Co's blockbuster franchise "High School Musical 3" in what the News Corp Internet social network called its biggest film campaign to date.

Oil tumbles below $109 as Gustav concerns recede (2008-09-02)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil plunged almost $3 a barrel on Tuesday to its lowest since mid-April, extending the previous day's rout on initial signs that a weakened Hurricane Gustav spared major Gulf oil facilities.

Police break up protest in Russia's Ingushetia (2008-09-02)
NAZRAN, Russia (Reuters) - Masked police in the southern Russian region of Ingushetia used batons to break up an anti-government protest on Tuesday, two days after an opposition leader died in police custody.

KDB confirms talks with Lehman, Korea bank shares fall (2008-09-02)
SEOUL (Reuters) - State-owned Korea Development Bank (KDB) confirmed on Tuesday it was in talks with Lehman Brothers over a possible joint investment in the U.S. bank with other Korean banks, sending local banking shares lower.

Another tropical depression forms over Atlantic (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new tropical depression formed in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean south of the Cape Verde Islands and was expected to become a hurricane later on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Taliban claim kidnap of two Chinese in Pakistan (2008-09-02)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani Taliban said on Tuesday they had kidnapped two Chinese telecommunications engineers and two Pakistanis and said abductions would continue until the government stopped attacking militants.

Monsoon misery spreads in India (2008-09-02)
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Heavy rains and rising floodwaters forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in northeastern India and sent elephants and rhinos fleeing, as monsoon misery spread in South Asia.

GDF Suez to buy U.S. electricity firm for $1.9 billion (2008-09-02)
PARIS (Reuters) - French utility group GDF Suez said on Tuesday it would buy U.S. electricity provider FirstLight Power Enterprises.

Pakistani elders vow to protect vital Khyber Pass (2008-09-02)
LANDIKOTAL, Pakistan (Reuters) - Ethnic Pashtun tribal elders in Pakistan have promised to ensure security for supplies trucked through the Khyber Pass bound for foreign forces in Afghanistan, a government official said on Tuesday.

"Insensitive" movies a magnet for protesters (2008-09-02)
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Australia central bank cuts rates first time in 7 yrs (2008-09-02)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's central bank on Tuesday cut its key interest rate 25 basis points to 7.0 percent, the first easing in seven years, as it attempts to combat tighter financial conditions amid the global credit crunch.

CORRECTED: Another tropical depression forms over Atlantic (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new tropical depression formed in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean south of the Cape Verde Islands and was expected to become a tropical storm later on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Turning around North American business is priority: GM (2008-09-02)
TALEGAON, India (Reuters) - General Motors Corp's most important priority is to turn around its North American business and it will continue investments in emerging markets, its chief operating officer said on Tuesday.

Another tropical depression forms over Atlantic (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new tropical depression formed in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean south of the Cape Verde Islands and was expected to become a tropical storm later on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Japan searches for a new prime minister, again (2008-09-02)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan began searching for a new prime minister on Tuesday after Yasuo Fukuda became the second leader to abruptly resign in less than a year, threatening a further policy vacuum as the economy teeters on the brink of recession.

Sri Lanka says captures rebel Tamil Tiger 'nerve centre' (2008-09-02)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's military on Tuesday said it had captured a town that served as a 'nerve centre' for separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, on a day that saw 48 killed and 57 wounded across the nation's northern frontline.

Oil heads towards $100 as Gustav fades (2008-09-02)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil slid towards $100 a barrel on Tuesday, after early reports showed Hurricane Gustav had spared major U.S. Gulf oil facilities.

U.N. says North Korea needs $503 million in food aid (2008-09-02)
BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea needs $503 million in food aid between now and November 2009 to avoid famine, which could be hampered by China's unwillingness to grant food export licenses, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday.

Rodgers & Hammerstein looking to sell itself: report (2008-09-02)
(Reuters) - The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is exploring strategic options for its catalog tunes, including a possible sale of the company, the New York Post said, citing a source close to the situation.

Another tropical depression forms over Atlantic (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new tropical depression formed in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean south of the Cape Verde Islands and was expected to become a tropical storm later on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Japan's Aso leads race for next prime minister (2008-09-02)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Former foreign minister Taro Aso leads the race to become Japanese prime minister, analysts and media said on Tuesday, after unpopular Yasuo Fukuda became the second leader to abruptly resign in less than a year.

Pakistani prosecutor seeks action on Sharif case (2008-09-02)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A Pakistani prosecutor said on Tuesday he wanted corruption cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif taken up by the courts in a move Sharif's party said was politically motivated.

As Gustav winds down, New Orleans eyes damage (2008-09-02)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - A still-largely deserted New Orleans on Tuesday prepared to take stock of damage from Hurricane Gustav after rebuilt levees appeared to hold off a repeat of the flooding caused by Katrina three years earlier.

Iraq begins campaign to evict Baghdad squatters (2008-09-02)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces began a push on Tuesday to evict people squatting in Baghdad homes that were abandoned by residents fleeing sectarian violence, a military spokesman said.

Thai PM imposes emergency rule after street battle (2008-09-02)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej declared a state of emergency in Bangkok on Tuesday and gave the army control of public order after a man died in overnight clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters.

Republicans hope to get convention on track (2008-09-02)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - With Hurricane Gustav downgraded and New Orleans spared a major disaster, Republicans tried on Tuesday to get their convention back on track to nominate John McCain for president.

Clones' offspring may be in food supply: government (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Food and milk from the offspring of cloned animals may already have entered the U.S. food supply, the Food and Drug Administration said on Monday, but it would be impossible to know because there is no difference between cloned and conventional products.

Sri Lanka says captures rebel Tamil Tiger "nerve centre" (2008-09-02)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's military on Tuesday said it had captured a town that served as a 'nerve centre' for separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, on a day that saw 48 killed and 57 wounded across the nation's northern frontline.

Futures signal higher Wall Street start as oil drops (2008-09-02)
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Gustav shields McCain from Democrat barbs (2008-09-02)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Not only is Gustav slowing Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's big convention party, it also is sparing him from Democratic criticism that his election would amount to a third Bush term.

Australia central bank cuts rates first time in 7 years (2008-09-02)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's central bank on Tuesday cut its key interest rate 25 basis points to 7.0 percent, the first easing in seven years, as it attempts to combat tighter financial conditions amid the global credit crunch.

Tumbling energy and tech companies trip up Wall Street (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday, as a steep decline in the price of oil and other commodities hammered energy and materials companies, while tech shares fell amid jitters a global economic slowdown would crimp technology spending.

Oil falls towards $107 as Gustav fades (2008-09-02)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil slid to around $107 a barrel on Tuesday after initial reports showed Hurricane Gustav had spared major U.S. Gulf oil facilities.

Oil's sharp decline drives Wall Street higher (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose by more than 1 percent on Tuesday, September's first trading day, as oil prices slid sharply, easing concern about future consumer and business spending.

Manufacturing shrinks slightly in August: ISM (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Factory activity unexpectedly shrank slightly in August while inflation pressures also eased, according to an industry report released on Tuesday.

Hurricane Gustav won't hit reinsurers hard: Fitch (2008-09-02)
LONDON (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav, which lashed the coast of Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico but by Tuesday had weakened to a tropical depression, is unlikely to hit reinsurers too hard, credit rating agency Fitch said on Tuesday.

Iran plans air force games in Ramadan: commander (2008-09-02)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - The Iranian air force will hold wargames during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began in Iran on Tuesday, a military commander said.

Corrected: HSBC says super-rich clients moving into cash (2008-09-02)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Many of the world's wealthiest people have moved their money out of stocks and bonds and into cash, the head of HSBC's Swiss private banking unit said on Monday.

Hurricane Hanna weakens into storm over Bahamas (2008-09-02)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Hanna weakened on Tuesday back into a tropical storm over the southeastern Bahamas islands but could regain strength and become a hurricane again during the day, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

ConocoPhillips sees minor damage to Magnolia from Gustav (2008-09-02)
TORONTO (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips said Tuesday its Magnolia platform in the Gulf of Mexico sustained only minor damage from Hurricane Gustav, according to a spokesman for the company.

Aid plane crashes in Congo, no sign of survivors (2008-09-02)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - A humanitarian plane carrying 17 passengers and crew that went missing in east Democratic Republic of Congo has crashed into a mountain and there is no sign of survivors, the contracting air company said on Tuesday.

GM does not see U.S. sales reviving this year (2008-09-02)
TALEGAON, India (Reuters) - General Motors does not expect U.S. sales to revive this year as the credit crunch pressures consumers, with a senior official saying the top priority was to turn around the North American business.

Lower oil lifts Wall St; Dow jumps 2 percent (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended gains on Tuesday, sending the Dow Jones industrial average up 2 percent, as a sharp slide in oil prices buoyed hopes of a recovery in consumer and business spending, a key pillar of profit growth.

Airline stocks rise as oil price falls (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of major U.S. airlines rose on Tuesday as U.S. crude fell more than $7 to around $108 a barrel after Hurricane Gustav proved less destructive than initially feared.

EU lawmakers open battle against sheep, goat tags (2008-09-02)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - British and Irish lawmakers in the European Parliament launched a campaign on Tuesday against a rule that would make electronic tags for millions of sheep and goats across the EU compulsory from next year.

US Teamsters seek independent FedEx board chairman (2008-09-02)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Teamsters union said on Tuesday that it sent a letter to shareholders of package delivery company FedEx Corp urging them to support a union proposal to elect an independent board chairman.

Rice to visit Libya in landmark trip (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. diplomat Condoleezza Rice will make a landmark trip to Libya this week, the first by a U.S. Secretary of State in more than half a century, the State Department announced on Tuesday.

Students navigate expensive, changing landscape of textbooks (2008-09-02)
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Pakistani indicted in NY for attack on U.S. soldiers (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Pakistani woman suspected of links to al Qaeda was indicted on Tuesday on federal charges of attempted murder and assault of U.S. soldiers during a confrontation in Afghanistan in July.

Alcatel-Lucent names new CEO, chairman (2008-09-02)
PARIS (Reuters) - Alcatel-Lucent named its new leadership on Tuesday, handing the task of turning round the loss-making telecoms equipment group to former British Telecom chief executive and industry veteran Ben Verwaayen.

India lifts Kashmir curfew as Muslim fasting begins (2008-09-02)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Authorities in Indian Kashmir lifted a nine-day curfew on Tuesday, imposed to quell massive anti-India rallies, as separatists called for three days of calm with the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Russia says EU was right not to choose sanctions (2008-09-02)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia praised the European Union on Tuesday for taking a "responsible approach" to its conflict with Georgia by refusing to impose sanctions or freeze ties with Moscow.

Brown Bagging It (2008-09-02)
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Ex-students pay tribute to their favorite teachers (2008-09-02)
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Rage in Kashmir meets India's brute force (2008-09-02)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - The world's largest democracy locks up protest leaders without charge, shoots dozens of demonstrators dead, beats and intimidates ordinary citizens and raids homes without warrants.

Google offers video-sharing for businesses (2008-09-02)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc is adding YouTube-like video communications features to its business application suite, looking to make video-sharing among office workers as easy as trading e-mails or instant messages.

"No panic signals" from Freddie debt auctions (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Freddie Mac's bill sales drew fewer bids than similar issues a week ago, but these bids as well, as demand for a note deal on Tuesday, showed the company maintains debt market access, analysts said.

Market led lower by energy, tech companies (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slipped on Tuesday as a steep decline in the price of oil weighed on commodity-related companies and as tech shares fell on jitters a global economic slowdown would crimp technology spending.

Ethiopian film explores nation's recent violent past (2008-09-02)
VENICE (Reuters) - A powerful new film chronicles the life of an Ethiopian intellectual who flees his country during the Marxist "red terror" in the 1980s, only to be viciously attacked in Germany by racist youths.

Oil's tumble set to lift Wall St at open (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks headed for a higher open on September's first trading day on Tuesday as oil prices slid sharply, easing concerns about the outlook for consumer and business spending.

Storms swirl in Atlantic, floods strike Haiti (2008-09-02)
NASSAU (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Hanna drenched the Bahamas and triggered deadly flooding in Haiti on Tuesday, as it headed for expected landfall in the southeastern United States later this week.

Oil dips 0.5 pct to $109, economy back in focus (2008-09-02)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil dipped half a dollar to near $109 on Wednesday, deepening this week's sharp drop as traders looked past Hurricane Gustav to focus on a wobbly global economy and the gloomy outlook for energy demand.

China warns of post-quake hardship as winter nears (2008-09-02)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China faces tough tasks rebuilding homes and roads across its earthquake-hit southwest as winter approaches, Premier Wen Jiabao said near the epicenter of the devastating May 12 quake.

Republicans back McCain VP pick Palin, bash Obama (2008-09-02)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - John McCain and his fellow Republicans rallied behind vice presidential pick Sarah Palin on Tuesday and attacked Democrat Barack Obama at a convention featuring a reduced role for President George W. Bush.

Steps for Students to Take Before Turning to Banks (2008-09-02)
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CORRECTED: Charges dropped against Gaddafi son: Swiss lawyer (2008-09-02)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Two domestic workers who filed assault charges against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son in Switzerland, sparking a diplomatic row, have withdrawn their complaint, their Swiss lawyer said on Tuesday.

Wachovia sees "ugly" Q3 for brokerages (2008-09-02)
BANGALORE (Reuters) - Wachovia Capital Markets said the third quarter will be a "quarter to forget" for Wall Street investment banks and slashed its estimates for Goldman Sachs , Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley .

Charges dropped against Gaddafi son: Swiss lawyer (2008-09-02)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Two domestic workers who filed assault charges against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son in Switzerland, sparking a diplomatic row, have withdrawn their complaint, their Swiss lawyer said on Tuesday.

Ex-U.S. law chief mishandled secret papers: probe (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales mishandled top-secret notes on a domestic spying program and on the interrogation of terrorism suspects but will not be prosecuted, a Justice Department report said on Tuesday.

Music companies in talks to buy show tunes catalog: sources (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is in talks with major music companies to sell its catalog of Broadway musical show tunes for between $150 million to $200 million, according to people familiar with the matter.

Ex-Tyco CEO Kozlowski appeals to top New York court (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lawyers for imprisoned former Tyco International Ltd Chief Executive Dennis Kozlowski and ex-financial chief Mark Swartz on Tuesday asked New York's highest court to throw out their convictions, saying a jury had insufficient evidence when it found them guilty.

Virus is passed from parent to child in the DNA (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A virus that causes a universal childhood infection is often passed from parent to child at birth, not in the blood but in the DNA, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Republican convention off to slow start (2008-09-02)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Not only did Gustav slow Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's big convention party, it also spared him from Democratic criticism that his election would amount to a third Bush term.

Oil companies find little damage in Gustav's wake (2008-09-02)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy companies found little damage to their U.S. facilities during initial checks on Tuesday in the wake of Hurricane Gustav -- signaling a possible fast recovery from the biggest storm to threaten the oil sector since hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Oil's tumble propels Wall Street higher (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Tuesday as a sharp drop in oil prices buoyed hopes of a recovery in consumer and business spending, key pillars of profit growth.

Oil near $109 as Gustav fades (2008-09-02)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil was around $109 a barrel on Tuesday after sliding to five-months lows when initial reports showed Hurricane Gustav had spared major U.S. Gulf oil facilities.

Less talk, more action, Ghana aid conference told (2008-09-02)
ACCRA (Reuters) - Translating billions of dollars of foreign aid into concrete, timely action that helps the world's poorest is the biggest challenge facing both donor and recipient countries, speakers at an aid conference said on Tuesday.

U.S. says Afghan probe finds lower civilian toll (2008-09-02)
KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. military disputed on Tuesday the toll of 96 civilians the Afghan government and United Nations said were killed in an air strike in western Afghanistan last month, saying five to seven civilians had been killed.

Market slides, led by energy, tech companies (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended losses on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq down more than 1 percent, as a steep decline in the price of oil weighed on commodity-related companies and as tech shares fell on jitters a global economic slowdown would crimp technology spending.

Talks resume over Alabama county's debts (2008-09-02)
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - Wall Street lenders, bond insurers and Alabama's Jefferson County were again in talks aimed at averting a possible bankruptcy filing by restructuring $3.2 billion of debt, a county official said on Tuesday.

Less talk and more action, global aid conference told (2008-09-02)
ACCRA (Reuters) - Translating billions of dollars of foreign aid into concrete, timely action that helps the world's poorest is the biggest challenge for donors and recipient countries, speakers at an aid conference said on Tuesday.

Wall Street ends lower as tech and energy shares drag (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday, as a steep decline in the price of oil and other commodities hammered energy and materials companies while tech shares fell amid jitters a global economic slowdown would crimp technology spending.

Clones' offspring may be in food supply: FDA (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Food and milk from the offspring of cloned animals may already have entered the U.S. food supply, the Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday, but it would be impossible to know because there is no difference between cloned and conventional products.

Sarah Palin controversy stokes Mommy War (2008-09-02)
CINCINNATI (Reuters) - In America, where teenage pregnancy is a political issue and working moms subject to moral debate, the choice of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential pick has ignited a Mommy War.

Storms swirl in Atlantic, Hanna over Bahamas (2008-09-02)
MIAMI (Reuters) - A new tropical depression formed on Tuesday near the Cape Verde Islands off Africa while storm Hanna drenched the Bahamas and Ike sped westward as Atlantic storm activity reached a frenetic pace.

Gaza strike deepens Palestinian rift: U.N. envoy (2008-09-02)
GAZA (Reuters) - An education and health dispute that has sparked a huge strike in Gaza may deepen the rift between Hamas and Fatah and harm chances of Palestinian reunification, a United Nations envoy said on Tuesday.

Heart experts clash on Vytorin and cancer risk (2008-09-02)
MUNICH (Reuters) - Experts clashed over the safety of Merck & Co and Schering-Plough's cholesterol drug Vytorin on Tuesday as full results from a controversial study were presented at Europe's biggest medical congress.

Oil heads toward $100 as Gustav fades (2008-09-02)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil slid towards $100 a barrel on Tuesday, after early reports showed Hurricane Gustav had spared major U.S. Gulf oil facilities.

New Orleans mops up after Gustav close encounter (2008-09-02)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Workers armed with rakes and brooms fanned out across New Orleans to clean up after Hurricane Gustav on Tuesday while officials eyed the city's levees warily and told hundreds of thousands of evacuees to stay away a bit longer.

Clooney's Obama fundraiser in Geneva a sellout (2008-09-02)
GENEVA (Reuters) - George Clooney has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama by headlining an exclusive event for Americans in Geneva, one of the world's most affluent cities.

Nasdaq, S&P 500 drop as rally fizzles (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 indexes fell on Tuesday as a sharp slide in oil prices hit shares of energy companies, including Exxon Mobil , while a drop in Apple Inc punctured an earlier rally in large-cap technology shares.

New Orleans eyes damage as Gustav fades (2008-09-02)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Half of New Orleans was without power on Tuesday, its sewage system was damaged and authorities said it was too soon for evacuees to go home, but the low-lying city breathed a sigh of relief after escaping a direct hit from Hurricane Gustav.

African Union wants Zimbabwe crisis deal now (2008-09-02)
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - African Union chair Tanzania wants to see a 50-50 power-sharing deal agreed for Zimbabwe immediately to stem a growing economic crisis, Tanzania's foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Oil falls to $108 as Gustav fades (2008-09-02)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil slid to around $108 a barrel on Tuesday after early reports showed Hurricane Gustav had spared major U.S. Gulf oil facilities.

Marriage problems? Husband's genes may be to blame (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The same gene that affects a rodent's ability to mate for life may affect human marriages, Swedish and U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

Venezuela rivals U.S. in Central America, Caribbean (2008-09-02)
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez has won over some of the United States' closest allies in the Caribbean and Central America with oil credits and aid that match similar efforts by Washington.

Alcatel-Lucent names new CEO and chairman (2008-09-02)
PARIS (Reuters) - Alcatel-Lucent named its new leadership on Tuesday, handing the task of turning round the loss-making telecoms equipment group to former British Telecom chief executive and industry veteran Ben Verwaayen.

Christians cower from Hindu backlash in India's east (2008-09-02)
TIKABALI, India (Reuters) - On a starry night last week, as Lal Mohan Digal prepared to go to bed, a mob of raging, machete-wielding Hindu zealots appeared above the hills of his mud house and swarmed over this bucolic hamlet in eastern India.

Thai army chief balks at protest crackdown (2008-09-02)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Army chief Anupong Paochinda said on Tuesday he would not use force to evict protesters occupying the prime minister's official compound despite a state of emergency giving him the power to do so.

Thailand faces public sector strikes as protest continues (2008-09-02)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai public sector trade unions called for strikes on Wednesday, a day after the embattled prime minister imposed emergency rule in the capital and ordered the army to end months of anti-government protests.

Murdoch yearns to buy New York Times: report (2008-09-02)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch yearns to buy the New York Times and toyed with acquiring a sizable minority stake in Bloomberg News, Vanity Fair's Michael Wolff reports in an October 2008 article.

Two Malibu men charged with attacking paparazzo (2008-09-02)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Officials on Tuesday said they charged two Malibu men for attacking a paparazzo who was snapping pictures of actor Matthew McConaughey as he was surfing in the Pacific Ocean in June.

Home builder shares up on valuation, broad rally (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of home builders surged on Tuesday, outpacing a broad-based rally as investors decided builder stock prices could not fall much further.

Toronto film festival set to kick off Oscar season (2008-09-02)
TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto film festival will provide the unofficial kick start to Oscar season this week, with distributors keen to give an early look at possible awards contenders and perhaps uncover this year's sleeper hit.

Child stars big business in Hollywood (2008-09-02)
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Tom Waits leads fight against ticket scalpers (2008-09-02)
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NY court backs recognition of same-sex marriages (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York officials should recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries where they are legal, even though New York State does not allow gay marriage, a state court judge ruled on Tuesday.

Storms swirl in Atlantic, floods hit Haiti (2008-09-02)
NASSAU (Reuters) - Heavy rains flooded a Haitian town with head-high water on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people, as Tropical Storm Hanna swirled over the Bahamas and took aim at the U.S. southeast.

Oil drops more than $6 as Gustav fades (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices dropped more than $6.50 per barrel on Tuesday, the biggest drop in dollar terms since 1991, as dealers bet the U.S. oil industry would recovery quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

Rice to visit Libya, first such U.S. trip in 55 years (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. diplomat Condoleezza Rice will make a landmark trip to Libya this week, the first by a U.S. secretary of state in more than half a century, the State Department announced on Tuesday.

Google unveils browser, acknowledges debt to Apple (2008-09-02)
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (Reuters) - Google Inc's new browser software is designed to work "invisibly" and will run any application that runs on Apple Inc's Safari Web browser, company officials said on Tuesday.

Spike in teenage suicides no fluke, study finds (2008-09-02)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A troubling one-year spike in youth suicides in the United States reported last year is not a fluke and should be taken seriously, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

American Air flight makes emergency landing (2008-09-02)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An American Airlines passenger jet forced back to Los Angeles International Airport by a blown tire landed safely about two hours later on Tuesday after flying over the Pacific Ocean to burn off excess fuel.

Tiger Woods expecting second child (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Elin Woods, wife of world number one Tiger, is expecting the couple's second child.

U.S. braces for Hanna as it cleans up Gustav (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. emergency officials prepared for a possible East Coast strike by Tropical Storm Hanna even as they worked to restore power and clean up on Tuesday after Hurricane Gustav's assault on Louisiana.

UK's Brown cuts house purchase tax (2008-09-02)
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown cut an unpopular tax on home purchases on Tuesday as part of a package to boost the country's slumping housing market and lift his flagging political fortunes.

Oil drops below $110 as Gustav fades (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil fell below $110 a barrel on Tuesday for the first time since April as traders bet the U.S. oil industry would recover quickly from Hurricane Gustav.

KDB sent offer to Lehman, Korean banks deny role (2008-09-02)
SEOUL (Reuters) - State-controlled Korea Development Bank (KDB) proposed buying 25 percent of U.S. bank Lehman Brothers for up to $5.3 billion, a newspaper reported, but Korean banks rumored to be joining a bid consortium denied they were involved.

Coca-Cola buying Chinese juice maker for $2.3 billion (2008-09-02)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - The Coca-Cola Company said on Wednesday it will buy top Chinese juice maker China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd <1886.HK> for $2.3 billion, or triple its market value, in a deal that expands its presence in China's fast-growing beverage industry.

"Guitar Man" Jerry Reed dies at age 71 (2008-09-02)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer and actor Jerry Reed, known as "The Guitar Man" of country music, has died at the age of 71, ending a career that took him from writing hit songs like "When You're Hot, You're Hot" to major acting roles in Hollywood.

Philadelphia undertakers admit selling corpses (2008-09-02)
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Two former Philadelphia funeral directors on Tuesday admitted to selling cadavers to a ring that cut them up and sold the body parts to hospitals for implants.

U.S. urges probe of journalist's death in Ingushetia (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday urged Russian authorities to investigate the killing of a journalist while in police custody in the turbulent Caucasus region of Ingushetia and to hold to account those responsible.

Cheney to rally U.S. allies in Russia's backyard (2008-09-02)
BAKU (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney was on his way to ex-Soviet Azerbaijan on Wednesday for the first leg of a trip to show that Washington stood by its allies in the region despite Russia's military intervention in Georgia.

Ethan Allen sees profit below Wall Street views (2008-09-02)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Ethan Allen Interiors Inc forecast quarterly profit below current Wall Street views on Tuesday, citing "substantially lower" sales volumes in July and August from a year earlier and its shares fell more than 7 percent in extended trading.

Panama ports strike ends, canal traffic normal (2008-09-02)
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Workers ended a strike at two major ports at opposite ends of the Panama Canal on Tuesday and canal authorities said the day-long walkout did not noticeably disrupt shipping through the waterway.

Google sees new browser displacing desktop software (2008-09-02)
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (Reuters) - Google Inc is challenging Microsoft Corp with its own Web browser that lets users run many applications that once worked only when installed on local PCs, executives said on Tuesday.

Portman makes directorial debut in Venice (2008-09-02)
VENICE (Reuters) - Actress Natalie Portman presented her debut as a director at the Venice film festival on Tuesday with a short movie about a young woman who is dragged along to her grandmother's romantic date.

Huge Canada Arctic ice shelf breaks away: experts (2008-09-02)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - A massive 19-square-mile (55-square-km) ice shelf in Canada's northern Arctic has broken away and is floating in the Arctic Ocean, the latest sign of rapid climate change in the remote region, a team of scientists said on Tuesday.

Oil companies check U.S. facilities in Gustav's wake (2008-09-02)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy companies started checking their oil rigs, refineries and pipelines for damage on Tuesday, a day after Hurricane Gustav slammed the Gulf Coast in the first big threat to U.S. fuel supplies since 2005.

Guns of Honecker up for auction (2008-09-02)
BERLIN (Reuters) - A unique collection of hunting rifles and pistols that once belonged to East German leader Erich Honecker and his top deputies will be auctioned off next month, a German auction house said on Tuesday.

Germany charges three men in bomb plot against U.S (2008-09-02)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's federal prosecutor said on Tuesday it had formally charged two German nationals and one Turk arrested last September and accused of plotting bomb attacks against U.S. installations.

Oil's tumble sparks broad Wall Street rally (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rallied on Tuesday as a slide in oil prices to a five-month low buoyed hopes of a recovery in consumer and business spending, both important pillars of corporate profit growth.

Aid plane crashes in Congo, 17 feared dead (2008-09-02)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - A humanitarian plane carrying 17 passengers and crew that went missing in Democratic Republic of Congo has crashed into a mountain and all aboard are feared dead, the flight contractor said on Tuesday.

Country group Little Big Town returns to majors (2008-09-02)
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Gustav knocks power out to 1.4 million in Louisiana (2008-09-02)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - More than 1.4 million households in Louisiana were without power Tuesday morning as utilities prepared to assess extensive damage from Hurricane Gustav, which slammed the coastline a day earlier, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said.

Police end Russia protest at media killing (2008-09-02)
NAZRAN, Russia (Reuters) - Police in the Russian region of Ingushetia used batons to break up an anti-government protest on Tuesday, a human rights campaigner said, two days after police shot dead an opposition leader.

Bob Hope fans say "thanks" for the memorabilia (2008-09-02)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - His theme song was "Thanks for the Memory," and now Bob Hope fans will get a chance to say their own "thanks" of a charitable kind in an auction of golf mementos and other memorabilia once owned by the comic legend.

Massive Canada Arctic ice shelf breaks away (2008-09-02)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - A huge 19 square mile (55 square km) ice shelf in Canada's northern Arctic broke away last month and the remaining shelves have shrunk at a "massive and disturbing" rate, the latest sign of accelerating climate change in the remote region, scientists said on Tuesday.

Phelps uses Olympic bonus to start foundation (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Michael Phelps will use the $1 million bonus he earned for winning eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing to start a foundation, the American swimmer said on Tuesday.

Rodgers & Hammerstein show tunes catalog for sale (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is in talks to sell its catalog of Broadway musical show tunes and standards to major music companies for between $150 million and $200 million, according to people familiar with the matter.

Google browser takes advantage of Apple software (2008-09-02)
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (Reuters) - Google Inc's new browser software is designed to work "invisibly" and will run any application that runs on Apple Inc's Safari Web browser, company officials said on Tuesday.

States, big cities deserve upgrades: Moody's (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. states and the top 50 local governments likely will get new ratings that are two notches above current levels, on average, as Moody's Investors Service aligns its municipal and corporate ratings, the credit agency said on Tuesday.

Jaguars' Collier in critical condition after shooting (2008-09-02)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier is in critical but stable condition after being shot in the early hours of Tuesday, the NFL team said.

Coca-Cola to buy Chinese juice maker for $2.3 billion (2008-09-02)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - The Coca-Cola Company said on Wednesday it will offer to buy Chinese juice maker China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd <1886.HK> for a total of HK$17.92 billion ($2.30 billion), in a deal that would expand its presence in China's fast-growing beverage industry.

Japan's Aso backed for PM by half of party chapters (2008-09-02)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Hawkish former foreign minister Taro Aso is backed by half of the chapters of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party to succeed outgoing prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Ospraie fund to close after 27 percent August slide (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hedge fund manager Ospraie Management LLC will close its flagship fund after it plunged 27 percent in August on losses in energy, mining and natural resources equity holdings, in one of the biggest ever closures of a commodities-focused hedge fund.

Republicans rally around McCain VP pick Palin (2008-09-02)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - John McCain and his fellow Republicans rallied behind his vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, on Tuesday and his campaign accused Democrat Barack Obama of sexism for questioning her level of experience.

Russia says EU right to avoid sanctions (2008-09-02)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia on Tuesday praised the European Union's "responsible" decision to avoid imposing sanctions on Moscow over its conflict with Georgia, but said the bloc had failed to understand why it had intervened.

Ospraie fund to close after 27 percent August skid (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hedge fund manager Ospraie Management LLC said on Tuesday in a letter to its investors that it plans to close its flagship fund after it plunged 27 percent in August on losses in energy, mining and natural resources holdings.

Commodity and tech shares lead market lower (2008-09-02)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday, as a steep decline in the price of oil and other commodities hammered energy and materials companies while tech shares fell amid jitters a global economic slowdown would crimp technology spending.

HSBC, China bank also interested in Lehman: report (2008-09-02)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Europe's biggest bank HSBC Holdings <0005.HK> and an unidentified Chinese bank are among potential buyers of Lehman Brothers , South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing a financial industry source.

AMB Property to invest $1.8 bln in Japan: report (2008-09-02)
TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. warehouse operator AMB Property Corp will spend more than 200 billion yen ($1.84 billion) over the next four years to expand its distribution facilities in Japan and is considering acquisitions, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

New Orleans prepares for mass return after Gustav (2008-09-02)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Workers mopped up New Orleans after Hurricane Gustav and the historic French Quarter slowly reopened on Tuesday but officials told evacuees to stay away and returning residents were turned back at roadblocks.

Ecuador's Correa has majority before key vote: poll (2008-09-02)
QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorian leftist President Rafael Correa has the majority he needs to win a key September 28 referendum to pass a new constitution that would extend his authority over the Andean nation, a poll showed on Tuesday.

Atomic supplier states urged to hold line on India (2008-09-02)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Nuclear Suppliers Group should stay firm in rejecting a U.S. bid to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India, experts said on Tuesday as an official document underscored gaps between the Americans and the Indians on key aspects of their landmark atomic deal.

ConAgra warns on profit, shares fall (2008-09-02)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - ConAgra Foods warned on Tuesday it would miss its first-quarter earnings forecast after costs for commodities like corn and crude oil eroded profits on sales of cooking oil, Banquet frozen dinners and popcorn, prompting shares to fall more than 4 percent.

Cyprus launches last-ditch reunification talks (2008-09-02)
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Rival leaders of divided Cyprus launch last-ditch reunification talks on Wednesday to end a decades-old conflict threatening Turkey's EU membership hopes.

Eleven dead in Pakistani attack "by U.S. forces" (2008-09-02)
WANA, Pakistan (Reuters) - At least 11 people, including women and children, were killed in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday in an attack a security official and a witness said was carried out by U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

Storms swirl in Atlantic, deadly floods hit Haiti (2008-09-02)
NASSAU (Reuters) - Heavy rains flooded parts of Haiti with head-high water on Tuesday and sent walls of mud down the hillsides, killing at least 25 people as Tropical Storm Hanna swirled over the Bahamas and took aim at the southeastern United States.

New Bochco legal drama breaks cable record (2008-09-02)
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McCain defends Palin selection process (2008-09-02)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain defended picking Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Tuesday as his vice presidential running mate after she admitted that her teenage, unmarried daughter is pregnant.

Cancer telethon a personal quest for producer (2008-09-02)
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"Mummy" director unwraps new "Tarzan" (2008-09-02)
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Singh coasts to Labor Day victory in Boston (2008-09-01)
NORTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Vijay Singh, helped by three monster putts on the back nine, eased to his third PGA Tour title in five weeks with a commanding five-shot victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday.

Hollywood endures summertime blues (2008-09-01)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The lucrative summer moviegoing season in North America ended on a lackluster note on Monday as ticket sales limped to a new record while attendance slumped to a three-year low.

New Orleans levees hold as Hurricane Gustav weakens (2008-09-01)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav slammed ashore on the U.S. Gulf Coast just west of New Orleans on Monday but rebuilt levees appeared to be holding surging floodwaters out of the city devastated by Katrina in 2005.

Russians protest over journalist's shooting (2008-09-01)
NAZRAN, Russia (Reuters) - More than 1,000 people gathered in Russia's troubled Ingushetia region on Monday to protest the death of Magomed Yevloyev, a leading journalist and local opposition leader shot while in police custody.

Betancourt tells Pope of "miracle" in the jungle (2008-09-01)
ROME (Reuters) - Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt hugged Pope Benedict on Monday and told him how she was overcome with emotion when she heard him appeal for her freedom on a radio broadcast during her seven years of captivity in the jungle.

EU to warn Russia on ties: report (2008-09-01)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will warn Russia on Monday that Moscow's future ties with the bloc could depend on its adhering fully to a peace deal to end the Georgia conflict, according to a draft summit statement.

EU warns Russia on ties, but no sanctions for now (2008-09-01)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will warn Russia on Monday that relations could suffer in future if Moscow does not uphold accords to end the Georgia conflict, according to a draft summit statement that shied away from sanctions.

Oil drops $4 as weakened Gustav hits Gulf Coast (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged more than $4 on Monday as concerns that Hurricane Gustav would cause severe damage to the U.S. oil sector eased after the storm weakened before hitting the Louisiana coast.

EU threatens to postpone talks on Russian pact (2008-09-01)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders agreed on Monday to postpone talks with Russia on a new partnership pact scheduled for later this month if Moscow has not withdrawn its troops to pre-conflict positions in Georgia by then.

Hurricane Gustav pounds Louisiana coast (2008-09-01)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav lashed the Louisiana coast on Monday with pounding rain and heavy winds, posing the biggest threat to the New Orleans area since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

South Korea military objectors say don't jail pacifists (2008-09-01)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean Go Gong-ju had a choice of serving in the army or doing a stint in jail. He chose jail and became one of the country's several hundred conscientious objectors locked up each year.

One killed in Bangkok clashes, troops deployed (2008-09-01)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - At least one person was killed and 34 hurt in clashes on Tuesday between government supporters and opponents in Bangkok, the worst violence since a street campaign against Thailand's prime minister began in May.

Canada set for October 14 election: report (2008-09-01)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will as expected this week ask for a dissolution of Parliament and call an election for October 14, the Canadian Press quoted senior government sources as saying late on Monday.

Pumps keeping up with New Oleans flooding: FEMA (2008-09-01)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Waves from Hurricane Gustav caused some flooding over the tops of levees in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, hard-hit during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but city pumps were able to keep up with the flooding, an Army Corps of Engineers official said on Monday.

35 hurt in Thai clashes near occupied PM's office (2008-09-01)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - At least 35 people were hurt in clashes on Tuesday between supporters of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and anti-government protesters in Bangkok, a Health Ministry official said.

Rapper Ludacris blends music, movie personas (2008-09-01)
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U.S. energy sector braces for damage as Gustav hits (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy companies on Monday braced for the worst storm to hit the U.S. oil patch since 2005, but Hurricane Gustav looked unlikely to cause the same damage that hurricanes Katrina and Rita did three years ago.

Fed's response to crisis hurt its key role: Hoenig (2008-09-01)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In aggressively responding to the year-long credit crisis in the United States, the Federal Reserve has threatened its key responsibility of combating inflation, one of its leaders said on Monday.

Canada set for third general election in four years (2008-09-01)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada looked to be heading for its third election in four years on Monday after Prime Minister Stephen Harper failed to persuade the country's main opposition leader to keep his minority Conservative government alive.

Power blackout in Venezuelan capital, oil province (2008-09-01)
CARACAS (Reuters) - A power blackout hit major parts of Venezuela on Monday, including the capital and an oil-producing province, darkening buildings, knocking out traffic lights and disrupting plane and train journeys.

Storm Ike, 9th of season, forms in Atlantic (2008-09-01)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The ninth tropical storm of a busy Atlantic hurricane season, Ike, formed on Monday midway between Africa and the Caribbean, just as Hurricane Gustav pounded New Orleans and Hurricane Hanna neared the Bahamas.

Japan begins search for new prime minister, again (2008-09-01)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan began searching for a new prime minister on Tuesday after Yasuo Fukuda became the second leader to resign in less than a year, threatening a further policy vacuum as the economy teeters on the brink of recession.

Venus sets up likely Williams sisters quarter-final (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Seventh seed Venus Williams set up a potential quarter-final against her sister Serena at the U.S. Open after she eased past Polish ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 6-3 on Monday.

Fingers crossed in U.S. oil sector as hurricane hits (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy companies watched anxiously on Monday as Hurricane Gustav lurched across the nation's largest concentration of oil platforms and refineries in the biggest threat to fuel supplies since 2005.

Brazil's Lula faces new scandal over phone taps (2008-09-01)
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Opposition leaders demanded an inquiry on Monday into a report that Brazil's intelligence agency spied on the Supreme Court chief and members of Congress, in the latest scandal to hit President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government.

Oil drops $4 as weakened Gustav hits U.S. Gulf Coast (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged more than $4 on Monday as concerns that Hurricane Gustav would cause lasting damage to the U.S. oil sector eased after the storm weakened before hitting the Louisiana coast.

Storm Ike forms, seen growing into hurricane (2008-09-01)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Ike, the ninth of a busy Atlantic hurricane season, formed on Monday midway between Africa and the Caribbean and was expected to grow rapidly into a hurricane that could threaten the United States or the Caribbean.

Venice critics praise film on Brazilian Indians (2008-09-01)
VENICE (Reuters) - A new Italian film brings to the screen the clash between Amazon Indians and wealthy Brazilian ranchers, exploring the collision of two worlds against a backdrop of land disputes, shrinking forests and poverty.

Oil drops $4 as Gustav weakens off US Gulf Coast (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged more than $4 on Monday as concerns that Hurricane Gustav would cause severe damage to the U.S. oil sector eased as the storm weakened off the Louisiana coast.

Humanitarian aircraft goes missing in Congo: U.N (2008-09-01)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - A humanitarian plane went missing during a storm in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, U.N. humanitarian coordinator OCHA said.

Gustav weakens to tropical storm, seen dissipating (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav weakened to a tropical storm and was expected to slow further and lose energy over the next day as it moves across Louisiana and into Texas, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Monday.

Venus storms through to Serena showdown (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Seventh seed Venus Williams set up a quarter-final against her sister Serena at the U.S. Open after she eased past Polish ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 6-3 on Monday.

Oil extends fall as Gustav concerns ebb further (2008-09-01)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil extended losses on Tuesday after a steep $4 plunge a day ago on speculation that a surprisingly weak Hurricane Gustav likely spared key Gulf oil infrastructure.

Christian star Tomlin brings church hits to radio (2008-09-01)
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Japan searches for a new prime minister, again (2008-09-01)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan began searching for a new prime minister on Tuesday after Yasuo Fukuda became the second leader to abruptly resign in less than a year, threatening a further policy vacuum as the economy teeters on the brink of recession.

U.S. natgas futures tumble 5 percent as Gustav weakens (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures fell more than 5 percent in electronic trading on Monday as Hurricane Gustav weakened to a Category 2 storm.

Commerzbank to axe 9,000 jobs in Dresdner takeover (2008-09-01)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commerzbank plans to cut almost 2 billion euros ($3 billion) in costs by slashing 9,000 jobs and shrinking investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort after buying Dresdner Bank, but investors appeared unconvinced by the deal.

Former Neighbours star Jason Donovan plans new album (2008-09-01)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian singer Jason Donovan, who made his name alongside Kylie Minogue in the soap opera "Neighbours," is to release his first album in 15 years after a roller-coaster career.

Fingers crossed in U.S. oil sector as storm passes (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy companies waited anxiously on Monday as Hurricane Gustav lurched across the nation's largest concentration of oil platforms and refineries in the biggest threat to fuel supplies since 2005.

Gustav overshadows Republicans' show (2008-09-01)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Republicans open their convention on Monday to nominate presidential candidate John McCain with no pomp and little politics, shelving the usual celebration out of deference to the approaching threat of Hurricane Gustav.

U.S. crude futures slide below $111 on weaker Gustav (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures tumbled more than 4 percent to trade below $111 a barrel in electronic trading Monday amid expectations Hurricane Gustav would be less damaging than feared.

Pumps keeping up with New Orleans flooding: FEMA (2008-09-01)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Waves from Hurricane Gustav caused some flooding over the tops of levees in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, hard-hit during Hurricane Katrina three years ago, but city pumps were able to keep up with the flow, an Army Corps of Engineers official said on Monday.

Japan PM Fukuda quits over parliament deadlock (2008-09-01)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Unpopular Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda resigned on Monday in an effort to break a political deadlock, becoming the second Japanese leader to resign abruptly in less than a year.

Russian police in standoff over journalist's death (2008-09-01)
NAZRAN, Russia (Reuters) - Police in Russia's troubled Ingushetia region were in a standoff on Monday with protesters angered by the death of a leading opposition journalist who was shot in the head while in police custody.

Gustav seen as less costly than Katrina for insurers (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav, which came ashore southwest of New Orleans on Monday morning, is expected to trigger significant insurance claims but far less than record-setting Katrina did three years ago.

Hurricane Hanna forms in Atlantic (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Hanna formed near the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, as powerful Hurricane Gustav battered New Orleans and the U.S. Gulf Coast and a new tropical depression formed between Africa and the Leeward Islands.

More volatility seen with hurricane (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street is set for another volatile week after the Labor Day holiday, as investors track Hurricane Gustav, the price of oil, key economic data and continued fallout from the credit crisis.

Rookie Panamanian singer flexing his power (2008-09-01)
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Atlantic storm season picks up pace, new hurricane (2008-09-01)
NASSAU (Reuters) - A busy Atlantic hurricane season moved into top gear on Monday when Hurricane Hanna developed near the Bahamas just as Gustav's winds and surge lashed New Orleans and the newly formed ninth storm of the year looked set to eventually threaten the United States or Caribbean.

Commerzbank to axe 9,000 jobs in Dresdner takeover (2008-09-01)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commerzbank outlined its plans to cut 9,000 jobs and shrink investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort to a rump after buying Dresdner Bank, but investors were unhappy about the $14.5 billion deal.

U.S. hands over former Iraqi insurgent flashpoint (2008-09-01)
RAMADI, Iraq (Reuters) - The U.S. military handed over Iraq's western Anbar province to Iraqi security forces on Monday, less than two years after the region was all but lost to a Sunni Arab insurgency.

Japan PM Fukuda resigns over deadlock (2008-09-01)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Unpopular Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda resigned on Monday in an effort to break a political deadlock, becoming the second Japanese leader to resign abruptly in less than a year.

Weakened Hurricane Gustav hits U.S. Gulf coast (2008-09-01)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav roared ashore on the U.S. Gulf coast on Monday, lashing New Orleans with strong winds and heavy rain but sparing the city devastated by 2005's Hurricane Katrina its full force.

Gulf oil fields idled ahead of Gustav (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. energy companies shut nearly all offshore Gulf oil and gas production and raced to bring down flood-prone Louisiana refineries on Sunday ahead of Hurricane Gustav, which threatens to rival the wrath of 2005's Katrina.

China corruption convictions abroad a warning: media (2008-09-01)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The convictions of two former Bank of China managers and their wives for money laundering and racketeering in the United States will send a warning signal to Chinese officials on the risks of corruption, state media said.

KDB confirms talks with Lehman on possible deal (2008-09-01)
SEOUL (Reuters) - State-owned Korea Development Bank (KDB) confirmed on Tuesday that it was in talks with Lehman Brothers for a possible investment in the troubled U.S. bank, but other reports said the price of the deal remained an issue.

Dollar heading in right direction: Juncker (2008-09-01)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The head of the Eurogroup of countries that share the euro currency on Monday welcomed the recent recovery of the value of the U.S. dollar but said the euro remained undervalued.

Open-Williams sisters set up clash, Nadal tested (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Williams sisters will hold another family reunion on centre court at the U.S. Open after registering wins on Monday that set up a tiebreaking, sibling clash in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

Vivendi keeps 2008 outlook, no need for cash call (2008-09-01)
PARIS (Reuters) - Vivendi , armed with a fresh contract with The Rolling Stones and its new Activision Blizzard gaming venture, kept its 2008 profit goal as it posted a rise in second-quarter underlying earnings.

Canadian industrialist Thomas Bata dies (2008-09-01)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Thomas Bata, the Czech-born industrialist who headed the global shoe empire bearing his family's name from the 1940s to the 1980s, has died in Toronto, aged 93, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported on Monday.

Singh cruises to victory by five shots in Boston (2008-09-01)
NORTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Vijay Singh, helped by three long putts on the back nine, clinched his third PGA Tour title in five weeks with a commanding five-shot victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday.

Sterling tumbles; oil slides as Gustav weakens (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Financial markets began the month in a volatile mood on Monday as gloom about Britain's economic downturn knocked sterling to a 12-year low and oil tumbled 4 percent on the day as Hurricane Gustav lost some of its power.

Cyprus launches historic talks for peace deal (2008-09-01)
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cyprus leaders launch talks on September 3 to reunite the divided island in what diplomats say is the best chance in decades to end a conflict threatening Turkey's European Union aspirations.

Mexico's makeshift coal pits try to boost output (2008-09-01)
NUEVA ROSITA, Mexico (Reuters) - A steel bucket holding two men lowers into a pit, suspended on a cable wound by an old truck engine.

Williams sisters set up clash, Nadal tested (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Williams sisters will hold another family reunion on centre court at the U.S. Open after registering wins on Monday that set up a tiebreaking, sibling clash in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

Commerzbank to shrink Kleinwort, focus on Germany (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - One of the most famous names in merchant banking is set to go along with up to 2,000 investment banking jobs as Germany's Commerzbank retrenches Dresdner Kleinwort as part of its takeover of Dresdner Bank.

Bare-breasted virgins compete for Swaziland king (2008-09-01)
LUDZIDZINI ROYAL VILLAGE, Swaziland (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of bare-breasted virgins competed for Swaziland King Mswati III's eye on Monday in a traditional Reed Dance.

Canada will have election, opposition leader says (2008-09-01)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - The head of Canada's main opposition party, speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said on Monday that there would be a general election.

Palin rebuts rumors, says daughter pregnant (2008-09-01)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - The 17-year-old unmarried daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said on Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child.

Thai soldiers deployed after Bangkok clashes (2008-09-01)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - At least one person was killed and 34 hurt, four critically, in clashes on Tuesday between pro- and anti-government demonstrators in Bangkok, a Thai health ministry official said.

Pumps keeping up with New Orleans flooding: official (2008-09-01)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Waves from Hurricane Gustav caused some flooding over the tops of levees in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, hard-hit during Hurricane Katrina three years ago, but city pumps were clearing the floodwaters, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Monday.

Humanitarian aircraft goes missing in Congo: U.N. (2008-09-01)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - A humanitarian plane went missing during a storm in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, U.N. humanitarian coordinator OCHA said.

Oil drops $4 as weakened Gustav hits Gulf Coast (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged more than $4 on Monday as concerns that Hurricane Gustav would cause lasting damage to the U.S. oil sector eased after the storm weakened before hitting the Louisiana coast.

Gustav fears ease; sterling and stocks fall (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Financial markets began the month in a volatile mood on Monday with economic fear driving equities lower and gloom about Britain's downturn knocking sterling to a 12-year low.

Gustav fears ease; sterling and global stocks fall (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Financial markets began the month in a volatile mood on Monday with economic fear driving equities lower and gloom about Britain's downturn knocking sterling to a 12-year low.

Expensive ads sell few prescription drugs: study (2008-09-01)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Expensive advertising of prescription drugs directly to consumers may do little to encourage sales, U.S. and Canadian researchers reported on Monday.

Gustav seen less costly than Katrina for insurers (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav, which came ashore southwest of New Orleans on Monday morning, is expected to trigger significant insurance claims but far less than record-setting Katrina did three years ago.

Google plans to launch web browser: report (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc plans to launch a web browser called Google Chrome in a challenge to Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Monday.

Google set to introduce its own Web browser (2008-09-01)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc is set to introduce on Tuesday a new Web browser designed to more quickly handle video-rich applications, posing a challenge to browsers designed originally to handle text and graphics.

A "Summer" to remember for Kid Rock (2008-09-01)
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To rebut rumors, Palin says daughter, 17, pregnant (2008-09-01)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - The 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said on Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child.

Energy sector braces for damage as Gustav hits (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy companies on Monday braced for the worst storm to hit the U.S. oil patch since 2005, but Hurricane Gustav looked unlikely to cause the same damage that hurricanes Katrina and Rita did three years ago.

US oil futures fall to new lows as Gustav weakens (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell as much as $3.51 to a session low of $111.95 per barrel in electronic trading Monday as Hurricane Gustav weakened to a Category 2 storm before making landfall in Louisiana.

U.S. energy sector braces for impact as Gustav hits (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. energy companies on Monday braced for the first major test of their hurricane defenses since the devastating summer of 2005 as Hurricane Gustav churned through the energy-rich Gulf of Mexico toward the Louisiana coast.

Gustav overshadows McCain's convention show (2008-09-01)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Republicans shifted from politics to storm relief on the opening day of their convention on Monday, shelving the usual glitter and celebration out of deference to Hurricane Gustav.

Thai PM imposes emergency rule after street battle (2008-09-01)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej declared a state of emergency in Bangkok on Tuesday and gave the army control of public order after overnight clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters.

Oil drops $4 as weakened Gustav hits U.S. Gulf Coast (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil plunged more than $4 on Monday as concerns that Hurricane Gustav would cause severe damage to the U.S. oil sector eased after the storm weakened before hitting the Louisiana coast.

22 hurt in Thai clashes near occupied PM's office (2008-09-01)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - At least 22 people were hurt in clashes on Tuesday between supporters of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and anti-government protesters in Bangkok, a Health Ministry official said.

Violence pins down thousands of rural Colombians (2008-09-01)
BOGOTA (Reuters) - More than 4,400 Colombians were driven from their rural communities or pinned down in their homes on Monday by gunfights among leftist rebels, other armed groups and state security forces, the Red Cross said.

Four killed in suspected Colombian rebel car bomb (2008-09-01)
BOGOTA (Reuters) - At least four people were killed and around 20 more wounded by a car bomb in the Colombian city of Cali in one of the worst urban attacks this year, authorities said on Monday.

Oil rises on storm fears as tech shares plummet (2008-09-01)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Oil rose above $116 a barrel on Monday, as a quarter of U.S. crude production was shuttered because of Hurricane Gustav, while Asian stocks were stung by slumping technology shares.

Pakistan presidential race a 3-way tussle (2008-09-01)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's presidential election next week will be a three-way tussle between the country's main parties after the Election Commission on Saturday issued a final list of candidates.

EU struggles for unity on Russia (2008-09-01)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU leaders meet in an extraordinary session on Monday to try to unite behind a strong response to Russia's actions in Georgia, but Moscow warned it would hit back at any threat to its interests at home or abroad.

Gustav clouds Republicans' show (2008-09-01)
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Republicans open their convention on Monday to nominate presidential candidate John McCain with no pomp and little politics, shelving the usual celebration out of deference to the approaching threat of Hurricane Gustav.

Commerzbank to axe 9,000 jobs in Dresdner takeover (2008-09-01)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commerzbank aims to cut almost 2 billion euros ($2.95 billion) in costs by slashing 9,000 jobs and paring laggard investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort after swooping in to buy Dresdner Bank, it said on Monday.

Commerzbank to buy Dresdner for $14.5 billion (2008-09-01)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commerzbank aims to cut almost 2 billion euros ($2.95 billion) in costs by slashing 9,000 jobs and paring laggard investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort after swooping in to buy Dresdner Bank, it said on Monday.

Goldman Sachs gets nod for Indian mutual fund unit (2008-09-01)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs said it has regulatory approval to launch mutual funds in India, Asia's third-largest economy, joining the likes of AIG , JPMorgan and South Korea's Mirae Asset who have started operations in the past 18 months.

Storm Hanna keeps experts guessing (2008-09-01)
MIAMI (Reuters) - While powerful Hurricane Gustav bore down on the U.S. Gulf Coast on Sunday, Tropical Storm Hanna swirled east of Florida, embedded in a complicated climatic environment that made it impossible to forecast its destination and likely strength.

Afghans protest in Kabul over civilian deaths (2008-09-01)
KABUL (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters blocked a road in Kabul on Monday accusing U.S.-led troops of killing three members of a family, including two children, in a raid in the city, residents and witnesses said.

Oil up on storm fears as Asia stocks slump (2008-09-01)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Oil rose above $116 a barrel on Monday, as a quarter of U.S. crude production was shuttered because of Hurricane Gustav, while Asian stocks were slammed by slumping technology shares.

Japan PM Fukuda announces resignation (2008-09-01)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced on Monday he was resigning.

HSBC says super-rich clients moving into cash (2008-09-01)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Many of the world's wealthiest people have moved their money out of stocks and bonds and into cash, the head of HSBC's Swiss private banking unit said on Monday.

MTV Networks to launch international HD channel (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Viacom Inc's MTV Networks International will launch its first high definition cable channel outside the United States this month, with more in Europe and Latin America by the end of the year, as it tempers its growth plan with stricter cost controls.

UK downturn could help fuel terrorism: memo (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - A economic downturn in Britain could aggravate racial tensions and grievances that help to feed terrorist recruitment, according to a leaked government document.

Army helps as desperation mounts in flood-hit India (2008-09-01)
PATNA, India (Reuters) - The Indian army and navy stepped up efforts on Monday to rescue hundreds of thousands of people marooned by floods and facing severe shortages of food in the east of the country.

Georgia crisis defines new Russian defense policy (2008-09-01)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's decision to send troops to Georgia has set a new standard by which Moscow will defend its national interests, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.

Iran says has not bought Russian missiles (2008-09-01)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran denied on Monday it had bought Russia's advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, after Israeli defense sources said the Islamic Republic could take delivery of the weapons by the end of the year.

Philippine army limits aid workers in violent south (2008-09-01)
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine troops have restricted aid workers from visiting conflict zones in the south to distribute relief supplies to nearly 450,000 displaced people, the military and aid workers said on Monday.

Hedge fund Atticus loses more than $5 billion: source (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. activist hedge fund Atticus Capital has lost more than $5 billion this year, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, after its funds were hit by heavy falls in financial stocks.

Oil up on storm fears as stocks down on tech (2008-09-01)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Oil rose above $116 a barrel on Monday, as a quarter of U.S. crude production was shuttered because of Hurricane Gustav, while Asian stocks were stung by the technology sector, which anticipated slower global demand.

Doubts persist as Iraq takes over U.S.-backed patrols (2008-09-01)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States will begin handing over control to the Iraqi government in October of largely Sunni Muslim local guard units credited with helping contain bloodshed across Iraq.

Lehman in talks with KDB to raise $6 billion: report (2008-09-01)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings has "intensified" talks with Korea Development Bank (KDB) to raise as much as $6 billion in a share sale that could be concluded this week, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Hollywood star Jude Law calls for Afghan peace (2008-09-01)
KABUL (Reuters) - Militants, foreign forces and the government in Afghanistan should give up their arms for one day as the first step towards peace, Hollywood superstar Jude Law said on Monday.

China quake kills 38 and damages quarter million homes (2008-09-01)
BEIJING (Reuters) - An earthquake that hit China's southwest killed 38 people, Xinhua news agency said on Monday, two days after the most recent in a series of tremors to hit the region.

Films flounder as Venice festival hits halfway (2008-09-01)
VENICE (Reuters) - Blame it on the Hollywood writers' strike, the weak economy, or just plain bad luck.

Dalai Lama leaves hospital with a smile (2008-09-01)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama left hospital in Mumbai on Monday morning after being treated for abdominal pain.

Oil falls as Gustav shows no sign of strengthening (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell on Monday as Hurricane Gustav showed no signs of picking up more strength as it barrelled toward the Louisiana coast after forcing the shutdown of nine refineries and nearly all U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil production.

Bangkok bomb raises fears of violent campaign (2008-09-01)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A small bomb exploded in a Bangkok police booth in the small hours of Monday as a stand-off between the Prime Minister and protesters occupying his office entered its seventh day with no sign of either side backing down.

Weather data to help monitoring for nuclear tests (2008-09-01)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Weather data will help scan for nuclear tests and explosions under a tracking system unveiled on Monday by the U.N. weather agency and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO).

NATO says 3 Afghan children killed, anger mounts (2008-09-01)
KABUL (Reuters) - NATO-led forces said on Monday that foreign forces had accidentally killed three children in southeast Afghanistan, a toll that fuelled mounting anger over civilian casualties.

U.S. says 220 Taliban killed in Afghanistan's south (2008-09-01)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S.-led coalition and Afghan troops killed more than 220 suspected Taliban militants in an operation in southern Afghanistan last week, the U.S. military said on Monday, the biggest recent toll of insurgent deaths.

U.S. to hand over former Iraqi insurgent flashpoint (2008-09-01)
RAMADI, Iraq (Reuters) - The U.S. military handed over Iraq's western Anbar province to Iraqi security forces on Monday, less than two years after the region was all but lost to a Sunni Arab insurgency.

Downturns and blowdowns rattle investors (2008-09-01)
LONDON (Reuters) - Financial markets began the month pressured on all sides on Monday with Hurricane Gustav lifting the price of oil, economic fear driving equities lower and gloom about Britain's downturn knocking sterling to a 12-year low.

Army helps in India as South Asia reels under floods (2008-09-01)
PATNA, India (Reuters) - The Indian army and navy stepped up efforts on Monday to rescue hundreds of thousands of people marooned by floods, while rising river levels also rang alarm bells in neighboring Bangladesh.

Nadal shoots down young challenger to reach quarters (2008-09-01)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal, in his first grand slam as the number one target, took his turn at shooting down one of the big-hitting young guns at the U.S. Open on Monday to ride into the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

Storm humor on signs in evacuated New Orleans (2008-09-01)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - As Hurricane Gustav blew through nearly deserted streets in New Orleans on Monday, messages left by fleeing residents on the shuttered homes bore silent testimony to the city's sense of humor.

EU struggles for unity on Russia (2008-09-01)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union countries faced a struggle to keep a united front on Russia at an emergency summit on Monday, with splits emerging over whether to punish Moscow for its intervention in Georgia.

Gustav, Palin steal McCain's Republican show (2008-09-01)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republicans opened their convention on Monday in a somber mood, with Hurricane Gustav's assault and Sarah Palin's announcement of the pregnancy of her unmarried teenage daughter overshadowing John McCain's show.

Australians load up on AC/DC albums (2008-09-01)
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Hurricane Gustav tests New Orleans levees (2008-09-01)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav barged ashore on the U.S. Gulf Coast just west of New Orleans on Monday, hammering the city devastated by Katrina in 2005 with surging floodwaters that threatened its rebuilt levees.

Lula suspends Brazil spy chiefs over phone taps (2008-09-01)
BRASILIA (Reuters) - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suspended the entire leadership of Brazil's intelligence agency on Monday after it was accused of spying on the Supreme Court chief and members of Congress.

Inspired Singh coasts to Labor Day victory (2008-09-01)
NORTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Vijay Singh, helped by three monster birdie putts, eased to his third PGA Tour title in five weeks with a commanding five-shot victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday.

France and Italy urge dialogue with Russia (2008-09-01)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU heavyweights France and Italy insisted on Monday the bloc should not take steps to isolate Russia, hours before an emergency summit due to issue a tough verbal condemnation of its actions in Georgia.

Chevron: Storm damage checks will take couple of days (2008-09-01)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Chevron Corp said Monday checks for damage at offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico will take a "couple of days" once the bulk of Hurricane Gustav passes on shore.

Wagner offspring win epic family battle for opera (2008-09-01)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Two great-granddaughters of composer Richard Wagner will take control of Germany's Wagner opera festival after winning an epic family power struggle.

New Orleans evacuates for "big, ugly storm" (2008-08-31)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Thousands of people in New Orleans and across the U.S. Gulf Coast fled their homes on Sunday as Hurricane Gustav barreled through the Gulf of Mexico packing a punch potentially as powerful as Hurricane Katrina.

Russia warns it will respond to "aggression" (2008-08-31)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia does not want confrontation with the West but will hit back if attacked, Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday, a day before EU leaders meet to draft a response to Moscow's actions in Georgia.

China court sentences police killer to death (2008-08-31)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A Chinese court sentenced a man to death on Monday for stabbing to death six police officers in a case that spurred controversy over police treatment of suspects.

Oil gains over $1 as Gustav shuts U.S. output (2008-08-31)
PERTH (Reuters) - Oil prices rose more than $1 on Monday after energy firms in the U.S. Gulf shut down nearly all offshore oil output and a host of flood-prone coastal refineries ahead of Hurricane Gustav, the biggest threat since 2005's devastating Katrina.

Gulf oil fields, refineries idled ahead of Gustav (2008-08-31)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. energy companies shut nearly all offshore Gulf oil and gas production and raced to bring down flood-prone Louisiana refineries on Sunday ahead of Hurricane Gustav, which threatens to rival the wrath of 2005's Katrina.

Olmert urges Abbas to reach peace deal this year (2008-08-31)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas failed on Sunday to achieve a breakthrough in talks on a document to present to Washington before Olmert's party names his successor next month.

"Duchess" a disappointing showcase for Knightley (2008-08-31)
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Allianz says sells Dresdner Bank to Commerzbank (2008-08-31)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Allianz SE says Allianz sells Dresdner Bank to Commerzbank and will become the largest

Reality TV show stirs business spirit in Afghanistan (2008-08-31)
KABUL (Reuters) - A reality TV show broadcast in Afghanistan has encouraged Afghans to start their own enterprises, stirring entrepreneurial spirits in a country that has been ravaged by three decades of war.

Oil tops $117 as hurricane shuts Gulf production (2008-08-31)
PERTH (Reuters) - Oil rose nearly $2 to over $117 on Monday as U.S. energy companies raced to shut down offshore oil production and flood-prone refineries in the Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Gustav, which is evoking memories of 2005's devastating Hurricane Katrina.

"Babylon A.D." a futuristic mess (2008-08-31)
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A ray of hope for Algeria's crumbling Casbah? (2008-08-31)
ALGIERS (Reuters) - From cutlass and canon to earthquake and flood, powerful forces have long done damage to the Algiers Casbah, fabled bastion of Barbary pirates who plied the Mediterranean for centuries in defiance of European power.

Fail grade for "College" calamity (2008-08-31)
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Banks shift funds out of U.S. to Europe: BIS (2008-08-31)
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Banks transferred funds out of the United States and into Europe in the first three months of 2008 as they turned to safer assets amid the global credit crunch, the Bank for International Settlements said.

Gustav holdouts turn to guns, knives and God (2008-08-31)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - If the floodwaters rise and trap him in his home by the Mississippi River levee, carpenter Juan LeBoeuf plans to bust out through the roof with a knife.

Nearly two million flee Hurricane Gustav (2008-08-31)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Nearly two million people fled the Louisiana coast on Sunday as Hurricane Gustav moved within hours of striking land, possibly with a weaker punch than 2005's devastating Hurricane Katrina.

Gustav disrupts McCain's Republican convention (2008-08-31)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain on Sunday ordered political speeches canceled for his Republican nominating convention on Monday to avoid a festive atmosphere while Americans cope with Hurricane Gustav.

Gulf oil output at a trickle ahead of Gustav (2008-08-31)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. energy companies shut nearly all offshore oil production and were racing to bring down flood-prone Louisiana refineries on Sunday ahead of Hurricane Gustav's landfall, which could rival the wrath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Russia warns will respond to "aggression" (2008-08-31)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia does not want confrontation with the West but will hit back if attacked, Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday, a day before EU leaders meet to draft a response to Moscow's actions in Georgia.

U.S. Gulf oil output at a trickle ahead of Gustav (2008-08-31)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. energy companies shut nearly all offshore oil production and were racing to bring down flood-prone Louisiana refineries on Sunday ahead of Hurricane Gustav's landfall, which could rival the wrath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Alitalia faces key union talks as rescue takes off (2008-08-31)
MILAN (Reuters) - Alitalia's unions will hold talks with the government on Monday on a rescue plan for the airline and on job losses -- which a minister said could be under 5,000 -- after it sought bankruptcy protection on Friday.

Cubans pick up pieces amid Gustav destruction (2008-08-31)
PASO QUEMADO, Cuba (Reuters) - Her pigs and some government help will be her salvation, Evangelina Torres said on Sunday as she looked up from her living room at the open sky that is her new roof.

Commerzbank to buy Dresdner, axe 9,000 jobs (2008-08-31)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commerzbank agreed to buy Dresdner Bank from Allianz on Sunday in a $14.5 billion all-German deal that will break the country's banking mould and cost 9,000 jobs.

New Orleans evacuates for "big, ugly storm" (2008-08-31)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people in New Orleans and the U.S. Gulf Coast fled their homes on Sunday as Hurricane Gustav moved within 24 hours of striking land, possibly with a weaker punch than 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Chinese official says no need to speed renminbi rise (2008-08-31)
LONDON (Reuters) - China need not accelerate the appreciation of its renminbi currency against the US dollar, the Financial Times quoted a senior Chinese economic policy-maker as saying.

Diplomat's killers are extremists: Sudan (2008-08-31)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Five Sudanese men accused of murdering a U.S. aid worker are religious extremists who plotted to attack foreigners at New Year's Eve gatherings, Sudanese prosecutors told a court on Sunday.

Gustav forces Bush and Cheney to miss Republican bash (2008-08-31)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Republican John McCain's nominating convention suffered its first casualties from Hurricane Gustav on Sunday -- both President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney will be unable to attend.

Six dead after PKK attack on Turkish military base (2008-08-31)
TUNCELI, Turkey (Reuters) - Four Turkish security personnel and two Kurdish separatists were killed early on Sunday after rebels launched a rocket attack on a military station in eastern Turkey, a security source told Reuters.

Allianz and Commerzbank poised for Dresdner deal (2008-08-31)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Management at Allianz SE and Commerzbank AG sought approval from their supervisory boards on Sunday to sell control of the insurer's Dresdner Bank to Commerzbank.

China lays to rest Mao's chosen successor Hua Guofeng (2008-08-31)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China laid to rest on Sunday Hua Guofeng, one of the last of the old guard from the Mao era who had been hand-picked by a dying Mao Zedong to succeed him as Communist Party chairman.

Allianz to sell Dresdner to Commerzbank: sources (2008-08-31)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Allianz will sell its banking unit Dresdner to Commerzbank in a two-stage transaction that values the bank at 9.8 billion euros ($14.45 billion), sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Sunday.

Israel and Palestinians seek quick "understandings" (2008-08-31)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will try to draw up a preliminary document of understandings within two weeks, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

Hurricane Gustav weakens in Gulf of Mexico (2008-08-31)
WASHINGTON/MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav weakened to a category three storm as it moved through the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico on Sunday after hitting Cuba.

Risk matches reward for urban freerunners (2008-08-31)
LONDON (Reuters) - Yusuf Yirtici is a proud young father who extols the virtues of discipline, hard work and a responsible attitude to risk.

Exxon says 28,000 bpd oil, 180 mmcfd gas shut in Gulf (2008-08-31)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp said 28,000 barrels per day in oil production and 180 million cubic feet per day in natural gas output were shut on Sunday due to Hurricane Gustav.

Government supporters mass in front of Thai parliament (2008-08-31)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - More than 500 government supporters gathered outside Thailand's parliament on Sunday, police said, ahead of a special debate on street protests that have threatened to bring down Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

Thai PM's allies hit street as debate begins (2008-08-31)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - More than 1,000 government supporters marched on Thailand's parliament on Sunday as lawmakers began a special debate on street protests threatening to topple Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

"Sopranos" star Gandolfini weds in Hawaii: report (2008-08-31)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini married his girlfriend in Hawaii on Saturday, People magazine said.

McCain and Palin team up as Gustav looms (2008-08-31)
ST LOUIS (Reuters) - White House hopeful John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin hit the campaign trail as a team on Saturday, seeking to build on the momentum of her surprise addition to the Republican ticket even as Hurricane Gustav threatened to overshadow next week's party convention.

Blake loses to Fish in battle of American friends (2008-08-31)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mardy Fish charged into the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the first time after stunning his friend and ninth seed James Blake 6-3 6-3 7-6 in an all-American clash at the U.S. Open on Saturday.

Hindus call off protest in Indian Kashmir (2008-08-31)
JAMMU, India (Reuters) - Hindus in Indian Kashmir called off their two-month protest after the government allowed them temporary use of land at the centre of a religious row for an annual pilgrimage, officials said on Sunday.

China quake damages more than 100,000 homes, 25 dead (2008-08-31)
BEIJING (Reuters) - An earthquake that hit southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces has killed 25 people, damaged or destroyed more than 100,000 homes and affected at least 440,000 residents, state media said on Sunday.

Zimbabwe's MDC says no agreement reached in talks (2008-08-31)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change said on Sunday the latest round of power-sharing talks that resumed on Friday in South Africa with the ruling ZANU-PF did not reach an agreement.

Trade not aid the answer to poverty, economists say (2008-08-31)
GENEVA (Reuters) - As ministers from over 100 countries gather in Ghana to review how effective aid is in helping developing nations deal with poverty, many economists argue the answer is elsewhere -- in freeing up trade.

Russia's links to West scrutinized after Georgia (2008-08-31)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - European heavyweights Germany and Britain questioned Russia's participation in Western institutions on Sunday, a day before EU leaders meet to decide what action to take over the Kremlin's intervention in Georgia.

Israel and Palestinians seek quick "understandings" (2008-08-31)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will try to draw up a document of understandings with the Palestinians to present to Washington before his party names his successor next month, Israeli officials said on Sunday.

Owner of Russian opposition website killed (2008-08-31)
NAZRAN, Russia (Reuters) - The owner of an opposition Internet news site in Russia's troubled Ingushetia region was shot dead on Sunday after police detained him, his colleagues said.

Three million displaced in India floods (2008-08-31)
PATNA, India (Reuters) - Authorities struggling to provide aid after devastating floods in eastern India said on Sunday they needed more boats and rescuers to help hundreds of thousands of people still marooned in remote villages.

Gustav shutters U.S. refineries, offshore platforms (2008-08-31)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. energy companies rushed to shut down offshore production platforms and flood-prone refineries on Sunday ahead of Hurricane Gustav's strike, which could rival the wrath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

US Gulf oil output at a trickle ahead of Gustav (2008-08-31)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. energy companies shut nearly all offshore oil production and were racing to bring down flood-prone Louisiana refineries on Sunday ahead of Hurricane Gustav's landfall, which could rival the wrath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

"Disaster Movie" less funny than real ones (2008-08-31)
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Hard-up consumers seen seeking solace in gadgets (2008-08-31)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Consumer electronic makers are bracing themselves for slower growth in the second half of this year and in 2009, but count on consumers turning to home entertainment amid tougher economic times and tighter budgets.

Sudanese accused of U.S. killing are extremists:lawyer (2008-08-31)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Five Sudanese men accused of murdering a U.S. aid worker are religious extremists who plotted to attack foreigners at New Year's Eve gatherings, Sudanese prosecutors told a court on Sunday.

"Dark Knight" still No. 1 at foreign box office (2008-08-31)
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Gustav shutters refineries, offshore platforms (2008-08-31)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy companies rushed to shut down offshore production platforms and flood-prone refineries on Sunday ahead of Hurricane Gustav's landfall, which could rival the wrath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Japan's Miyazaki keeps computers out of cartoons (2008-08-31)
VENICE (Reuters) - Revered Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki has no intention of swapping his pencil for computer graphics and will keep hand drawing his films for as long as he can, he said on Sunday.

"Thunder" still No. 1 at North American box office (2008-08-31)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Action film parody "Tropic Thunder" held onto the top spot at the North American box office for a third straight week as the summer moviegoing season drew to a close, Hollywood studios reported on Sunday.

LOOP shuts all operations due to Hurricane Gustav (2008-08-31)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port said it was stopping all operations Sunday morning, including supplying refineries from onshore storage caverns, in order to evacuate employees Sunday afternoon ahead of Hurricane Gustav, a spokeswoman said.

Storm Hanna, off Florida, keeps experts guessing (2008-08-31)
MIAMI (Reuters) - While powerful Hurricane Gustav bore down on the U.S. Gulf Coast on Sunday, Tropical Storm Hanna swirled east of Florida, embedded in a complicated climatic environment that made it impossible to forecast its destination and likely strength.

Zimbabwe's MDC says no accord in power-sharing talks (2008-08-31)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party said on Sunday the latest talks on power-sharing with the ruling ZANU-PF that resumed on Friday in South Africa did not reach agreement.

China quake damages more than 180,000 homes, 27 dead (2008-08-31)
BEIJING (Reuters) - An earthquake that hit southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces has killed 27 people, damaged or destroyed more than 180,000 homes and affected at least 800,000 residents, state media said on Sunday.

Actress Beart, director defend new tsunami film (2008-08-31)
VENICE (Reuters) - French actress Emmanuelle Beart and the Belgian director of her latest movie have defended "Vinyan," amid concerns that the film which opens with the 2004 tsunami may be insensitive to people affected by the tragedy.

Britain pushes for review of EU-Russia relations (2008-08-31)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Britain said on Sunday it would seek a review of the European Union's ties to Russia following Moscow's intervention in Georgia, but Russia said European self-interest would temper the bloc's response.

Commerzbank to buy Dresdner in $15 billion deal (2008-08-31)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commerzbank agreed to buy Dresdner Bank from Allianz on Sunday in an all-German, cost-saving deal that values Dresdner at $15 billion and breaks the country's rigid banking mould.

Russia's Putin saves TV crew from Siberian tiger (2008-08-31)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was feted by Russian media on Sunday for saving a television crew from an attack by a Siberian tiger in the wilds of the Far East.

Cuba licks wounds after Hurricane Gustav (2008-08-31)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav left a swath of devastation across Cuba's western province of Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth, residents and eye-witnesses in the communist-ruled island reported on Sunday.

Gustav shakes up McCain's Republican convention (2008-08-31)
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav shook up Republican John McCain's convention on Sunday -- President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney opted out of attending and Republicans considered shortening the event.

New Orleans Port to shut Sunday afternoon (2008-08-31)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The port of New Orleans said it will shut down at 4 P.M. CDT (5:00 p.m. EDT) on Sunday in preparation for Hurricane Gustav.

Pakistani Taliban vow to strike during Ramadan (2008-08-31)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani Taliban will continue attacks during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, rejecting a government announcement it would halt military action in the northwest, a Taliban spokesman said on Sunday.

Cheney's Georgia trip brings message to Russia (2008-08-31)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney, one of Moscow's harshest critics, will go to Georgia and other former Soviet states this week to reinforce U.S. support for allies in Russia's backyard.

Abbas rejects Olmert's idea of interim peace deal (2008-08-31)
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Abbas told Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at a summit on Sunday he was still committed to a comprehensive peace deal but ruled out any partial agreement, a Palestinian negotiator said.

No pets left behind in New Orleans evacuation (2008-08-31)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Authorities evacuating residents from New Orleans ahead of Hurricane Gustav are making amends with four-legged friends after thousands of pets perished in Hurricane Katrina three years ago.

Commerzbank says pays around 8.8 billion euros for Dresdner (2008-08-31)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - COMMERZBANK AG says pays approximately 8.8 billion euros for Dresdner Bank, around 5 billion euros in expected synergies

McCain suspends most convention activities Monday (2008-08-31)
ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Presidential candidate John McCain ordered most of the Republican convention's activities suspended for Monday, the first day of the gathering, as Hurricane Gustav bears down on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Fail grade for "College"'calamity (2008-08-31)
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Hurricane Gustav strengthens en route to Cuba, gulf (2008-08-30)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Powerful Hurricane Gustav roared toward western Cuba on Saturday with 125 mph (205 kph) winds on its way to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico after a deadly pass through the Caribbean.

Fierce Hurricane Gustav slams Cuba, threatens Gulf (2008-08-30)
HAVANA (Reuters) - A ferociously powerful Hurricane Gustav slammed into western Cuba with 150-mile-per-hour (240 km per hour) winds on Saturday, smashing buildings and flattening fields as it surged toward the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Gaddafi, Berlusconi meet in "friendship pact" (2008-08-30)
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi met in Libya on Saturday to sign a "friendship pact" under which Italy will pay billions of dollars in investments and compensation for its colonial rule of the North African country.

German customs raid Hyundai at Berlin tech fair (2008-08-30)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German customs police raided South Korea's Hyundai IT Corp <048410.KQ> in Berlin on Saturday, seizing flat-screen televisions from its stand at IFA, the world's largest consumer electronics fair.

Gaddafi, Berlusconi sign accord worth billions (2008-08-30)
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi signed an accord on Saturday under which Italy will pay billions of dollars in investments and compensation for its colonial rule of the North African country.

New Orleans mayor orders evacuation (2008-08-30)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on Saturday ordered an evacuation of the city starting early on Sunday to prepare for what he called "the mother of all storms."

Hundreds line up to leave New Orleans before Gustav (2008-08-30)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Thousands of people lined up outside a bus and train terminal early on Saturday to get out of New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav took aim at the Louisiana coast, reviving traumatic memories of Hurricane Katrina.

Pakistan presidential race a 3-way tussle (2008-08-30)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's presidential election next week will be a three-way tussle between the country's main parties after the Election Commission on Saturday issued a final list of candidates.

Gustav lashes Cuba on way to monster storm in Gulf (2008-08-30)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav blasted across Cuba's Isle of Youth and toward the mainland with 150-mph (240-kph) winds and lashing rains on Saturday as forecasters said it could grow into a catastrophic Category 5 storm on its way to the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico.

Thousands march in Mexico against violent crime (2008-08-30)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Thousands of Mexicans marched in the capital on Saturday to protest against a wave of kidnappings and gruesome murders, putting pressure on President Felipe Calderon to meet his promises to crack down on crime.

Over 150,000 march in Mexico against crime (2008-08-30)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - More than 150,000 Mexicans dressed in white marched on Saturday to protest a wave of kidnappings and gruesome murders, putting pressure on President Felipe Calderon to meet his promises to crack down on crime.

Fireworks factory explosion in China kills 13 (2008-08-30)
BEIJING (Reuters) - An explosion at a fireworks factory in northern China's Inner Mongolia region has killed 13 people and injured six, according to state media.

U.S. more prepared for Gustav, than Katrina: FEMA (2008-08-30)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. emergency management agency, harshly criticized for its failures in handling Hurricane Katrina three years ago, said on Saturday it was better prepared for Hurricane Gustav.

China quake kills 22 (2008-08-30)
BEIJING (Reuters) - An earthquake that hit southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, killing 22 people, has damaged or destroyed more than 100,000 homes and affected at least 440,000 residents, state media said on Sunday.

Gustav slams Cuba on way to U.S. Gulf Coast (2008-08-30)
HAVANA (Reuters) - A ferociously powerful Hurricane Gustav slammed into western Cuba with 150-mile-per-hour (240 km per hour) winds on Saturday, smashing buildings and flattening fields as it surged toward the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. Gulf Coast beyond.

ArcelorMittal and USW reach tentative agreement (2008-08-30)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - ArcelorMittal and the United Steelworkers union reached a tentative agreement on Saturday on a new four-year contract that covers 14,000 of the steelmaker's employees.

McCain, Palin team up as Hurricane Gustav looms (2008-08-30)
WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - White House hopeful John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin hit the campaign trail as a team on Saturday, seeking to build on the momentum of her surprise addition to the Republican ticket even as Hurricane Gustav threatened to overshadow next week's party convention.

Hurricane Gustav enters Gulf after slamming Cuba (2008-08-30)
HAVANA (Reuters) - A ferociously powerful Hurricane Gustav roared across western Cuba with 150-mile-per-hour (240 km per hour) winds on Saturday, smashing buildings and flattening fields as it surged toward the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Thousands fleeing New Orleans before Gustav (2008-08-30)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Thousands of people fled New Orleans on Saturday ahead of a likely evacuation order as Hurricane Gustav took aim at the Louisiana coast, reviving traumatic memories of Hurricane Katrina.

Gustav enters Gulf of Mexico after slamming Cuba (2008-08-30)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Ferocious Hurricane Gustav moved into the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico on Saturday where it was expected to strengthen and threaten New Orleans after its 150 mile per hour (240 kph) winds cut a swath of destruction through western Cuba.

Iraq "surge" followed sharp internal debate: report (2008-08-30)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's decision to mount a troop "surge" in Iraq last year was taken against the initial recommendations of his top advisers, including his field commander, The New York Times reported in Sunday editions.

Iraq "surge" followed sharp internal debate - NYT (2008-08-30)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to mount a troop "surge" in Iraq last year was taken against the initial recommendations of his top advisers, including his field commander, The New York Times reported in Sunday editions.

New Orleans ordered evacuated ahead of Gustav (2008-08-30)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered the city's more than 239,000 residents to evacuate on Sunday in the face of powerful Hurricane Gustav, which he called "the mother of all storms."

S.Korea steps up defense of disputed islets (2008-08-30)
ABOARD THE SAMBONG COAST GUARD SHIP (Reuters) - On a South Korean coast guard patrol ship chugging towards desolate islands at the centre of a bitter territorial row with Japan, academics and officials vow to repel any Japanese claim to the lonely outcrops.

Beijing cancels sentence for elderly women (2008-08-30)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Two elderly women have won a reprieve from a sentence to one year in labor camps handed down after they sought permission for a protest during this month's Beijing Olympics, a rights group said.

Hundreds line up to leave New Orleans before Gustav (2008-08-30)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Hundreds of people lined up outside a bus and train terminal early on Saturday to get out of New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav took aim at the Louisiana coast, reviving traumatic memories of Hurricane Katrina.

Gustav strengthens into "major" storm off Cuba (2008-08-30)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav strengthened into a major Category 3 storm on Saturday as it moved over warm Caribbean waters toward western Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Gustav become Category 2 hurricane off Cuba (2008-08-30)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav strengthened into a Category 2 storm on Saturday, as it churned across warm Caribbean waters toward western Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Australian police clear Indian doctor in terrorism case (2008-08-30)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Police in Australia have ended a long-running terrorism investigation into an Indian doctor, clearing him of any criminal offence in relation to a June 2007 attack on Britain's Glasgow airport.

High waters, heavy rain hamper Indian flood relief (2008-08-30)
PATNA, India (Reuters) - Indian authorities, hampered by heavy rain and damaged roads, struggled to provide aid to millions of displaced villagers in the eastern Indian state of Bihar that has seen the worst flooding in 50 years.

Hurricane Gustav strengthens to Category 4 storm (2008-08-30)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav strengthened into a dangerous Category 4 storm on Saturday with winds of 145 miles per hour (230 km per hour) as it surged toward western Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Venus rolls over Bondarenko in straight sets (2008-08-30)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Venus Williams marched into the fourth round of the U.S. Open with a commanding 6-2 6-1 victory over Ukrainian 27th seed Alona Bondarenko on Saturday.

Singer Winehouse falls ill, misses Paris concert (2008-08-30)
LONDON (Reuters) - British soul singer Amy Winehouse pulled out of a Paris concert at short notice on Friday after falling ill at home in London, her spokesman has said.

Pakistan's Zardari, two others, in president race (2008-08-30)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's presidential election next week will be a three-way tussle between the country's main parties after the Election Commission on Saturday issued a final list of candidates.

Taiwan graft probe spans four continent (2008-08-30)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan prosecutors believe the family of former President Chen Shui-bian, under investigation for alleged misuse of state funds, has moved money to 10 other countries or regions, local media reported on Saturday.

Egypt opens border with Gaza for two days (2008-08-30)
GAZA (Reuters) - Egypt opened its border crossing with the Gaza Strip on Saturday, allowing hundreds of people to leave the Hamas-controlled territory, Palestinian officials said.

CORRECTED: Hurricane Gustav blows over Caymans (2008-08-30)
GEORGE TOWN (Reuters) - A strengthening Hurricane Gustav swept over the Cayman Islands on Friday as it headed toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans.

Hurricane Gustav blows over Caymans, heads to Gulf (2008-08-30)
GEORGE TOWN (Reuters) - A strengthening Hurricane Gustav swept over the Cayman Islands on Friday as it headed toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans.

Bombs kill at least 2 Russian soldiers in Chechnya (2008-08-30)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - At least two Russian soldiers have died in bombings in Chechnya, including a suicide attack on an Interior Ministry battalion base, Russian news agencies reported on Saturday.

Explosion rocks Sri Lanka capital Colombo, 35 wounded (2008-08-30)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - At least 35 people were wounded when a bomb exploded in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo's commercial area on Saturday, the military and doctors said.

Magnitude 6.3 quake rattles Papua New Guinea (2008-08-30)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.3 earthquake rattled the island of Papua New Guinea on Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Nearly 40 said killed in fighting in NW Pakistan (2008-08-30)
MINGORA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani forces pounded militant positions in the Swat valley in the northwest on Saturday and a military spokesman said nearly 40 insurgents had been killed in the past 24 hours.

Bomb blast wounds 45 in Sri Lankan capital (2008-08-30)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - At least 45 people were injured when a small bomb exploded in a busy market area in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, officials said.

Victorious Venus says she is at her best (2008-08-30)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Venus Williams declared she was playing the best tennis of her career after demolishing Ukrainian 27th seed Alona Bondarenko 6-2 6-1 in the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday.

Nigerian militants say launch attacks, army denies (2008-08-30)
LAGOS (Reuters) - The main militant group in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta said on Saturday it had launched a series of attacks on the army, killing 29 soldiers, but a military spokesman denied there was any fighting.

Iraq election law must pass mid-Sept for 2008 vote (2008-08-30)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament must pass a contentious elections law by mid-September in order to allow anticipated provincial polls to be held this year, the Electoral Commission said on Saturday.

"I will never resign," says besieged Thai PM (2008-08-30)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Saturday he would not quit in the face of growing protests aimed at toppling his seven-month-old government.

Gustav become Category 3 hurricane off Cuba (2008-08-30)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav strengthened into a major Category 3 storm on Saturday as it moved over warm Caribbean waters toward western Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Gustav becomes Category 3 hurricane off Cuba (2008-08-30)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav strengthened into a major Category 3 storm on Saturday as it moved over warm Caribbean waters toward western Cuba, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Philippines says militant leader arrested in Bahrain (2008-08-30)
MANILA (Reuters) - A founder of an Islamic group blamed for the worst militant attack in the Philippines has been arrested while working at a Philippine embassy in the Middle East, officials said on Saturday.

Powerful Gustav roars toward Cuba, gulf (2008-08-30)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav, now a major storm picking up steam over warm sea waters, roared toward western Cuba on Saturday en route to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico after a deadly pass through the Caribbean.

Hundreds leave Gaza as Egypt opens border (2008-08-30)
GAZA (Reuters) - Egypt opened its border crossing with the Gaza Strip on Saturday, allowing hundreds of people to leave the Hamas-controlled territory, Palestinian officials said.

Documentary shows tough reality of doctors in war (2008-08-30)
VENICE (Reuters) - A new documentary on aid workers in war zones shows the tough choices, dilemmas and limits faced by doctors providing emergency care in extreme conditions.

Afghan child mortality linked to uneducated mothers (2008-08-30)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - High child mortality rates in conservative Afghanistan are linked not just to war but to mothers being uneducated and having little or no say when their children need medical help, a study has found.

Bangladesh's BRAC wins humanitarian prize (2008-08-30)
DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh's BRAC, the largest aid and development organization in the developing world, has won the 2008 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize of $1.5 million.

Southwest China quake kills 22, hurts 126 (2008-08-30)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - An earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces on Saturday, killing 22 people and injuring about 126 as homes in rural villages collapsed, state media reported.

Italy's Berlusconi arrives in Libya to sign pact (2008-08-30)
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived in Libya on Saturday to sign a "friendship pact" under which Italy will pay billions of dollars in compensation for abuses committed during its colonial rule of the North African country.

Zimbabwe power-sharing talks hit snag: state media (2008-08-30)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean power-sharing talks, which resumed in South Africa on Friday, have hit a snag over a proposal for President Robert Mugabe and his opposition rival to jointly chair the cabinet, state media reported on Saturday.

Winehouse falls ill, misses Paris concert (2008-08-30)
LONDON (Reuters) - British soul singer Amy Winehouse pulled out of a Paris concert at short notice on Friday after falling ill at home in London, her spokesman has said.

Strong quake rattles Papua New Guinea (2008-08-30)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.2 earthquake rattled the second largest town in the Pacific islands nation of Papua New Guinea on Saturday, with witnesses saying it lasted several seconds and shook buildings.

Explosion rocks Sri Lanka capital Colombo, wounds 44 (2008-08-30)
COLOMBO (Reuters) - At least 44 people were wounded when a blast hit a busy commercial area in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, officials said.

Hurricane Gustav nears Cuba as Category 4 storm (2008-08-30)
HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav exploded into a dangerously powerful storm with 145 mph (230 kph) winds near western Cuba on its way to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans, which was devastated by a similar storm in 2005.

Georgia says Russia troops blocking refugee return (2008-08-30)
GORI, Georgia (Reuters) - Russian troops deep inside Georgian territory are stopping thousands of refugees from returning to their homes, a Georgian official said on Saturday.

Minister sees Alitalia job losses under 5,000: report (2008-08-30)
MILAN (Reuters) - Layoffs at Alitalia should be less than 5,000, Italy's labor minister Maurizio Sacconi told la Repubblica newspaper in an interview published on Saturday.

Tibetans fast for peace, Dalai Lama still in hospital (2008-08-30)
DHARAMSALA (Reuters) - Thousands of Tibetans in India fasted and prayed for peace in Tibet on Saturday and their leader, the Dalai Lama, participated from his hospital bed in Mumbai.

Frank film looks at daily life in troubled Kashmir (2008-08-30)
VENICE (Reuters) - A new film set in Indian Kashmir seeks to go beyond stereotypes of the troubled region as either the idyllic backdrop to Bollywood movies or the subject of news reports and documentaries into the violence.

Spanair says never planned to switch crashed jet (2008-08-30)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanair said on Saturday it never considered replacing a jet that suffered a technical problem before it crashed on take off last week in Spain, killing 154 people.

Italy, Libya to sign landmark compensation accord (2008-08-30)
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived in Libya on Saturday to sign a "friendship pact" under which Italy will pay billions of dollars in compensation for abuses committed during its colonial rule of the North African country.

Southwest China quake kills 15, scores injured (2008-08-30)
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - An earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan province on Saturday, killing 15 people and injuring nearly a hundred as houses in rural villages collapsed, state media reported.

Nigerian militants say fighting kills more than 30 (2008-08-30)
LAGOS (Reuters) - The main militant group in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta said on Saturday it had launched a series of reprisal attacks against the army, with 29 soldiers and six of its own members killed in the fighting.

McCain's VP pick helps fundraising, draws scorn (2008-08-30)
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - Presidential candidate John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin spent time getting to know each other on Saturday after the Alaska governor's surprise addition to the Republican ticket ignited fund-raising and drew Democratic scorn.

New Orleans evacuation may start early Sunday: mayor (2008-08-30)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - City officials could order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans starting early on Sunday if Hurricane Gustav holds to its current course, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said on Saturday.

Oxygen bottle blamed for Qantas plane explosion (2008-08-29)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian air safety investigators on Friday blamed an oxygen bottle for a mid-air explosion which blew a minivan-size hole in the side of Qantas 747, but said they don't know why the bottle blew up.

Michelin scraps Mexico plant plan due slowdown (2008-08-29)
PARIS (Reuters) - Michelin of France, one of the largest tire makers in the world vying for leadership with Bridgestone <5108.T>, scrapped plans for a second plant in Mexico on Friday due to slow demand in north America.

Doctors say Dalai Lama health not serious (2008-08-29)
DHARAMSALA, India (Reuters) - Doctors looking after the Dalai Lama in India say there is no cause for concern after he was admitted to hospital and Tibet's exiled spiritual leader will take part in a fast for Tibet on Saturday, aides said.

Regulator seeks recall of Simplicity bassinets (2008-08-29)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has asked retailers worldwide to stop selling and recall 900,000 bassinets made by Pennsylvanian company Simplicity Inc, after two infants died due to strangulation.

Futures point to softer Wall Street start (2008-08-29)
LONDON (Reuters) - Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were down 0.2 to 0.3 percent on Friday morning, indicating a softer start on Wall Street ahead of a holiday on Monday.

July consumer spending slows, inflation jumps (2008-08-29)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Personal income tumbled unexpectedly in July and spending slowed as the effects of government stimulus wore off and an inflation measure was at a 17-year high, a government report released on Friday showed.

John Lennon movie coming together (2008-08-29)
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Malaysia ban on anti-government website draws outcry (2008-08-29)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has pulled the plug on a popular news portal often critical of the government, sparking protests from a resurgent opposition.

Zimbabwe ruling party says no need for more talks (2008-08-29)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF has said there is no need for further power-sharing talks with the opposition, state media reported on Friday.

GM says automakers deserve $50 billion in federal loans: report (2008-08-29)
(Reuters) - Automakers deserve as much as $50 billion in government-backed loans so that they can build more fuel-efficient cars, according to a top General Motors executive, the New York Times reported.

Linens 'n Things may file restructuring on Friday: report (2008-08-29)
(Reuters) - Bankrupt home furnishings retailer Linens 'n Things will file a plan as soon as Friday to reorganize its business, the New York Post reported citing sources.

Google to go ahead with Yahoo deal: report (2008-08-29)
(Reuters) - Google Inc. , facing a U.S. Justice Department probe of its search-advertising partnership with Yahoo Inc. , will proceed with the agreement by early October, Bloomberg said.

Abbas to hold further talks with Israel's Olmert (2008-08-29)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet again with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.

CORRECTED: Google to go ahead with Yahoo deal: report (2008-08-29)
(Reuters) - Google Inc. , facing a U.S. Justice Department probe of its search-advertising partnership with Yahoo Inc. , will proceed with the agreement by early October, Bloomberg said.

Hyundai union to launch work stoppage next week (2008-08-29)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor Co <005380.KS>, South Korea's top automaker, said on Friday they had decided to hold brief work stoppages twice next week over a wage dispute and working conditions.

Russia bans poultry imports from 19 U.S. suppliers (2008-08-29)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia, the biggest market for U.S. poultry exporters, will ban imports from 19 producers in the United States and warned on Friday that another 29 suppliers face a possible ban on health and safety grounds.

Dell sees Asia business sound but voices caution (2008-08-29)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Dell Inc , the world's No. 2 personal computer maker, said on Friday its Asia Pacific business was holding up even as corporations turned cautious about spending on technology because of slowing global growth.

Gustav kills nearly 70 in Caribbean, aims at U.S. (2008-08-29)
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav was blamed on Thursday for at least 68 deaths in the Caribbean and U.S. forecasters said it could hit New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico oil fields as a potentially powerful hurricane next week.

Microsoft to buy online survey firm for $486 million (2008-08-29)
(Reuters) - Microsoft on Friday announced its first major deal since failing to buy Yahoo Inc , agreeing to acquire Web-based survey company Greenfield Online Inc for about $486 million.

Futures add to losses after inflation and spending data (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures added to losses on Friday after a government report showed U.S. personal income tumbled unexpectedly in July and an inflation measure was at a 17-year high.

Court dismisses lawsuit against McKesson (2008-08-29)
(Reuters) - A federal judge has dismissed a case against McKesson Corp that alleged the drug wholesaler of unlawful price-fixing, court documents showed on Friday.

Karadzic plea entered as "not guilty" by tribunal (2008-08-29)
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The U.N. tribunal for the former Yugoslavia entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic for war crimes and genocide charges on Friday after he refused to enter one.

South Africa says Zimbabwe talks to resume (2008-08-29)
HARARE (Reuters) - South Africa said Zimbabwean power-sharing talks would resume on Friday despite comment from President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party that there was no need for further negotiations.

New film adds to intrigue of Puccini love life (2008-08-29)
VENICE (Reuters) - A new film on Giacomo Puccini has uncovered letters and documents suggesting the composer may have a second living descendant, in a tangled tale of infidelity and vengeance befitting one of his operas.

Zardari should give up Pakistan president bid, rival says (2008-08-29)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The widower of assassinated former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto should withdraw as a candidate for president because of questions about his mental health, a rival candidate said on Friday.

Hezbollah shot Lebanese army helicopter: paper (2008-08-29)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Lebanese army helicopter that was hit by gunfire in south Lebanon was targeted by Hezbollah fighters who thought the aircraft was Israeli, the Lebanese newspaper as-Safir reported on Friday.

Suicide bomber killed trying to attack Pakistan camp (2008-08-29)
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Oil rises 1 percent to $117 on storm fears (2008-08-29)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil rose more than $1 to $117 a barrel on Friday, as energy companies prepared for Tropical Storm Gustav to deliver what could be the hardest hit to the heart of U.S. offshore production since the devastating 2005 hurricane season.

Iran says 4,000 atomic centrifuges working: report (2008-08-29)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has 4,000 working nuclear centrifuges, an official said in remarks published on Friday, in line with a number verified by the U.N. atomic watchdog but lower than a figure cited by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Russian watchdog confirms U.S. poultry ban (2008-08-29)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will ban poultry imports from some U.S. producers on health and safety grounds, its animal and plant health watchdog told Reuters on Friday, confirming comments made by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Novartis takes $235 million charge after stopping trial (2008-08-29)
ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis AG stopped development of its Aurograb treatment for bacterial infections after it showed a lack of efficacy in mid-stage trials, and said it would take a $235 million impairment charge.

Thousands seek refuge from India religious attacks (2008-08-29)
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Thousands of people, most of them Christians, have sought shelter in makeshift government camps in eastern India, driven from their homes by religious violence which has killed at least 13 people this week.

Microsoft to buy ciao.com price comparison firm (2008-08-29)
LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft has agreed to buy Greenfield Online , owner of European price comparison website ciao.com, for about $486 million to boost its Internet search and e-commerce business in Europe.

Nintendo lifts profit, shares soar (2008-08-29)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Nintendo Co <7974.OS> boosted its annual profit outlook by 23 percent on white-hot demand for its Wii video game console and DS portable player, beating market expectations and sending its shares more than 8 percent higher.

Israeli police quiz Olmert again on corruption (2008-08-29)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a seventh time on Friday as part of a corruption investigation that has jeopardized peace talks with the Palestinians and shaken Israel's political system.

Suicide bomber killed trying to attack Pakistan camp (2008-08-29)
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Delphi liquidation looms large: report (2008-08-29)
(Reuters) - Bankrupt U.S. auto parts maker Delphi Corp may end up being liquidated, with some U.S. plants being taken over by its former parent General Motors Corp , the Wall Street Journal said, citing people involved in the bankruptcy process.

Suitmakers hit hard as retailers want discounts (2008-08-29)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Competition and a move away from tailored dressing, only exacerbated by a weak economy, are hurting the men's suit business hard, and retailers are adding to manufacturers' pain by demanding more discounts.

Storm Gustav to begin strengthening into hurricane (2008-08-29)
GEORGE TOWN (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav was expected to start growing into a large and powerful hurricane as it pulled away from Jamaica and headed toward the Cayman Islands on Friday, the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans, forecasters said.

Oil rises to $117 on storm threat to U.S. output (2008-08-29)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose by more than $1 above $117 a barrel on Friday, as Tropical Storm Gustav was poised to enter the Gulf of Mexico, raising concerns about its impact on U.S. offshore oil and gas output.

Thai protests attack Bangkok police HQ (2008-08-29)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Protesters trying to overthrow Thailand's government launched an attack on Bangkok's police headquarters on Friday as demonstrations against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej spread from the capital.

Thai protesters attack Bangkok police HQ (2008-08-29)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Protesters trying to overthrow Thailand's government launched an attack on Bangkok's police headquarters on Friday as demonstrations against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej spread from the capital.

Carrefour profit rises, keeps targets (2008-08-29)
PARIS (Reuters) - Carrefour , the world's second-largest retailer, posted a 5.5 percent rise in first-half operating profit on Friday, lifted by strong performance in Latin America growth markets, and reiterated its 2008 targets.

Thousands seek refuge from religious attacks in India (2008-08-29)
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Thousands of people, most of them Christians, have sought shelter in makeshift government shelters in eastern India, driven from their homes by religious violence which has killed at least 11 people this week.

July consumer spending weak, inflation jumps (2008-08-29)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Personal income tumbled unexpectedly in July and inflation-adjusted spending shrank at sharpest rate in four years as the effects of the government stimulus package wore off, a Commerce Department report on Friday showed.

Gustav nears Jamaica, hurricane strength seen Friday (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Gustav neared the southwestern coast of Jamaica as of 5 a.m. EDT Friday, heading toward the Cayman Islands, with the storm expected to regain hurricane strength later Friday or on Saturday.

Turkish factory blast kills two people: report (2008-08-29)
ANKARA (Reuters) - An explosion rocked a gunpowder factory in central Turkey on Friday, killing two people and injuring another 12, Turkish broadcasters reported.

Obama vows to reverse Republican legacy (2008-08-29)
DENVER (Reuters) - Barack Obama launched a sharp assault on Republican presidential rival John McCain on Thursday with a promise to reverse the economic failures of the past eight years and restore America's global reputation.

Futures lower on Dell profits and oil (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell on Friday after the previous session's sharp gains, as the price of oil rose and computer maker Dell posted a surprisingly steep drop in quarterly earnings.

Growing Thai protests disrupt air and rail (2008-08-29)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Anti-government protests forced Phuket airport to close and disrupted rail services in Thailand on Friday, piling pressure on Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's seven-month old government.

Russia hits back at Western "bias" over Georgia (2008-08-29)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia accused the Group of Seven nations of "bias" on Friday in a fresh attempt to counter condemnation of Russia's actions in Georgia that has included talk in the European Union of sanctions.

Data, oil, Dell profits weigh on Wall Street (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Friday after the prior session's sharp gains as oil prices rose and computer maker Dell posted a surprisingly steep drop in quarterly earnings.

Oil rises near $118 on storm threat to U.S. output (2008-08-29)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose by $2 to near $118 a barrel on Friday, as Tropical Storm Gustav was poised to enter the Gulf of Mexico, raising concerns about its impact on U.S. offshore oil and gas output.

Nobel laureate Pamuk publishes new book in Turkey (2008-08-29)
ANKARA (Reuters) - Nobel Prize-winning Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk published a new book in Turkey on Friday, his first since obtaining the award.

Palin, drilling advocate, spars with oil companies (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is seen as a strong advocate for opening new areas to oil drilling, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but has taken a hard line in negotiations with oil companies and raised taxes on the state's energy producers.

McCain picks Palin as surprise No. 2 (2008-08-29)
DAYTON, Ohio (Reuters) - Republican John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate on Friday, a senior campaign official said, in a surprise choice that could help him appeal to women voters.

GM recalls 857,735 vehicles for electrical problems (2008-08-29)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp is recalling 857,735 vehicles equipped with heated windshield wiper fluid system for a potential short circuit problem, according to federal safety regulators.

Russia urges West to refrain from sanctions (2008-08-29)
PARIS/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and European powers took a step back from confrontation over Georgia on Friday, with Moscow urging the EU not to rush into punitive action and France saying now was not the time for sanctions.

Stocks tumble as Dell warns on tech spending (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks tumbled on Friday, led lower by tech shares after computer maker Dell warned that companies worldwide are cutting back on technology spending.

Hollywood asks: who needs Harry Potter? (2008-08-29)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Boy wizard Harry Potter won't be whipping up his magic when the fall film season begins next week, but Hollywood is hoping momentum from summer hits like "The Dark Knight" and a wide mix of new movies will keep audiences happy into the holidays.

Russia urges West to refrain from sanctions (2008-08-29)
PARIS/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Friday urged European Union leaders to put aside emotion when they decide what action to take against Russia over Georgia, and the bloc's appetite for sanctions appeared to be waning.

Procter & Gamble CEO compensation falls 15 percent (2008-08-29)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble Co , the maker of Gillette razors and Pampers diapers, said on Friday that Chairman and Chief Executive A.G. Lafley's total compensation in the latest fiscal year declined 15 percent due largely to lower option awards.

GM offers early retirement to U.S. salaried staff (2008-08-29)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp is offering early retirement incentives to about 28 percent of its U.S. salaried work force as part of its effort to reduce payroll expenses and conserve cash.

Indian villagers desperate as floods spread (2008-08-29)
PATRAGHAT, India (Reuters) - Villagers were eating uncooked rice and flour mixed with polluted water in an eastern Indian state, officials said on Friday, as hunger and diseases accompanied the worst-ever floods in 50 years.

Zardari should give up Pakistan president bid: rival (2008-08-29)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The widower of assassinated former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto should withdraw as a candidate for president because of questions about his mental health, a rival candidate said on Friday.

Iraqi girl tells of ordeal as suicide bomber (2008-08-29)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Rania is only 15-years old, but in the past week the softly spoken Iraqi girl has been drugged, strapped with explosives, arrested by men she nearly blew up and then shoved into a detention centre.

More volatility seen with hurricane, payrolls (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street is set for another volatile week after the Labor Day holiday, as investors track the price of oil, key economic data and continued fallout from the credit crisis.

Disappointing Dell earnings, oil weigh on Wall Street (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Friday after the previous session's sharp gains, as the price of oil rose and computer maker Dell posted a surprisingly steep drop in quarterly earnings.

McCain picks Palin as VP running mate (2008-08-29)
DENVER (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, a senior McCain campaign official said on Friday.

Futures lower on Dell profits, oil, data (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were poised to open lower on Friday after the previous session's sharp gains, as the price of oil rose and computer maker Dell posted a surprisingly steep drop in quarterly earnings.

Market cuts some losses after Chicago PMI (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks cut some of their losses on Friday, after data showed business activity in the U.S. Midwest expanded in August at a far more robust rate than expected as new orders jumped.

Georgia says cutting diplomatic ties with Russia (2008-08-29)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia said on Friday it was cutting diplomatic ties with Russia over the Kremlin's recognition of two Georgian rebel regions as independent states.

Consumer spending weakens as stimulus fades (2008-08-29)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Personal income tumbled unexpectedly in July and inflation-adjusted spending shrank at sharpest rate in four years as the lift from government stimulus checks waned, a government report on Friday showed.

Wall St extends losses, Dow, S&P off 1 percent (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended their losses on Friday, with the Dow and S&P 500 both shedding 1 percent as oil prices rose and Dell warned that companies worldwide are cutting back on technology spending.

Islamic Jihad warns of rising Fatah-Hamas tensions (2008-08-29)
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - A top Islamic Jihad leader said on Friday a rift between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas could trigger more violence if it is not resolved by January, the target date for a presidential poll.

Oil rises to $117 on storm threat to U.S. output (2008-08-29)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose by more than $1 to above $117 a barrel on Friday, as Tropical Storm Gustav was poised to enter the Gulf of Mexico, raising concerns about its impact on U.S. offshore oil and gas output.

Wachovia says capital OK, eyes asset sales: Sandler (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wachovia Corp should not need to raise dilutive capital and sales of non-core assets will likely total hundreds of millions of dollars, not billions, Chief Executive Robert Steel told an analyst.

Boeing machinists union mulls final offer (2008-08-29)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Boeing Co's largest union said on Friday it was dissecting the fine print" of the company's final contract offer and would make a recommendation to members by the end of the day on whether to approve the deal.

Spanair almost switched jet just before crash (2008-08-29)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanair had considered replacing a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 jet just an hour before 154 people were killed when it crashed last week, a government minister said on Friday.

Soriano blast lifts Cubs to seventh straight win (2008-08-29)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Alfonso Soriano's solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning helped the Chicago Cubs complete a 3-2 rally over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, their seventh straight victory.

Nepal urged to focus on child rights in adoption (2008-08-29)
KATHMANDU (Reuters) - The sale, abduction and trafficking of children is rife in Nepal and the government should do more to encourage adoption by domestic families, a U.N. study released on Friday said.

Vatican warns of growing "Christianophobia" (2008-08-29)
ROME (Reuters) - "Christianophobia" is a growing problem around the world and it must be fought with the same determination as anti-Semitism or Islamophobia, the Vatican said on Friday.

Hezbollah gunman shot Lebanon army aircraft: sources (2008-08-29)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah turned over to the authorities on Friday one of its gunmen who shot at an army helicopter and killed its pilot, security sources said.

Basinger and Theron team up for complex love story (2008-08-29)
VENICE (Reuters) - Oscar winners Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron play mother and daughter in "The Burning Plain," an intense story of love and betrayal and the directorial debut by acclaimed Mexican screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga.

Cuban punk rocker goes to court for "dangerousness" (2008-08-29)
HAVANA (Reuters) - A Cuban punk rocker whose songs have ridiculed the Cuban government went to court in handcuffs on Friday charged with "social dangerousness," which could bring a prison sentence of up to four years.

Electric fault spurs big GM recall (2008-08-29)
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp is recalling 857,735 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield wiper fluid system for a potential short-circuit problem, according to federal safety regulators.

Delphi says preparing revised reorganization plan (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bankrupt auto parts maker Delphi Corp is preparing a revised plan of reorganization to file with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, but does not know when such a plan will be ready, a company spokesman said on Friday.

Storm Gustav poised to become a hurricane (2008-08-29)
GEORGE TOWN (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav was expected to strengthen in the warm Caribbean on Friday as it left flooded Jamaica and churned toward the Cayman Islands, headed for the Gulf of Mexico on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans.

Stocks tumble on Dell's warning on tech spending (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks tumbled on Friday, led lower by tech shares after computer maker Dell warned that companies worldwide are cutting back on technology spending.

Hurricane Gustav roars toward Caymans, Gulf (2008-08-29)
GEORGE TOWN (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav gathered strength over the warm waters of the Caribbean on Friday roaring toward the Cayman Islands and the Gulf of Mexico on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans.

Microsoft buys ciao.com to boost e-shopping search (2008-08-29)
LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft has agreed to buy Greenfield Online, owner of popular European price comparison website ciao.com, for about $486 million to boost its Internet search and e-commerce business in Europe.

Dell warning on spending, oil weigh on Wall Street (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Friday as the price of oil rose and a warning by computer maker Dell that companies worldwide are cutting back on technology spending spooked that sector.

Appeals Court upholds ruling in Azeri oil case (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. Appeals Court on Friday upheld a lower court's dismissal of government charges against a man accused of scheming with others to gain control of the state-run Azerbaijan oil company.

Kenny Rogers releases exclusive hits collection (2008-08-29)
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Gaza activists say will run Israel blockade again (2008-08-29)
LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) - Foreign activists who sailed to Gaza last week to protest against an Israeli blockade of the enclave said on Friday they planned to do it again within a month.

Lenders mulling new offer in Alabama debt standoff (2008-08-29)
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - Alabama's Jefferson County and lenders pulled back from the brink of a threatened bankruptcy filing on Friday after the county proposed restructuring $3.2 billion of soured sewer debt.

Chavez backs Russian recognition of Georgia regions (2008-08-29)
PUERTO ORDAZ, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez backed Russia's recognition of two breakaway regions of Georgia on Friday, making Venezuela only the second nation to support Moscow's stance.

Federal judge approves Ford health care trust plan (2008-08-29)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co may shift billions of dollars of health care obligations for retired hourly workers to a trust fund overseen by the United Auto Workers union in 2010, a federal judge ruled on Friday.

McCain picks Alaska governor as surprise No. 2 (2008-08-29)
DAYTON, Ohio (Reuters) - Republican John McCain made a surprise choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate on Friday, adding a political unknown to the presidential ticket who could help him appeal to women voters.

Oil pressured by strong dollar after storm support (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices were nearly unchanged by midday Friday as a stronger dollar balanced concerns that Tropical Storm Gustav will impact U.S. offshore oil and gas production.

Michael Jackson turns 50, shadow of a superstar (2008-08-29)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer Michael Jackson turned 50 on Friday, a shadow of the superstar once known as the "King of Pop" whose records thrilled millions before his bizarre personal life eclipsed his musical brilliance.

Boeing machinists union says members should strike (2008-08-29)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Boeing Co's largest labor union said on Friday it would advise its members to reject the company's final contract proposal, a move that could set the stage for a crippling labor strike next week.

Court bars meatpacker tests for mad cow (2008-08-29)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Agriculture Department is within bounds to bar meatpackers from testing slaughter cattle for mad cow disease, a U.S. Court of Appeals panel said in a 2-1 ruling on Friday.

Cuban punk rocker fined for disobedience (2008-08-29)
HAVANA (Reuters) - A Cuban punk rocker whose songs have ridiculed the Cuban government was fined for public disorder on Friday after prosecutors reduced a more serious "social dangerousness" charge that could have sent him to prison for four years.

L.A. airport service workers end day-old strike (2008-08-29)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Some 1,500 workers at Los Angeles International Airport halted a day-old strike and returned to work on Friday after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa brokered a labor truce with companies providing ground services for major airlines.

New video game depicts Venezuela mercenary attack (2008-08-29)
CARACAS (Reuters) - A video game depicting mercenaries storming Venezuela, which has been criticized in the oil-rich South American country as a blueprint for an invasion, will be released by a U.S. company this weekend.

Bc-MOVIES-FROZEN-RIVER-REV-DET (2008-08-29)
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'Traitor' Ramps Up Complexity, Anxiety (2008-08-29)
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Alabama governor in talks to avoid local bankruptcy (2008-08-29)
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - Alabama's governor and Wall Street lenders bargained on Friday ahead of the expiration of a stand-still pact in a bid to avert a bankruptcy filing on $3.2 billion of debt by the state's most populous county.

Boeing machinists union to ask members to strike (2008-08-29)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The International Association of Machinists, Boeing Co's largest labor union, said on Friday it would advise its members to reject the company's latest contract proposal and vote to strike against the company.

Detective to stars, attorney guilty of wiretapping (2008-08-29)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A private detective who once worked for Hollywood stars and a prominent attorney were convicted on Friday of federal wiretapping and conspiracy charges in a case stemming from billionaire Kirk Kerkorian's bitter child support dispute.

Hurricane Gustav blows over Caymans, heads to Gulf (2008-08-29)
GEORGE TOWN (Reuters) - A strengthening Hurricane Gustav swept over the Cayman Islands on Friday as it headed toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans.

Bush declares storm emergency in Louisiana (2008-08-29)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Friday declared an emergency in Louisiana as Tropical Storm Gustav headed for the Gulf of Mexico on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans.

Wall Street tumbles as Dell warns on tech spending (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks tumbled on Friday after a warning by computer maker Dell that companies worldwide are cutting back on technology spending spooked the tech sector.

"America the Beautiful": Documentary. Directed by Darryl Roberts. (2008-08-29)
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Pressure grows on Thai PM after protests escalate (2008-08-29)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was under growing pressure on Saturday as protesters determined to topple him occupied his official compound amid reports the army chief had suggested he consider stepping down.

Obama vows to reverse Bush-McCain legacy (2008-08-29)
DENVER (Reuters) - Barack Obama launched a sharp assault on Republican presidential rival John McCain on Thursday with a promise to reverse the economic failures of the past eight years and restore America's global reputation.

McCain picks Palin as surprise No. 2 (2008-08-29)
DAYTON, Ohio (Reuters) - Republican John McCain made a surprise choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate on Friday, adding a political unknown to the presidential ticket who could help him appeal to women voters.

New Orleans marks Katrina anniversary as Gustav looms (2008-08-29)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Residents of New Orleans paused on Friday to mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating blow even as another potentially deadly storm churned their way.

Hurricane Gustav swirls toward Caymans, Gulf (2008-08-29)
GEORGE TOWN (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav strengthened over the warm waters of the Caribbean on Friday, swirling toward the Cayman Islands and the Gulf of Mexico on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans.

Mexican governor blames Gulf cartel for beheadings (2008-08-29)
CANCUN, Mexico (Reuters) - The beheadings of twelve people in southern Mexico were probably the work of the powerful Gulf cartel based across the border from Texas, a state governor said on Friday.

David Duchovny's sex disorder likened to alcoholism (2008-08-29)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Did life imitate art when David Duchovny, who plays a sex-mad writer on the hit US TV show "Californication," seek treatment for sex addiction?

Lehman nears plan for real estate assets: report (2008-08-29)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. has settled on a structure that will allow it to offload billions of dollars in real-estate loans from its books, according to the on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal.

Consumer spending flags, but confidence rises (2008-08-29)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Personal income tumbled unexpectedly in July and inflation-adjusted spending shrank as government economic stimulus waned, but consumer spirits rose this month, a hint the economy may muddle through its woes.

Afghanistan faces humanitarian crisis: Oxfam (2008-08-29)
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan needs urgent help to avert a humanitarian crisis this winter, with millions facing some of the worst conditions for more than 20 years, a leading British charity said on Saturday.

New Orleans marks Katrina victims, braces for Gustav (2008-08-29)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Residents of New Orleans paused on Friday to mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating blow even as another potentially powerful hurricane churned their way.

Gustav strengthens back into hurricane (2008-08-29)
GEORGE TOWN (Reuters) - Gustav strengthened back into a hurricane in the warm Caribbean on Friday as it left flooded Jamaica and churned toward the Cayman Islands, headed for the Gulf of Mexico on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's deadly strike on New Orleans.

Alaska pedigree propels Palin to Republican VP pick (2008-08-29)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Sarah Palin, Republican John McCain's surprise choice for vice president, has a distinctively Alaskan pedigree that served her well in an improbable rise from small town mayor to one of the most beloved governors in the state's history.

New Orleans marks Katrina, braces for Gustav (2008-08-29)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - New Orleans residents paused on Friday to mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating blow even as they faced a possible evacuation order ahead of another potentially powerful storm.

DMX guilty of trying to buy drugs in Miami (2008-08-28)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Rap star DMX pleaded guilty to trying to buy cocaine and marijuana in Miami and was awaiting extradition to Arizona on outstanding drug charges there, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Economy shows vigor in Q2, but seen flagging (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Strong exports and consumer spending supported by government stimulus checks drove the U.S. economy up at a solid 3.3 percent annual rate in the second quarter, much faster than first thought, but growth is expected to flag as those factors fade.

N. Orleans poor areas still vulnerable to flooding (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Poor areas of New Orleans hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina remain vulnerable to flooding because flood control improvements have not been completed, a U.S. official said on Thursday as Tropical Storm Gustav threatened a possible new strike on the city.

MySpace overtakes Yahoo in display ad views: report (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc has lost its lead of the U.S. market for online display advertising to MySpace and its parent company News Corp's Fox Interactive Media and MySpace, new industry data shows.

Argentine "dirty war" generals get life in prison (2008-08-28)
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - An Argentine court sentenced two former generals to life in prison on Thursday over the disappearance of a provincial senator during the 1976-1983 "dirty war" dictatorship.

Obama says will restore U.S. legacy abroad (2008-08-28)
DENVER (Reuters) - Barack Obama, about to take a historic step as the Democratic presidential nominee, promised on Thursday to reverse the economic failures of the last eight years, end the war in Iraq and restore America's reputation.

Angola elections bring change to farm sector (2008-08-28)
VALE DO CAVACO, Angola (Reuters) - For the past 30 years, Jose Vilomba, 47, has walked barefoot on one of Africa's most fertile valleys using his hands and a shovel to plant vegetables to feed his family.

WHO study backs universal health care (2008-08-28)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Major inequalities in health and life expectancy persist worldwide, according to an independent World Health Organization commission which on Thursday called for all countries to offer universal health care.

U.S. should embrace pre-schooling: study (2008-08-28)
LONDON (Reuters) - The United States will fall behind other countries in education if it does not embrace pre-schooling, the author of a British study said on Thursday.

Lehman looking at cutting some 1,200 jobs: source (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc is looking at cutting some 1,200 jobs in its latest round of cost cutting, a person familiar with the matter said, as weak financial markets spur layoffs across Wall Street.

Mexico's top court upholds abortion law (2008-08-28)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a law allowing abortion in the capital, handing a victory to leftist city lawmakers over conservative President Felipe Calderon's government and the Catholic Church.

Foreign films dominate Telluride Film Festival (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Telluride Film Festival will show fewer American movies than usual at its upcoming 2008 edition with foreign titles dominating the list of 23 new features unveiled on Thursday from hundreds of entries.

Gustav kills 59 in Caribbean, aims at U.S (2008-08-28)
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav hit Jamaica with near hurricane-force winds on Thursday after killing at least 59 people elsewhere in the Caribbean and taking aim at New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico oil fields, where it could become a major hurricane next week.

Brain injury study adds to Alzheimer's enigma (2008-08-28)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Levels of a protein linked with Alzheimer's disease rise as people recover from brain injuries -- a surprising finding that may help explain why injuries boost the risk of developing the disease, U.S. and Italian researchers said on Thursday.

Dell misses Wall St target, sees spending cutbacks (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dell Inc posted a disappointing drop in quarterly earnings and said spending cutbacks on information technology have spread from the United States to Western Europe and Asia, sending its shares down more than 10 percent.

Why it's so hard to swat a fly (2008-08-28)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The brains of flies are wired to avoid the swatter, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

Rapper DMX guilty of trying to buy drugs in Miami (2008-08-28)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Rap star DMX pleaded guilty to trying to buy cocaine and marijuana in Miami and was awaiting extradition to Arizona on outstanding drug charges there, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Marvell profit beats street on revenue rise (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Diversified U.S. chipmaker Marvell Technology Group Ltd posted better-than-expected profit on Thursday as revenues grew strongly in the second quarter.

Music-MAROON5-DET (2008-08-28)
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Stocks end higher on strong GDP, weaker oil (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Thursday, as a decline in oil prices and data showing the economy expanded much more than expected in the second quarter boosted shares of major industrial and financial companies.

Marvell posts quarterly profit on revenue rise (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Diversified U.S. chipmaker Marvell Technology Group Ltd reported a quarterly profit on Thursday as revenues rose.

Three charged in Britain over Brown death threats (2008-08-28)
LONDON (Reuters) - British police charged three men with terrorism offences on Thursday over threats to kill Prime Minister Gordon Brown posted on a militant Islamic website.

Dell quarterly net falls 17 percent and shares tumble (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dell Inc reported a surprise 17 percent decline in quarterly profit on Thursday as the company suffered from tighter corporate spending in United States, sending its shares down 8 percent.

Russia faces diplomatic isolation on Georgia (2008-08-28)
DUSHANBE/PARIS (Reuters) - Russia faced diplomatic isolation over its military action against Georgia on Thursday, with its Asian allies failing to offer support and France saying EU leaders were considering imposing sanctions.

Georgians bury their war dead (2008-08-28)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgians prayed for their country on Thursday and buried soldiers killed in a war with Russia as the nation marked a religious holiday in somber mood.

Gustav kills nearly 70 in Caribbean, aims at U.S (2008-08-28)
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav was blamed on Thursday for at least 68 deaths in the Caribbean and U.S. forecasters said it could hit New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico oil fields as a potentially powerful hurricane next week.

Obama: "We are a better country than this" (2008-08-28)
DENVER (Reuters) - Barack Obama, preparing to take a historic step as the Democratic presidential nominee, launched a sharp assault on Republican rival John McCain on Thursday and promised to reverse the economic failures of the last eight years.

Coen brothers' spy comedy divides Venice critics (2008-08-28)
VENICE (Reuters) - The Coen brothers' latest film, the madcap comedy "Burn After Reading," has sharply divided the critics, unlike last year's acclaimed "No Country For Old Men" which won four Oscars including best picture.

Gotti Jr. pleads not guilty of U.S. murder charges (2008-08-28)
TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Accused Mafia boss John Gotti Jr. pleaded not guilty on Thursday to federal murder and racketeering charges in Florida, and his sister predicted he would beat the charges for the fourth time.

Independent WHO study backs universal health care (2008-08-28)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Major inequalities in health and life expectancy persist worldwide, according to an independent World Health Organization commission which on Thursday called for all countries to offer universal health care.

Democrats ready celebration for Obama (2008-08-28)
DENVER (Reuters) - Democrats prepared a grand celebration on Thursday for Barack Obama, who will accept a historic presidential nomination with a speech that spells out his vision for change in America.

Altria boosts regular quarterly dividend 10.3 pct (2008-08-28)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Altria Group Inc said on Thursday its board of directors voted to increase the company's regular quarterly dividend 10.3 percent to 32 cents per share from 29 cents per share.

Most brokerage model portfolios beat S&P 500: survey (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Most of the top retail brokerage firms' model portfolios performed better than the S&P 500 in the first half of the year's volatile market, a survey showed on Thursday.

Wall Street extends gains, Dow adds 1 pct (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks extended gains on Thursday, with the Dow industrials rising more than 1 percent after a report showing much stronger-than-expected U.S. growth in the second quarter buoyed optimism about the economy.

Wall Street rallies on strong GDP (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rallied on Thursday as a surprisingly big upward revision to U.S. growth in the second quarter and lower oil prices fanned optimism about the economy.

Retail group sees slow sales well into 2009 (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. sales will stay sluggish through the holidays and well into next year, despite hopes consumers would get earlier relief from higher food and fuel prices, the National Retail Federation said on Thursday.

Salmonella outbreak over in U.S.: CDC (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An outbreak of an unusual strain of Salmonella that put 286 people into the hospital appears to be over in the United States, federal health officials said on Thursday.

Just a Minute With: Guy Pearce for "Traitor" (2008-08-28)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Australian actor Guy Pearce first grabbed the spotlight playing a demanding drag queen in the cult classic "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert."

Court upholds dismissal of charges in KPMG case (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court has upheld the dismissal of criminal charges against 13 former executives at accounting firm KPMG, saying prosecutors violated the defendants' constitutional rights.

Salmonella outbreak over, CDC says (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An outbreak of an unusual strain of Salmonella that put 286 people into the hospital appears to be over in the United States, federal health officials said on Thursday.

Business worried as U.S. weighs Russia sanctions (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. business groups said on Thursday they had received few clues what steps the United States might take to punish Russia for its military action in Georgia, but urged the White House to proceed cautiously.

Dell quarterly net falls 17 pct, shares tumble (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dell Inc reported a surprise 17 percent decline in quarterly profit on Thursday as the company suffered from tighter corporate spending in United States, sending its shares down 8 percent.

Gaps remain in N. Orleans flood controls (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Gaps remain in New Orleans's flood control system despite improvements after Hurricane Katrina, and areas hardest hit three years ago remain vulnerable, a U.S. official said on Thursday as Tropical Storm Gustav headed toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

U.S. revises guidelines on white collar crime probes (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department announced new guidelines on Thursday for investigating corporate crime cases, following criticism that prosecutors have gone too far in pressing companies to cooperate with criminal probes and restricted individual defendants' rights.

Goldman, Lehman, MS to writedown $6.1 billion: Fox-Pitt (2008-08-28)
(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs , Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley may report a small sequential drop in third-quarter write-downs, helped by hedging gains, according to an analyst at Fox-Pitt Kelton.

Canada wants more study on polar bear protection (2008-08-28)
INUVIK, Northwest Territories (Reuters) - Canada, criticized by environmentalists for not adequately protecting polar bears from the effects of climate change, said on Thursday it will take more time study its next step.

New film honors Valentino, "last king of fashion" (2008-08-28)
VENICE (Reuters) - Eight months after tearfully bowing out of fashion, Valentino returned to the red carpet with a film celebrating the man who dressed some of the world's greatest beauties from Jackie Kennedy to Princess Diana.

The Hold Steady stays positive on new album and tour (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Drawing packed houses and four-star reviews, buzz band The Hold Steady may have finally built the ecstatic rock and roll experience they've been singing about for years.

Mexico's supreme court upholds abortion law (2008-08-28)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a law allowing abortion in the nation's capital, in a victory for leftist city lawmakers over conservative President Felipe Calderon's government and the Catholic Church.

Economy shows vigor, but seen flagging (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Strong exports and consumer spending supported by government stimulus checks pushed the U.S. economy ahead at a solid 3.3 percent annual rate in the second quarter, much stronger than first thought, but growth is expected to flag as those factors fade.

Pakistani lawyers press government (2008-08-28)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Protesting lawyers blocked roads across Pakistan on Thursday to press the government to reinstate judges purged by former president Pervez Musharraf, as militants attacked police in the northwest, killing 11 people.

Three years after Katrina, Gulf ports at risk (2008-08-28)
PORT FOURCHON, Louisiana (Reuters) - The drive south from New Orleans toward the Gulf of Mexico is a study in coastal vulnerability.

Marvell beats Street but posts weak outlook (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Diversified U.S. chipmaker Marvell Technology Group Ltd gave a conservative outlook for the third quarter, sending shares lower, even after it posted better-than-expected profit helped by increased sales in the wireless and storage sectors.

U.S. forces arrest senior Iraqi official (2008-08-28)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces arrested the deputy head of a committee that purged Iraq's government of members of Saddam Hussein's party, an ally said, but the U.S. military said he was a wanted militia leader behind a deadly Baghdad bombing.

Gustav kills 60 in Caribbean, aims at U.S. (2008-08-28)
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav, which has killed at least 60 people in the Caribbean, struck Jamaica with near hurricane-force winds on Thursday and was on a path to reach New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico oil fields as a potentially powerful hurricane.

Q&A: Thicke reflects on race, music and "Something Else" (2008-08-28)
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Church trashed as India religious riots spread (2008-08-28)
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Hindu mobs ransacked a church and clashed with Christian villagers in eastern India on Thursday, police said, as Italy said it would summon India's ambassador to demand "incisive action" to prevent more attacks.

David Duchovny in sex addiction treatment (2008-08-28)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "X-Files" star David Duchovny, who currently plays a womanizing writer on the cable television series "Californication," said on Thursday he has entered a facility for treatment of sex addiction.

Thai police confront protesters in PM's compound (2008-08-28)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Hundreds of Thai riot police climbed into the occupied compound of the prime minister's office on Friday to deliver a court order for the eviction of protesters trying to overthrow the government.

Grenade blast wounds 7 suspected rebels in Sri Lanka prison (2008-08-28)
COLOMBO (Reuters) -- A hand grenade blast inside a prison in eastern Sri Lanka wounded seven prisoners, most of them suspected of being allied with the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, police said.

Obama vows to erase Bush-McCain legacy (2008-08-28)
DENVER (Reuters) - Barack Obama launched an assault on Republican presidential rival John McCain on Thursday with a promise to reverse the economic failures of the past eight years and restore America's reputation in the world.

Mazda halves 08/09 sales f'cast at one China venture (2008-08-28)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Mazda Motor Corp <7261.T> halved its sales forecast at one of its two Chinese joint ventures on Friday in one of the first signs that a demand slowdown in the world's second-biggest car market is affecting automakers' plans.

Dell profits disappoint as tech spending weakens (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dell Inc posted a surprisingly steep drop in quarterly earnings on Thursday and said companies around the world are cutting back on technology spending, sending its shares tumbling 10 percent and sparking fears of weakness in the whole tech sector.

Dell earnings disappoint, tech spending seen weak (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dell Inc posted a surprisingly steep drop in quarterly earnings and said companies around the world are cutting back on technology spending, sending its shares tumbling and sparking fears of weakness in the whole tech sector.

Thai riot police climb into Govt House compound (2008-08-28)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Hundreds of Thai riot police climbed into the occupied compound of the prime minister's office on Friday to deliver a court order for the eviction of protesters trying to overthrow the government.

Flash floods kill 11 in northern Vietnam (2008-08-28)
HANOI (Reuters) - Eleven people, three of them children, have been killed by flash floods and landslides that struck a mountainous province in northern Vietnam this week, the government said on Friday.

Miami undertaker ships dead exiles back to Cuba (2008-08-28)
MIAMI (Reuters) - "Get my bones back to Cuba."

Eleven headless bodies found near Mexican graveyard (2008-08-28)
MERIDA, Mexico (Reuters) - Eleven beheaded bodies were dumped close to a graveyard outside a sleepy southern city on Thursday in the latest shocking crime in Mexico's vicious drug war.

Strong GDP data, weak oil spark Wall St rally (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose sharply on Thursday as the government reported the economy grew at a surprisingly robust clip in the second quarter and oil prices eased, driving gains in major industrial and financial companies.

Anwar rejoins Malaysia parliament, clashes with government (2008-08-28)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim rejoined parliament on Thursday after a 10-year absence and immediately clashed with the government he aims to oust, leading an opposition walkout.

After Olympic success, China lights Paralympics torch (2008-08-28)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Four days after closing the 2008 Beijing Games in triumph, China lit the 2008 Paralympics torch amid pomp and ceremony at Beijing's ancient Temple of Heaven, marking the start of a domestic relay for the September 6 Games.

Authorities relax curfew in Indian Kashmir (2008-08-28)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Authorities tentatively relaxed a four-day curfew in Indian Kashmir on Thursday to allow people to buy essentials as residents ran short of food during massive protests against Indian rule.

Futures rise on stronger-than-expected GDP data (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures rose on Thursday on optimism about the economy after the government's higher-than-expected revision to growth in gross domestic product for the second quarter.

Georgians pray for nation after war with Russia (2008-08-28)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgians flocked to churches on Thursday to pray for their country reeling from military defeat by Russia and the secession of two of its provinces.

U.S. troops to hand back Iraq's Anbar province (2008-08-28)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. troops will on Sept. 1 hand over control of Iraq's Anbar province, once the heart of a bloody Sunni Arab insurgency, reflecting a dramatic drop in violence across the country, an Iraqi official said on Thursday.

Jobless claims touch lower than expected (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell by 10,000 last week, government data on Thursday showed, but remained at elevated levels indicating a weak labor market.

Scientists find ancient lost settlements in Amazon (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A vast region of the Amazon forest in Brazil was home to a complex of ancient towns in which about 50,000 people lived, according to scientists assisted by satellite images of the region.

Pakistani lawyers press government to reinstate judges (2008-08-28)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Thousands of lawyers blocked roads across Pakistan on Thursday to press the government to reinstate judges purged by former president Pervez Musharraf, as militants attacked police in the northwest, killing 11 people.

Strengthening Gustav heads for Jamaica (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav strengthened Thursday morning as it headed toward Jamaica, and the system was expected to regain hurricane status later today, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory.

Obama says will restore U.S. legacy (2008-08-28)
DENVER (Reuters) - Barack Obama, poised to take a historic step as the Democratic presidential nominee, promised on Thursday to reverse the economic failures of the last eight years, end the war in Iraq and restore the U.S. reputation abroad.

Sears Holdings profit falls short, forecast cut (2008-08-28)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp posted a quarterly profit that fell far short of Wall Street expectations and cut its full-year earnings forecast as consumers scaled back shopping in a weak U.S. economy.

Wall Street gains after GDP data (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Thursday after second-quarter U.S. growth was revised up much more than expected, buoying optimism about the economy.

Heavy fighting threatens East Congo peace deal (2008-08-28)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Government forces fought Tutsi rebels on Thursday in the fiercest clashes for months in eastern Congo, threatening a struggling peace process, the defence minister said on Thursday.

Thai rail starts partial strike in anti-government rally (2008-08-28)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai rail workers began a partial strike on Thursday, joining a protest by thousands of people barricaded inside the prime minister's official compound whose leaders vowed to stay until his government fell.

Bank of NY Mellon data breach now affects 12.5 mln (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of New York Mellon Corp said on Thursday that a security breach involving the loss of personal information is much larger than previously reported, affecting about 12.5 million people, up from 4.5 million.

Top U.S. and Pakistan military officials talk strategy (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. and Pakistani military officials met this week on a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean to discuss the presence of militant safe havens in Pakistan and their role in Afghan violence, officials said on Thursday.

Rural America feels extra pain as gas prices rise (2008-08-28)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Traci and Brian Bruckner between them commute 800 miles a week to and from their respective jobs -- his 30 miles away from their home in one direction, hers 50 miles away in another.

Second quarter growth revised upward to 3.3 percent (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy grew at a solid 3.3 percent annual rate in the second quarter, much stronger than first thought, but many economists expect growth to flag as the year progresses.

Boeing makes "best and final offer" to union (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co said on Thursday it made its "best and final" contract offer to its largest labor union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

Georgian parliament urges cutting ties with Moscow (2008-08-28)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia's parliament approved a resolution on Thursday calling on the government to cut diplomatic ties with Russia after Moscow backed the secession of two Georgian rebel regions.

Tiffany, Zale confident on holidays; shares jump (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. jewelers are confident they will prevail this holiday shopping season, betting that upscale and middle-income customers won't resist buying baubles despite a weak economy.

Dalai Lama in hospital with "discomfort" (2008-08-28)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, has been admitted to a hospital in India with "abdominal discomfort" but there was no cause for concern, doctors said on Thursday.

'Beautifl Losers' find fun in art (2008-08-28)
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Music-HATFIELD-ART-BOS (2008-08-28)
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Italian museum defies pope over crucified frog (2008-08-28)
ROME (Reuters) - An Italian museum on Thursday defied Pope Benedict and refused to remove a modern art sculpture portraying a crucified green frog holding a beer mug and an egg that the Vatican had condemned as blasphemous.

Salmonella outbreak over: CDC (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An outbreak of an unusual strain of Salmonella that put 286 people into the hospital appears to be over in the United States, federal health officials said on Thursday.

Strengthening Gustav threatens Jamaica (2008-08-28)
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Jamaicans deserted the streets and government offices closed as a strengthening Tropical Storm Gustav took aim at the island on Thursday on a path toward the Gulf of Mexico oil fields as a powerful hurricane.

Futures slip as oil rises (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell on Thursday as the price of oil rose for a fourth day, overshadowing optimism among financial companies about the largest U.S. mortgage finance company Fannie Mae .

Russia long-range missile test a success (2008-08-28)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia successfully tested a long-range Topol missile designed to avoid detection by anti-missile defence systems from its Plesetsk launch site, a Russian military spokesman said on Thursday.

Toyota cuts sales forecast (2008-08-28)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp cut its 2009 vehicle sales forecast by nearly 7 percent as high fuel prices hammer demand for large cars and pickup trucks, and said it will speed up the rollout of hybrid and electric cars as their popularity grows.

Oil rises towards $120 as Gustav looms (2008-08-28)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose towards $120 a barrel on Thursday, its fourth day of gains, boosted by the threat of damage to U.S. oil installations from Tropical Storm Gustav.

More than 30 Taliban killed or wounded in Afghanistan (2008-08-28)
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan and international forces killed or wounded more than 30 militants in fighting in the south and southeast of the country, the Defense Ministry and the U.S. military said on Thursday.

U.S. jury acquits ex-Marine in Iraqi killings (2008-08-28)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A former U.S. Marine sergeant accused of killing four unarmed Iraqi detainees was acquitted on Thursday of all criminal charges in the case, including voluntary manslaughter.

Phelps living the good life back in America (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Record-setting swimmer Michael Phelps has satisfied some of his hunger for Americana since returning to the United States from his Olympic triumphs in China but has one special rendezvous he is looking forward to.

Karadzic due for plea hearing at Hague tribunal (2008-08-28)
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is being asked for a second time on Friday to enter a plea at a U.N. tribunal for charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the 1992-95 Bosnian war.

Jobless claims a touch lower than expected (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell by 10,000 last week, government data on Thursday showed, but remained at elevated levels indicating a weak labor market.

More than 100 Taliban killed in Afghanistan (2008-08-28)
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces have killed more than 100 Taliban in the southern Afghan province of Helmand during three days of fighting, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

Storm Gustav jogs south, new depression in Atlantic (2008-08-28)
MIAMI (Reuters) - A strengthening Tropical Storm Gustav jogged to the south on Thursday and was likely to graze southern Jamaica and the western tip of Cuba before nearing the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico as a powerful hurricane.

Dalai Lama admitted to hospital with "discomfort" (2008-08-28)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, was admitted to a hospital in India with "abdominal discomfort" but there was no cause for concern, doctors said on Thursday.

Obama promises to restore U.S. legacy (2008-08-28)
DENVER (Reuters) - Barack Obama, about to take a historic step as the Democratic presidential nominee, promised on Thursday to reverse the economic failures of the last eight years, end the war in Iraq and restore America's reputation.

Music-LOSTMUSICIAN-DET (2008-08-28)
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Boeing prepares to make final contract offer (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co will present a final contract offer to its largest labor union as early as Thursday, hoping to prevent a strike that could cost the company $3 billion a month.

Labor woes fail to derail LaborFest and its spirit, organizers say (2008-08-28)
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Labor Day Parade set for Monday (2008-08-28)
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Labor woes fail to derail LaborFest and its spirit, organizers say (2008-08-28)
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Uncle Sam Labor Day Decor (2008-08-28)
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Strengthening Storm Gustav heads south (2008-08-28)
MIAMI (Reuters) - A strengthening Tropical Storm Gustav jogged to the south on Thursday and was likely to graze southern Jamaica and the western tip of Cuba before nearing the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico as a powerful hurricane.

American Media may refinance $570 million debt: report (2008-08-28)
(Reuters) - Struggling tabloid publisher American Media Inc has secured the backing of many of its creditors for a new bond offering to refinance $570 million in existing debt, the Wall Street Journal said.

Unemployment leaps over 20 percent in 25 New York counties (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ranks of unemployed workers soared more than 20 percent in 25 New York counties in the first half of 2008, even in wealthy suburbs around New York City such as Westchester and Nassau, a report said Thursday.

New tropical depression forms over Atlantic (2008-08-28)
MIAMI (Reuters) - A new tropical depression formed over the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday and threatened to become the eighth storm of the already busy 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said,

Agricole, Natixis earnings plunge on market turmoil (2008-08-28)
PARIS (Reuters) - French banks showed the scars of the financial crisis on Thursday, with heavy asset writedowns stripping Credit Agricole of all but a sliver of profit and plunging Natixis to a billion euro loss.

"Burn" finds Coen brothers in goofy mood (2008-08-28)
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Toyota cuts vehicle sales forecast as West weakens (2008-08-28)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp said it would miss its goal of selling more than 10 million vehicles next year, cutting its forecast by nearly 7 percent due to a severe downturn in Western markets driven by high fuel prices and a credit crunch.

U.S. troops to hand back Iraq's Anbar province (2008-08-28)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. troops will on September 1 hand over control of Iraq's Anbar province, once the heart of a bloody Sunni Arab insurgency, reflecting a dramatic drop in violence across the country, an Iraqi official said on Thursday.

Toyota cuts 2009 global sales forecast (2008-08-28)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> said on Thursday it would miss its goal of selling more than 10 million vehicles next year, lowering its forecast by nearly 7 percent to account for a severe downturn in Western markets driven by high fuel prices and a credit crunch.

Anwar rejoins Malaysia parliament, heads opposition (2008-08-28)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim rejoined parliament on Thursday and was appointed leader of the opposition, taking another step towards his goal of winning power and reforming the economy.

GM to put $200 million in India engine plant (2008-08-28)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - General Motors Corp on Thursday said it would invest more than $200 million initially in a powertrain plant in India, as the troubled carmaker aims to double its share of a fast-growing but increasingly competitive market.

George Clooney takes to "Air" (2008-08-28)
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Toyota cuts sales forecast as demand sputters (2008-08-28)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T>, the world's most profitable carmaker, cut its 2009 vehicle sales forecast by nearly 7 percent due to a severe downturn in Western markets driven by high fuel prices and a credit crunch.

Phelps to appear on "SNL" (2008-08-28)
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Caterpillar sees strong China sales enduring (2008-08-28)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc expects weakness in rich-country economies to persist into 2009 but its sales in China will remain strong, Jim Owens, chairman and chief executive of the U.S. construction and mining equipment firm, said on Thursday.

Bomb attack on Pakistani police kills 11 (2008-08-28)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A car bomb blew up as a Pakistani police bus traveled across a bridge in the country's northwest on Thursday, killing 11 people, police said.

Thai protesters defy order to leave PM's compound (2008-08-28)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of anti-government protesters defied a court order to leave Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's official compound on Thursday as the group's leaders vowed to stay until his administration fell.

U.S., Europe and Japan planned dollar rescue: report (2008-08-28)
TOKYO (Reuters) - The United States, Europe and Japan planned joint intervention to rescue the dollar when it was plunging in March at the time U.S. investment bank Bear Stearns collapsed, the Nikkei business newspaper reported.

Tropical Storm Gustav shifts track slightly (2008-08-28)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The center of Tropical Storm Gustav reformed and the track of the storm shifted slightly on Thursday morning, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Tiffany posts higher profit (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. jeweler Tiffany & Co posted a higher quarterly profit on Thursday, benefiting from strong international sales and solid tourist spending at its New York flagship store.

CFTC inspector starts probe into oil report: paper (2008-08-28)
(Reuters) - The Inspector General for the U.S. commodity-futures regulator has officially begun an investigation into an inter-agency report on commodity markets, the Wall Street Journal said citing a person close to the matter.

Oil rises above $119 on storm fears (2008-08-28)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil rose for a fourth straight day to above $119 a barrel on Thursday, on fears Tropical Storm Gustav may hit the Gulf of Mexico after it morphs into a major hurricane, crippling the heart of U.S. offshore production.

GM to invest $200 million in India engine plant (2008-08-28)
MUMBAI (Reuters) - General Motors Corp said on Thursday it would invest more than $200 million in a powertrain plant in India, as the troubled U.S. carmaker aims to double its share of a fast-growing but increasingly competitive market.

Phelps to host Saturday Night Live (2008-08-28)
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Pakistani lawyers to press government (2008-08-28)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani lawyers were set to launch protests on Thursday pressing the government to reinstate judges purged by former president Pervez Musharraf, as militants attacked police in the northwest, killing 11 people.

Livni widens lead in race to replace Olmert (2008-08-28)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will easily win leadership elections in the ruling Kadima party to replace embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, poll results showed on Thursday.

Sears Holdings profit falls short (2008-08-28)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp posted quarterly profit that fell short of expectations on Thursday as the retailer cut prices to lure shoppers amid a U.S. housing slump that hurt appliance and tool sales.

AIDS cases seen on the rise in Philippines (2008-08-28)
MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has a lower incidence of HIV than most of its neighbors despite sharing many of the risks, but health officials warned on Thursday that many new cases were now coming to light.

Thousands evacuated from floods in eastern India (2008-08-28)
PATNA, India (Reuters) - Indian army troops helped evacuate more than 120,000 people from floods in eastern India, but more bad weather raised fears that rivers would to continue to overflow, officials said on Thursday.

Lesbian pioneer dies months after California wedding (2008-08-28)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lesbian activist Del Martin died on Wednesday, just two months after marrying her partner of 55 years in one of the first legally recognized California same-sex weddings.

Hacker loses appeal and faces extradition to U.S. (2008-08-28)
LONDON (Reuters) - A British computer expert accused by the United States of "the biggest military hack of all time" lost an appeal on Thursday and could be extradited within weeks.

Audit shows China's government mismanaged $6.7 billion (2008-08-28)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese central government departments misused or mismanaged more than 46 billion yuan ($6.73 billion) last year, including using disaster relief money to build government offices and diverting funds to speculate in stocks, the National Audit Office said on Thursday.

Esprit shares plummet on growth worries (2008-08-28)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Shares in Esprit Holdings, the world's No. 5 fashion retailer, plunged nearly a fifth on Thursday to their lowest in two years after the firm missed earnings forecasts and warned investors of tougher times ahead.

Fannie's capital better than market perceptions: Lehman (2008-08-28)
(Reuters) - Fannie Mae's capital and reserves positions are better than market expectations, according to an analyst at Lehman Brothers, who also said the biggest U.S. mortgage finance company may not need any more externally raised capital.

Strengthening Gustav heads for Jamaica (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav strengthened Thursday morning as it headed towards Jamaica, and the system was expected to regain hurricane status later today, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory.

Israel reopens Gaza crossings after two-day closure (2008-08-28)
GAZA (Reuters) - Israel on Thursday reopened its border crossings with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, two days after they were shut in response to rocket attacks.

Oil near $120 as Gustav threatens US Gulf (2008-08-28)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose towards $120 a barrel on Thursday, its fourth day of gains, boosted by the threat of damage to U.S. oil installations from Tropical Storm Gustav.

Tropical Storm Gustav shifts track slightly (2008-08-28)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav shifted course slightly on Thursday morning and moved toward the Jamaica, and forecasters predicted it would be a powerful hurricane by the time it reached the Gulf of Mexico.

Q2 growth revised to 3.3 percent (2008-08-28)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy expanded at a stronger-than-first-reported 3.3 percent annual rate in the second quarter, as consumer spending and net exports were more robust than initially estimated and inventories fell less sharply, a government report showed on Thursday.

Dutch say Pisa no longer Europe's most leaning tower (2008-08-28)
BEDUM, Netherlands (Reuters) - The Tower of Pisa is being challenged by a lesser-known 12th-century building in the northern Dutch town of Bedum as Europe's most steeply leaning tower.

Wall St opens higher after GDP data (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened higher on Thursday after second-quarter U.S. growth was revised up by much more than expected, boosting optimism about the economy.

Futures point to a slightly weaker Wall Street start (2008-08-28)
LONDON (Reuters) - Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 traded down about 0.1 percent on Thursday, pointing to a slightly weaker start on Wall Street after a positive close on Wednesday.

Amgen to discontinue discounts on anemia drug: report (2008-08-28)
(Reuters) - Amgen Inc is halting some pricing practices that critics say were contributing to overuse of its flagship anemia drug Aranesp at a time of mounting concerns about the product's safety, the New York Times said.

Tiffany profit up, raises outlook; Zale posts loss (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Upscale U.S. jeweler Tiffany & Co posted a higher-than-expected profit and raised its full-year forecast on strong sales overseas, while middle-tier Zale Corp posted a loss due to price markdowns.

Terrence Howard hopes to be music hit too (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Terrence Howard earned an Oscar nomination for his role as a pimp aspiring to be a rapper in "Hustle & Flow" but the 2005 movie also shone a spotlight on the actor's musical talents and helped him land a record deal.

Futures point to higher open after GDP data (2008-08-28)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were heading for a higher open on Thursday after second-quarter U.S. growth was revised up much more than expected, buoying optimism about the economy.

Kitano takes oddball look at world of art (2008-08-28)
VENICE (Reuters) - Japanese cult director Takeshi Kitano turns his oddball gaze on what he calls the "cruel" world of art and art collecting in his latest movie, which has its premiere at the Venice film festival on Thursday.

Japan's Kitano takes oddball look at world of art (2008-08-28)
VENICE (Reuters) - Japanese cult director Takeshi Kitano turns his oddball gaze on what he calls the "cruel" world of art and art collecting in his latest movie, which has its premiere at the Venice film festival on Thursday.

Q&A: Bonnie Hunt ready for her daytime close-up (2008-08-28)
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Court dismisses video copyright case against Veoh (2008-08-28)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. judge has thrown out a copyright infringement case against Veoh Networks Inc, an Internet video start-up with high-profile Hollywood backers, ruling that video-sharing companies are not solely responsible for policing piracy that may take place on their sites.

Medvedev looks east for support on Georgia (2008-08-28)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev looked east on Thursday for support for Moscow's tough line over Georgia, which has inflamed relations with the West and prompted talk of a new Cold War.

Thai protesters defy order to leave PM's compound (2008-08-28)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters defied a court order to leave Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's official compound on Thursday as the group's leaders vowed to stay until his administration fell.

Don't take "holy" water onto pope plane (2008-08-28)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican has warned journalists who will travel with Pope Benedict to Lourdes next month not to put the revered water from the shrine in their hand luggage on the papal plane or it may be confiscated.

Appeal to poor for votes may not win election (2008-08-28)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Presidential candidates searching for votes in the U.S. heartland will find rising poverty. But appealing to the poor is not necessarily a winning strategy, analysts said.

Woman given care after 20 years in cellar (2008-08-27)
HEBRON, West Bank (Reuters) - A charity in the West Bank offered shelter on Wednesday to a mentally handicapped Palestinian woman whose father had made her live for most of the past 20 years in a room under his house.

Medvedev looks east for support on Georgia (2008-08-27)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev looked east on Thursday for support for Moscow's tough line over Georgia, which has inflamed relations with the West and prompted talk of a new Cold War.

Storm Gustav kills 23 in Caribbean, heads for Gulf (2008-08-27)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav pulled away from Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Wednesday after killing 23 people and threatened to become a major hurricane aimed at New Orleans and Gulf of Mexico oil fields.

Brazil court delays ruling on Indian rights case (2008-08-27)
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's Supreme Court delayed a ruling on Wednesday over the future of an Indian reserve on the country's northern border, a case seen as one of the most important in years on indigenous rights.

Researchers turn living cells into insulin-makers (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers have transformed ordinary cells into insulin-producing cells in a living mouse, improving symptoms of diabetes in a major step towards regenerative medicine.

Obama nominated by Democrats and backed by Clintons (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - To shouts of "Yes we can," Democrats nominated Barack Obama on Wednesday as their presidential candidate in a historic first for a black American, with strong backing from Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Union prepares proposal for Boeing as strike looms (2008-08-27)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Boeing Co's largest labor union said it was preparing to issue a contract proposal on Wednesday as negotiations grind on ahead of a threatened strike that could cost the company $3 billion a month.

Malaysia's Islamists endorse Anwar (2008-08-27)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Islamist party, a key partner in Anwar Ibrahim's opposition coalition, moved quickly to endorse him on Wednesday, removing a major obstacle in his push to win power.

Gustav weakens after slamming Haiti as hurricane (2008-08-27)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Gustav weakened after it slammed into Haiti as a hurricane on Tuesday, killing at least two people, but could strengthen again and become the first major storm to threaten U.S. oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico since 2005.

As Angola reaps oil wealth, many remain poor (2008-08-27)
LOBITO, Angola (Reuters) - On a recent Friday night, men in SUVs and others on mopeds line up outside one of the few gas stations in Angola's port city of Lobito to fill up for the weekend.

Starbucks top brass to receive no raise next year (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top executives at Starbucks Corp including Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz will not be getting raises anytime soon, after the coffee chain's first-ever quarterly loss as a public company.

As gas prices rise, rural America feels extra pain (2008-08-27)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Traci and Brian Bruckner between them commute 800 miles a week to and from their respective jobs -- his 30 miles away from their home in one direction, hers 50 miles away in another.

Cubist painting missing from Boston-area college (2008-08-27)
BOSTON (Reuters) - An elite women's liberal arts college outside Boston has lost a painting by early 20th century French Cubist Fernand Leger, whose work has sold for tens of millions of dollars.

Russia's Medvedev looks east for support on Georgia (2008-08-27)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev looked east on Thursday for support for Moscow's tough line over Georgia, which has inflamed relations with the West and prompted talk of a new Cold War.

Three Fannie Mae execs out, shares rally earlier (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fannie Mae , the biggest U.S. mortgage finance company, on Wednesday announced a shake-up of top executives, including the exit of its chief financial officer, in an effort to better implement a plan to preserve capital and cut losses.

Maple Leaf takes blame for food poison outbreak (2008-08-27)
TORONTO/WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - The head of Canada's biggest meat processor said on Wednesday his company was fully accountable for a nationwide outbreak of listeriosis food poisoning, which has been linked to deaths of 15 people.

Fed's Lockhart urges patience amid strained markets (2008-08-27)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve must be "very vigilant" amid strained financial markets while exercising patience over interest rates as it waits for inflation to ease, a top Fed policy-maker said on Wednesday.

"Suge" Knight charged with assault (2008-08-27)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rap music mogul Marion "Suge" Knight was arrested on charges of assault and domestic violence on Wednesday after punching his girlfriend and pulling a knife on her during an argument, Las Vegas police said.

New Orleans considers evacuation as Gustav looms (2008-08-27)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Three years after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Louisiana coast, New Orleans residents on Wednesday again faced the prospect of an evacuation as Tropical Storm Gustav loomed.

Man arrested for posting Guns N' Roses songs on Web (2008-08-27)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Federal officials on Wednesday arrested a man on suspicion of violating copyright laws for placing songs on the Internet from an unreleased album by rock band Guns N' Roses.

Obama wins nomination and Clintons' support (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - To shouts of "Yes we can," Democrats nominated Barack Obama on Wednesday as their presidential candidate in a historic first for a black American, backed by his ex-rivals Bill and Hillary Clinton.

More people living below poverty line (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank said on Tuesday more people are living in extreme poverty in developing countries than previously thought as it adjusted the recognized yardstick for measuring global poverty to $1.25 a day from $1.

July saw record mortgages modified: HOPE NOW (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A record number of troubled home loans were steered away from foreclosure in July, an industry-led homeowner aid program said on Wednesday.

Oil firms begin US Gulf evacuation on Gustav threat (2008-08-27)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy companies in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico began evacuating staff from offshore platforms on Wednesday as Tropical Storm Gustav barreled toward the oil and natural gas-rich region.

Wall St rises on strong U.S. data, financials (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Wednesday, led by a rally in financial shares, after surprisingly strong data on durable goods orders soothed some concern about the economy.

Russia-Georgia conflict raises Black Sea tensions (2008-08-27)
KIEV/TBILISI (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Wednesday it wanted to discuss charging Russia more for the lease of a Black Sea naval base, a move that could aggravate regional tensions already enflamed by Moscow's conflict with Georgia.

U.N. official freed in Somalia but MSF closes clinic (2008-08-27)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kidnappers freed the head of the U.N. refugee agency's office in Somalia on Wednesday but rising insecurity forced Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) to close a clinic in Mogadishu that provided essential health care to hundreds of women and children.

Russia plans to raise navy presence in Syria: diplomat (2008-08-27)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - The Russian navy will make more use of Syrian ports as part of increased military presence in the Mediterranean, a Russian diplomat said on Wednesday.

Israeli peace pioneer Abie Nathan dies at 81 (2008-08-27)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Abie Nathan, an Israeli peace activist who blazed trails to Egypt and the Palestinians that his country would eventually follow, died on Wednesday. He was 81.

Replacements drummer Steve Foley dies (2008-08-27)
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Mackenzie Phillips arrested on drug charge (2008-08-27)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "One Day at Time" television star Mackenzie Phillips was arrested on Wednesday morning at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of drug possession, police said.

T.I. sets record for jump to top of singles chart (2008-08-27)
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Hyundai Motor to recall 65,000 Elantras in U.S. (2008-08-27)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Co, South Korea's top automaker, plans to recall some 65,000 units of the Elantra in the United States to fix a defect in the compact car's fuel pump, a company official said on Thursday.

Caterpillar sees soft economy stretching into 2009 (2008-08-27)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc expects weakness in rich-country economies to persist into 2009 but its sales in China remain strong, Jim Owens, chairman and chief executive of the U.S. construction and mining equipment firm, said on Thursday.

Suspected bomber attacks Pakistani police bus (2008-08-27)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suspected suicide bomber in a car rammed his vehicle into a Pakistani police bus carrying prisoners on Thursday and set off his explosives, killing several people, police said.

Judges consider whether FBI violated free speech (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A panel of federal appeals court judges pushed a U.S. government lawyer on Wednesday to answer why FBI letters sent out to Internet service providers seeking information should remain secret.

Violence hits as Pakistani politicians jockey (2008-08-27)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Government forces killed about 40 militants in clashes in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday as increasing violence, and political uncertainty deepened by a split in the government drove stocks lower.

Frustration grows as Americans fill trains (2008-08-27)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Looking up at a list of delayed trains at Boston's crowded South Station on a summer afternoon, Peter Pesis asks why passenger trains in the United States are so slow, so crowded and so prone to delays.

New Orleans mulls evacuation as Gustav looms (2008-08-27)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Three years after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Louisiana coast, New Orleans residents on Wednesday again confronted the prospect of an evacuation as Tropical Storm Gustav loomed.

Stocks rise on strong U.S. data, financials (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as surprisingly strong data on durable goods orders soothed some concern about the sluggish economy while Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac led a rally in financial shares.

Thai protesters defy PM ultimatum to leave (2008-08-27)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A deadline set by Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej for tens of thousands of protesters to leave his official compound passed on Thursday as the group's leaders vowed to stay until his government fell.

Obama nominated by Democrats, backed by Clintons (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - To shouts of "Yes we can," Democrats nominated Barack Obama on Wednesday as their presidential candidate in a historic first for a black American, backed by his ex-rivals Bill and Hillary Clinton.

July saw record U.S. mortgages modified: report (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A record number of troubled home loans were steered away from foreclosure in July, an industry-led homeowner aid program said on Wednesday.

No GSE announcement on Wednesday: U.S. Treasury (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday shot down financial market rumors that an announcement regarding mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was imminent.

Top Marine sees shift to Afghanistan (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. Marine officer on Wednesday said he could reduce his 25,000-strong force in the former al Qaeda stronghold of Iraq's Anbar province to reinforce military operations against a growing Taliban threat in Afghanistan.

Anwar sworn in as MP in Malaysian parliament (2008-08-27)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's leading opposition figure, Anwar Ibrahim, was sworn in on Thursday, taking his parliamentary seat after a decade-long absence following convictions for sodomy and corruption.

Ten Koreans killed in Philippine traffic accident (2008-08-27)
MANILA (Reuters) - Ten South Korean nationals, many of them Baptist pastors, were killed in the northern Philippines when the van in which they were travelling slammed into a concrete wall at high speed, officials said on Thursday.

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac shares extend rebound (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the largest U.S. housing finance companies, rallied for a third straight day on Wednesday as investors grew more confident their shareholdings would not be wiped out by any government intervention.

Corporate America taking longer to collect: study (2008-08-27)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Corporate America is having the hardest time getting its customers to pay their bills since the last U.S. recession in 2001, according to a study released on Wednesday.

Fed's Lockhart urges patience amid strained mkts (2008-08-27)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve must be "very vigilant" amid strained financial markets while exercising patience over interest rates as it waits for inflation to ease, a top Fed policy-maker said on Wednesday.

Thai PM orders police to clear protesters (2008-08-27)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has ordered thousands of riot police to clear an anti-government crowd occupying his office compound by Wednesday, his spokesman said.

Officer and civilians among 11 killed in Kashmir (2008-08-27)
JAMMU, India (Reuters) - Suspected Muslim militants who slipped across the border from Pakistan into Indian Kashmir were shot dead by security forces after they killed six people in the Hindu-majority region of Jammu on Wednesday, police said.

Top Marine sees shift from Iraq to Afghanistan (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. Marine officer said on Wednesday he could reduce his 25,000-strong force in the former al Qaeda stronghold of Iraq's Anbar province to reinforce military operations against a growing Taliban threat in Afghanistan.

U.S. soldiers say they executed Iraqis on riverbank: report (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three U.S. soldiers killed four handcuffed and blindfolded Iraqi prisoners with pistol shots on the bank of a Baghdad canal last year, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

"Grease to Greece" racers cross Europe on cooking oil (2008-08-27)
ATHENS (Reuters) - Fuelled only by used cooking fat, eight teams completed a 2,500-mile car rally from London to Athens on Wednesday in a bid to promote awareness of cheap and environmentally-friendly bio-fuels.

Top U.S. Marine sees shift from Iraq to Afghanistan (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. Marine officer said on Wednesday he could reduce his 25,000-strong force in the former al Qaeda stronghold of Iraq's Anbar province to reinforce military operations against a growing Taliban threat in Afghanistan.

Durable goods orders show surprising strength (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods jumped a surprising 1.3 percent in July as businesses ramped up spending plans and demand for a wide array of items rose, a government report showed on Wednesday.

Libya says Sudanese plane hijackers surrender (2008-08-27)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Hijackers of a Sudanese airliner surrendered to authorities in Libya after releasing all the passengers on Wednesday, Libya's aviation authority said.

Lehman faces Q3 loss, fresh writedowns: Morgan Stanley (2008-08-27)
BANGALORE (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc may post a loss in the third quarter on likely pre-tax writedowns of $3.5 billion, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc may incur $1.5 billion in writedowns, according to an analyst at Morgan Stanley.

Sorkin to write Facebook story for big screen (2008-08-27)
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Historic first: Obama nominated by Democrats (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - Democrats nominated Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday as their presidential candidate in a historic first for a black American, sending him into battle against Republican John McCain.

McCartney to perform in Israel for first time (2008-08-27)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paul McCartney will perform for the first time ever in Israel next month -- more than 40 years after the Beatles were blocked from giving a concert in the country, the singer announced on Wednesday.

Neil Diamond offers concert audience a refund (2008-08-27)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer and songwriter Neil Diamond is offering audiences of a recent Ohio concert a refund and asking for their forgiveness after he performed with a raspy voice earlier this week.

CORRECTED: Neil Diamond offers concert audience a refund (2008-08-27)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer and songwriter Neil Diamond is offering audiences of a recent Ohio concert a refund and asking for their forgiveness after he performed with a raspy voice earlier this week.

Thai PM orders end to anti-government protest (2008-08-27)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej ordered thousands of riot police to remove an anti-government crowd occupying his office compound by the end of Wednesday, but protest leaders vowed to stay.

HIV spreads in NY at three times the U.S. average (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Yorkers are contracting HIV at three times the national rate, the city health department said on Wednesday, attributing the difference to New York's large population of high-risk groups such as gay men and blacks.

U.S. seeks delay of civil case vs. Bear managers (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. federal prosecutors asked securities regulators to delay a civil case against two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers while they hold grand jury hearings in building a criminal case against the pair.

Russia-Georgia conflict raises Black Sea tension (2008-08-27)
KIEV/TBILISI (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Wednesday it wanted to discuss charging Russia more for the lease of a Black Sea naval base, a move that could aggravate regional tensions already enflamed by Moscow's conflict with Georgia.

Idaho jury sentences serial child killer to death (2008-08-27)
SPOKANE, Washington (Reuters) - A federal jury in Idaho sentenced Joseph Duncan on Wednesday to death for shooting to death a 9-year-old boy in front of his younger sister after kidnapping and sexually abusing the boy.

Families of Nepalese workers killed in Iraq sue KBR (2008-08-27)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - KBR Inc and its Jordanian contractor are being sued for human trafficking by a Nepalese survivor and the families of 12 other employees who were killed while being transported, allegedly against their will, to work in a U.S. military base in Iraq.

Man charged in Ariz. crash that killed 9 migrants (2008-08-27)
PHOENIX (Reuters) - The Mexican driver of a vehicle that flipped on an Arizona highway, killing nine illegal immigrants, has been charged by a federal grand jury and could face the death penalty if convicted, authorities said on Wednesday.

Colliding galaxies shed light on dark matter (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Astronomers have captured images of a powerful collision of galaxy clusters and say it may shed light on the behavior of dark matter.

Iraq says U.S. sought troop presence to 2015 (2008-08-27)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States asked Iraq for permission to maintain a troop presence there to 2015, but U.S. and Iraqi negotiators agreed to limit their authorization to 2011, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said.

North Korea still holds plutonium card: analysts (2008-08-27)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's threat to restart its plant that makes arms-grade plutonium is feasible, although the task would be a daunting one, analysts said on Wednesday.

Inquiry probes Fidelity-Goldman ties: report (2008-08-27)
(Reuters) - The New York attorney general's office is probing the relationship between Fidelity Investments and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in connection with the sale of auction-rate securities, the Wall Street Journal said, citing a person familiar with the investigation.

Rat meat in demand in Cambodia as inflation bites (2008-08-27)
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - The price of rat meat has quadrupled in Cambodia this year as inflation has put other meat beyond the reach of poor people, officials said on Wednesday.

Malaysia's Islamists endorse Anwar in bid for power (2008-08-27)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's leading opposition figure, Anwar Ibrahim, cleared a major hurdle in his race to win power when an Islamist party endorsed him on Wednesday as leader of an anti-government alliance.

Sudan hijackers free passengers but hold crew (2008-08-27)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The hijackers of a Sudanese plane that was forced to land in Libya freed all the passengers on Wednesday but still held six crew members, Libya's aviation authority said.

Mortgage applications up 1st time in 3 weeks: report (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage applications rose for the first time in three weeks as interest rates edged lower, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Pakistani politicians jockey as violence hits (2008-08-27)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - About 40 militants were killed in clashes with security forces in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday as increasing violence, and political uncertainty deepened by a split in the government, drove stocks lower.

FDIC may borrow money from Treasury: report (2008-08-27)
(Reuters) - Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) might have to borrow money from the Treasury Department to see it through an expected wave of bank failures, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Brown Shoe posts lower profit (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brown Shoe Co Inc said on Wednesday that quarterly profit dropped, hurt by lower sales and more discounts for its products.

Iran says can hit Israel with missiles if attacked (2008-08-27)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran could hit back at Israel with missiles if the Jewish state attacked it and could also rely on allies in the region to strike, the commander of the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday.

Russia must not start new Cold War: Britain (2008-08-27)
KIEV (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Wednesday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had a big responsibility not to start a new Cold War which the West does not want.

Sudanese plane hijackers surrender in Libya (2008-08-27)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The hijackers of a Sudanese airliner surrendered to authorities in Libya on Wednesday after releasing all the passengers, Libya's aviation authority said.

July durables orders surprisingly strong (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods jumped a surprising 1.3 percent in July, while a gauge of business investment also rose unexpectedly, a government report showed on Wednesday.

Recent dollar rise helpful: Fed's Lockhart (2008-08-27)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart on Wednesday welcomed the recent rise in the dollar.

Venice opens with Pitt and Clooney in madcap comedy (2008-08-27)
VENICE (Reuters) - Brad Pitt and George Clooney star in a madcap comedy by the Coen brothers in which two Washington gym employees get caught up in the cloak-and-dagger world of international espionage, with results both daft and deadly.

Classical (2008-08-27)
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Wall St starts flat as oil offsets durables (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were little changed at the open on Wednesday as surging oil prices offset surprisingly strong data on durable goods orders that calmed jitters about a weak economy.

Chrysler looking at options for Viper business (2008-08-27)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Automaker Chrysler LLC is planning to explore strategic options for its Dodge Viper business, Chief Executive Bob Nardelli said in a memo to employees on Wednesday.

New York probes Fidelity, Goldman ties: sources (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office is probing the relationship between Fidelity Investments and Goldman Sachs Group Inc in connection with the broker's sales of auction-rate securities, people familiar with the investigation said on Wednesday.

Iraq says U.S. agreed troop pullout compromise (2008-08-27)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States asked Iraq for permission to maintain a troop presence there to 2015, but U.S. and Iraqi negotiators agreed to limit authorization to 2011, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said.

New Orleans considers evacuation as Gustav looms (2008-08-27)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Three years after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Louisiana coast, New Orleans residents on Wednesday again confronted the prospect of an evacuation as Tropical Storm Gustav loomed.

After Hillary, Bill Clinton's turn to boost Obama (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - Bill Clinton once vowed to fight for voters "until the last dog dies." On Wednesday he shows how hard he will fight for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama on the Clintons' last big day of the 2008 campaign.

Three drug hitmen die in attack on Mexican army (2008-08-27)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Suspected drug hitmen attacked a group of sleeping soldiers with grenades in central Mexico, sparking a battle that killed three gunmen, a state attorney general's office said on Wednesday.

New Orleans considers evacuation as Gustav looms (2008-08-27)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Three years after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Louisiana coast, New Orleans residents on Wednesday again confronted the prospect of an evacuation as Tropical Storm Gustav loomed.

Bill Clinton's turn to boost Obama (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - Former President Bill Clinton gets the chance on Wednesday to pick up where his wife, Hillary, left off -- provide a ringing endorsement of Democrat Barack Obama's presidential aspirations.

Sean Connery's memoirs no "kiss and tell" (2008-08-27)
EDINBURGH (Reuters) - If you are looking for kiss-and-tell stories about the Bond girls or movie town gossip, Sean Connery's memoirs are not for you.

Writer's view of Sarajevo war to become film (2008-08-27)
SARAJEVO (Reuters) - What started out as a personal journey to escape grief following his wife's death led Bill Carter to Sarajevo during its long siege in the 1990s, where he witnessed both terrible suffering and uplifting hope.

The Philadelphia Inquirer David Patrick Stearns column: Maestro on piano, on a new '86 disc (2008-08-27)
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CORRECTED: Sudan hijackers free passengers but hold crew (2008-08-27)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The hijackers of a Sudanese plane that was forced to land in Libya freed all the passengers on Wednesday but still held six crew members, Libya's aviation authority said.

Foreign ownership of U.S. companies jumps (2008-08-27)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Foreign ownership of U.S. companies more than doubled from 1996 to 2005 measured by revenue and more than tripled as measured by assets, according to an analysis of U.S. tax data released on Wednesday.

Dead Sea Scrolls to go digital on Internet (2008-08-27)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Scientists in Israel are taking digital photographs of the Dead Sea Scrolls with the aim of making the 2,000-year-old documents available to the public and researchers on the Internet.

Strong data, financials drive stocks higher (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Wednesday as surprisingly strong data on durable goods orders soothed some concern about the sluggish economy while Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac led a rally in financial shares.

U.S. assessing possible military aid to Georgia (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. military planners have begun pondering the thorny question of how Georgia's shattered armed forces might be rebuilt without provoking a Russian backlash that could risk direct confrontation with Moscow.

Obama set to be nominated as Democrats' candidate (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - Barack Obama was set to be nominated on Wednesday as the Democrats' presidential candidate, a historic first for a black American, and Bill and Hillary Clinton marked their last day in the Denver spotlight.

In Running And Writing, Author Haruki Murakami Is Going the Distance (2008-08-27)
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Hemingway confidante brings author's Havana to life (2008-08-27)
EDINBURGH (Reuters) - She was a teenager from Dublin looking to make her name as a journalist when American author Ernest Hemingway entered her life in 1959.

About 70 migrants feared missing in Mediterranean (2008-08-27)
VALLETTA (Reuters) - Some 70 African migrants are feared missing in the central Mediterranean after the engine of a large rubber dinghy taking them to Europe stopped and they drifted for days at sea.

Book Reviews (2008-08-27)
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In Running And Writing, Author Haruki Murakami Is Going the Distance (2008-08-27)
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Bennett leaves heart at Ravinia in stellar show (2008-08-27)
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Review: Jeffrey Lewis & The Jitters (2008-08-27)
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Soundwaves (2008-08-27)
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Some 70 migrants feared missing in Mediterranean (2008-08-27)
VALLETTA (Reuters) - Some 70 African migrants are feared missing in the central Mediterranean after a large rubber dinghy taking them to Europe capsized, the Malta representative of the UN refugee agency said on Wednesday.

U.S. lesbian pioneer, 87, dies months after wedding (2008-08-27)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lesbian activist Del Martin died on Wednesday, just two months after marrying her partner of 55 years in one of the first legally recognized California same-sex weddings.

Dollar Tree posts higher profit, outlook below view (2008-08-27)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Dollar Tree Inc reported a higher profit on Wednesday but gave a forecast for the full year that fell short of Wall Street expectations, sending the retailer's shares down more than 6 percent.

Exxon agrees to pay out 75 percent of Valdez damages (2008-08-27)
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil agreed to pay out 75 percent of a $507.5 million damages ruling to settle the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, the Anchorage Daily News reported on Tuesday.

Bennett leaves heart at Ravinia in stellar show (2008-08-27)
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Futures slip on bank worries, higher oil (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures slipped on Wednesday, suggesting a weaker market opening, prompted by lingering worries about the battered banking sector and crude prices rising for a third straight day.

Fannie Mae announces management shakeup (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Battered mortgage-finance company Fannie Mae on Wednesday announced a sweeping management shake-up in an effort to come to grips with mounting credit losses and a shrinking capital base.

Obama formally nominated for president (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Barack Obama won the Democratic presidential nomination on Wednesday, making history as the first black candidate picked to lead a major American political party.

Ricoh shares up on Ikon acquisition, Canon slides (2008-08-27)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Shares of copier and printer maker Ricoh Co Ltd <7752.T> jumped nearly 4 percent on its $1.6 billion acquisition of U.S. distributor Ikon Office Solutions , while rival Canon Inc <7751.T> slid to a four-month low on concerns the deal would hurt its business.

Malaysia's Anwar rejoins parliament, heads opposition (2008-08-27)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's leading opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy premier, rejoined parliament on Thursday, bringing him closer to his ambition of toppling the government and reforming the economy.

Movie museum to honor Ben Stiller (2008-08-27)
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Heineken battles to maintain profit (2008-08-27)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch brewer Heineken NV posted first-half operating profit up 7.4 percent to 925 million euros ($1.36 billion) on Wednesday, and said it had raised prices in most markets and cut costs.

Curfew imposed in NW Pakistan after militant attack (2008-08-27)
WANA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani authorities imposed a curfew in the main town of a violence-plagued region near Afghanistan on Wednesday after militants attacked a military post, as violence hit several other points across the country.

China Mobile says Q2 profit up (2008-08-27)
HONG KONG (Reuters) - China Mobile <0941.HK>, the world's largest wireless operator, posted a 51 percent rise in quarterly profit on strong subscriber growth, but faces new competition in China's revamped telecoms sector.

Strong quake hits Siberia (2008-08-27)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - An intense earthquake measuring nine on the Richter scale hit the Lake Baikal area of eastern Siberia on Wednesday, triggering reports of panic, but there were no casualties or major damage, officials said.

Negotiations start with Sudan hijacker (2008-08-27)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Negotiations have started between Libyan authorities and the hijacker of a Sudanese plane that has been forced to land in Libya, the airline's manager said on Wednesday.

Malaysia's Islamists endorse Anwar, PM pressured (2008-08-27)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's Islamist party, a key partner in Anwar Ibrahim's opposition coalition, moved quickly to endorse him on Wednesday, removing a major obstacle in his push to win power.

FDIC sees most problem banks since 2003 (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of troubled U.S. banks rose 30 percent to 117 in the second quarter, the highest level in five years, and a top regulator warned that conditions will worsen as the housing slump and credit crisis continues to pound profitability.

Lehman asks private equity firms to remain in bid: report (2008-08-27)
(Reuters) - Lehman Brothers has asked three private equity firms to remain in bidding for its asset management arm even though the investment bank has yet decide on whether to sell the unit, the Financial Times reported.

Wall Street set for a weaker open (2008-08-27)
LONDON (Reuters) - Futures fell by around 0.4 percent on Wednesday as concerns lingered about the banking sector.

July durable goods orders up 1.3 percent (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods jumped a surprising 1.3 percent in July on strong civilian aircraft sales, while a gauge of business investment also rose unexpectedly, a government report showed on Wednesday.

Brown Shoe 2nd-quarter profit down; cuts outlook (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brown Shoe Co Inc posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit and cut its full-year outlook and store growth plans, citing caution as shoppers curb spending on items such as shoes and clothing.

Storm Gustav still poses threat to Gulf (2008-08-27)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav weakened and stalled over Haiti on Wednesday, dumping torrential rains on the flood-prone country, but forecasters warned it may still become a dangerously powerful hurricane among the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico.

Freddie, Fannie bail-out concerns premature: Merrill (2008-08-27)
(Reuters) - Merrill Lynch said it was premature to consider a recapitalization sponsored by the U.S Treasury for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae , the two biggest U.S. mortgage finance giants, as capital depletion would not likely occur for several quarters.

Threat to Obama stirs painful memories in U.S. (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - The "racist ramblings" of a man in Colorado posed no threat to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama but reminded many Americans of past attempts on the lives of their leaders.

Threat to Obama stirs painful memories (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - The "racist ramblings" of a man in Colorado posed no threat to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama but reminded many Americans of past attempts on the lives of their leaders.

Heineken profit up, says brand outperforms market (2008-08-27)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch brewer Heineken NV first-half operating profit rose 7.4 percent, and it said on Wednesday it had managed to pass on higher costs to most markets apart from the United States, despite weaker economies.

Hijacker of Sudan plane releases hostages (2008-08-27)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The hijacker of a Sudanese passenger plane forced to land in Libya has agreed to release all hostages on board, the airline Sun Air said on Wednesday.

Fidelity-Goldman ties probed: report (2008-08-27)
(Reuters) - The New York attorney general's office is probing the relationship between Fidelity Investments and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in connection with the sale of auction-rate securities, the Wall Street Journal said, citing a person familiar with the investigation.

Tropical Storm Gustav dumps rain on Haiti (2008-08-27)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav dumped torrential rains on Haiti on Wednesday, and forecasters warned it could regain hurricane strength once it moves out to sea.

Sudan plane hijackers start releasing passengers (2008-08-27)
CAIRO (Reuters) - The hijackers of a Sudanese passenger plane have started to release hostages, state-run Egyptian television said.

Pakistani rivals step up presidential campaign (2008-08-27)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani rivals stepped up their campaign for next week's presidential election on Wednesday as political uncertainty deepened by a split in the ruling coalition drove stocks lower.

IBM's server market lead over HP grows (2008-08-27)
(Reuters) - U.S. computer group International Business Machines widened its market share lead over rival Hewlett-Packard Co in worldwide server shipments in the second quarter, researcher IDC said on Wednesday.

Iraq says U.S. sought troop presence to 2015 (2008-08-27)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States asked Iraq for permission to keep its troops there to 2015, but U.S. and Iraqi negotiators agreed to limit their authorization to 2011, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said.

Sudan plane hijackers start releasing passengers (2008-08-27)
CAIRO (Reuters) - The hijackers of a Sudanese passenger plane have started to release hostages, state-run Egyptian television said.

Missing child case captivates Israel (2008-08-27)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The case of a missing four-year-old girl who police believe was murdered by her grandfather -- her mother's live-in lover -- captivated Israel on Wednesday.

Weak economy to sap handset market growth: Gartner (2008-08-27)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - A weakening global economy will blunt cellphone market sales growth this year, research firm Gartner said on Wednesday.

Judge dismisses borrower lawsuit against IndyMac (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing the now-bankrupt mortgage lender IndyMac Bancorp Inc of inflating the appraised values of homes and misleading borrowers into paying higher closing and financing costs.

Sudan hijackers free passengers, hold crew (2008-08-27)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The hijackers of a Sudanese plane that was forced to land in Libya freed all the passengers on Wednesday but still held seven crew members, a Libyan aviation authority official said.

Tropical Storm Gustav dumps rain on Haiti (2008-08-27)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav stalled over Haiti on Wednesday, dumping torrential rains on the impoverished country, and forecasters warned it could regain hurricane strength once it moves out to sea.

Wall Street gains on stronger data, financials (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks advanced moderately on Wednesday on an unexpectedly strong rise in orders for durable manufactured goods and resilience in the financial sector.

Zimbabwe power-sharing talks are continuing (2008-08-27)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks are still taking place, the country's new parliamentary speaker said on Wednesday.

Strong quake hits Siberia, no deaths reported (2008-08-27)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A strong earthquake hit the Lake Baikal area of eastern Siberia on Wednesday, triggering panic, but there were no immediate signs of casualties or major damage, officials said.

Zimbabwe power-sharing talks still on (2008-08-27)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks are still taking place, the country's new parliamentary speaker said on Wednesday.

GM to cut production in Spain due to slowdown (2008-08-27)
MADRID (Reuters) - General Motors will trim production at its Figueralas plant in Zaragoza in eastern Spain due to the slowdown in its main markets, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Dollar Tree posts higher quarterly profit (2008-08-27)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Dollar Tree Inc reported a higher quarterly profit on Wednesday as shoppers scoured its stores for low prices on food, health-care items and cleaning products.

Futures turn positive after durable goods data (2008-08-27)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures turned positive on Wednesday, suggesting a higher market open, after stronger-than-expected July data on durable goods orders eased some worries about a weakening U.S. economy.

Mini-skirts reign as Italy bares showgirl obsession (2008-08-27)
ROME (Reuters) - When it comes to political satire, Italians like theirs hot -- with buxom women in mini-skirts and low-cut tops dancing as cameras zoom in on their breasts and long legs.

Hijackers free all Sudanese plane hostages (2008-08-27)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The hijackers of a Sudanese plane that was forced to land in Libya released all the passengers on Wednesday, a Libyan aviation authority official said.

Airports back to normal after computer glitch (2008-08-27)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major U.S. airports were operating normally on Tuesday evening after a glitch in the computer system for filing flight plans delayed hundreds of flights, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Clinton calls for Democratic unity (2008-08-27)
DENVER (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton delivered a ringing call for Democratic Party unity on Tuesday, promising to work for Barack Obama and challenging her supporters to bury their grudges and rally behind his White House bid.

Kidnapped Japanese aid worker killed in Afghanistan (2008-08-27)
SHEWA, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A Japanese aid worker kidnapped in eastern Afghanistan was found dead, the governor of Nangarhar province said on Wednesday.

Mugabe to form new government, says MDC unwilling (2008-08-27)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe will form a new government soon but he says the main opposition MDC does not want to join the new administration, state media reported on Wednesday.

Some passengers leave hijacked Sudanese plane (2008-08-27)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The hijackers of a Sudanese plane that was forced to land in Libya released some passengers on Wednesday, Egyptian television said.

Nearly 50 Taliban killed in Afghanistan (2008-08-27)
KHOST, Afghanistan (Reuters) - An air strike killed 30 Taliban in southeastern Afghanistan close to the border with Pakistan and Afghan police killed 18 more militants in the south of the country, officials said on Wednesday.

More killed in India religious riots (2008-08-27)
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Police were ordered to shoot rioters on sight in an eastern Indian state on Wednesday to tame rising violence between Hindus and Christians that has killed 11 people so far and left the Pope "profoundly saddened."

Borders quarterly loss narrows (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Borders Group Inc on Tuesday posted a narrower quarterly loss, as the second-largest U.S. bookseller was helped by lower inventory levels.

Inventor sues Google, Verizon, others on voicemail (2008-08-26)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Emboldened by settlements with Apple Inc and AT&T Inc , inventor Judah Klausner filed a voicemail patent lawsuit on Tuesday against Google Inc , Verizon Communications Inc and others.

U.S. FAA says flight problem to be fixed in an hour (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it hopes to have the computer system failure that delayed flights at several airports fixed within an hour, or by about 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT).

Pre-Incan female Wari mummy unearthed in Peru (2008-08-26)
LIMA (Reuters) - Archeologists working at Peru's Huaca Pucllana ruins pulled a mummy from a tomb on Tuesday, thought to be from the ancient Wari culture that flourished before the Incas.

Israel settlement surge draws Rice criticism (2008-08-26)
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Israel on Tuesday not to undermine peace talks with the Palestinians after a report found it had nearly doubled Jewish settlement construction.

Sci-fi movie "The Fly" gets opera treatment (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - David Cronenberg's sci-fi terror movie "The Fly" has taken on a new life in the Canadian director's first foray into the world of opera.

Fed saw weak growth, financial stress: minutes (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve monetary policy-makers this month saw a weakening economic outlook and financial market stress as supporting the case for steady interest rates despite persistent concerns about inflation.

Energy shares, better consumer mood boost Wall St (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose in light volume on Tuesday, as higher oil prices boosted the energy sector and a report showing a pickup in consumer confidence in August soothed anxieties about the economy.

Consumer confidence bounces (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence recovered more than expected in August as fears over inflation eased, while financial markets combed through housing data for reasons to hope the worst is over for the moribund sector.

Hit men kill 5 at family gathering in Mexico (2008-08-26)
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Reuters) - Suspected drug hitmen burst onto a ranch in northern Mexico and opened fire on a family gathering, killing five people in the third big attack in Chihuahua state this month.

Consumer confidence bounces (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer confidence recovered more than expected in August as fears over inflation eased, while financial markets combed through housing data for reasons to hope the worst is over for the moribund sector.

Russia recognizes Georgia regions as Bush condemns (2008-08-26)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia recognized two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states on Tuesday, driving up tension in the volatile Caucasus and putting Moscow on a collision course with the West.

North Korea to suspend nuclear disablement (2008-08-26)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday it will stop disabling its nuclear facilities and consider restoring the Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs, accusing the United States of violating a disarmament deal.

Weather risk hedging seen boosting global economy (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Insuring against weather-related calamity in this era of global warming might seem the work of bean counters and actuaries.

Armed men were no "credible" threat to Obama (2008-08-26)
DENVER (Reuters) - Three men were charged with gun and drugs offenses on Tuesday but U.S. authorities dismissed reports that they had serious plans to shoot Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and said they had posed no "true threat."

Judge orders release of Rosenberg trial evidence (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday ordered the release of a further eight grand jury transcripts from the 1951 espionage prosecution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a lawyer for the National Security Archives said.

Pitt, Clooney open Venice with Coen bros' satire (2008-08-26)
VENICE (Reuters) - Brad Pitt and George Clooney hit the red carpet on Wednesday with their latest movie "Burn After Reading," a satirical comedy by Oscar winners the Coen brothers which opens this year's Venice film festival.

CORRECTED: Cat survives being walled in under bath for 7 weeks (2008-08-26)
BERLIN (Reuters) - A four-year-old cat in Germany called Bonny has survived after being walled in beneath a bathtub for seven weeks, its owner said on Tuesday.

Hijacked Sudanese plane lands in Libya: report (2008-08-26)
DUBAI (Reuters) - A Sudanese passenger plane hijacked between the town of Nyala in Darfur and the capital Khartoum landed in Libya, Al Jazeera television said on Tuesday.

Thornburg survival in doubt, sees completing tender (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Thornburg Mortgage Inc , a specialist in jumbo home loans, said its survival remained in doubt following additional margin calls, but it is on track to complete a restructuring and avoid collapse.

Stocks rise on energy shares, offsets bank fears (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 rose on Tuesday as hurricane fears lifted oil prices and boosted energy shares, blunting the effect of a report that showed a growing number of problem U.S. banks.

Inventor sues Google, Verizon and others on voicemail (2008-08-26)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Emboldened by settlements with Apple Inc and AT&T Inc , inventor Judah Klausner filed a new voicemail patent lawsuit on Tuesday against Google Inc , Verizon Communications Inc and others.

Sudanese plane hijacked from Darfur: report (2008-08-26)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A Sudanese passenger plane was hijacked between the town of Nyala in Darfur and has landed in Libya, the Arabic satellite TV channel Al Jazeera said on Tuesday.

Amsterdam to host Hirst's skull (2008-08-26)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - British artist Damien Hirst's human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds will go on show at an Amsterdam museum in November.

Sudanese passenger plane hijacked from Darfur: report (2008-08-26)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A Sudanese passenger plane has been hijacked between the town of Nyala in Darfur and the capital Khartoum, the Arabic satellite channel Al Jazeera said on Tuesday.

New documentary looks at shifting black culture (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Even as the United States has the opportunity to elect its first black president, prominent American author Toni Morrison says black college students today are not as focused on racial issues as their predecessors.

Jay-Z to open renovated Hollywood Palladium (2008-08-26)
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New documentary looks at shifting U.S. black culture (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Even as the United States has the opportunity to elect its first black president, prominent American author Toni Morrison says black college students today are not as focused on racial issues as their predecessors.

Southwest to cut 200 flights early 2009 (2008-08-26)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co said on Tuesday it plans to cut about 200 flights in the first quarter of 2009 as it tries to focus on more profitable flights to combat high fuel costs and a slow economy.

Clinton takes spotlight at Democratic convention (2008-08-26)
DENVER (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton takes a highly anticipated turn in the spotlight at the Democratic convention on Tuesday with a speech designed to quell a rebellion among her frustrated supporters and rally them to Barack Obama's White House bid.

Hurricane Gustav slams Haiti, aims at Gulf oil (2008-08-26)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav slammed into flood-prone Haiti on Tuesday, killing at least two people, and could become the first major storm to threaten U.S. oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico since 2005.

Suicide bomber kills 28 police recruits in Iraq (2008-08-26)
QARAH TAPPAH, Iraq (Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of police recruits in northern Iraq on Tuesday killing 28 people, in an attack that showed that parts of Iraq have yet to see the security gains felt elsewhere.

Chico's, American Eagle post sharply lower profits (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apparel retailers Chico's FAS Inc and American Eagle Outfitters Inc posted sharply lower profits on Tuesday, hurt by weaker sales and by increased markdowns needed to move unsold merchandise.

Most hedge funds don't plan ahead on management: study (2008-08-26)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Hedge fund firms often pride themselves on being ahead of the curve on financial trends but roughly 70 percent lag behind on planning for their own futures, according to a study to be released on Tuesday.

Inventor sues Google, Verizon, others on voicemail (2008-08-26)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Emboldened by settlements with Apple Inc and AT&T Inc , inventor Judah Klausner filed a new voicemail patent lawsuit on Tuesday against Google Inc , Verizon Communications Inc and others.

Big Lots profit rises, shares down on sales view (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Big Lots Inc posted a higher-than-expected profit as shoppers sought low prices at its stores, but shares fell 6 percent after it said same-store sales for the rest of the year would likely trail the first half.

Market up on consumer data, energy companies gain (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks edged higher in thin volume on Tuesday, as energy companies gained on a $2 jump in the price of oil and data showed U.S. consumer confidence rose far more than expected in August as worries about inflation eased.

Oil rallies to $117 on hurricane fears (2008-08-26)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose nearly $2 to around $117 a barrel on Tuesday, as concerns grew about possible disruption to U.S. offshore oil and gas output from a strengthening Hurricane Gustav.

Confidence bounces; glimmer of hope in housing (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer confidence recovered more than expected in August as worries over inflation eased, while financial markets combed through a slew of housing data for reasons to hope the worst is over for the moribund sector.

Fed saw weak growth, financial stress: minutes (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve policy makers at their August 5 meeting saw a weakening economic outlook, exacerbated by stress in financial markets, as outweighing persistent concerns about inflation expectations becoming unmoored, minutes of their meeting showed.

Air traffic delayed at U.S. airports: FAA (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air traffic at more than two dozen major airports across the United States was being delayed on Tuesday afternoon due to a communications network problem, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's website.

Air traffic delayed at U.S. airports: FAA (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air traffic at more than two dozen major airports across the United States was delayed on Tuesday afternoon due to a communications network problem, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's website.

Man imprisons his mentally ill children for 20 years (2008-08-26)
HEBRON, West Bank (Reuters) - A Palestinian man imprisoned his two mentally ill children for more than 20 years in a dungeon he dug under his house because he was ashamed of them, Palestinian police said on Tuesday.

Computer glitch delays air traffic at U.S. airports (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air traffic at several major airports across the United States was delayed on Tuesday afternoon due to a glitch in the system for filing flight plans, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Nicollette Sheridan, Michael Bolton end engagement (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Desperate Housewives" star Nicollette Sheridan and singer Michael Bolton have called off their engagement, the actress' spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

ArcelorMittal USW union members may approve strike (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United Steelworkers union is urging members to authorize a strike against ArcelorMittal , the world's largest steelmaker.

Mattel gets $100 mln in Bratz case, wanted billions (2008-08-26)
RIVERSIDE, Calif (Reuters) - A California jury on Tuesday awarded Mattel Inc $100 million in damages in the copyright infringement case it brought against MGA Entertainment Inc over the Bratz doll franchise, which has steadily taken market share from Mattel's iconic Barbie doll.

U.S. immigration cops nab 595 in largest-ever raid (2008-08-26)
PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. immigration agents have arrested 595 people at a Mississippi factory in what was the largest workplace enforcement raid in the United States to date, an immigration official said on Tuesday.

Hijackers force Sudanese plane to Libya (2008-08-26)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - A Sudanese passenger plane was hijacked on Tuesday after leaving war-torn Darfur and has been forced to land in Libya, Sudanese and Libyan authorities said.

Stocks gain as rising oil lifts energy shares (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as hurricane fears lifted oil prices and boosted energy shares, blunting the effect of a gloomy report that showed a growing number of problem banks.

Flight plan data processor problem caused delays: FAA (2008-08-26)
ATLANTA (Reuters) - A problem with a communications link in a system that processes flight plan data in Hampton, Georgia, was causing flight delays on Tuesday, the southern region branch of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said.

Jury awards Mattel $100 mln in Bratz damages (2008-08-26)
RIVERSIDE (Reuters) - A California jury on Tuesday awarded Mattel Inc $100 million in damages in a copyright infringement case it brought against MGA Entertainment Inc over the Bratz doll franchise.

Number of uninsured Americans declines modestly (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fewer Americans went without health insurance last year for the first time since President George W. Bush took office as more people received government coverage, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

Sudanese jet hijackers want to fly to Paris (2008-08-26)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Hijackers who forced a Sudanese plane to land in Libya have demanded that it be refuelled so that it can fly on to Paris, Libya's state news agency Jana said on Wednesday, quoting the head of the airport at Kufrah.

CORRECTED: Sudanese jet hijackers want to fly to Paris (2008-08-26)
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Hijackers who forced a Sudanese plane to land in Libya have demanded that it be refuelled so that it can fly on to Paris, Libya's state news agency Jana said on Wednesday, quoting the head of the airport at Kufrah.

Sudanese rebel group denies hijacking plane (2008-08-26)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A spokesman for the Abdel Wahed faction of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) on Wednesday denied the Darfur group had any role in hijacking a Sudanese passenger plane.

Air France plane skids off runway in Montreal: TV (2008-08-26)
TORONTO (Reuters) - An Air France aircraft skidded off the runway at Montreal's Trudeau airport on Tuesday, Canada's Global Television network reported, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Air France plane skids off runway in Montreal: TV (2008-08-26)
TORONTO (Reuters) - An Air France aircraft skidded off the runway at Montreal's Trudeau airport on Tuesday but there were no apparent injuries or serious damage, Canada's Global Television network reported.

Wall St trims gains on FOMC minutes (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting showed officials were concerned about slower consumer and business spending.

Hijacked Sudanese plane lands in Libya (2008-08-26)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A Sudanese passenger plane was hijacked on Tuesday after leaving war-torn Darfur and has been forced to land in Libya, Arab media and Libyan authorities said.

Jennifer Hudson to sing anthem on Obama's big night (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson will sing the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Thursday, the night Barack Obama accepts his party's nomination for president.

Armed men were no threat to Obama: U.S. attorney (2008-08-26)
DENVER (Reuters) - Authorities on Tuesday were investigating whether three men arrested in Colorado with guns and drugs planned to kill Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, but said they posed no real threat.

Italian television bares showgirl obsession (2008-08-26)
ROME (Reuters) - When it comes to political satire, Italians like theirs hot -- with buxom women in mini-skirts and low-cut tops dancing as cameras zoom in on their breasts and long legs.

Kurdish journalists under assault in Iraq (2008-08-26)
ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's northern Kurdish enclave may be a haven of relative peace and serenity but independent journalists there say challenges to the political establishment are being met with intimidation and threats.

Madonna courts controversy again over McCain video (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Madonna has always reveled in controversy and with the recent launch of her concert tour, "Sticky & Sweet," the 50-year-old pop star has kicked up a new fuss by comparing John McCain to Adolph Hitler in a video.

Survey finds causes of cancer little understood (2008-08-26)
GENEVA (Reuters) - People in rich and poor countries alike have faulty understanding of what causes cancer and need better education on how to ward off the disease, according to an authoritative report issued on Wednesday.

Some U.S. airports back to normal after computer glitch (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air traffic at some major U.S. airports was returning to normal on Tuesday after many planes were delayed due to a glitch in the computer system for filing flight plans, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Air France plane skids off runway in Montreal (2008-08-26)
TORONTO (Reuters) - An Air France-KLM Boeing 747 aircraft on a flight from Paris skidded off the runway after landing at Montreal's Trudeau airport on Tuesday but there were no injuries or serious damage, police said.

Dr. Dre's 20 year-old son found dead (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The 20-year-old son of Grammy award-winning rapper and producer Dr. Dre was found dead over the weekend at his home in Woodland Hills, California, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Fed saw weak growth, financial stress:minutes (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve monetary policy-makers this month saw a weakening economic outlook and financial market stress as supporting the case for steady interest rates despite persistent concerns about inflation.

Borders 2nd-quarter loss narrows, stock rises (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Borders Group Inc , the second-largest U.S. bookseller, posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday, helped by tighter inventory and lower costs, sending shares up more than 7 percent.

FDIC says problem banks rise 30 pct to 117 (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of troubled U.S. banks rose 30 percent to 117 in the second quarter, the highest level in five years, as the housing slump and worsening economy pounded profitability, a regulator said on Tuesday.

More people living below poverty line: World Bank (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank said on Tuesday more people are living in extreme poverty in developing countries than previously thought as it adjusted the recognized yardstick for measuring global poverty to $1.25 a day from $1.

Borders 2nd-qtr loss narrows, stock jumps 14 percent (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Borders Group Inc , the second-largest U.S. bookseller, posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday, helped by tighter inventory and lower costs, sending its shares up nearly 14 percent.

Retailers put off spring buying (2008-08-26)
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Cautious apparel buyers are foregoing orders to be delivered months down the road and instead are buying for the moment, unwilling to take on excess inventory and unsure over what the future holds.

Inventor sues Google, Verizon, others on voice mail (2008-08-26)
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Emboldened by settlements with Apple Inc and AT&T Inc , voice mail inventor Judah Klausner filed a new patent lawsuit on Tuesday against Google Inc , Verizon Communications Inc and others.

July new homes sales rise; June revised down (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales of newly constructed U.S. single-family homes in July were lower than economists expected but rose from a June pace that was the slowest in nearly 17 years, a government report showed on Tuesday.

Market edges higher after economic data (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 edged higher on Tuesday, but the Nasdaq and the Dow industrials were little changed as data painted a mixed picture of the U.S. economy.

Consumer confidence jumps in Aug: report (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer confidence recovered far more than expected in August as worries over inflation eased, the Conference Board said on Tuesday.

Clinton takes spotlight at convention (2008-08-26)
DENVER (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton will address the Democratic convention on Tuesday in a speech designed to mend a lingering party rift and persuade her die-hard supporters to get behind Barack Obama's White House bid.

Sudan plane hijackers are Darfur rebels: Al Jazeera (2008-08-26)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The men who hijacked a Sudanese passenger plane to Libya are from a branch of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), one of the original Darfur rebel groups, the Arabic television channel Al Jazeera said on Wednesday.

Fed saw weak U.S. growth, financial stress-minutes (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve policy-makers earlier this month saw a weakening economic outlook and financial market stress as supporting the case for steady interest rates despite persistent concerns about inflation pressures.

Fed saw weak U.S. growth, financial stress: minutes (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve policy-makers earlier this month saw a weakening economic outlook and financial market stress as supporting the case for steady interest rates despite persistent concerns about inflation pressures.

Georgians angry but not shocked at Russian move (2008-08-26)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgians on the streets of Tbilisi reacted defiantly but without surprise on Tuesday to Russia's recognition of two rebel provinces, some refusing to accept they may have lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia for good.

Thai police tighten noose round protesters (2008-08-26)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Two thousand Thai police took up positions in and around Bangkok's Government House on Wednesday, tightening the noose on protesters camping outside the prime minister's office to try to oust him from power.

FDIC sees 117 problem banks; most since 2003 (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of troubled U.S. banks rose 30 percent to 117 in the second quarter, the highest level in five years, and a top regulator warned that conditions will worsen as the housing slump and credit crisis continues to pound profitability.

Thai protesters occupy PM compound, clash with police (2008-08-26)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Several thousand Thai protesters began a second day occupying the prime minister's compound in Bangkok on Wednesday after 15 people were injured in early morning clashes with riot police.

Lynyrd Skynyrd sets sights on '09 for new album (2008-08-26)
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CORRECTED: Mattel gets $100 mln in Bratz case, wanted billions (2008-08-26)
RIVERSIDE, Calif (Reuters) - A California jury on Tuesday awarded Mattel Inc $100 million in damages in the copyright infringement case it brought against MGA Entertainment Inc over the Bratz doll franchise, which has steadily taken market share from Mattel's iconic Barbie doll.

N.Korea to suspend nuclear disablement (2008-08-26)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday it will stop disabling its nuclear facilities and consider restoring the Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs, accusing the United States of violating a disarmament deal.

Futures rise as oil drops, housing data on tap (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures edged higher on Tuesday after Monday's steep drop as the price of oil fell below $114.

Anwar's party claims victory in by-election (2008-08-26)
PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysia's leading opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim is set for victory in an important by-election on Tuesday and a return to parliament after a decade-long absence, his party said.

Georgian and rebel forces face off in no-man's land (2008-08-26)
MOSABRUNI, Georgia (Reuters) - Heavily-armed Georgian and South Ossetian forces faced each other across a tense no-man's land on Tuesday in a confrontation that underlines the fragility of their ceasefire.

Stocks fall on higher oil, banking concerns (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as oil prices rose on hurricane fears in the U.S. Gulf, while a list showing more troubled U.S. banks added to concerns about the health of the financial sector and broader economy.

Russia faces Western pressure over Georgia (2008-08-26)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will face increased Western pressure on Wednesday when a senior British official flies to Ukraine to build a coalition to counter Russia's conflict with ex-Soviet Georgia.

CORRECTED: Madonna courts controversy again over McCain video (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Madonna has always reveled in controversy and with the recent launch of her concert tour, "Sticky & Sweet," the 50-year-old pop star has kicked up a new fuss by comparing John McCain to Adolf Hitler in a video.

Cat survives being walled in under bath for 7 weeks (2008-08-26)
BERLIN (Reuters) - A four-year-old cat in Germany called Bonny has survived after being walled in beneath a bathtub for seven weeks, its owner said Tuesday.

Hijacked Sudanese plane lands in Libya: report (2008-08-26)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A Sudanese passenger plane was hijacked on Tuesday after leaving the town of Nyala in Darfur and has landed in Libya, the Arabic satellite TV channel Al Jazeera said.

Hurricane Gustav takes aim at Haiti (2008-08-26)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav barreled toward vulnerable Haiti on Tuesday and appeared set to become a "major" storm later in the week as it neared the Gulf of Mexico where the United States produces a large amount of oil and gas.

Anwar wins big victory in Malaysia by-election (2008-08-26)
PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (Reuters) - Anwar Ibrahim scored a big victory in a key Malaysian by-election on Tuesday, a leading news portal said, enabling the country's best known opposition politician to challenge for power.

Oil rises to $116 as hurricane strengthens (2008-08-26)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose more than $1 to reach $116 a barrel on Tuesday, bouncing off lows as concerns arose about possible disruption to U.S. offshore oil and gas output from a strengthening Hurricane Gustav.

Georgia rebels celebrate Kremlin recognition (2008-08-26)
SUKHUMI, Georgia (Reuters) - Residents in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia fired into the air, opened bottles of champagne and wept on Tuesday after Russia recognized it and a second breakaway region as independent.

Oil rises as Gustav churns toward US Gulf (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil rose on Tuesday as Hurricane Gustav took aim at U.S. oil and natural gas installations in the Gulf of Mexico as it churned through the Caribbean.

Consumer confidence bounces (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer confidence recovered more than expected in August as worries over inflation eased, while financial markets combed through a slew of housing data for reasons to hope the worst is over for the moribund sector.

Starbucks begins selling small-batch coffee (2008-08-26)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp, which is rolling out new drinks as it restructures its flagging U.S. business, said on Tuesday it began selling specialty coffee brewed with its new Clover machines in 10 Seattle coffee shops.

India extends curfew to quell Kashmir protest (2008-08-26)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Indian police beat Kashmiri protesters who defied a curfew, police said on Tuesday, and troops searched for separatist leaders as the biggest anti-India protests in two decades showed no sign of abating.

Home prices fell at record pace in June: report (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Home prices fell a record annual 15.9 percent in June, but the monthly rate of decline slowed from May which suggested the decimated housing sector may be stabilizing, according to Standard & Poor's on Tuesday.

Russia recognizes rebel regions as U.S. condemns (2008-08-26)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia recognized two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states on Tuesday, driving up tension in the volatile Caucasus and putting Moscow on a collision course with the West.

Anwar opens path to Malaysian premiership (2008-08-26)
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Anwar Ibrahim's strong showing in a Malaysian by-election has helped ease his path to the premiership, although tensions in his three-party coalition raise big questions as to whether he can deliver.

China chemical plant blast death toll rises to 16 (2008-08-26)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The death toll from a series of explosions which ripped through a chemical plant in southern China has risen to 16 after rescuers found five more bodies, state media said on Wednesday.

Chico's profit beats; J Crew cuts view (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apparel retailers Chico's FAS Inc and American Eagle Outfitters Inc posted better-than-expected profits on Tuesday despite taking deep markdowns to lure shoppers of all ages, sending their shares higher.

Anwar's Malaysia election win boosts push for power (2008-08-26)
PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysia's best-known opposition politician, Anwar Ibrahim, scored a bigger than expected victory in a by-election on Tuesday, boosting his chances of becoming the country's next prime minister.

Computer glitch delays air traffic at U.S. airports (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air traffic was delayed at several major U.S. airports on Tuesday afternoon due to a glitch in the computer system for filing flight plans, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Mugabe jeered at parliament opening (2008-08-26)
HARARE (Reuters) - Opposition parliamentarians jeered and booed Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe as he reopened parliament on Tuesday in spite of their protests, but he said he was still hopeful for a power-sharing deal.

Clinton delivers ringing call for Democratic unity (2008-08-26)
DENVER (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton offered a rousing plea for Democratic Party unity on Tuesday, promising to work for Barack Obama and challenging her supporters to bury their grudges and rally behind his White House bid.

Clinton takes spotlight at convention (2008-08-26)
DENVER (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton prepared for her highly anticipated turn in the spotlight at the Democratic convention on Tuesday, and in advance she urged supporters to help her put Barack Obama in the White House.

Clinton in spotlight at Democratic convention (2008-08-26)
DENVER (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton prepared for a highly anticipated turn in the spotlight at the Democratic convention on Tuesday, and in advance she asked supporters to help her put Barack Obama in the White House.

As Americans fill trains, frustration grows (2008-08-26)
BOSTON (Reuters) - Looking up at a list of delayed trains at Boston's crowded South Station on a summer afternoon, Peter Pesis asks why passenger trains in the United States are so slow, so crowded and so prone to delays.

U.S. boy in Afghan custody likely terror suspect's son (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An 11-year-old boy detained with a Pakistani woman accused of trying to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan is believed to be her son, U.S. prosecutors said in a court letter obtained on Tuesday.

Retail gasoline demand up last week: MasterCard (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Retail gasoline demand increased 1.3 percent last week as average gasoline prices dipped below $4 nationwide, MasterCard Advisors said Tuesday.

Confidence bounces; glimmer of hope in housing (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer confidence recovered more than expected in August as fears over inflation eased, while financial markets combed through housing data for reasons to hope the worst is over for the moribund sector.

U.S. airports back to normal after computer glitch (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major U.S. airports were operating normally on Tuesday evening after a glitch in the computer system for filing flight plans delayed hundreds of flights, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Amsterdam to host Hirst's diamond-encrusted skull (2008-08-26)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - British artist Damien Hirst's human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds will go on show at an Amsterdam museum in November.

Home prices fell at record pace in 2nd quarter: report (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Prices of U.S. single-family homes plunged a record 15.4 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, surpassing the steep drop in the first quarter, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller national home price index reported on Tuesday.

Hurricane Gustav downgraded as winds flag over Haiti (2008-08-26)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav was downgraded to a tropical storm on Tuesday, with maximum sustained winds below 74 miles per hour (119 kph), as it lost strength after making landfall over flood-prone Haiti, U.S. forecasters said.

Mattel gets $100 million in Bratz case (2008-08-26)
RIVERSIDE, Calif (Reuters) - A California jury on Tuesday awarded Mattel Inc $100 million in damages in the copyright infringement case it brought against MGA Entertainment Inc over the Bratz doll franchise -- far short of the billions sought by Mattel.

FDIC says problem banks rise to 117 from 90 (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of problem U.S. banks on a regulatory watch list increased to 117 by the end of the second quarter from 90 at the end of the first quarter, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp said on Tuesday.

Futures slip after home price data; flat open seen (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures dipped on Tuesday, and were pointing to a flat open on Wall Street, after data showed prices of U.S. single-family homes fell at a record pace in June.

Protesters storm Thai PM's office (2008-08-26)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of royalist protesters stormed the compound of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a TV station and several ministries on Tuesday in a coordinated bid to unseat his elected seven-month-old coalition government.

N.Korea says it will suspend nuclear disablement (2008-08-26)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday it will stop disabling its nuclear facilities and consider restoring the Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs, accusing the United States of violating a disarmament deal.

Thousands of protesters besiege Thai PM's offices (2008-08-26)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of royalist protesters stormed the compound of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a TV station and several ministries on Tuesday in a coordinated bid to unseat his elected seven-month-old coalition government.

Fannie, Freddie capital can absorb losses: report (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , the two biggest U.S. mortgage finance giants, have enough capital to absorb probable losses through the end of the year, according to Citigroup equity research.

Wall St slips on oil, housing price data (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slipped on Tuesday as oil prices rose and data showed prices of U.S. single-family homes fell at a record pace in June.

Russia recognizes Georgia rebel regions (2008-08-26)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russia recognized two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states on Tuesday, escalating tension in the volatile Caucasus and putting Moscow on a collision course with the West.

FDIC says number of problem banks rises to 117 in Q2 (2008-08-26)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, in slides posted on its Web site said 117 banks on problem bank list at end of Q2, up from 90 at end of Q1.

Wall St falls on higher oil, banking concerns (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Tuesday as oil prices rose on hurricane fears in the U.S. Gulf while a list of troubled U.S. banks added to concerns about the health of the financial sector and broader economy.

Thai protesters besiege PM's office (2008-08-26)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of royalist protesters stormed the compound of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a TV station and several ministries on Tuesday in a coordinated bid to unseat his elected seven-month-old coalition government.

U.N. says has evidence air strikes killed 90 Afghans (2008-08-26)
KABUL (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Tuesday it had found convincing evidence that 90 Afghan civilians, most of them children, were killed in air strikes by U.S.-led coalition forces in western Afghanistan last week.

Malaysians flock to polls as Anwar scents victory (2008-08-26)
PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysia's leading opposition politician, Anwar Ibrahim, looked set for victory in a by-election on Tuesday which he says will help break the government's five-decade lock on power.

Hurricane Gustav takes aim at Haiti, Gulf (2008-08-26)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Hurricane Gustav barreled toward vulnerable Haiti on Tuesday and appeared set to become a "major" storm later in the week as it neared the Gulf of Mexico where the United States produces a large amount of oil and gas.

HP closes $13.9 billion purchase of EDS (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard , the computer and printer maker, said on Tuesday it closed the $13.9 billion purchase of Electronic Data Systems Corp., a deal that HP hopes will help it better compete with IBM .

Futures slip as oil cuts losses, data awaited (2008-08-26)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures turned lower on Tuesday, with Wall Street now looking set to add to Monday's drop, as the price of oil cut its earlier losses.

Afghans clash with abductors of Japanese aid worker (2008-08-26)
JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan police clashed with the kidnappers of a male Japanese aid worker in eastern Nangarhar province on Tuesday, freeing the man's local driver, a police spokesman said.

Hurricane Gustav bears down on Haiti (2008-08-26)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav reached hurricane strength as it swirled through the central Caribbean and bore down on Haiti on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Philippine air force plane crash kills 9 crew (2008-08-26)
MANILA (Reuters) - A Philippine air force transport plane crashed into the sea minutes after it took off and there were no survivors among the two pilots and seven crew members aboard, the air force said on Tuesday.

Oil falls below $114 as dollar surges (2008-08-26)
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell by more than $1 a barrel to below $114 on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened, countering concern that Hurricane Gustav could threaten oil installations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Suicide bomber kills 28 in strike on Iraq recruits (2008-08-26)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up in a crowd of Iraqi police recruits on Tuesday, killing 28 people and wounding 45, police said.

Weak Ifo drives global stocks lower (2008-08-26)
LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks hit their lowest level in almost two years on Tuesday as a worsening German business mood and fresh concerns about financial firms triggered a sell-off in risky assets, lifting the dollar to a 2008 high.

Wall Street futures point to slight recovery (2008-08-26)
LONDON (Reuters) - Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 ticked up 0.1-0.2 percent on Tuesday, pointing to a slight recovery on Wall Street after sharp falls on Monday.

Pakistani stability hope fades with coalition split (2008-08-26)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Prospects for political stability in Pakistan faded on Tuesday, a day after a split in the ruling coalition, with a battle looming over who will become the next president of the nuclear-armed U.S. ally.

California stop-smoking campaign saved $86 billion: report (2008-08-26)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - California's large-scale tobacco control campaign has saved $86 billion in health care costs in its first 15 years, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Australia rethinks Snoop Dogg visa approval (2008-08-26)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is re-thinking a decision to give gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg a visa after public complaints that he should not tour in October in a double act with Ice Cube, an immigration official said on Tuesday.

Mugabe opens parliament, optimistic of deal (2008-08-26)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe opened parliament in defiance of opposition objections on Tuesday and said there was "every expectation" of a power-sharing deal to end a post-election political crisis.

Big Lots profit tops Street, raises 2008 profit view (2008-08-26)
(Reuters) - Close-out retailer Big Lots Inc reported an 11 percent rise in quarterly profit that beat market estimates, as shoppers headed to its stores for low prices on furniture, food and paper products, and raised its earnings forecast for the current financial year.

Zimbabwe's MDC may boycott parliament opening (2008-08-26)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition MDC said it was meeting to decide whether to attend the opening of parliament on Tuesday but the majority sentiment in the party was to boycott the ceremony.

Weak Ifo drives global stocks to near 2-year low (2008-08-26)
LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks hit their lowest level in almost two years on Tuesday as a worsening German business mood and fresh concerns about financial firms triggered a sell-off in risky assets, lifting the dollar to a 2008 high.

Singapore's Temasek doubles profit, fears contagion (2008-08-26)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore wealth fund Temasek warned of further contagion from the global credit crisis after it doubled its full-year profit by selling billions of dollars of assets.

Thai protesters storm PM's compound (2008-08-26)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of royalist protesters stormed Thai state broadcaster NBT and the official compound of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, as part of demonstrations to try to unseat the elected seven-month-old coalition government.

Gustav becomes a hurricane and hits Haiti (2008-08-26)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav reached hurricane strength as it swirled through the central Caribbean and bore down on Haiti on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Zimbabwe's MDC condemns Mugabe's parliament plans (2008-08-26)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's plan to open parliament on Tuesday drew fierce criticism from the main opposition MDC, escalating a post-election power struggle that endangers power-sharing talks.

Medvedev convenes security chiefs over Georgia (2008-08-26)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev convened security chiefs on Tuesday to consider a plea from parliament to recognize two separatist regions of Georgia as independent, a move Washington says would be unacceptable.

Oil near $115 as dollar weighs (2008-08-26)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil hovered around $115 a barrel on Tuesday as the dollar strengthened, but losses were limited as tropical storm Gustav in the Caribbean turned into a hurricane, stoking concerns over output disruptions in the Gulf of Mexico.

Medicare officials underestimated improper payments: report (2008-08-26)
(Reuters) - Medicare officials had undervalued the amount of improper payments made for medical equipment in 2006 because it failed to review sufficient medical documents, according to a government report.

HP to close EDS purchase on Tuesday: paper (2008-08-26)
(Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co. expects to close its $13.25 billion acquisition of Electronic Data Systems Corp. Tuesday but did not give any details on possible job cuts, the Wall Street Journal reported.

GM receives Gulf Arab interest in Hummer buy (2008-08-26)
DUBAI (Reuters) - General Motors Corp (GM) has received interest from two separate investors from the Gulf Arab region to buy its Hummer brand, the company's Middle East chief told Reuters on Tuesday.

Blast at Pakistan rally, several casualties (2008-08-26)
DERA ALLAH YAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A blast went off at a rally promoting autonomy for the gas-rich Pakistani province of Baluchistan on Tuesday, inflicting several casualties, a witness said.

North Korea to suspend nuclear disablement (2008-08-26)
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday it has decided to suspend disabling its nuclear facilities and will consider restoring the Yongbyon nuclear reactor because the United States had violated a six-party disarmament deal.

Israel settlement surge draws Rice criticism (2008-08-26)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Israel on Tuesday to avoid undermining peace efforts with the Palestinians after a report that it had nearly doubled construction in Jewish settlements.

Temasek doubles profit, but worried about crisis (2008-08-26)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore wealth fund Temasek warned of further contagion from the global credit crisis after it doubled its full-year profit by selling billions of dollars of assets.

Rio Tinto H1 jumps 55 percent on China demand (2008-08-26)
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto posted a better-than-expected 55 percent jump in first-half profit, boosted by its 2007 takeover of Alcan and strong Chinese demand, and raised its dividend on Tuesday.

Australia's Foster's H2 profit falls on wine woes (2008-08-26)
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Foster's Group Ltd , Australia's largest brewer, posted a 9.4 percent decline in second-half profit on Tuesday, pressured by sliding sales at its Californian wine business.

World stocks hits lowest in almost 2 years (2008-08-26)
LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks fell to their lowest in almost two years on Tuesday as fresh concerns about the financial sector and growth outlook prompted investors to dump risky assets.

Clinton takes spotlight at Democratic convention (2008-08-26)
DENVER (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton will grab the spotlight at the Democratic convention on Tuesday in a speech designed to mend a lingering party rift and rally her frustrated supporters to Barack Obama's White House bid.

Entergy to continue paying New York: Cuomo (2008-08-26)
(Reuters) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Entergy Corp will pay a total $432 million to the state power authority as part of a multi-year contract even if Entergy completes the spin-off of its nuclear power stations.

Gunmen abduct Japanese aid worker in Afghanistan (2008-08-26)
JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Unidentified gunmen kidnapped a Japanese aid worker in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar on Tuesday, an official said.

Anwar confident of victory in Malaysia vote (2008-08-26)
PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (Reuters) - Hundreds of supporters, chanting "reformasi," cheered Malaysian opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, as he voted in a key by-election on Tuesday hoping to break the government's lock on power.

Blast at Pakistan rally, shots fired at U.S. vehicle (2008-08-26)
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A blast hit a rally promoting autonomy for Pakistan's gas-rich Baluchistan province on Tuesday, wounding more than 20 people, while in the city of Peshawar shots were fired at U.S. consulate staff.

Poverty rate unchanged as uninsured drop (2008-08-26)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. poverty rate did not change in 2007, but the median household income rose slightly and the number of people lacking health insurance also dropped slightly, the Census Bureau said on Tuesday.

Gustav becomes a hurricane, hits Haiti (2008-08-26)
MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gustav reached hurricane strength as it swirled through the central Caribbean and bore down on Haiti on Tuesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Australia grants visa to rapper Snoop Dogg (2008-08-26)
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia has lifted a visa ban on Snoop Dogg, with a new government clearing the way for the gangsta rapper to tour in October in a double act with Ice Cube.

"Towelhead" title draws objections (2008-08-26)
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Government to pay $1.1 bln in oil lease case (2008-08-26)
(Reuters) - A group of oil companies were awarded more than $1 billion by a U.S. court of appeals to recover their costs related to offshore leases in California.

Government to pay $1.1 billion in oil lease case (2008-08-26)
(Reuters) - A group of oil companies were awarded more than $1 billion by a U.S. court of appeals to recover their costs related to offshore leases in California.

Temasek says sees value in U.S. and UK banks (2008-08-26)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore sovereign fund Temasek, which spent billions of dollars on shares in Merrill Lynch , sees value in banking stocks in the United States and Britain, a senior executive said on Tuesday.

Singapore's Temasek says sees value in U.S., UK banks (2008-08-26)
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore sovereign fund Temasek, which spent billions of dollars on shares in Merrill Lynch , sees value in banking stocks in the United States and Britain, a senior executive said on Tuesday.

Protesters seize Thai state TV (2008-08-26)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of royalist protesters stormed Thai state broadcaster NBT on Tuesday, halting programming, as a part of demonstrations to try to overthrow the elected coalition government.

Financial worries drive Wall Street down 2 percent (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell sharply on Monday as credit concerns hounded financial stocks while global growth worries hurt big technology and industrial companies.

Tropical Storm Gustav heads for vulnerable Haiti (2008-08-25)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The Atlantic hurricane season's seventh tropical storm formed in the Caribbean on Monday and was likely to strengthen into a hurricane before striking southwest Haiti soon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Cloris Leachman, 82, joins "Dancing with Stars" (2008-08-25)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Octogenarian actress Cloris Leachman has joined the cast of celebrities who will grace the ballroom floor on the next edition of ABC television hit "Dancing With the Stars," the network said on Monday.

JPMorgan's Fannie, Freddie preferred stock has lost $600 million (2008-08-25)
(Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing said it holds about $1.2 billion Fannie Mae , Freddie Mac

JPMorgan takes $600 million hit on Fannie, Freddie (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co said the market value of its investments in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stock has dropped by half to $600 million this quarter.

"American Idol" adds writer-producer as 4th judge (2008-08-25)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Top-rated television talent show "American Idol" has added songwriter and producer Kara DioGuardi as a fourth judge, joining Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, the Fox network said on Monday.

Number of Somalis needing aid spikes to 3.2 million (2008-08-25)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - The number of people needing humanitarian aid in Somalia has leapt 77 percent this year to more than 3.2 million, more than a third of the country's population, an authoritative new study has shown.

KDB cautioned on global bank M&A hunt (2008-08-25)
SEOUL (Reuters) - A top regulator on Monday voiced concern about state-run Korea Development Bank's (KDB) interest in buying a global bank, saying it should be just a "cheerleader" and let local private banks take the lead in any such purchase.

Obama aims to heal rift, detail policies at convention (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama faces a challenge this week to try to heal a party rift, draw a sharp contrast between himself and Republican rival John McCain and back up his soaring oratory with specifics of what he would do if he wins the White House.

Futures edge lower on oil rebound, credit worries (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks index futures edged lower on Monday after Friday's sharp gains as the price of oil rebounded and credit concerns nagged.

Obama aims to heal party rift (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama faces a challenge this week to try to heal a party rift, draw a sharp contrast between himself and Republican rival John McCain and back up his soaring oratory with specifics of what he would do if he wins the White House.

Iraq says U.S. agrees to withdraw troops by 2011 (2008-08-25)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq and the United States have agreed that a planned security pact will require all U.S. troops to leave by the end of 2011, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday, while Washington said no final deal had been reached.

U.S. nonprofit hospitals face mounting pressures: reports (2008-08-25)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. nonprofit hospitals face mounting pressures that could adversely affect their bottomlines, according to reports released on Monday by Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.

Kyrgyzstan calls day of mourning over air crash (2008-08-25)
BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan announced a national day of mourning for Tuesday after 65 people died at the weekend in one of the tiny Central Asian state's worst air disasters.

Kyrgyz call national mourning over air disaster (2008-08-25)
BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan announced a national day of mourning for Tuesday after 65 people died at the weekend in one of the Central Asian state's worst air disasters since independence in 1991.

Russia lawmakers recognizes Georgia rebel regions (2008-08-25)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian lawmakers urged the Kremlin to recognize two rebel regions of Georgia on Monday, a move likely to worsen relations with the West that are already strained by Moscow's military intervention there.

Pakistan's Sharif pulls party out of coalition (2008-08-25)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif pulled his party out of the ruling coalition on Monday over disputes with his main partner over the judiciary and who should be the next president.

Iraqi PM says foreign troops to leave in 2011 (2008-08-25)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday that an agreement had been reached in negotiations on a security pact with the United States to end any foreign military presence in Iraq by the end of 2011.

Giants' Umenyiora to miss season with knee injury (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora will miss the whole of the 2008 regular season because of an injury to his left knee, the Super Bowl champions said on Sunday.

Russia lawmakers recognize Georgia rebel regions (2008-08-25)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian lawmakers urged the Kremlin to recognize two rebel regions of Georgia on Monday, a move likely to worsen relations with the West that are already strained by Moscow's military intervention there.

Uninsured pay $30 billion for health care: study (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans who go without health insurance for any part of 2008 will spend $30 billion out of pocket for health care and they will get $56 billion worth of free care, according to a report released on Monday.

Existing home sales rose 3.1 percent in July (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pace of existing home sales in the United States rose in July to a 5.00 million-unit annual rate, the National Association of Realtors said in a report on Monday that showed prices dipped and the inventory of homes hit a record high.

Russia lawmakers to recognize Georgia rebel regions (2008-08-25)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian lawmakers approved on Monday a resolution recognizing the independence of two rebel regions of Georgia, a move likely to worsen relations with the West already strained by Moscow's military intervention there.

Iran launches submarine production line (2008-08-25)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has launched a submarine production line to ensure its forces are equipped to maintain security in the vital oil shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz waterway, the defense minister said on Monday.

Merrill Lynch looking to revise MGM deal terms: paper (2008-08-25)
(Reuters) - Merrill Lynch is examining its contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's United Artists as the bank looks to revise the deal on more favorable terms, the New York Post reported, citing sources close to the situation.

Israel begins release of Palestinian prisoners (2008-08-25)
BEITUNYA CHECKPOINT, West Bank (Reuters) - Israel began freeing 198 Palestinian prisoners on Monday, saying it hoped the release would bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the U.S.-backed pursuit of a peace deal.

French general sees overconfidence in Afghan deaths (2008-08-25)
PARIS (Reuters) - Overconfidence was probably a factor in the incident that led to the deaths of 10 French soldiers in an ambush in Afghanistan, the French commander in the region was quoted as saying on Monday.

Beijing Olympics end with massive viewership (2008-08-25)
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One killed as Kashmir protesters defy curfew (2008-08-25)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Police shot dead at least one Muslim separatist demonstrator on Monday as authorities tried to enforce a curfew in disputed Kashmir in the face of some of biggest protests in two decades against India's rule.

Thai police brace for major anti-government rally (2008-08-25)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police are braced for a major anti-government demonstration on Tuesday, with tens of thousands expected to take to the streets and speculation protesters may try to occupy the prime minister's compound.

Malaysia opposition cries foul in Anwar by-election (2008-08-25)
PERMATANG PAUH (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition alliance, which backs Anwar Ibrahim in his bid to return to parliament, charged on Monday that its supporters had been culled from voter lists ahead of a crucial by-election.

Nicox says Pfizer drops glaucoma drug study in Asia (2008-08-25)
PARIS (Reuters) - French biotechnology firm Nicox said on Monday U.S. partner Pfizer had decided not to launch Phase III studies in Asia of an experimental treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Wanted: Brits with a taste for Paris Hilton's life (2008-08-25)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Calling all young, beautiful Britons with a yearning for life in the fast lane -- Paris Hilton is heading to Britain to find a new best friend.

Israel releases 198 Palestinian prisoners (2008-08-25)
BEITUNYA CHECKPOINT, West Bank (Reuters) - Israel freed 198 Palestinian prisoners to a hero's welcome in the West Bank on Monday, saying it hoped the release would bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his peace efforts.

Zimbabwe's Mugabe appoints lawmakers, governors (2008-08-25)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has appointed lawmakers and provincial governors despite deadlocked power-sharing talks, state media reported on Monday.

China's Hu in South Korea for talks on North (2008-08-25)
SEOUL (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao, buoyed by an Olympics that lifted the global status of his country, arrived in South Korea on Monday for talks on expanding bilateral trade and ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

India detains Kashmir separatists ahead of rally (2008-08-25)
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Indian police detained two Muslim separatist leaders in Kashmir ahead of a major independence rally on Monday, as New Delhi confronts the biggest protests in two decades in the disputed Himalayan region.

Tax loopholes cost billions annually: report (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tax and accounting loopholes that largely benefit rich taxpayers and companies cost the U.S. government $20 billion a year even as the pay gap between chief executives and employees has widened, two groups said on Monday.

Split looms in Pakistani ruling coalition (2008-08-25)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's ruling coalition government looked on the verge of splitting on Monday over disputes about the judiciary and who should be the next president, as militant violence and economic problems mounted.

Intimate Miami venues showcase Latin artists (2008-08-25)
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MDC warns Mugabe parliament moves threaten talks (2008-08-25)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's opposition MDC warned on Monday that President Robert Mugabe's appointments of parliamentarians were a threat to power-sharing talks after it said police had arrested two of its members in parliament.

S.Korea, China urge cooperation over North Korea (2008-08-25)
SEOUL (Reuters) - The presidents of China and South Korea at a summit on Monday called for cooperation in sputtering talks to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons while they pledged to boost trade between the major economic partners.

Exodus from Beijing begins after Games (2008-08-25)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing began winding down from the Olympics on Monday, with athletes, officials and journalists clearing out of their residential halls and packing buses to the airport.

Futures point to weaker Wall Street open (2008-08-25)
LONDON (Reuters) - Futures pointed to a slightly weaker Wall Street open on Monday after strong gains on Friday. By 0854 GMT (4:54 a.m. EDT), S&P 500 futures, Nasdaq 100 futures and Dow Jones futures were down 0.2 to 0.3 percent.

Obama's task: heal rift, hit McCain, beef up message (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama faces a challenge this week healing a party rift, confronting Republican rival John McCain more aggressively and fleshing out his rosy oratory with detailed policy.

China deports eight U.S. protesters: group (2008-08-25)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Eight Americans detained in Beijing for demonstrating over Tibet during the Olympics have been deported following pressure from the U.S. government, a protest group said.

Zimbabwe's MDC threatens action over arrests of MPs (2008-08-25)
HARARE (Reuters) - Police in Zimbabwe arrested two opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) MPs in parliament on Monday and the party responded by saying it would stop the election of the parliamentary speaker.

SocGen lowers oil price forecasts (2008-08-25)
LONDON (Reuters) - Societe Generale has cut its 2008 and 2009 crude oil price forecasts, joining other banks in trimming estimates following a drop in prices from a record high hit last month.

Broadcom to buy AMD's Digital TV business (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Broadcom Corp plans to buy Advanced Micro Devices' digital television business for $192.8 million in cash in a move to broaden its own product portfolio, the mobile phone chipmaker said on Monday.

Auto sales to decline in August: report (2008-08-25)
(Reuters) - U.S. auto makers are expected to report big declines in August domestic sales despite stepped-up incentives, the Wall Street Journal said citing a report by J.D. Power & Associates.

Thai prosecutors ask court to seize Thaksin assets (2008-08-25)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai prosecutors asked the Supreme Court on Monday to seize former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 76 billion baht ($2.2 billion) in assets frozen in Thai banks after he was ousted in a 2006 coup.

Daimler denies planning second Smart car plant (2008-08-25)
STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - German car maker Daimler AG does not intend to build another factory for its Smart brand minicars, the company said on Monday, denying a German magazine report.

CORRECTED: Obama aims to heal party rift (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - Democrats on Monday worked to unite the party for its convention to nominate presidential candidate Barack Obama as Republicans stirred up a rift with disaffected supporters of his former rival Hillary Clinton.

Tourist attacks cast doubt on Italy's crackdown (2008-08-25)
ROME (Reuters) - Two brutal attacks on foreign tourists in Italy this weekend have put the ruling centre right on the defensive about the effectiveness of its crackdown on crime, which has included mobilizing the military.

Tax loopholes seen costing billions annually (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tax and accounting loopholes that largely benefit rich taxpayers and companies cost the government $20 billion a year even as the pay gap between chief executives and employees has widened, two groups said on Monday.

Pakistan's Sharif pulls party out of coalition (2008-08-25)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif pulled his party out of the ruling coalition on Monday, deepening a political crisis that has diverted government attention from pressing security and economic problems.

Obama aims to heal party rift (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - Democrats on Monday worked to unite the party for its convention to nominate presidential candidate Barack Obama as Republicans stirred up a rift with disaffected supporters of his former rival Hillary Clinton.

Pakistan's Sharif pulls party out of coalition (2008-08-25)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif pulled his party out of the ruling coalition on Monday, deepening a political crisis that has diverted government attention from pressing security and economic problems.

Games weary Nadal and Dementieva battle through (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Beijing gold medallists Rafael Nadal and Elena Dementieva shook off their Olympic hangovers on Monday to stumble into the second round of the U.S. Open.

Trailblazing band Radiohead casts hypnotic spell (2008-08-25)
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"Unacceptable" for Russia to recognize rebel regions (2008-08-25)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's parliament approved resolutions on Monday calling on the Kremlin to recognize two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states, a step Washington said would be "unacceptable."

Monkeys experience joy of giving, too, study finds (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Monkeys can experience the joy of giving in much the same way as humans do, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

Wall St opens lower on oil, credit concerns (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened lower on Monday, giving back some of Friday's sharp gains, as the price of oil edged higher and credit concerns nagged.

Jon Stewart shares conventional wisdom (2008-08-25)
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Human exoskeleton suit helps paralyzed people walk (2008-08-25)
HAIFA, Israel (Reuters) - Paralyzed for the past 20 years, former Israeli paratrooper Radi Kaiof now walks down the street with a dim mechanical hum.

Britain's "Iron Lady" Thatcher has dementia: daughter (2008-08-25)
LONDON (Reuters) - Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher -- once known as one of the world's most formidable political minds -- has been suffering from dementia for the past seven years, according to her daughter, Carol.

ZZ Top hopes to rock with the Black Keys (2008-08-25)
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Deer, cattle have true animal magnetism: study (2008-08-25)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Grazing cattle and sleeping deer tend to align their bodies along the North-South axis of the Earth's magnetic field, European researchers said on Monday, giving new meaning to the phrase animal magnetism.

Backers of Hillary Clinton cloud Obama show (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - Democrats opened their national convention on Monday and a rift involving Hillary Clinton's resentful supporters threatened to rain on presidential hopeful Barack Obama's nominating parade.

Tests clear way for "Big Bang" experiment (2008-08-25)
GENEVA (Reuters) - Tests have cleared the way for the start-up next month of an experiment to restage a mini-version underground of the "Big Bang" which created the universe 15 billion years ago, the project chief said on Monday.

Free AIDS drugs reduce Malawi death rates (2008-08-25)
LILONGWE (Reuters) - Greater access to free medicine has helped slash AIDS-related deaths in Malawi by 75 percent in the last four years, a senior government official said on Monday.

U.S. Mint resumes gold coin orders on limited basis (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Mint said it must allocate the American Eagle bullion coins among dealers to cope with overwhelming demand as it resumed taking orders for the popular coins on Monday.

Mint resumes gold coin orders on limited basis (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Mint said it must allocate the American Eagle bullion coins among dealers to cope with overwhelming demand as it resumed taking orders for the popular coins on Monday.

Haiti hit with new protests over food costs (2008-08-25)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Demonstrators erected burning barricades in the streets of Haiti's southern city of Les Cayes on Monday to protest rising food prices in the impoverished Caribbean country.

Freddie debt sale eases concerns of nationalization (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ailing mortgage finance company Freddie Mac easily sold $2 billion of debt on Monday, reassuring investors that it and rival Fannie Mae can fund operations without a government takeover.

Market extends losses, Nasdaq down 2 percent (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slid on Monday, with the Nasdaq falling more than 2 percent, as credit concerns hounded financial stocks and worries about global growth hurt big technology and industrial companies.

Precision Drilling to buy peer Grey Wolf (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Canada's Precision Drilling Trust will buy U.S. driller Grey Wolf Inc for US$2 billion in cash and stock, creating one of the largest North American oil and gas rig operators, the companies said on Monday.

Iraq PM says deal with U.S. on troop exit in 2011 (2008-08-25)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Prime Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday that an agreement had been reached in negotiations on a security pact with the United States to end any foreign military presence in Iraq by the end of 2011.

Zimbabwe's MDC wins key speaker post (2008-08-25)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party on Monday won the vote for parliament speaker, dealing a blow to President Robert Mugabe in a post-election power struggle.

IMF cuts world, euro zone growth outlook: source (2008-08-25)
(Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has trimmed its forecasts for 2008 and 2009 world economic growth, largely due to a marked worsening in the outlook for the euro zone, a G20 finance official told Reuters on Monday.

Search still off for missing Mont Blanc climbers (2008-08-25)
LYON, France (Reuters) - Ground searches for the bodies of eight climbers lost in an avalanche on Mont Blanc at the weekend remained suspended on Monday due to unstable conditions on the mountain, authorities said.

Russia lawmakers recognize Georgia rebel regions (2008-08-25)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's parliament urged the Kremlin on Monday to recognize two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states, raising alarm in the West.

West awaits Medvedev word on recognizing rebel areas (2008-08-25)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia and its Western allies waited on Tuesday to hear if Russian President Dmitry Medvedev would recognize Georgia's separatist regions as independent, a move Washington has warned would be unacceptable.

Iraqi girl aborts suicide bombing, surrenders (2008-08-25)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A teenage Iraqi girl wearing a vest packed with explosives turned herself in rather than go through with a suicide bombing in a violence-torn city north of Baghdad, police and the U.S. military said on Monday.

Key Georgian rail line reopens after explosion (2008-08-25)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia's main east-west railway was reopened overnight following a fuel train explosion on the line west of the central town of Gori, Georgian Railways said on Monday.

Morgan Stanley says in first Saudi swap agreement (2008-08-25)
RIYADH (Reuters) - U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley said on Monday its Saudi unit has signed the kingdom's first swap agreement, a vehicle that allows foreigners to buy into listed stocks through intermediaries.

Star Scientific wins patent appeal against Reynolds (2008-08-25)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Star Scientific Inc won an appeal on Monday in its patent infringement lawsuit against R.J. Reynolds regarding a process to reduce cancer-causing toxins in tobacco, and Star Scientific shares rose 65 percent.

Number of Somalis needing aid spikes (2008-08-25)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - The number of people needing humanitarian aid in Somalia has leapt 77 percent this year to more than 3.2 million, an authoritative new study has shown.

Woman in Spitzer prostitution case pleads guilty (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A booking agent for a prostitution ring whose clients included former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer pleaded guilty on Monday to a conspiracy charge relating to prostitution.

Fresh credit fears hit financials, unnerve market (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell sharply on Monday as credit concerns hounded financial stocks while global growth worries hurt big technology and industrial companies.

U.S. border cops nab airman driving migrants (2008-08-25)
PHOENIX (Reuters) - U.S. border police arrested a member of the U.S. Air National Guard driving four Mexican illegal immigrants in a car in southern Arizona, authorities said on Monday.

Philippine air force plane missing with 9 aboard (2008-08-25)
MANILA (Reuters) - A Philippine air force C-130 transport plane with two pilots and seven crew members aboard is missing in the south of the country and has probably crashed, air force chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog said on Tuesday.

Financials drag market down about 2 percent (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slid on Monday on persistent credit concerns and worries about the impact of slowing global growth on big industrial companies.

Sudan forces kill 27 in Darfur camp clash: rebels (2008-08-25)
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese forces attacked a Darfur refugee camp on Monday, leaving up to 27 dead and scores wounded, rebel leaders said.

Mugabe to open parliament over opposition protests (2008-08-25)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is expected to open parliament on Tuesday after his ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition MDC won key positions in the chamber.

Syria-Israel talks focused on border: Moualem (2008-08-25)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel are focused on the thorny issue of how much Syrian territory is under Israeli occupation, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said on Monday.

AIG at 13-year low as Credit Suisse forecasts loss (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc shares fell to a 13-year low on Monday after Credit Suisse lowered its price target and forecast a huge loss for the insurer, mainly due to higher losses from its derivatives business.

Clinton urges supporters to rally around Obama (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton urged her supporters on Monday to unite behind Barack Obama and said Democrats could not afford to let lingering frustrations from their nominating battle hurt Obama's bid for the White House.

Tropical Storm Gustav heading for vulnerable Haiti (2008-08-25)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The Atlantic hurricane season's seventh tropical storm formed in the central Caribbean on Monday and could strengthen into a hurricane before striking vulnerable Haiti, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

MGM says not for sale but mulling options (2008-08-25)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood studio MGM said on Monday it was not for sale but is exploring "enhancements" to its long-term capital structure that could include a stock offering or debt refinancing.

Democrats hope for unity at convention (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - Democrats opening their national convention tried to smooth over a rift with Hillary Clinton's resentful supporters on Monday and portrayed Barack Obama as a down-to-earth American patriot bidding to make history.

Something's waiting for Sean Connery way out there (2008-08-25)
EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Acting icon Sean Connery may have stopped making films, but he believes something still awaits him out there.

Irish comedian wins top British comedy award (2008-08-25)
EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Irish comedian David O'Doherty was presented with the top British comedy award at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

U.S. says envoy's talks with North Korea "substantive" (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. envoy for nuclear talks with North Korea had "substantive" discussions with his North Korean counterpart last week, the State Department said on Monday, but officials gave no hint of progress in breaking a deadlock over verifying Pyongyang's nuclear programs.

Games weary Nadal, Dementieva battle on (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Beijing gold medallists Rafael Nadal and Elena Dementieva shook off their Olympic hangovers on Monday to stumble into the second round of the U.S. Open.

China missed rights opportunity at Olympics: U.S (2008-08-25)
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - China missed an opportunity to show progress on human rights and religious freedom during the Olympic Games, the White House said on Monday, after eight Americans were deported for protesting.

Gross, Fuss say any new GSE deal needs Treasury (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two of the biggest U.S. bond investors said they would get involved in a capital raising by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as long as the U.S. Treasury participates in the new deals.

Precision bets on natural gas with Grey Wolf bid (2008-08-25)
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Precision Drilling Trust , Canada's biggest oil and gas rig operator, will buy U.S.-based Grey Wolf Inc in a $2 billion deal aimed at locking up business in hot unconventional prospects from southern Texas to northeastern British Columbia.

MDC wins key speaker post in Zimbabwe (2008-08-25)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party won the vote for parliament speaker on Monday, dealing a blow to President Robert Mugabe in a post-election power struggle.

Clinton backers cloud Obama show (2008-08-25)
DENVER (Reuters) - Defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton urged her frustrated followers to fall in line behind Barack Obama on Monday as a party rift threatened to rain on Obama's nominating parade.

Calif. stop-smoking campaign saved $86 billion: report (2008-08-25)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - California's large-scale tobacco control campaign has saved $86 billion in health care costs in its first 15 years, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Tropical Storm Gustav bears down on Haiti (2008-08-25)
MIAMI (Reuters) - The Atlantic hurricane season's seventh tropical storm formed in the central Caribbean on Monday and could strengthen into a hurricane before striking vulnerable Haiti, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Israel releases 198 Palestinian prisoners as Rice visits (2008-08-25)
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israel freed nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners to a hero's welcome in the West Bank on Monday, seeking to bolster President Mahmoud Abbas as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began a new peace mission.

MGM says not for sale, eyeing capital enhancements (2008-08-25)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood studio MGM on Monday said it was not for sale but was exploring "enhancements" to its long-term capital structure.

Pentagon says Russia not honoring Georgia deal (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Monday that Russia has not met its obligations to withdraw troops from Georgia under a French-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Wells Fargo unlikely to bid for big rival: report (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co wants to buy insurance distribution and wealth management companies but it's "highly unlikely" it will bid for a large banking rival, Chief Executive John Stumpf told the Financial Times in an interview.

Legend debuting song at Democratic convention (2008-08-25)
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Time hasn't dulled edge of Dali's sliced eyeball (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Eight decades have passed since Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali and filmmaker Luis Bunuel portrayed a man slicing a woman's eyeball with a razor -- yet viewers still wince, groan and cover their eyes.

BHP shuts Australia iron ore mine after fatality (2008-08-25)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - BHP Billiton Ltd has shut its Yandi iron ore mine in Australia after a man was killed in an industrial accident, a BHP spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Iraq PM: U.S. agrees to withdraw troops by 2011 (2008-08-25)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq and the United States have agreed that all U.S. troops will leave by the end of 2011, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday, but Washington said no final deal had been reached.

Boeing, union "tense" contract talks grind on (2008-08-25)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Boeing Co's largest labor union said contract talks remained "tense" on Monday as the workers awaited a new proposal from the company, which hopes to avoid a crippling strike that could cost it $3 billion a month.

Merrill execs in Taiwan for graft probe: report (2008-08-25)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Merrill Lynch executives arrived in Taipei to clarify the company's role involving in the possible money laundering by family members of ex-president Chen Shui-bian, a local newspaper said on Tuesday.

China to target corrupt officials' lovers (2008-08-25)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China will go after the lovers and family members of corrupt officials by amending an existing law to make it easier to prosecute them, a state newspaper said on Tuesday, as the government tries to tackle a surge in graft.

Charlie Sheen says wife is pregnant (2008-08-25)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Charlie Sheen, star of hit U.S. television sitcom "Two and a Half Men," revealed on Monday that he and his wife Brooke Mueller are expecting their first child together.

Financials, credit fears push shares lower (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell sharply on Monday as credit concerns hounded financial stocks and global growth worries hurt big technology and industrial companies.

Two experiments suggest new direction for diabetes (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two experimental treatments suggest new directions for treating diabetes, both using compounds already made by the body, researchers in the United States reported on Monday.

Malaysians vote in crucial test for Anwar (2008-08-25)
PERMATANG PAUH, Malaysia (Reuters) - Voters cast their ballots in a Malaysian by-election on Tuesday that could return opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim to parliament, the first step in his bid to take power.

Financials lead market lower on credit worries (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell 1 percent on Monday, giving back some of Friday's sharp gains, as financial shares slid on persistent credit concerns and worries about global growth hit big industrial companies.

U.N. troops calm Lebanon but tensions remain (2008-08-25)
SHAQRA, Lebanon (Reuters) - French soldiers take off their body armor but keep their FAMAS rifles slung over their backs before moving off on a leisurely foot patrol through this pro-Hezbollah Shi'ite Muslim village in south Lebanon.

Honduras joins Venezuelan pact; Chavez promises oil (2008-08-25)
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras, long considered an ally of the United States in Central America, joined on Monday a Latin American pact that has been pushed by Venezuela as a way to contain U.S. influence in the region.

Wall St set to open lower on oil, credit worries (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures slipped on Monday, with Wall Street set to give back some of Friday's sharp gains, as the price of oil rebounded and credit concerns nagged.

U.N. troops calm Lebanon, but tensions remain (2008-08-25)
SHAQRA, Lebanon (Reuters) - French soldiers take off their body armor but keep their FAMAS rifles slung over their backs before moving off on a leisurely foot patrol through this pro-Hezbollah Shi'ite Muslim village in south Lebanon.

Australia's Foster's H2 profit falls 9.2 percent (2008-08-25)
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Foster's Group Ltd , Australia's largest brewer, posted a 9.4 percent decline in second-half profit on Tuesday, pressured by disappointing sales from its Californian wine business.

Iraqi girl aborts suicide bombing (2008-08-25)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A teenage Iraqi girl wearing a vest packed with explosives turned herself in rather than go through with a suicide bombing in a violence-torn city north of Baghdad, police and the U.S. military said.

Tense stand-off in disputed Georgia village (2008-08-25)
TSKHINVALI, Georgia (Reuters) - Georgian and South Ossetian forces were in a tense stand-off on Monday over control of a disputed village on the edge of the breakaway region, according to Georgian and separatist officials.

Iraq says U.S. agrees to pull troops by 2011 (2008-08-25)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq and the United States have agreed that a planned security pact will require all U.S. troops to leave by the end of 2011, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday, while Washington said no final deal had been reached.

China's Olympic golden haul breaks old duopoly (2008-08-25)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The debate over which nation would top the gold medal table at the Beijing Olympics was already well over by the time Chinese boxer Zou Shiming won the host nation's 50th gold medal on Sunday.

Existing-homes sales rise, inventory swells (2008-08-25)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales of previously owned U.S. homes ticked higher in July thanks to lower prices, but record inventory suggested the battered housing market is unlikely to recover soon, a trade group report showed on Monday.

Russia warns Moldova against "Georgian mistake" (2008-08-25)
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned ex-Soviet Moldova on Monday against repeating Georgia's mistake of trying to use force to seize back control of a breakaway region.

Protesters try to take Thai state TV off-air (2008-08-25)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - About 80 armed anti-government activists broke into the studios of Thai state broadcaster NBT on Tuesday to try to halt programming as a prelude to a major demonstration against the seven-month-old coalition.

Wall St stays lower after housing data (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks trimmed some of their losses on Monday but stayed firmly negative after data showed the pace of existing-home sales rose in July.

Freddie shares rise after firm demand at bill sale (2008-08-25)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Freddie Mac were up 5 percent on Monday after solid demand for its $2 billion sale of 3-month and 6-month bills, easing some worries about its ability to raise cash.

U.S. should shelve nuclear deal: Russian official (2008-08-25)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The White House should postpone a Congressional vote on a landmark U.S.-Russia civilian nuclear pact to prevent it being held hostage to a row over the conflict with Georgia, a Russian nuclear official told Reuters.

Clarinet in hand, a conductor meets the orchestra at eye level (2008-08-22)
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Marty Ashby labeled jazz genius (2008-08-11)
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Ansel Adams' photography coming to Gilcrease: The prints (2008-08-11)
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Marty Ashby labeled jazz genius (2008-08-11)
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Exhibit reflects artist's influences (2008-08-11)
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Marty Ashby labeled jazz genius (2008-08-11)
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Exhibit reflects artist's influences (2008-08-11)
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Sanborn's Blues Album Is Saxophone at Its Best (2008-08-11)
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Lolita at 50 (2008-08-11)
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CD reviews (2008-08-07)
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In Review: Barcelona (2008-08-07)
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Magdalena Kozen� (2008-08-07)
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'Express' a summer hit (2008-08-07)
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Ray's on Move Solo And with Indigo Girls (2008-08-07)
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CD reviews (2008-08-07)
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Pianist Finds French Composer Full of Color And Whimsy (2008-08-07)
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Music ; Fusion Reunion (2008-08-07)
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Latino fest spans time, borders (2008-08-04)
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The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008-08-04)
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Pianist Finds Comfort in Beethoven's Struggle (2008-08-04)
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CD Of The Week: Randy Newman: Harps & Angels: Playful Or Just Wilful? (2008-08-04)
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Dolly Parton express still covers the country (2008-08-04)
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Jazzman finds musical voice in tenor sax (2008-08-01)
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Diablerie for Solo Violin (2008-08-01)
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Guitarist-composer Bill Frisell talks about his music (2008-08-01)
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Classical Gas Guzzlers (2008-08-01)
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Music-KNOPFLER-REVIE-STP (2008-08-01)
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Movies-BROTHERS-REV (2008-07-24)
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Music-MENZEL-INTERV-STP (2008-07-24)
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In her comfort zone, Dame Kiri dazzles (2008-07-24)
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`The Dark Knight' (2008-07-18)
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Momma-MIA-THEATER-FI-STP (2008-07-17)
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Bc-REV-MOVIES-DARKKNIGHT-REV-DET (2008-07-17)
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Dark masterpiece: 'Knight' belongs to Ledger (2008-07-17)
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A Fairy Tale with Strings Attached (2008-07-16)
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Maestro meets Mario: BSO resumes play with video-game symphony (2008-07-16)
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Movies-HELLBOY-REV (2008-07-10)
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Movies-JOURNEY-REV (2008-07-10)
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Music-CAROLE-KING-STP (2008-07-10)
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Trumpeter Brings His Love of Italy to Fraze (2008-07-02)
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Classical (2008-07-02)
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Trumpeter Brings His Love of Italy to Fraze (2008-07-02)
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Blanchard's genius, from whisper to scream (2008-07-02)
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An Ethical Cinema: An Interview with Manoel De Oliveira (2008-07-01)
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A Steady Gaze: The Films of Manoel De Oliveira (2008-07-01)
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Chamber fest ends on jazzy note (2008-07-01)
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Flamenco Show Is Beginning of Painter's Tale (2008-07-01)
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CD Review: London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, conductor; Mahler Symphony No. 1: LSO Live; 3 1/2 stars (2008-07-01)
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An Explosion of Sound As Two Worlds Collide (2008-06-27)
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`Wall-E' (2008-06-26)
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Bc-MUSIC-STEVEMILLER (2008-06-26)
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Back from the Future: Robert Silverberg Has Guided Sci-fi Readers for 55 Years (2008-06-25)
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Bc-MUSIC-DWELE-DET (2008-06-25)
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Portraits of the Artist As Icon (2008-06-25)
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Bc-MUSIC-COLDPLAY-REV-DET (2008-06-19)
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House of mystery (2008-06-19)
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Film-HULK-SFCHRONICLE-SFCHRON (2008-06-12)
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Big, dark themes predominate in 'Fall': A rich theatrical metaphor plumbs the tangled relationship between Oscar Wilde, his wife and his lover. (2008-06-12)
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Another Side of Bob Dylan (2008-06-11)
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Poet Keeps It Simple -- Sort Of ; English Professor Says He Starts with Accessible Idea, Then Moves Things to Murkier Ground (2008-06-11)
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Sense of Self ; Youths Transformed Through Poetry And Dance (2008-06-11)
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Pianist brings restlessness, urgency to Beethoven concerto (2008-06-11)
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The Strange Tale of a Writer Who Became a Character in Her Own Dark Novel (2008-06-11)
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Rocking the Rafters (2008-06-05)
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Sentimental Streak (2008-06-04)
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Bc-MUSIC-WEEZER-REVIEW-DET (2008-06-04)
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9th & Lincoln (2008-06-04)
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Louie & Clark Expedition 2 (2008-06-04)
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Fred Irby (2008-06-04)
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Iht-ZURICH-OPERA-CLARI-NYTSF (2008-05-29)
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Film-SEX-AND-THE-CITY-SFCHRONICL-SFCHRON (2008-05-29)
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And the Bossa Beat Goes on... (2008-05-29)
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'Prada' writer brings out the bling (2008-05-28)
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Poetry presents a humanizing touch: Poet Martin Espada offers window into the written verse (2008-05-28)
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James Frey's Happy Ending (2008-05-28)
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Ah, Mr Bond. It's Been a While, But We've Been Expecting You (2008-05-28)
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Neil Diamond strips down his sound (2008-05-23)
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Elements dance troupe brings an edge to ballet (2008-05-23)
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Neil Diamond strips down his sound (2008-05-23)
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Elements dance troupe brings an edge to ballet (2008-05-23)
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Sherry Markovitz: "Animating the inanimate" through distinctive art (2008-05-23)
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Indiana-FILM-REVIEW-STP (2008-05-22)
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Great Drama in a Small-SCREEN Package (2008-05-22)
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'Russian Brilliance' at Popejoy ; Two Opposite Halves Come Together to Form Solid Performance (2008-05-22)
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'Taste of Honey' a gripping, sour treat at Shattered Globe (2008-05-21)
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CJO, Alexander fit for CD (2008-05-20)
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The B-52's combine fresh music with their classic sound (2008-05-20)
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Bc-MOVIES-RAMBOW-REV-DET (2008-05-16)
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Bc-MOVIES-NARNIA-REV-DET (2008-05-16)
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Musician shows new depth on CD (2008-05-16)
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Dancers Striving to Get in Perfect Step; 'Shades' Is 'One of the Hardest Ballets' (2008-05-16)
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A different shade of art: Haggin art exhibit highlights growing popularity of pastels (2008-05-15)
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Fashion designer shows her Puerto Rican pride: Mar?a Rom?n's fashion creations reflect her heritage with a mix of fabric and materials (2008-05-15)
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Environmental Art (2008-05-14)
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No limits on art: Mix of painting, sculpture, photography and performance inspired many (2008-05-14)
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The Ten Best Photography Books (2008-05-14)
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'Amazingly talented' musician from Plum loved his roots (2008-05-12)
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Music Review ; Natalie Joins Keith, Pops in Lenny Tribute (2008-05-12)
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The Roots fuel their rage into 'Rising Down' (2008-05-12)
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'Amazingly talented' musician from Plum loved his roots (2008-05-12)
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A long journey to ballet's Orlando bow (2008-05-12)
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The young library: Hero is just a world (2008-05-12)
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A long journey to ballet's Orlando bow (2008-05-12)
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'Amazingly talented' musician from Plum loved his roots (2008-05-12)
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The Roots fuel their rage into 'Rising Down' (2008-05-12)
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Art frames colorful life of Saroyan: Writer is the inspiration for Carol Tikijian's art museum show. (2008-05-12)
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Setting Standards-New York Sessions (2008-05-08)
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Modesto Symphony praised by expert (2008-05-08)
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'9 Parts of Desire' gives women of Iraq many voices (2008-05-08)
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Rabo De Nube (2008-05-08)
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Takacs Quartet presents glorious program (2008-05-01)
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Sax players' other talent (2008-05-01)
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Hitting a High Note (2008-05-01)
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Bc-MOVIES-IRONMAN-REV-DET (2008-05-01)
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For Art's Sake (2008-05-01)
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Takacs Quartet presents glorious program (2008-05-01)
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Sax players' other talent (2008-05-01)
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The Ambassadors (2008-05-01)
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The List: Masculine Mozart without Mercy ; Reviews English Touring Opera's Don Giovanni Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton **** (2008-04-24)
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Ahmad Jamal thinks big with jazz band (2008-04-23)
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Clinton & Obama: The final push (2008-04-22)
In a race in which both laid claim to the title of "Rocky," Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton staggered toward the Pennsylvania primary's closing bell last night.

New voters could narrow race in Pa. (2008-04-21)
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Film-FORGETTINGSARAHMARSHALL-SFC-SFCHRON (2008-04-18)
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Dance troupe explores body's reaction to freedom (2008-04-18)
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Local supporters address Obama bid (2008-04-18)
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Obama unenthusiasticabout N.C. debate: Candidate says he doubts new ground would be broken (2008-04-18)
Despite pleas from two N.C. governors and top lawmakers, Sen. Barack Obama didn't sound eager Thursday to debate in North Carolina this month.

Rhythm of the Rainforest (2008-04-18)
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Local supporters address Obama bid (2008-04-18)
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Dance troupe explores body's reaction to freedom (2008-04-18)
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Santana is not just Latin rock, he takes chances (2008-04-18)
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Film-SMART-SFCHRONICLE-SFCHRON (2008-04-11)
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Film-CHAOS-SFCHRONICLE-SFCHRON (2008-04-11)
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Strictly ballroom (2008-04-10)
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Guitarist brings an edge to 'smooth' reputation (2008-04-10)
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Strictly ballroom (2008-04-10)
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Guitarist brings an edge to 'smooth' reputation (2008-04-10)
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Strictly ballroom (2008-04-10)
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Bc-MUSIC-NINE-REV-DET (2008-04-10)
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Fairy tale ballet on pointe at Sierra 2 Center (2008-04-03)
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Odessa/Havana (2008-04-03)
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Give Me Five! (2008-04-03)
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All American (2008-04-03)
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Performance defines imagery in display of Chinese photos (2008-04-03)
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Majestic Lawn Ballet (2008-04-03)
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Brad Mehldau staying true to jazz traditions (2008-04-03)
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Opera Fantasies for Violin (2008-04-03)
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'Giselle': Dancers tell classic story of lost love (2008-04-03)
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Miracles, Magic & Madness (2008-04-03)
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Beethoven: Trios, Opus 1, Nos. 1 And 3 (2008-04-03)
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Rachael Price keeps the jazz tradition fresh by doing things her way (2008-03-28)
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Film-RUNFATBOYRUN-SFCHRON-SFCHRON (2008-03-28)
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Bc-MOVIES-STOP-LOSS-REV (2008-03-28)
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Film-21-SFCHRON-SFCHRON (2008-03-28)
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Bc-MOVIES-MARRIED-LIFE-REV-DET (2008-03-28)
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Nada Surf rides a 'Lucky' wave (2008-03-27)
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'Swan Lake' solid, but fails to soar (2008-03-24)
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Cellists take the Sheldon (2008-03-24)
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Symphony to perform Beethoven's only opera, 'Fidelio' (2008-03-24)
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'Swan Lake' solid, but fails to soar (2008-03-24)
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Finishing his Supper (2008-03-24)
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NONFICTION: Joan Crawford's passion was a love affair with the camera (2008-03-24)
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A lost child navigates life in Queens, N.Y. (2008-03-21)
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Movie review: Adam Carolla nails it in 'Hammer' (2008-03-21)
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Bhangra dance blends the ages (2008-03-21)
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A lost child navigates life in Queens, N.Y. (2008-03-21)
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Art teacher has kids imagining the possibilities (2008-03-20)
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Artist's portraits of jazz masters at Oakland gallery (2008-03-20)
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Akwid brings forth concept CD (2008-03-20)
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At 62, sultry singer Bettye LaVette gains young fans in her comeback (2008-03-12)
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Time to Get Your Irish on (2008-03-11)
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Review: Wit, humor shine in 'Miss Pettigrew' (2008-03-10)
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Irish Eyes Are Smiling (2008-03-10)
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Ormao dancers play with umbrellas in 'Canopy' (2008-03-07)
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From the Author of 'Suite Francaise' (2008-03-07)
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Mark Twain's twin? (2008-03-07)
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U.S. markets slip and slide Friday (2008-03-07)
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Singer, TSO in tribute to Ray (2008-03-07)
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Mark Twain's twin? (2008-03-07)
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New Orleans-based band to perform in Black History Month concert (2008-02-29)
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Play takes glimpse into history (2008-02-29)
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Puerto Rico may sway presidential contest (2008-02-10)
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Marvin and Dorothy Sparrell know a thing or two about lasting love (2008-02-08)
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Cook up some romance for your Valentine (2008-02-08)
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Marvin and Dorothy Sparrell know a thing or two about lasting love (2008-02-08)
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Black history remembered on canvas (2008-02-08)
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Greek culture celebrated at festival (2008-02-08)
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Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Performs New Pieces ; Review (2008-02-08)
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McCain Looks Right As Romney Quits the Race ; US Election Countdown (2008-02-08)
JOHN McCAIN today called on the American Right to rally behind him after Mitt Romney dropped out of the presidential race.

MSNBC's Chelsea comment angers Clinton (2008-02-08)
A distasteful comment about Chelsea Clinton by an MSNBC anchor could imperil Hillary Rodham Clinton's participation in future presidential debates on the network, a Clinton spokesman said.

Clinton, Obama jostle over money (2008-02-08)
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign is offering a daily peek into their presidential fundraising, reassuring donors and supporters and prodding them into maintaining a healthy rate of income.

Valentine's Dessert Is Something To Be Trifled With (2008-02-08)
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Cook up some romance for your Valentine (2008-02-08)
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Composer, Conductor, Singer...And He's Only Fifteen (2008-02-08)
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Cook up some romance for your Valentine (2008-02-08)
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Marvin and Dorothy Sparrell know a thing or two about lasting love (2008-02-08)
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Grace And Fervour ; Dance (2008-02-08)
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Seeing red: Vibrant and powerful, this primary color delivers plenty of punch (2008-02-08)
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A Past They Can Relate to ; Lessons Should Be Taught Year-round, Some Parents Say (2008-02-07)
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Love snacks (2008-02-07)
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Chocolate lovers only (2008-02-07)
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Expert: Keep lost love in memory (2008-02-07)
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Second Black Heritage Festival slated to kick off Friday evening (2008-02-07)
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History And Author's Life Inspire Graphic Novel (2008-02-07)
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Program honors civil rights leader, movement (2008-02-07)
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Author speaks of 'Glass Castle,' past (2008-02-01)
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Lorca lives through dance, opera, visual arts and more (2008-02-01)
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A story of 'American truth' (2008-02-01)
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From Anoka, an opera career (2008-02-01)
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Fiery Furnaces content with their slow burn (2008-02-01)
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'Persepolis' is a touching tale of self-doubt and discovery (2008-02-01)
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Take this movie and bury it: 'Over Her Dead Body' is mortally bad from the start. (2008-02-01)
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Lorca lives through dance, opera, visual arts and more (2008-02-01)
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There's music in his genes (2008-02-01)
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A story of 'American truth' (2008-02-01)
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From Anoka, an opera career (2008-02-01)
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There's music in his genes (2008-02-01)
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A story of 'American truth' (2008-02-01)
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From Anoka, an opera career (2008-02-01)
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Fans adore a mellower DiFranco (2008-02-01)
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There's music in his genes (2008-02-01)
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Edwidge Danticat (2008-01-23)
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Books: 'Salt River' Runs Sweet (2008-01-23)
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Another Look at Thomas Hardy (2008-01-23)
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Ladies Who Depend on `the Kindness of Strangers' (2008-01-23)
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Shakespeare Still Awesome After 430 Years (2008-01-23)
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The Man Knows Pain: Writing from the Inside Out (2008-01-23)
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The Art of Seuss (2008-01-23)
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Marchers Step Up on Path to Equality (2008-01-18)
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Kids to Take Action, Try to Live King's Dream' (2008-01-18)
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Driving Dr. King: Activist Tom Houck Recalls Days As Family Chauffeur (2008-01-18)
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Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem a Sci-fi Fight for Survival Resumes Review (2008-01-11)
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Cover Story: ; Ti Amo; Botti's Latest Album a Love Letter to Italy (2008-01-11)
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Cliches aside, 'Orphanage' is scary indeed (2008-01-11)
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Reiner's 'Bucket' comes up empty (2008-01-11)
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Wu Tang's future may be sketched out in '8 Diagrams' (2008-01-11)
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'Sunday' is a confused, unholy mess (2008-01-11)
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Hotline ; Radiohead Heads the Charts (2008-01-11)
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Magnet schools' enrollment open (2008-01-09)
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Books - Marriage in Our Era of White Noise (2008-01-09)
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Square Dancing Good Fun for Veterans, Novices Alike (2008-01-09)
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Philharmonic tackles tough Beethoven work (2008-01-09)
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It's Not Just Dance, 'It's a Whole Culture' (2008-01-09)
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Energy Injection for Classic Love Story (2008-01-09)
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Kids explore the arts, much more (2008-01-09)
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Tradition comes alive (2008-01-07)
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The power of 10 (2008-01-07)
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Duo Plays Classical, Jazz ; Flutist And Pianist Give Performances of Both Genres (2008-01-07)
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Tradition comes alive (2008-01-07)
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Sight through sound: Blind tenor and classical pianist Carlos Ibay performs at Twin Spires (2008-01-07)
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Symphonic siblings: Brother and sister who grew up immersed in music frequently share stage (2008-01-07)
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Southeast Texas youth showcase their musical talents (2008-01-07)
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Making beautiful music for anyone and everyone: The Maryland Conservatory of Music began as a mission (2008-01-07)
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Tango with a twist (2008-01-07)
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Matthew Test - national 2 (2008-01-04)
Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test

Matthew Test - national 3 (2008-01-04)
Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test

Matthew Test - national 1 (2008-01-04)
Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test

New CD Boosts Composer James Hartway's Profile (2008-01-02)
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Amir ElSaffar: Jazz-Maqam Moods (2008-01-02)
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The Best of Edgar Meyer (2008-01-02)
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Jessie McBride: Crescent City's Next Generation (2008-01-02)
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Blues Genius (2008-01-02)
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Reinstated Grants Provide Lift for New Orleans Artists (2008-01-02)
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Ain't Necessarily So (2008-01-02)
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Bringing It Home (2008-01-02)
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All Hail the King of 'Snap Crackle' (2008-01-02)
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New Constellations (2008-01-02)
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Homecoming: Live At The Iridium (2008-01-02)
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Musicians, Critics Plan Global Vision (2008-01-02)
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Concerts Make Most Of Mozart (2008-01-02)
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Agenda: How Narrow Is Your Literary Gender Gap? (2008-01-02)
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Marvin Stamm: Westchester's Jazz Uncle (2008-01-02)
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The Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu (2008-01-02)
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The Antisocial Club (2008-01-02)
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The Question Is ... (2008-01-02)
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Ouro Preto Fest Connects Brazilian Town to Global Headliners (2008-01-02)
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Wainwright Does Garland to the Max (2007-12-31)
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Dancer's devotion to craft shows in competition (2007-12-31)
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Pastorius Park pays homage to jazz icon (2007-12-31)
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Blessed Be the Strings That Bind (2007-12-31)
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'An epoch in ballet': An intimate look at the complex life and character of Rudolf Nureyev (2007-12-31)
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Show some resolve: Set small, manageable goals for 2008 (2007-12-28)
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For many resolutions, there's always next year (2007-12-28)
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This year I resolve to ... (2007-12-28)
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Show some resolve: Set small, manageable goals for 2008 (2007-12-28)
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For many resolutions, there's always next year (2007-12-28)
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EDITORIAL: Make the 100 Day Resolution (2007-12-28)
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This year I resolve to ... (2007-12-28)
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'The Great Debaters' an arguably good film (2007-12-28)
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Carlo Felice Cillario (2007-12-28)
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CD reviews (2007-12-28)
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Experimenting with Cinema in 18th-century France (2007-12-28)
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CD reviews (2007-12-28)
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The Sacramento Bee, Calif., Lisa Heyamoto column: A notable name and all that jazz (2007-12-28)
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Conductor of Innovation (2007-12-28)
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Teacher named among top directors (2007-12-28)
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Conductor of Innovation (2007-12-28)
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Teacher named among top directors (2007-12-28)
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Breaking boundaries: J.R.'s new release captures a soulful sound (2007-12-28)
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'The Great Debaters' an arguably good film (2007-12-28)
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CD reviews (2007-12-28)
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Teacher named among top directors (2007-12-28)
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This year I resolve to ... (2007-12-28)
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New Year's Resolutions (2007-12-26)
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RESOLUTIONS: Ideas for a fresh start to make things better in the New Year (2007-12-26)
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Rhema works to restore lights, Christmas spirit (2007-12-19)
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You can handle the pressure for fast meals (2007-12-19)
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With New Year, Nicherin Buddhists Start Fresh (2007-12-19)
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Mistletoe More Than An Excuse for Holiday Kiss (2007-12-19)
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Sharing in the holiday spirits, without the alcohol (2007-12-19)
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Holiday brunch buffet tips (2007-12-19)
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Holidays a chance to explore culture and country (2007-12-19)
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Festive foods: Famous holiday foods have rich traditions (2007-12-19)
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Santa Claus is the name (really), grins are his game in Marysville (2007-12-19)
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You can handle the pressure for fast meals (2007-12-19)
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The excesses of holiday giving (2007-12-19)
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Greensboro Symphony brings holiday show to Elon (2007-12-17)
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'Little Women' ; Director Has Been a Longtime Fan of Story (2007-12-17)
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Magicians part of three generations (2007-12-17)
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Chicago Jazz Ensemble takes Ellington's religious scores, makes them soar (2007-12-17)
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Burton and Depp create a demon "Sweeney Todd" (2007-12-17)
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One for all; all four one (2007-12-17)
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Chicago Jazz Ensemble takes Ellington's religious scores, makes them soar (2007-12-17)
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They're Rocking Out for Hanukkah (2007-12-13)
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Leonard Slatkin comes through again for Pittsburgh Symphony (2007-12-07)
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Heart-felt Blues for a Lost Land (2007-12-07)
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Fairy tale goes modern at Playhouse Dance (2007-12-07)
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Jazz helps heal at St. Vincent's hospital (2007-12-07)
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A masterful adaptation of "Atonement" (2007-12-07)
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Fairy tale goes modern at Playhouse Dance (2007-12-07)
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Leonard Slatkin comes through again for Pittsburgh Symphony (2007-12-07)
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Fairy tale goes modern at Playhouse Dance (2007-12-07)
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Steppin' it up: Successful lawyer becomes a tap dancing pro (2007-12-07)
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Dancers' tutus must be fluffy, yet hard (2007-12-07)
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Grant Street Dance Company: a Decade of Dedication (2007-12-07)
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Leonard Slatkin comes through again for Pittsburgh Symphony (2007-12-07)
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Ballerinas! Jewels for Dancing (2007-11-28)
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Nancy Wilson, Buddy Guy highlight Berks Jazz Festival (2007-11-28)
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Program Brings Out Young Dance Talent (2007-11-28)
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Drums talk on Jae Sinnett's new disc (2007-11-28)
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A Rapturous Return to Glory (2007-11-28)
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The shape of jazz to come The new Yoshi's in San Francisco could boost Bay Area jazz scene (2007-11-28)
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Brigands Steal Our Hearts ; World (2007-11-28)
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Opening Up the World of Classical Dance (2007-11-28)
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The shape of jazz to come The new Yoshi's in San Francisco could boost Bay Area jazz scene (2007-11-28)
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Family Affair in New Orleans (2007-11-28)
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Holiday tree-lighting and parade draw thousands (2007-11-26)
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These Recipe Books Raise the Standards for Your Favorite Holiday Tastes (2007-11-26)
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Tree Lights Up Crowd ; For Many, the Christmas Tree-lighting Is a Holiday Tradition. (2007-11-26)
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Holiday tree-lighting and parade draw thousands (2007-11-26)
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Handwritten greetings keep E-cards at bay (2007-11-26)
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Signs of the seasons: Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha, Christmas and Kwanzaa all have traditional holiday symbols. (2007-11-26)
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Holiday shoppers spending carefully (2007-11-26)
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Santa Claus comes to Ottawa (2007-11-26)
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Sexual Innuendo Tiresome in 'Beowulf' (2007-11-26)
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'Juno' worthy of the heavens, or Oscar (2007-11-26)
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Winthrop celebrating Kwanzaa at Tuesday event (2007-11-26)
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Making Music (2007-11-19)
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Wee Folks Day Care welcomes families for Thanksgiving gathering (2007-11-16)
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Creating That Thanksgiving Meal without Disaster (2007-11-16)
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Wee Folks Day Care welcomes families for Thanksgiving gathering (2007-11-16)
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Making Room for Turkeys (2007-11-16)
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Wee Folks Day Care welcomes families for Thanksgiving gathering (2007-11-16)
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Good Taste : Tasting Tradition (2007-11-12)
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Do the Holidays Seem to Lose Their Magic As You Grow Up? (2007-11-12)
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Orchestra in Record Form (2007-11-09)
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Bc-MOVIES-CLAUS-REVIEW (2007-11-09)
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Seeking new home for Impressionist treasure (2007-11-09)
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Helping opera 'compete' is one of star's goals (2007-11-09)
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Pianist Brings Mozart Mastery to ISO Concert (2007-11-09)
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A night of firsts (2007-11-09)
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Symphony Again Masters Masterwork (2007-11-09)
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Oundjian takes DSO to his hometown: Toronto Symphony to play Detroit in March (2007-11-09)
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DeKalb Symphony: Dedicated to the Music (2007-11-09)
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Concert Review: Orchestra's Performance Reveals Conductor's Growth (2007-11-09)
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Classical: Many Strings to One's Bow ; Cbso Leader Laurence Jackson Steps Up to Play the Beethoven Concertro on Sunday - But Not Before Doing His Day Job. (2007-11-09)
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German fest is where it's wurst (2007-11-09)
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Exploding Star affirms place in jazz firmament (2007-11-09)
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Monster mishmash: With the Broadway musical version of 'Young Frankenstein,' Mel Brooks has created a colossal dud (2007-11-09)
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Classical: Curtis Connects with the Audience ; Review Orchestra of the Swan Town Hall, Birmingham **** (2007-11-09)
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Variations on a theme? It's Northbrook's game (2007-11-09)
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List of Holiday Films (2007-11-09)
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Bc-MOVIES-DEVIL-REVIEW (2007-11-09)
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Variations on a theme? It's Northbrook's game (2007-11-09)
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Monster mishmash: With the Broadway musical version of 'Young Frankenstein,' Mel Brooks has created a colossal dud (2007-11-09)
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Exploding Star affirms place in jazz firmament (2007-11-09)
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Classical (2007-11-09)
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St. Petersburg Orchestra is Russian--first, last, always (2007-11-09)
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Is It Right to Complete a Work of Art Left Unfinished by Its Creator? (2007-11-09)
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SSO concert looks to Vienna (2007-11-09)
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St. Petersburg Orchestra is Russian--first, last, always (2007-11-09)
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American Egg Board Names 'America's Worst Cook'-Kitchen Klutz who Prepared Thanksgiving Stuffing in a Clothes Dryer Wins Contest (2007-11-05)
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Where did the fall season go? (2007-11-05)
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With Fall Comes County Fair Days 42nd Annual Event Kicks Off Thursday (2007-11-05)
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Victoria, Cuero to host free Thanksgiving dinners (2007-11-05)
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Valley gearing up for annual Thanksgiving race to benefit Boys and Girls Club (2007-11-05)
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Victoria, Cuero to host free Thanksgiving dinners (2007-11-05)
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Valley gearing up for annual Thanksgiving race to benefit Boys and Girls Club (2007-11-05)
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American Egg Board Names 'America's Worst Cook'-Kitchen Klutz who Prepared Thanksgiving Stuffing in a Clothes Dryer Wins Contest (2007-11-05)
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Valley gearing up for annual Thanksgiving race to benefit Boys and Girls Club (2007-11-05)
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Victoria, Cuero to host free Thanksgiving dinners (2007-11-05)
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Holiday sales expected to slump: Predictions of gloomy season for retailers could mean great deals for consumers, especially those shopping for toys (2007-11-05)
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Christmas in October: Holiday merchandise hits shelves in a hurry (2007-11-05)
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Fall Gardening: When to Clear Nature's Debris (2007-11-05)
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November Notebook ; Prepare Your Home And Family for Cold Months Ahead (2007-11-05)
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Scary season: Spooky places just waiting to get hearts pounding (2007-10-29)
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The Philadelphia Inquirer Peter Dobrin column: Fewer musicians get better sound (2007-10-29)
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Ghostly Connections (2007-10-29)
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A Most Endearing Performer Makes An Electric Comeback (2007-10-29)
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'Music Within' Strikes Familiar Notes (2007-10-29)
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In Answering Prayers, Film Explores Russian Soul (2007-10-29)
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'Black Irish' a Small Southie Tale with a Big Heart (2007-10-29)
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Cutting off the art to spite the face (2007-10-29)
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Reading Eagle, Pa., Jim Kerr column: Forgetting what it's like to be a kid (2007-10-29)
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Weeks before Halloween, Christmas creeps into stores (2007-10-29)
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DSO scores with works of U-M's Bolcom (2007-10-29)
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The Philadelphia Inquirer Peter Dobrin column: Fewer musicians get better sound (2007-10-29)
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Tulsa Symphony spins spell with aural fantasy (2007-10-29)
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Sorting Out Ornamental Grasses (2007-10-29)
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Halloween Bewitches Consumers (2007-10-17)
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Nina Schneider, 94; Published science series, wrote novel (2007-10-17)
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Handmade house of horror in Mt. Lebanon (2007-10-17)
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BRIEF: Fast Five: Top five Halloween costumes from 2006: Did yours make the list? If it did, go as something else this year. (2007-10-17)
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Handmade house of horror in Mt. Lebanon (2007-10-17)
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BRIEF: Fast Five: Top five Halloween costumes from 2006: Did yours make the list? If it did, go as something else this year. (2007-10-17)
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Handmade house of horror in Mt. Lebanon (2007-10-17)
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Arab And Jew United by Algerian Orchestra (2007-10-12)
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The season of the pumpkin: The star of Halloween has emerged as a centerpiece for decorations and delicious delights (2007-10-12)
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Stone Screens 'Born on the Fourth of July' at Austin Film Festival (2007-10-12)
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Classical CD of the Month (2007-10-12)
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Big names may bring film slump to close (2007-10-12)
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Hounded, Hurt - How Franz Bounced Back Classical (2007-10-12)
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4 St. Paul arts groups make peace over Ordway's use: It's hoped agreement covering rent, calendar ends years of quarreling (2007-10-12)
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His life was saved by music (2007-10-12)
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Superb Performance by Irish Pianist (2007-10-12)
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The season of the pumpkin: The star of Halloween has emerged as a centerpiece for decorations and delicious delights (2007-10-12)
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His life was saved by music (2007-10-12)
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Halloween bewitches consumers: Halloween activities (2007-10-12)
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REIGN OUT: Blanchett's still fine, but 2nd 'Elizabeth' film is mostly silly (2007-10-12)
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The season of the pumpkin: The star of Halloween has emerged as a centerpiece for decorations and delicious delights (2007-10-12)
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His life was saved by music (2007-10-12)
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Music of Spain: Violinist Ludwig scheduled for symphony performance (2007-10-12)
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Heavenly voices join orchestra (2007-10-12)
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Plant power hits the Gallo Center stage with 'Little Shop of Horrors' (2007-10-12)
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SCARE TACTICS: With Halloween frighteningly close, it's time to give some serious thought to your spooky decor (2007-10-12)
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Halloween costumes inspired by popular characters (2007-10-12)
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High School To Host Costume Sale ; Cibola's Drama Department Uses Dresses from Past Productions for Fundraiser (2007-10-12)
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Animal Attractions Look to Scare Up Fun, Visitors, Funds (2007-10-12)
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Dance-HIPHOP-ART-BOS (2007-10-12)
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REIGN OUT: Blanchett's still fine, but 2nd 'Elizabeth' film is mostly silly (2007-10-12)
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Pletnev Makes Stirring Opera Debut (2007-10-10)
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Satchmo Blows Up the World: Jazz Ambassadors Play the Cold War (2007-10-03)
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Outside the Lines (2007-10-01)
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'The Kingdom': Difficult Situation, Difficult Shoot (2007-10-01)
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Making It (2007-10-01)
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Perpetual Anticipation (2007-10-01)
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Vancouver Highlights Global Jazz Connections (2007-10-01)
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Evil-TOUR-STP (2007-10-01)
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Copenhagen Fest Mixes Scandinavian Sounds With Tango (2007-10-01)
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Seven New Jazz Icons DVDs Released (2007-10-01)
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Barrister on the Bandstand (2007-10-01)
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Jazz Aspen Snowmass Boosts Education in Colorado And California (2007-10-01)
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Ivy League Jazz (2007-10-01)
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Outside the Lines (2007-10-01)
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(No) Fear of Flying (2007-10-01)
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Fujin Raijin (2007-10-01)
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Vientos (2007-10-01)
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Fairy Tale (2007-10-01)
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Making It (2007-10-01)
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Perpetual Anticipation (2007-10-01)
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Atlantic Boxes Its Blues (2007-10-01)
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Beyond Received Wisdom (2007-10-01)
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What Makes a Well-Rounded Jazz Education? (2007-10-01)
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Harbor (2007-10-01)
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Clave Beyond Textbooks (2007-10-01)
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Vientos (2007-10-01)
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Fujin Raijin (2007-10-01)
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Cinco De Mowo! (2007-10-01)
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Flurry (2007-10-01)
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Remixed & Reimagined (2007-10-01)
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Exploring Stacks Before Hitting the Stage (2007-10-01)
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El Esp�Ritu J�baro/Big Band Urban Folktales (2007-10-01)
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Around The Clock Battle (2007-10-01)
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You And The Night And The Music/Sitting In Limbo (2007-10-01)
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Women's Work (2007-10-01)
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Eastman El Rey Deluxe Jazz Guitar: Hollow Body Evolution (2007-10-01)
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Tyshawn Sorey: Total Recall (2007-10-01)
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Kullhammar Creates a Home for Nordic Jazz Pals (2007-10-01)
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Jazz Classrooms Welcome 'Legends' (2007-10-01)
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Not Just Black And White (2007-10-01)
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Fairy Tale (2007-10-01)
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(No) Fear of Flying (2007-10-01)
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Gloria Estefan, daring and danceable (2007-09-26)
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Don't Fear 'Reaper': Comedy-DRAMA Has Some Devilish Twists (2007-09-26)
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Hits Keep on Coming for 'Simpsons' Music Arranger (2007-09-26)
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On Gritty 'Scene,' Lavette Lets Loose (2007-09-26)
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The Light Fantastic (2007-09-26)
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Mozart - with a Shadowy Samoan Twist (2007-09-26)
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'Shine' Is Inspired But Angry (2007-09-26)
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Reading Fiesta celebrated with Ballet Folklorico (2007-09-26)
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Georgian Dancers Express Their Culture Passionately ; Dance Company Merges Folkloric Traditions with Theatrical Elements (2007-09-26)
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Reading Fiesta celebrated with Ballet Folklorico (2007-09-26)
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Quite a Feet, Emily! (2007-09-26)
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Stories in Motion (2007-09-26)
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Guitar-PICKS-0919-COX (2007-09-20)
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Works by Crumb with Orchestra 2001 (2007-09-20)
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Moscow (2007-09-20)
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Taking Up the Baton (2007-09-20)
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Seventh Column : Young STARS Deliver Rousing Performance (2007-09-20)
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'Three B's' Opener a Bit Antiquated -- But Passionate Playing Earns Standing Ovation for Memphis Symphony (2007-09-20)
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Musical stars set for Martin Luther King memorial concert (2007-09-20)
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Director hopes sampler CDs will unite symphony, audience (2007-09-20)
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Works by Crumb with Orchestra 2001 (2007-09-20)
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Music Review: Scottish International Piano Competition: Final (2007-09-20)
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Director hopes sampler CDs will unite symphony, audience (2007-09-20)
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Art-CREED-ART-BOS (2007-09-17)
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A Chinese EMPEROR��?S Cultural Revolution (2007-09-17)
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Mfa's 'Drama And Desire' Explores Pleasure Principle in Japan (2007-09-17)
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Q&A: Kim Knieriem : Teaching Dance Is a Labor of Love (2007-09-13)
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Latin Lovers ; Lessons Make It Easy to Embrace Pleasure of Dance (2007-09-13)
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Latin Music: Kat Deluna Blends Genres (2007-09-13)
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The Fruits of the Levine-ERA Bso Are Well-RECEIVED in Europe (2007-09-13)
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'Friday' Makes Brief, Rare Mexican Visit (2007-09-13)
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Baryshnikov Will Be at Beaches Gallery The Famous Dancer Is Exhibiting His Photographs at J. Johnson Gallery. (2007-09-13)
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So you think you can dance? (2007-09-13)
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Ballet Memphis Goes All-out with In-house Choreography (2007-09-13)
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Ballet star to be a dean at NCSA (2007-09-13)
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Boston to Host a Visit from a Jewel of An Orchestra (2007-09-13)
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U.S. still at sixes and sevens over 9/11 (2007-09-11)
Continued healing of 9/11 lies in unity over the war tasks ahead, not in defaulting to generals like Petraeus.

Opera Superstar Pavarotti Dead at 71 (2007-09-06)
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A Purely Intoxicating Tale of Unrequited Affection Syndromes And a Century (2007-09-05)
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Swedish government to help preserve legacy of Ingmar Bergman (2007-09-05)
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On Movies And Music, He Knows the Score (2007-09-05)
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Tony Bennett: Familiar, yet fresh: MUSIC REVIEW (2007-09-04)
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A Life in Song ; After 60 Decades Backing Up Brother Willie, Bobbie Nelson Goes Solo (2007-09-04)
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Jazz Festival goes out on glowing Star: MUSIC REVIEW (2007-09-04)
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Tony Bennett: Familiar, yet fresh: MUSIC REVIEW (2007-09-04)
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Return to jazz roots makes 2007 fest one of the best (2007-09-04)
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Jazz Festival goes out on glowing Star: MUSIC REVIEW (2007-09-04)
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Thoroughly Modern Piece Inspires Violinist (2007-09-04)
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An Improbable Marriage: Classical guitarist crossed genres to put a baroque spin on jazz compositions (2007-09-04)
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Flashy start: All-star lineup provides plenty of pop for fest debut (2007-08-27)
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Clear Picture ; 'Goya's Ghosts' Uses Artist's Story to Capture Period (2007-08-27)
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Chicago Tribune Dawn Turner Trice column: Archive exhibit celebrates more than just itself (2007-08-27)
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Imperfections can't deter lively 'Mozart': DANCE REVIEW (2007-08-27)
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Kanye West delivers, his way: Even after false start and interruptions, hip-hop star gives emotional club performance (2007-08-27)
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International Festival: When Safe Pair of Hands Is Not Enough (2007-08-27)
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Melodious Satire for Disillusioned Iranians (2007-08-27)
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Dance Review: Beauty of the Beast Is Better Than a Night at the Movies (2007-08-27)
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Classical Ballet Student Leaps Into Full Theater Scholarship (2007-08-27)
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'High School Musical 2' Another Gold Mine for Disney (2007-08-27)
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Imperfections can't deter lively 'Mozart': DANCE REVIEW (2007-08-27)
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Jeremias' new 'Circo' CD echoes Sgt. Pepper (2007-08-27)
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Advance for Sunday, Aug. 26 from Jazz to Country, Aging Musicians Show No Signs of Hanging It Up (2007-08-27)
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3 CDs with differing interpretations of Beethoven (2007-08-27)
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Kanye West delivers, his way: Even after false start and interruptions, hip-hop star gives emotional club performance (2007-08-27)
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Flashy start: All-star lineup provides plenty of pop for fest debut (2007-08-27)
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Chicago Tribune Dawn Turner Trice column: Archive exhibit celebrates more than just itself (2007-08-27)
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I'm One of the Luckiest Guys in the World' Mulgrew Miller Got His Break And Ran with It (2007-08-27)
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Ballet teachers to open new school: Unurbat Gunaajav and Nara Dondong, formerly of the Roanoke Ballet Theatre, will run the Virginia Ballet Academy. (2007-08-27)
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Festival finale centers on war and peace themes: CLASSICAL REVIEW (2007-08-20)
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Max Roach (2007-08-20)
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Max Roach: 1924 - 2007: Jazz visionary, 'poet of drums'Improvisational artist influenced generations across music genres (2007-08-20)
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Survivor's Tale (2007-08-20)
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The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio, Elaine Guregian column: Argentine pianist lives up to billing with orchestra (2007-08-20)
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International Festival Review: Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela (2007-08-20)
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Soul Searching (2007-08-20)
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Heartbreak And Soul (2007-08-20)
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Heartwarming Tale Set Against a Backdrop of Global Warming (2007-08-20)
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From Broadway to Broad Street: Husband-and-wife troupers, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra at the Kimmel Center (2007-08-20)
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Festival finale centers on war and peace themes: CLASSICAL REVIEW (2007-08-20)
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Max Roach: 1924 - 2007: Jazz visionary, 'poet of drums'Improvisational artist influenced generations across music genres (2007-08-20)
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Legendary Jazz Percussionist Max Roach, Dies in NYC at 83 (2007-08-20)
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Max Roach, 83, Drummer And Modern-jazz Pioneer Obituary (2007-08-20)
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Review Amazing 'Harriet Tubman' tells tale of heroic woman (2007-08-20)
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From Broadway to Broad Street: Husband-and-wife troupers, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra at the Kimmel Center (2007-08-20)
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Jazz Drummer Max Roach Dies at 83 (2007-08-20)
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Festival Review: Monteverdi's L'Orfeo: Magical Rebirth for Monteverdi's Orpheus (2007-08-13)
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Guitar Game Cuts the Guts Out of a Decade of Rock Anthems (2007-08-13)
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ASO's Conductors Take Batons on Road (2007-08-13)
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Time for tea at museum: Theme is 'Alice in Wonderland' (2007-08-13)
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Classical Theme Duets: 8 Beloved Masterworks (2007-08-13)
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From the Top Announces New Award Program (2007-08-13)
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Fleisher Featured on Esq CD (2007-08-13)
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Salvador Dali museum rearranges (2007-08-13)
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Ruth Palmer at the Wigmore (2007-08-10)
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Pianist Masters Music Strains (2007-08-10)
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Embargoed for Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007 Elvis Movie Marathon (2007-08-10)
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'Rush Hour' Director Lives His Dream (2007-08-10)
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Krauss and Rice team up and the music flows (2007-08-10)
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'Stardust' Is a Fairy Tale for Everyone (2007-08-10)
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There's No Accounting for Taste (2007-08-08)
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Gap Founder Offers to Build Museum in San Francisco to House His Art Collection (2007-08-08)
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Radio man rides the Internet wave (2007-08-08)
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Hamelin Is Turning Heads ; Classical Pianist Wins More Widespread Appeal (2007-08-08)
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The Man Who Played with Dolls (2007-07-31)
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Debut Album from Dentonite Speaks Volumes (2007-07-31)
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Latin Music: Producer Eases Los Rabanes' Sonic Shift (2007-07-31)
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British Actors Star in Numerous TV Shows (2007-07-31)
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Sidebar to Food-ENTREPRENEURS Music Hath Charms, And Recipes, to Soothe a Savage Chicken Breast (2007-07-31)
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Can't recall? Here's a Potter primer (2007-07-25)
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Narrator gives life to hundreds of voices in the audio books (2007-07-25)
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Counting the days til the 'Deathly Hallows' (2007-07-25)
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Theater Review: 'The Fantasticks' (2007-07-25)
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'Bark' If You Like Fun (2007-07-25)
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Motoring: Dancer's Perfect Partner (2007-07-25)
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A Rewarding Airing of Contemporary Music ; Reviews (2007-07-25)
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Ambitious Project on a Small Stage And Poorly Lit ; Reviews (2007-07-25)
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Neglia Ballet STARS Soar in 'Giselle' (2007-07-25)
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Don Rice And His Tenor Sax Lead the Way Over Familiar Jazz Ground (2007-07-25)
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'Tea' Premiere a Visual Feast ; C R I T I C S C O R N E R (2007-07-25)
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Theater Review: 'The Fantasticks' (2007-07-25)
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Writers Find Country's a 'Kick' Behind Scenes Or on Stage (2007-07-25)
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Review; Fogerty Tears Up Riverside (2007-07-25)
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Heartwarming 'Arctic Tale' Underscores Global-WARMING Problem (2007-07-25)
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Independent Ballet Wales ; You Write the Reviews ++ Pwllheli Wales (2007-07-25)
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Promotional campaign launched in Nanjing to drive sales of "Nanking" (2007-07-25)
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Critical Mass ; Opera ++ Almeida Theatre London (2007-07-25)
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This Tragedy Has a Happy Ending ; Opera ++ Romeo And Juliet ++ Bampton Classical Opera Oxford (2007-07-25)
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Still the Best for Jazz Sounds Round Midnight ; Readers' Views (2007-07-25)
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Tooting Their Own Horn: Sapulpa Royal Jazz Festival Boosts Pride (2007-07-25)
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"Oceana" -- Critic's Pick of the Month (2007-07-25)
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Can't recall? Here's a Potter primer (2007-07-25)
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Dying Words (2007-07-25)
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Counting the days til the 'Deathly Hallows' (2007-07-25)
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Narrator gives life to hundreds of voices in the audio books (2007-07-25)
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Can't recall? Here's a Potter primer (2007-07-25)
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Counting the days til the 'Deathly Hallows' (2007-07-25)
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Herzog Crafts a Brilliant Tale of Survival (2007-07-25)
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Narrator gives life to hundreds of voices in the audio books (2007-07-25)
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Review : Satisfying Journey Into Cool (2007-07-25)
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Latin Music: Daddy Yankee Goes Beyond Reggaeton (2007-07-09)
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Verdi: Don Carlo (2007-07-09)
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Metropolitan Opera Gala Honoring Sir Rudolf Bing (Highlights) (2007-07-09)
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'I'm a new-work junkie,' says Baryshnikov (2007-07-09)
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'Congo Square' a dialogue of eras (2007-06-28)
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Hampton Jazz Fest a Top-notch Party / Patti LaBelle Closes the First of 3 Nights with An Energetic Set (2007-06-28)
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Writing Team Goes It Alone in 'Transformers' (2007-06-28)
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Sign Painting An Art Form in Mexico (2007-06-28)
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Brilliant Cast Goes Down a Storm with Strauss (2007-06-28)
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'Transformers' Actor: More Than Meets the Eye (2007-06-28)
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DAS Rheingold ; Opera ++ Longborough Festival Opera Longborough (2007-06-28)
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'Congo Square' a dialogue of eras (2007-06-28)
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Trio brings party to Hopelands (2007-06-28)
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Patrons Show Love at Women in Jazz Festival (2007-06-28)
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More than 14 Million Net Radio Listeners Turn Up the Volume In Congress-National Day of Silence a 'Tremendous Success' (2007-06-28)
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Charles a. Mussen Jr., Teacher, Led Bands ; Oct. 24, 1933 -- June 24, 2007 (2007-06-28)
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Latin Music: DJ Tony Touch Fingers Hot Sounds (2007-06-28)
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A Feast for the Senses (2007-06-28)
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Trio brings party to Hopelands (2007-06-28)
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More than 14 Million Net Radio Listeners Turn Up the Volume In Congress-National Day of Silence a 'Tremendous Success' (2007-06-28)
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Review: Music: Royal Scottish National Orchestra (2007-06-28)
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Conductors in a scattershot era of recording (2007-06-28)
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Nobody plays it like Sonny (2007-06-28)
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Conductors in a scattershot era of recording (2007-06-28)
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Rain will pinch pocketbooks for Sturgis Falls, jazz festival (2007-06-28)
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Patrons Show Love at Women in Jazz Festival (2007-06-28)
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No crowds? No problem: Jazz fest promises to return in '08 (2007-06-28)
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Belcea Quartet / Zehetmair ; Classical ++ Snape Maltings Aldeburgh (2007-06-22)
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The Other Mozart: The Life of the Famous Chevalier De Saint-George (2007-06-22)
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London Sinfonietta / Jungr ; Classical ++ Queen Elizabeth Hall London (2007-06-22)
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Anderson remains timeless jazz songstress (2007-06-22)
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Familiar Faces Plus Some Surprises at the Bowl (2007-06-22)
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Quartet's Survival a Victory for Couple Musicians Persevere in Aftermath of Suit (2007-06-22)
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'Young lions' mature, but they still roar (2007-06-22)
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Street Jams ; Chicago Singer Joins Local Lineup for Jazz And Blues Festival (2007-06-22)
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Allen Vizzutti & Friends to Perform (2007-06-22)
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Come Across The Bridge for Rootsy And Original Stuff Cross The Bridge for Rootsy Stuff (2007-06-22)
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Chopin, a Listener's Guide to the Master of the Piano, W/2 CDs (2007-06-22)
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She Has One Divine Muse ; Rickie Lee Jones' New CD Springs from Jesus' Words (2007-06-22)
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It's All in a Day's Work for Wno ; Classical Terry Grimley Talks to the Leader of Welsh National Opera's Orchestra And Hears About Its Latest Technical Enhancement (2007-06-22)
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Anderson remains timeless jazz songstress (2007-06-22)
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St. Joseph News-Press, Mo., On the Scene column: B-movies, bands, dance and art on tap this weekend (2007-06-22)
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Anderson remains timeless jazz songstress (2007-06-22)
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St. Joseph News-Press, Mo., On the Scene column: B-movies, bands, dance and art on tap this weekend (2007-06-22)
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The Anatomy of Musicality (2007-06-22)
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St. Joseph News-Press, Mo., On the Scene column: B-movies, bands, dance and art on tap this weekend (2007-06-22)
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Nellie Lutcher ; Jazz Vocalist And Piano Player (2007-06-13)
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Her Passion (2007-06-13)
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Ivy Queen Adds Strings, Piano -- And Romance -- to Reggaeton (2007-06-13)
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Great Actor Shines in Family Classic (2007-06-13)
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The Detective Work Is Done. Let the Music Play. (2007-06-13)
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On Principal (2007-06-13)
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Parties agree to new Symphony contract: 3-year deal with musicians will aid financial stability of local orchestra (2007-06-13)
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Jazz Technologies president resigns (2007-06-13)
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World Piano Competition Here (2007-06-13)
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Tyner septet performance roaring good (2007-06-13)
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Review; Virtuosity Marks Present Music Season Closer Virtuosity Marks Present Music Closer (2007-06-13)
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There Is a Sound of Old Orleans ; Music (2007-06-13)
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Tyner septet performance roaring good (2007-06-13)
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Allen Toussaint And the Preservation Hall Jazz Band ; You Write the Reviews ++ The Anvil Basingstoke (2007-06-13)
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Olympia Dukakis Given Pell Award (2007-06-08)
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Latin Music: Sorokin Looks at Immigration's Toll (2007-06-08)
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Blues legend Koko Taylor finds perfect fit in new album (2007-06-08)
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Davis, PSO tackle Beethoven's Ninth (2007-06-08)
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Blues legend Koko Taylor finds perfect fit in new album (2007-06-08)
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Pops Brawlers Make Peace (2007-06-08)
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Father's Day Particularly Important for Senior Dads-Spend Some Time Planning the Event, LivHOME Recommends Focus on Activities That Will Be Meaningful to Dad (2007-06-08)
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Pianist Rocks Beethoven at El Rey Theater (2007-06-08)
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Dave Greer's Latest CD Is Up, Down And All Around (2007-06-08)
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Blues legend Koko Taylor finds perfect fit in new album (2007-06-08)
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Davis, PSO tackle Beethoven's Ninth (2007-06-08)
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Dave Greer's Latest CD Is Up, Down And All Around (2007-06-08)
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Dancing Around White America's Embrace of Hip-HOP (2007-06-08)
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Fountains of Wayne definitely a summer band (2007-06-08)
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Pacino Remembers the Highs (Attica!) And Lows (the Inevitable Rejection) of a Life in Hollywood (2007-06-08)
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Hurricane relief effort marches on: ReBirth Brass Band to perform at New Orleans fundraiser in Old Pueblo (2007-06-08)
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Looking good: Summer days for dads (2007-06-08)
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Bluegrass Adventure Ends on High Note (2007-06-08)
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Duct Tape a Wallet for Dad (2007-06-08)
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Davis, PSO tackle Beethoven's Ninth (2007-06-08)
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Tiananmen Exile Sees Eventual Reconciliation - Hong Kong Interview (2007-06-04)
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Botanic Garden bells are ringing: Carillon concerts, classes on the way (2007-06-04)
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China's Tiananmen Mothers Urge World to Use Olympics to Pressure Authorities (2007-06-04)
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Botanic Garden bells are ringing: Carillon concerts, classes on the way (2007-06-04)
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The Hidden Cost of Sky-HIGH Art Prices (2007-06-04)
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Police keep watch at Tiananmen Square on 18th anniversary (2007-06-04)
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Tens of thousands mark Tiananmen anniversary in Hong Kong (2007-06-04)
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Jailed Chinese journalist awarded world press freedom prize (2007-06-04)
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Lyric Establishes Its Fourth Straight 'winning' Season: Ticket Sales, Fundraising Keys To Ongoing Success (2007-05-23)
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Rembrandt Showcases Rare Mahler: Chamber Group Initiates 3-year Project Next Season (2007-05-23)
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'trovatore' Stirs Music Hall Crowd (2007-05-23)
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A Season of Dutch Arts in the Berkshires (2007-05-23)
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Latin Music: Just Don't Call It Flat-OUT 'Reggaeton' (2007-05-23)
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Facing The Final Curtain ; Dance ++ Darcey Bussell Farewell ++ Sadler's Wells London (2007-05-23)
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Young Artists Take Flight: Florida Grand Opera Bid Adieu To Its Young Singers In A Wide-ranging Concert At The Lincoln Theatre (2007-05-23)
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Facing The Final Curtain ; Dance ++ Darcey Bussell Farewell ++ Sadler's Wells London (2007-05-23)
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Access All Arias ; The Royal Opera House's Free Open-air Screenings Of Classic Opera And Ballet Have Become Essential Summer Events. The Bigger The Audience, The More Exciting, Says Creative Director Deborah Bull (2007-05-23)
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Lyric Establishes Its Fourth Straight 'winning' Season: Ticket Sales, Fundraising Keys To Ongoing Success (2007-05-23)
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Rembrandt Showcases Rare Mahler: Chamber Group Initiates 3-year Project Next Season (2007-05-23)
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Battles ; Pop ++ Scala London (2007-05-23)
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Explosions of Exuberant Joy ; Visual Arts ++ Gillian Ayres: Paintings And Works on Paper 2005-7 ++ Alan Cristea Gallery London (2007-05-23)
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A True Cultural Ambassador (2007-05-23)
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Botero creates straight-ahead art (2007-05-23)
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Violinist Brings The Romance, Composer Brings The Fun (2007-05-23)
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Birds On The Wing ; 'the Dying Swan' Has Only Ever Been Taught To A Handful Of Ballerinas. Now, One Of The Initiated Is Passing On Her Secrets To The Next Generation - As Sue Gaisford Watches (2007-05-23)
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Sanborn overwhelmed by sense of inner calm (2007-05-21)
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Making rap nice is counterintuitive (2007-05-21)
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Charles Mingus' monumental 'Epitaph' gets full treatment (2007-05-21)
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Symphony Schickele, Carney, Beethoven Star in Triumphant Season Finale (2007-05-21)
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Latin Music: Rapper Kemo Talks the Talk (2007-05-16)
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A rare Mozart concerto gets its due from son of noted Russian author (2007-05-16)
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Believe in Love This Once (2007-05-16)
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James Taylor & Nitin Sawhney ; 'We Had Such Different Cultural Backgrounds, Yet There Were Such Similiarities' (2007-05-16)
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Overjoyed Over Tony: Alliance Theatre Wins for Excellence (2007-05-16)
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House Parties from Hell ; Focus ++ Speed Viewing Is Billed As the Ultimate Way to Sell a Home. But As Danielle Demetriou Finds Out, It's Rapidly Becoming a Nightmare for House-hunters (2007-05-16)
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Pianist Meral Guneyman to Release "Playful Virtuosity" Featuring Legendary Musician and Composer Dick Hyman June 5, 2007 on Rykodisc (2007-05-16)
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'Rhapsody' shines brightest at piano Rach fest (2007-05-16)
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Lars Vogt And Friends ; Classical ++ Wigmore Hall London (2007-04-25)
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Dance Review - Masters of Dance - Festival Ballet Providence's Three Works Include a Show-stealer (2007-04-25)
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Katya Kabanova ; Opera ++ Grand Theatre Leeds (2007-04-25)
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Stiffelio ; Opera ++ Royal Opera House London (2007-04-25)
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Mickey Rooney More Than a 'Museum' Piece (2007-04-25)
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Opera-ELEPHANTS-ART-BOS (2007-04-25)
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Lithgow with An 'Oh!': Ballet Performance Expands Resume for Versatile Actor, Writer And Singer to Children (2007-04-25)
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Midland '55: When Orbison Met Elvis (2007-04-25)
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Smith's Unique Treatment Makes Old Songs New Again (2007-04-25)
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Atlanta Film Festival Notebook: Iraq Refusal a Hard Decision, Ex-soldier Says (2007-04-25)
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Theatre: Mozart Captivates in a Contemporary Setting ; Culture Reviews The Seraglio English Touring Opera/Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton *** (2007-04-25)
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Review: Summertime on Catfish Row (2007-04-25)
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Break Out! ; Dance ++ Peacock Theatre London (2007-04-25)
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DVD Review: 'Freedom Writers' Filled with Substance As Well As Emotion (2007-04-25)
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Andrew Hill ; Blue Note Pianist And Composer (2007-04-25)
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Pianist enjoys life, but spent his early years playing all jazz, all the time. (2007-04-23)
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DeGreg Straight Ahead with Latest Piano Trio CD (2007-04-23)
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Mayer's chops prove he's far from just a tabloid pretty-boy (2007-04-23)
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Review; Old Works, Fine-tuned, Resonate for Mso (2007-04-23)
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When opportunity came knockin,' Mintzer was ready (2007-04-23)
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Classical Failures Named And Shamed ; Music ++ Maestros, Masterpieces And Madness By Norman Lebrecht Penguin Pound20 (2007-04-23)
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Have baton, will travel (2007-04-23)
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Music ; Get Jazzed! (2007-04-23)
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Make a Date with Chloe's Barber ; Classical (2007-04-23)
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Jazz CD Reviews ; Culture Music Peter Bacon's Jazz Diary (2007-04-23)
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'Year of Dog' a Tender Tale of Love And Loss Moviereview (2007-04-23)
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Classical Failures Named And Shamed ; Music ++ Maestros, Masterpieces And Madness By Norman Lebrecht Penguin Pound20 (2007-04-23)
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Music: It's All Go for Zoe Rahman ; Culture Jazz Pianist Zoe Rahman Talks to Terry Grimley About Life After Last Year's Profile-raising Mercury Prize Nomination (2007-04-23)
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Music Review: Wild Jazz And All That Hip Hop ; Soweto Kinch Jam House ***** (2007-04-23)
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Staying True to Tradition Abercrombie's Fretwork Takes Center Stage (2007-04-23)
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Hear Improvisation on Different Scale ; Tabla Master Says Classical Indian Music Is Even More Collaborative Than Jazz (2007-04-23)
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Foreshadowing a Tragedy (2007-04-21)
Cho Sueng-Hui, the gunman at the Virginia Tech massacre, was an English major who created troubling works of fiction. Kurt Andersen of Studio 360 talks to creative writing professors to understand the foreshadowing of a tragedy.

A Maverick Russian Choreographer Dance (2007-04-18)
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Texas Musicians Play for Troops in Iraq (2007-04-18)
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William Kennedy's work put to music (2007-04-18)
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Singing the Blues, with New Textures (2007-04-18)
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'Men Behaving Badly' (2007-04-18)
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Happy Days Offstage with Beckett ; Talk ++ a Buried Lady Called Winnie, Sam And Me ++ National Theatre London (2007-04-18)
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Dance ; Mayerling ++ Royal Opera House London (2007-04-18)
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Ozomatli ; World Music ++ Shepherd's Bush Empire London (2007-04-18)
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Hats Off to Taha And Toure Junior ; Pop ++ Rachid Taha & Vieux Farka Toure ++ Barbican ++ London (2007-04-18)
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Bob Dylan And His Band ; You Write the Reviews ++ Arena Sheffield (2007-04-18)
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Tetzlaff / Lonquich ; Classical ++ Wigmore Hall ++ London (2007-04-18)
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El Guero builds on the Duranguense sound (2007-04-18)
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Preview: Don Pasquale St George's Hall (2007-04-18)
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He's a believer: Peter Tork defends the Monkees' viability for Rock Hall of Fame (2007-04-18)
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Review; Violinist Redeems Scottish Tune; Symphony Plays Groggily Behind Soloist Barton Pine (2007-04-18)
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And Chuck E's Still in Love -- with His Music (2007-04-16)
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Classical Notes: World Tunes Ear to Opera Pioneer (2007-04-16)
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CSO Takes Its Music on the Road to California (2007-04-16)
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Piano masters will duel, duet at Schoolcraft: Their two-man show today benefits Michigan Jazz Fest (2007-04-16)
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A PASSION FOR TEACHING: Trumpeter will lead a clinic today at Victoria jazz festival (2007-04-16)
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Dance review: Rousse goes wild in Sewell Ballet's spring concert (2007-04-16)
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Review: 'Confetti' is diverse but not inspiring (2007-04-16)
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The Miami Herald Classical Music column: Conductor Spano to unveil new musical garden with New World (2007-04-16)
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Paavo J?rvi: A conductor rocks (2007-04-16)
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CD Review: David Russell, The Art of the Guitar: Telarc, 3 1/2 stars (2007-04-16)
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Storm Over Imus' Language Hits Hip-HOP World the Detroit News (2007-04-16)
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Arts: Lady Sings the Blues ; Comic's Daughter Hits the Stage As Jazz Legend (2007-04-16)
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A PASSION FOR TEACHING: Trumpeter will lead a clinic today at Victoria jazz festival (2007-04-16)
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Dance review: Rousse goes wild in Sewell Ballet's spring concert (2007-04-16)
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Music Review ; Grown-up Norah Goes Exploring (2007-04-16)
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A PASSION FOR TEACHING: Trumpeter will lead a clinic today at Victoria jazz festival (2007-04-16)
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Pushkin/Prokofiev 'Godunov' finally realized (2007-04-16)
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Paris Gets a Preview of New Hall for Music (2007-04-16)
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Pushkin/Prokofiev 'Godunov' finally realized (2007-04-16)
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It'll Be a 'Box' Office Smash! ; Entertainment: Martial Arts Expert Hopes to Pack a Punch with Bouncer Movie (2007-04-11)
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The War for Korea, 1945-1950: a House Burning (2007-04-11)
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Local author releases yet another book (2007-04-11)
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Actor in Drama Drew Inspiration from Sitcom Role (2007-04-11)
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New museum spotlights Latino arts, culture (2007-04-11)
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Local firm's quest: lord of the online game world (2007-04-11)
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Pyrrhic Victory: French Strategy And Operations in the Great War (2007-04-11)
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Scoping Out the Evolution Fight (2007-04-11)
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Local author releases yet another book (2007-04-11)
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Smiley's `Ten Days' Took Circuitous Route (2007-04-11)
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`Burning Bright': William Blake Stuffed, Mounted, Museum-ready (2007-04-11)
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Gray's Revelations on Kirk, Through the Eyes of a Hippo (2007-04-11)
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Local author releases yet another book (2007-04-11)
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A Complicated Truth (2007-04-11)
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"The Feminine Mistake": Another salvo in the "Mommy Wars" (2007-04-11)
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The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln (2007-04-11)
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Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq (2007-04-11)
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Pull Up a Chair And Sing Along! ; Classical ++ L'Heure Espagnole/ Gianni Schicchi Royal Opera House London ++ Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Queen Elizabeth Hall London (2007-04-09)
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Tunes are busting out all over: DSO's ambitious 8 Days in June will feature everything from chamber and orchestral works to Chuck D and Wynton Marsalis (2007-04-09)
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Virtuoso hornist makes it sound easy (2007-04-09)
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Chamber orchestra has global reach (2007-04-09)
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Contempo brings out best in Douglas (2007-04-09)
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Gypsy Kings: The music of Babik: A jazz and folk hybrid band that is something completely different (2007-04-09)
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Contempo brings out best in Douglas (2007-04-09)
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Music for a new age: The Wichita Symphony will conclude its classical season with Beethoven's monumental "Choral" Symphony. (2007-04-09)
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Virtuoso hornist makes it sound easy (2007-04-09)
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2 Movies, 2 Directors, One Pulp-FICTION Stew (2007-04-09)
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Musical Awakening: Rock Band Groovelily Takes Center Stage for Now (2007-04-09)
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A Rare Solo Performance by Virtuoso Nelson Freire Offers Local Audiences a World-CLASS, If Unpredictable, Treat (2007-04-09)
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Peter Brotzmann's sax is a titanic weapon (2007-04-09)
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Saxophonist Plays Romantic Tunes ; Jazz Musician's Album Was Influenced by Marriage (2007-04-09)
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Brass Band Mixes Traditional Benin Sounds with Jazz (2007-04-09)
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Peter Brotzmann's sax is a titanic weapon (2007-04-09)
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It's 'Back to Normal' as novel simmers to close (2007-04-09)
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Pull Up a Chair And Sing Along! ; Classical ++ L'Heure Espagnole/ Gianni Schicchi Royal Opera House London ++ Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Queen Elizabeth Hall London (2007-04-09)
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Warming's biggest wallop aimed at wildlife, not people (2007-04-06)
Some of Earth's coldest areas will lose the climate zones that support today's plants and animals, says a UN panel's latest report.

Germans Or Foreigners? Attitudes Toward Ethnic Minorities in Post-Reunification Germany (2007-04-05)
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The New American Story Books/Nonfiction (2007-04-05)
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Healing Harmonies (2007-04-05)
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A Tough Act To Follow (2007-04-05)
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PBS special looks at authors who question the American dream (2007-04-05)
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Chiara String Quartet (2007-04-05)
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: a Biography (2007-04-05)
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Yo-Yo Ma: Appassionato (2007-04-05)
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Greek Sculpture And the Problem of Description (2007-04-05)
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Hat Trick (2007-04-05)
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All Jazzed Up ; After 30 Years Just Playing Classical Music, Nigel Kennedy Has Had Enough. He Tells Sholto Byrnes Why He's Now Recording for the Blue Note Label (2007-04-05)
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Sting Takes on Terfel in Battle of Classical Brits ; Home (2007-04-05)
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Latin Music: Bachata Master Nourishes His 'Children' (2007-04-05)
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Magic in the British Isles (2007-04-05)
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The Words And The Days (2007-04-05)
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Boost for the Big Easy As Monk's Jazz Institute Comes Back Home ; World (2007-04-04)
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Happy Days ; He Calls Himself 'Typical London Middle-class' And He Likes His Songs to Send Out Positive Vibes. Tim Cooper Meets Just Jack, the Hip-hop Artist with a Difference (2007-04-04)
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Edouard Lalo: Concerto in D Minor for Violoncello And Orchestra (2007-04-04)
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Across the Great Divide (2007-04-04)
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Guest pianist uncovers treasure (2007-04-04)
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Memorabilia, Testimonials Paint New Picture of Reinhardt's World (2007-04-04)
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Pianist takes careful approach (2007-04-04)
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Beethoven a Challenge ; Santa Fe Symphony Presents Concert with Skill (2007-04-04)
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The Miami Herald Classical Music column: Clarinetist's technique is airtight (2007-04-04)
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The Opera with a Twist That Cuts Close to the Bone Dave Heath Has Spent the Past 20 Years Writing a Tale About a Touring Opera Company And the Living, Breathing Fiascos Within. (2007-04-04)
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Pianist takes careful approach (2007-04-04)
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A Love Supreme-the Legacy of John Coltrane (2007-04-04)
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Superstar Dog Tale Brims with Fun (2007-04-04)
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Ron Carter ; Jazz ++ Ronnie Scott's London (2007-04-04)
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Hollywood's War Stories (2007-04-04)
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Lso / Gergiev ; Classical ++ Barbican London (2007-04-04)
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Chinese director receives official approval for movie on Nanjing Massacre (2007-03-28)
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Revenge Movies -- Commentary-TEX (2007-03-28)
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Imagining life of dinosaursField Museum show aims to transport visitors past bones into ancient times (2007-03-28)
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Dreams spike on visit by LeeFilmmaker visits Chicago school (2007-03-28)
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Hornsby, Skaggs find a fine rhythm together (2007-03-28)
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Dreams spike on visit by LeeFilmmaker visits Chicago school (2007-03-28)
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The Wonder of You ; Ever Thought About What Your Body Looks Like on the Inside? Rebecca Armstrong Meets the Medical Illustrators Who Left Their Textbooks Behind And Now Have Hollywood Taking Notes (2007-03-28)
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Teens' film on 'the cube' a festival hit: Documentary in competition at Tribeca, but prom timing a puzzle for young moviemakers (2007-03-28)
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Imagining life of dinosaursField Museum show aims to transport visitors past bones into ancient times (2007-03-28)
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Hornsby, Skaggs find a fine rhythm together (2007-03-28)
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'Air Guitar Nation' Rises Up (2007-03-28)
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Chris Buckley lowers the boom (2007-03-26)
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Jazz Pianist Who Has All the Bases Covered ; Culture Music Peter Bacon's Jazz Diary (2007-03-26)
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Skating Comedy Gives Ferrell a Chance to Sparkle (2007-03-26)
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The Volvo Finds Its Mojo ; Jazz ++ EST Colston Hall, Bristol (2007-03-26)
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Second Opinion ; Berklee Voice Guru Gets Vocal About `American Idol' (2007-03-26)
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Hangin' with the Band Who (2007-03-26)
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Mario Batali maintains his perspective as he juggles a whirlwind schedule (2007-03-26)
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`The Hills Have Eyes 2' (2007-03-26)
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Chris Buckley lowers the boom (2007-03-26)
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Mario Batali maintains his perspective as he juggles a whirlwind schedule (2007-03-26)
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Officially Punk'd (2007-03-26)
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The Volvo Finds Its Mojo ; Jazz ++ EST Colston Hall, Bristol (2007-03-26)
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Magical Portal to a Musical Past (2007-03-26)
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Auctions: Rare Chinese Artworks Set Records (2007-03-21)
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Sxsw Film Festival Shines Beside Bigger Musical Brother (2007-03-21)
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Molly Ringwald Now a Song And Dance Gal (2007-03-21)
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Theater-SCHEIB-ART-BOS (2007-03-21)
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Latin Music: 'Lost City' Recreates Old Havana (2007-03-21)
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Business Thriller `The Interview' Is a Promising Debut (2007-03-21)
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Greek Classics (2007-03-21)
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'Humble Farmer' takes vow of silence (2007-03-21)
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Chris Abani's Novel `The Virgin of Flames' And Collection of Poetry `Hands Washing Water' (2007-03-21)
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Prize-winner Offers His First Crime Novel, `Christine Falls' (2007-03-21)
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Taking Success Unapologetically in Stride (2007-03-21)
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Without Borders (2007-03-21)
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Business Thriller `The Interview' Is a Promising Debut (2007-03-21)
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Neil Young Releases CD of Legendary Solo Show (2007-03-21)
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Chris Abani's Novel `The Virgin of Flames' And Collection of Poetry `Hands Washing Water' (2007-03-21)
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Burning Down (2007-03-21)
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Antibalas -- It's 'Bulletproof' with a Beat (2007-03-21)
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Prize-winner Offers His First Crime Novel, `Christine Falls' (2007-03-21)
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Two pros show their genius (2007-03-19)
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CD reviews: Sutton offers look at happiness from every 'Side' (2007-03-19)
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Gospel According to 'Boyz' Is Deceptively Soul-STIRRING (2007-03-19)
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Premiere of new ballet proves to be 'Smoke 'n' hot (2007-03-19)
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Elton John Concert Will Corrupt Tobago, Archdeacon Claims ; Home (2007-03-19)
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Review: 'I Think I Love My Wife' (2007-03-19)
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CD reviews: Sutton offers look at happiness from every 'Side' (2007-03-19)
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SIUE trombonist jazzes it up again with his own CD (2007-03-19)
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Premiere of new ballet proves to be 'Smoke 'n' hot (2007-03-19)
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Two pros show their genius (2007-03-19)
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This standing ovation was well-deserved (2007-03-19)
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Violinist, CSO Serve Up a Serenade with Love (2007-03-19)
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Music: Three Is the Magic Number ; Culture Esbjorn Svensson Tells Andrew Cowen About the Magical Power of Three (2007-03-19)
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These Boys Just Wanna Have Fun (2007-03-19)
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Spund Check : Jazz Fusion Unrepentant ; Mahavishnu Project Brings Unique Vision of Music to Faithful (2007-03-19)
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Premiere of new ballet proves to be 'Smoke 'n' hot (2007-03-19)
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Musicians play for stroke awareness: Event benefits jazz-R&B singer Angela Bofill (2007-03-19)
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Gareth Morris ; Flautist in the Limelight (2007-03-19)
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Latin Music: Motel's Singer Inspired by Mccartney (2007-03-14)
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Rlpo / Tortelier / Hough ; Classical ++ Philharmonic Hall Liverpool (2007-03-14)
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A Hero Who We Must Not Forget (2007-03-14)
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Ehnes and Herbig mesh with BSO (2007-03-14)
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Pianist Covers the Spectrum, from a to Rachel Z (2007-03-14)
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Music by 'Andrea's Fault' spanned decades (2007-03-14)
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LEADING LADIES: Harpist, bassoonist are lone female principals in Columbus Symphony Orchestra (2007-03-14)
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Stax gets back in the soul groove (2007-03-14)
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2 British Singers Channel the Music Very Differently (2007-03-14)
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Collectors still groove on vinyl: Record and CD show draws diverse crowd with wide array of music offerings (2007-03-14)
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Pianist Covers the Spectrum, from a to Rachel Z (2007-03-14)
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Shapiro Serves a Tasty Jazz Stew (2007-03-14)
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Music by 'Andrea's Fault' spanned decades (2007-03-14)
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Originality, Style And High Standards ; Birmingham Symphonic Winds Cbso Centre ***** (2007-03-14)
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Concert Review - Chamber Performance Takes Look to the Past (2007-03-14)
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Music by 'Andrea's Fault' spanned decades (2007-03-14)
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Two Jazz Greats in Sell-out Shows (2007-03-14)
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Bad, Beautiful Bernhard Is Still Singing And Swinging (2007-03-14)
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Peyroux shows she knows how to change her tune (2007-03-08)
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Jed Mercurio Trained As a Doctor, Flying Jets in His Spare Time. Then He Took a Scalpel to TV Medical Drama W Ith Cardiac Arrest And Bodies. His Next Goal? An Unforgettable Novel (2007-03-07)
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Frantic Fratellis Confirm Live Gig Genius (2007-03-07)
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Rocking Anthems Keep the Kaisers at the Top (2007-03-07)
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Gettin' Iggy with It: No-longer-hopped-up Pop Still Has `Weirdness' (2007-03-07)
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FOCUS ON DARK PAST: TAIWANESE FUND CONTROVERSIAL FILM ON SPYING ERA IN U.S. (2007-03-07)
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Bearing the Burden of Heroism Thomas Keneally's Study of Guilt And Grief Seals His Reputation, Says Barclay McBain (2007-03-07)
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Catching the Drif Rhona Cameron's First Novel Is Engaging And True to Life - Unfortunately, That Doesn't Make It Exciting, Says Ken Smith (2007-03-07)
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Dylan's folk poetry and punk's mad energy on two new DVDs (2007-03-07)
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The Stooges Take 34 Years Off And Become Punk Legends (2007-03-07)
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Review; Intriguing 'Monsters' Fascinates, Befuddles (2007-03-07)
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Beauty And the Beat ; She's Sold Over 30 Million CDs, Got a Rock-star Husband And Likes Nothing Better Than Playing Music Loud on Her Headphones. So Who Better Than Gwen Stefani to Kick Off Our Luxury Hi-fi Special? (2007-03-07)
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Movies ; Coming on Strong (2007-03-07)
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Music ; Go Go Gomez (2007-03-07)
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Dylan's folk poetry and punk's mad energy on two new DVDs (2007-03-07)
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The Stooges Take 34 Years Off And Become Punk Legends (2007-03-07)
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Oscar Producers Smarter Than 5th Graders? (2007-03-07)
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Leader of the Pack Is Back: Girl-group Legend Comes Home (2007-03-07)
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Idealized paintings in a 19th century exhibit renew age-old questions about art (2007-03-05)
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Artist Continues to Go Against Mainstream (2007-03-05)
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The good doctor has a prescription for 'The Art of Aging' (2007-03-05)
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Patricia Barber brightens dark, cloudy winter days (2007-03-05)
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Losing the Plot in Arcadia ; Classical ++ Orfeo Grand Theatre Leeds ++ Orlando Royal Opera House London ++ The Adventures of Mr Broucek Barbican Centre London (2007-03-05)
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Fireworks power 'Pyrokinesis' (2007-03-05)
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Who's that Nola? (2007-03-05)
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The good doctor has a prescription for 'The Art of Aging' (2007-03-05)
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Reviews: Delightful Glimpse Into Ella's Songbooks ; Culture Music Cbso Symphony Hall **** (2007-03-05)
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Miami City Ballet troupe proves to be a triple threat: Miami City Ballet presented 'Symphony in Three Movements,' 'Lilac Garden' and `Raymonda Variations (2007-03-05)
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Cheers for Lill and Beethoven: what a pair (2007-03-05)
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Orchestras to play same concerto, have Van Cliburn soloists (2007-03-05)
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Opera Review: 'Tree' blooms for S.F. Symphony (2007-03-05)
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Pure Thelonius: Composer-pianist Monk's legacy is a fertile mine for the SFJAZZ Collective (2007-03-05)
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Singer has humor, heart and versatility in spades (2007-03-05)
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Losing the Plot in Arcadia ; Classical ++ Orfeo Grand Theatre Leeds ++ Orlando Royal Opera House London ++ The Adventures of Mr Broucek Barbican Centre London (2007-03-05)
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Patricia Barber brightens dark, cloudy winter days (2007-03-05)
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Cool connections (2007-03-05)
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Fireworks power 'Pyrokinesis' (2007-03-05)
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Who's that Nola? (2007-03-05)
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The good doctor has a prescription for 'The Art of Aging' (2007-03-05)
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Who's that Nola? (2007-03-05)
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Scottish sisters lead the charge as Celtic women in music are celebrated at annual expo (2007-03-02)
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Hearty breakfast: Celebrate Valentine's Day first thing in the morning (2007-03-02)
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The Baasch Family Ensemble: Music And Medicine (2007-03-02)
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Avant-Gershwin (2007-03-02)
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The Bradley's Hang (2007-03-02)
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Bebo/We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together (2007-03-02)
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Kissinger in Space (2007-03-02)
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The Scenic Route (2007-03-02)
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Odd Men in (2007-03-02)
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Ben Folds to Open Wide-RANGING Pops Season (2007-03-02)
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Unfunny side of Internet video sites (2007-03-02)
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Images And Issues Get Overheated in "Black Snake Moan" (2007-03-02)
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Schubert: String Quartets Vol. III: Quartet in G Major D 887, Quartet in G Minor D 173 (2007-03-02)
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Master Puppeteer Brings 'Animation' to Strand Theatre (2007-03-02)
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Cello Classics New & Old. Dvor�K: Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104 (1894-95); Augusta Read Thomas: Ritual Incantations (1999) (2007-03-02)
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The Fray Is Having Its Day in the Sun (2007-03-02)
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Artists come up with new gift ideas: Five are planning Sunday gallery hop for Valentine's Day (2007-03-02)
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The Excursions of MR Broucek ; Opera ++ Barbican London (2007-03-01)
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Reviews: a Night of Surprises ; Classical St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra Symphony Hall **** (2007-03-01)
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Nothing Like the Sun ; Classical ++ Courtyard Theatre Stratford-UPON-AVON (2007-03-01)
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'Naked on the Page' is woman's open book (2007-03-01)
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Will 'Dreamgirls' Song Stop Their Show? (2007-03-01)
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The Best Communities for Musical Kids-- Nationwide Survey Finds School Districts Committed to Music Education as a Conduit for Success in School and in Life - (2007-03-01)
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Symphony to record Brahms concerts (2007-03-01)
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Review 'Carmen': High note: Tulsa Opera's latest production of 'Carmen' is sublime (2007-03-01)
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Jazz legend Nancy Wilson celebrates Grammy win (2007-03-01)
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Yo-Yo Ma offers season's high at Carnival Center (2007-03-01)
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Jazz legend Nancy Wilson celebrates Grammy win (2007-03-01)
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The Best Communities for Musical Kids-- Nationwide Survey Finds School Districts Committed to Music Education as a Conduit for Success in School and in Life - (2007-03-01)
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`Zodiac': It's a Long Story (2007-03-01)
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Larsen-PROFILE-STP (2007-03-01)
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Symphony to record Brahms concerts (2007-03-01)
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Jazz legend Nancy Wilson celebrates Grammy win (2007-03-01)
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Symphony to record Brahms concerts (2007-03-01)
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Justin puts a move on crowd, with pals (2007-03-01)
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Sound Check: Femininity No Conflict to Gutsy Style (2007-03-01)
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'Naked on the Page' is woman's open book (2007-03-01)
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Yellowjackets are nimble and daring (2007-03-01)
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More Breakthroughs Lie Ahead for Women, O'Connor Says (2007-02-28)
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'Highway' leads to a surreal memory lane (2007-02-28)
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Let It Be Downloaded: Beatles iPod Could Signal End of the CD (2007-02-28)
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Pianist Stays Course Masterfully (2007-02-28)
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Jazz Review: a Serious Step Forward for New Talent in the City ; Ed Johnston's a Heart's Tale Mac **** (2007-02-28)
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Ian Wallace ; Drummer of Unusual Versatility Who Played with King Crimson, Bob Dylan And Don Henley (2007-02-28)
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Lso / Davis / Uchida ; Classical ++ Barbican London (2007-02-28)
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An adventure in finding books for boys (2007-02-28)
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Securing Artists' Pay (2007-02-28)
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Paul Robeson, the Complete Picture (2007-02-28)
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Latin Music: Mazz, And All That Tejano Jazz (2007-02-28)
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Bittorrent kicks off downloading of movies, TV shows (2007-02-28)
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Violinist's repertoire ranges from Bach to hip-hop (2007-02-28)
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A Woman's Work Interview Interview Thirty Years Ago Lynne Segal Was at the Heart of a Feminist Commune . . .Today, She Lives with a Single Lodger But Has Never Abandoned Her Radical Take on Women's Liberation. By Vicky Allan (2007-02-28)
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Nbc's Much-HYPED 'Black Donnellys' Borrows Heavily from Gangster Sagas (2007-02-26)
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Kylie - All Surface Glitter (2007-02-26)
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The Joyce Hatto Scandal Virtuoso Plagiarist (2007-02-26)
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Sacred Steel (2007-02-26)
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Notes on a Scandal ; Turning Her Back on the Classical Music World She Despised, the Pianist Joyce Hatto Released a Vast Body of Work. Trouble Is, It Seems She Didn't Play All of It. Jessica Duchen Reports (2007-02-26)
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From Falafels to OSCAR for Short-FILM Winner Ari Sandel (2007-02-26)
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Art Provides Rich Canvas of Controversy (2007-02-26)
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400 Years on, Opera Looks to the Next Act (2007-02-26)
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Sit Down And Glisten ; Culture Music Jazz CD Reviews (2007-02-26)
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DeFranco to be honored with 'Living Legend' Award: The writer, a senior at Mosley High School, is participating in an executive internship at The News Herald. (2007-02-26)
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Conductor Is Sitting Pretty for a Debut on Home Soil (2007-02-26)
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Ella stamp: It's De-Lovely: Jazz singer Fitzgerald sticks out as one of the best in this year's Black Heritage series (2007-02-26)
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Big Man of the Small Screen ; As the National Tour of 'Hairspray' Comes to Town, It Brings to Mind the Story of Dave Astor, a Real-life Corny Collins Whose Pioneering 'For Teenagers Only' Hit the Local Airwaves 50 Years Ago. (2007-02-22)
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Books - Miller Tries to Remember the 'Real' Animal House (2007-02-21)
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A Latino tonic for the American musical's future? (2007-02-21)
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Who's Going to Win? Critics' Guide to the Oscars (2007-02-21)
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Mark Morris to bring his "L'Allegro" to Seattle (2007-02-21)
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Stage-SOUVENIR-BOS (2007-02-21)
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Cirque Du Amazing; 'Jungle Fantasy' Provides a New Bent in Family Entertainment (2007-02-21)
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Stravinsky! a Celebration 2007 ; Dance ++ Hippodrome Birmingham (2007-02-21)
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Cirque Du Amazing; 'Jungle Fantasy' Provides a New Bent in Family Entertainment (2007-02-21)
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Celia Franca ; Dancer And Choreographer of Forceful Personality Who Established the National Ballet of Canada (2007-02-21)
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Who's Going to Win? Critics' Guide to the Oscars (2007-02-21)
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Do Other Critics Still Care About the Oscars? (2007-02-21)
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Composer Crafts 'Rings' Symphony From Score (2007-02-21)
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Seeing Ghosts in Uganda: Hollywood Revives Idi Amin (2007-02-21)
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Awards' Progress Wasn't Overnight (2007-02-21)
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Movies in minutes: Here's how to use the sites that allow you to download films (2007-02-21)
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Do Other Critics Still Care About the Oscars? (2007-02-21)
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A Musical Journey Through Middle-EARTH (2007-02-21)
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The Coming of Age of American Art (2007-02-21)
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`Babel' Reaches Store Shelves (2007-02-21)
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Robin Thicke Thrives, Thanks to 'Evolution' (2007-02-21)
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Singer Spreads the Love (2007-02-15)
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Ring in Chinese New Year with easy pork dishes (2007-02-15)
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Dragon Tales Around the World (2007-02-15)
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Majority Set for Holiday Travel (2007-02-15)
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Old-fashioned New Year ; Chinese Cookbook Author Celebrates with Her Grandmother's Recipes (2007-02-15)
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Celebrate Chinese New Year with a resolution to make Asian favorites (2007-02-15)
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Glen Tetley ; Innovative Choreographer Who Fused Ballet And Modern Dance (2007-02-14)
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Ballet Review - For Love of Dance - Festival Ballet Delivers with Two Engaging Stories (2007-02-14)
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The World Renowned Hermitage Ballet to Perform in the Southeast U.S. (2007-02-14)
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Ballet Shows Genius, Humor of Resident Choreographer (2007-02-14)
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Cyrano ; Dance ++ Hippodrome Birmingham (2007-02-14)
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Mccracken's Tenor Voice Silent, But Deserves Note (2007-02-12)
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Bc-GRAMMYS0211-AZR Grammys Put Political Songs Center Stage (2007-02-12)
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Handel in High Heels ; Classical ++ Agrippina The Coliseum London ++ Halle Orchestra / Mark Elder Symphony Hall Manchester (2007-02-12)
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Fans savor Shins' sound (2007-02-12)
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Lovely 'Once Upon a Time' fails to grasp the big picture (2007-02-12)
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Lyric's 'Cosi Fan Tutte' finds a perfect balance (2007-02-12)
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False Impressions ; the Third Leader (2007-02-12)
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Fans savor Shins' sound (2007-02-12)
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Handel in High Heels ; Classical ++ Agrippina The Coliseum London ++ Halle Orchestra / Mark Elder Symphony Hall Manchester (2007-02-12)
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Lovely 'Once Upon a Time' fails to grasp the big picture (2007-02-12)
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They Bombed Paradise (And I Put Up a Multimedia Extravaganza) ; The Protest Goes on ++ When Joni Mitchell Was Asked to Take Part in a Ballet About Her Life, She Was Unimpressed. But Then She Saw the Chance to Make a Statement About Something More Importan (2007-02-12)
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COMEBACK KIDS: DIXIE CHICKS TAKE FIVE AWARDS DESPITE BEING OSTRACIZED BY COUNTRY RADIO (2007-02-12)
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The piano man's still keeping the faith (2007-02-12)
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A bleak storyline for the Filipino film industry (2007-02-12)
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Nominations Validate Frampton's Musical Path (2007-02-12)
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CD Reviews: a Balance of Gentle Finger-picking And Noisy Freakouts (2007-02-12)
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Lyric's 'Cosi Fan Tutte' finds a perfect balance (2007-02-12)
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Backstage at the Grammys: What You Didn't See on TV (2007-02-12)
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Misery Loves Company-Especially on Valentine's Day-Party Ideas for Singles, Including Music Courtesy of Goombah (2007-02-08)
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Gardening: Flowers to Thrill Your Valentine ; Paul Raven on How to Pick Perfect Blooms (2007-02-08)
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2 Jazz Veterans to Perform with Rising Stars (2007-02-08)
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Vocalist Luba Mason to perform songs from debut CD (2007-02-08)
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jazz.: Birmingham artist uses dad's music influence at early age to convey poetic movement of musicians in his paintings, on display at Carnegie (2007-02-08)
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Cool: The Food of Love ; Emma Johnson Gets the Low-down on Some Tasty Aphrodisiac Treats for Two (2007-02-08)
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Misery Loves Company-Especially on Valentine's Day-Party Ideas for Singles, Including Music Courtesy of Goombah (2007-02-08)
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Writing the Book on Being Single (2007-02-08)
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jazz.: Birmingham artist uses dad's music influence at early age to convey poetic movement of musicians in his paintings, on display at Carnegie (2007-02-08)
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Performers Bring Magic to Winery (2007-02-08)
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Ballet Review Coppelia/ Empire Theatre, Liverpool (2007-02-08)
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Vocalist Luba Mason to perform songs from debut CD (2007-02-08)
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jazz.: Birmingham artist uses dad's music influence at early age to convey poetic movement of musicians in his paintings, on display at Carnegie (2007-02-08)
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Rx: Love as needed: Intimate relations can keep you healthy in body and mind, experts say (2007-02-08)
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Give Your Sweetie Flowers And Chocolate _ Combined (2007-02-05)
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Send Love Quiet As a Mouse (2007-02-05)
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Remembrance of Things Past (2007-02-05)
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Sundance '07 showcases Native cinema (2007-02-01)
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Proclamation 8099-Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2007 (2007-02-01)
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Leopold Mozart's violine teachings are republished (2007-02-01)
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'Beautiful' Rocker Back in Tune (2007-02-01)
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An Impressive Feat for Clap Your Hands (2007-02-01)
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Norah Jones Steps Outside Her Comfort Zone with New Album Norah Jones "Not Too Late" Blue Note 3 STARS (2007-02-01)
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Nude Role for 'Potter' Star Shaking Up Some Fans Moving in International And Entertainment Categories. (2007-02-01)
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Celebrity Divorce Attorney Gives Tips to See if Your Valentine Is Right for You-Are the Two of You Compatible? (2007-02-01)
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Wine Talk : Celebrate Your Love without the Huge Expense (2007-02-01)
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Celebrity Divorce Attorney Gives Tips to See if Your Valentine Is Right for You-Are the Two of You Compatible? (2007-02-01)
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Isn't It Romantic? / Couples Share Getaways That Capture Their Hearts (2007-02-01)
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Romantic Comedies Now Come with a `Catch' (2007-02-01)
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Sustaining King's vision (2007-02-01)
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Healthier Valentine's Day Choices Offered by Adora Calcium-Tips to Making Healthier Decisions (2007-02-01)
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South African teen patrols try to fight crime (2007-01-29)
Volunteer patrols of townships are one small answer to the country's single biggest problem.

Actress treasures her role in movie history: Andy Hardy, 'GWTW' were good to Ann Rutherford (2007-01-29)
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Black History Month Gets Animated with Short Movies Honoring African American Heritage-BrainPOP premieres new animations commemorating the likes of Maya Angelou, Jackie Robinson and Oprah Winfrey as February's featured flicks (2007-01-29)
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Actress treasures her role in movie history: Andy Hardy, 'GWTW' were good to Ann Rutherford (2007-01-29)
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Anthony Hopkins's Latest Film 'Slipstream' Meets Confusion And Derision at Sundance (2007-01-29)
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Stories of our roots (2007-01-29)
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Global films top Sundance awards: `Grace Is Gone' leads strong prize showing by Iraq war features (2007-01-29)
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Global Films Top Sundance Awards (2007-01-29)
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Norah Jones's New Dark Streak Is a Nice Touch Cdreview (2007-01-29)
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Music ; Women Who Groove (2007-01-29)
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Swinging Back Into Town in Grand Style ; Arts Diary Jazz Wally Fields/ Philharmonic Hall Classical Jazz Gamble Is a Winner, Says Philip Key (2007-01-29)
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Sgt Pepper Artist in Tate Show ; Godfather of British Pop Art to Exhibit in Liverpool (2007-01-29)
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Surgeons say music is as vital as instruments (2007-01-29)
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Jazzing up the Dixieland: Fresno event brings America's oldest jazz to a new audience. (2007-01-29)
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Toledo's ambassador of jazz: Clifford Murphy turns 75 doing what he always does - playing great music (2007-01-29)
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Back to Jazz Roots -- After Years of Pop Success Saxman Watts Returns to the Music And Sounds That First Inspired Him (2007-01-29)
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Oscar says older women make beautiful movies (2007-01-29)
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Global Films Top Sundance Awards (2007-01-29)
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Dench's Mesmerizing Portrait Fuels 'Notes on a Scandal' (2007-01-29)
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Global films top Sundance awards: `Grace Is Gone' leads strong prize showing by Iraq war features (2007-01-29)
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Mystery Writers Pick Nominees (2007-01-29)
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Actress treasures her role in movie history: Andy Hardy, 'GWTW' were good to Ann Rutherford (2007-01-29)
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The goodie mob (2007-01-26)
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Poignant Story of 3 Sudanese in U.S. Review (2007-01-26)
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Brits Reign at Sundance ; Anthony Hopkins Floundered, But the UK Did Well at the Influential Independent Film Festival. By James Mottram (2007-01-26)
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Film Triggers ; Debate Over; Incentives (2007-01-26)
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Movie Mojo: Wheeling, Dealing Heats Up Sundance (2007-01-26)
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Can O'Toole Win at Last? ; He Has Been Nominated for An Oscar Seven Times Before, And Lost Out Every Time. Now, the Veteran Actor Has One Last Shot at Glory, 45 Years After He Was First Shortlisted. By Louise Jury ++ The 79th Academy Awards (2007-01-25)
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Steven Mercurio (2007-01-25)
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Half-hearted History of Musicals Hits Bum Note ; Non-FICTION (2007-01-25)
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In many races, Oscars a toss-up: Oscar has his own "usual suspects (2007-01-25)
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After the Glory: The Struggles of Black Civil War Veterans (2007-01-25)
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Measha Brueggergosman (2007-01-25)
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Add article with video (2007-01-25)
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LA Opera Extends Podcast Series Through Remainder of 2006/2007 Season-By Popular Demand, Company Ushers Tomorrow's Opera Aficionados Behind the Curtain with New Media Marketing Program (2007-01-25)
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Julie Andrews to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award (2007-01-25)
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In many races, Oscars a toss-up: Oscar has his own "usual suspects (2007-01-25)
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Diversification does Foxx no favors (2007-01-25)
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Singer Marian Spelman Dies (2007-01-25)
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In many races, Oscars a toss-up: Oscar has his own "usual suspects (2007-01-25)
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Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges (2007-01-25)
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Honesty Catches Chopin's Essence (2007-01-25)
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Americans Steve Reich and Sonny Rollins win Polar Music Prize (2007-01-25)
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DSO star Robert deMaine finds solace, strength and inspiration in the cello (2007-01-25)
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The Queen Is Leading British Oscar Charge (2007-01-25)
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High Seas Musical (2007-01-24)
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Classical violinist is far from stodgy (2007-01-24)
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Singer Lynn Roberts to bring enthusiasm for music to island stage (2007-01-24)
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Mellencamp Is Overexposed with Jingoistic New Album (2007-01-24)
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Boston Writers Make the Cut (2007-01-24)
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The Shins' wheel of good fortune (2007-01-24)
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Reik happy with second CD (2007-01-24)
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Reviews: Beethoven Minus the Essential Teeth And Claws ; Culture Music (2007-01-24)
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Singer Lynn Roberts to bring enthusiasm for music to island stage (2007-01-24)
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Musician bridges Native, Western styles: ALVAREZ: Percussionist a star in orchestra performance of conductor's new work. (2007-01-24)
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Warriors Who Inspired Elgar ; Classical (2007-01-24)
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Leaping Beauty ; Ahead of the BBC's Tchaikovsky Season, Royal Ballet Principal Alina Cojocaru Explores the Demands And Delights of Dancing - And Living - to the Great Russian's Classic Works (2007-01-24)
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Entremont's Mozart interpretation attentive to every detail (2007-01-24)
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San Jose Mercury News, Calif., Richard Scheinin column: Lang's musical gifts wasted (2007-01-24)
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Singer Lynn Roberts to bring enthusiasm for music to island stage (2007-01-24)
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'Dreamgirls' Gets Eight OSCAR Nominations, But Left Out of Major Categories the Detroit News (2007-01-24)
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British Golden Globe Winners Face Oscars Flop ; Helen Mirren Will Lead a UK Invasion of the Nominations, But She May Be the Only Winner (2007-01-22)
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Put These DVDS of B-MOVIES on Your A-LIST (2007-01-22)
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Musician Nolan says jazz takes passion to do it right (2007-01-22)
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EU, Latin American Democracies Conspicuously Quiet on Cuba (2007-01-22)
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Jimmy Cheatham ; Sweet Baby Blues Trombonist (2007-01-22)
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The Men Behind Motown ; the Funk Brothers (2007-01-22)
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Musician Nolan says jazz takes passion to do it right (2007-01-22)
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British Golden Globe Winners Face Oscars Flop ; Helen Mirren Will Lead a UK Invasion of the Nominations, But She May Be the Only Winner (2007-01-22)
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Behind Embattled Queen's Icy Resolve ; Mirren Plays It Real in Fight Over Funeral (2007-01-22)
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Screen-test season: Awards hopefuls make last pitch for buzz and votes (2007-01-22)
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Musician Nolan says jazz takes passion to do it right (2007-01-22)
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Where Have American Audiences for Foreign-language Films Gone? Film (2007-01-22)
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Orphan Story Full of Humanity (2007-01-22)
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The Magnificent Anderson (2007-01-22)
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St. Charles/Wayne : Jazz It Up in the Tri-Cities Hotel Lounge, Restaurants Attract Fans of the Genre (2007-01-22)
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Sound Check : Music Played with Attitude ; Michael Brecker Brought An Edge to Jazz And Pop Music (2007-01-22)
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Our guess is as good as yours (2007-01-22)
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Fights, Camera, Action ... ; the Sunday Profile ++ Peter Morgan ++ An Argument in a Room Is All the Dramatist Needs. And the Oscars Jury May Well Agree (2007-01-22)
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Jazz sheds outlaw status, but not its heart and soul (2007-01-22)
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Movies ; Golden Tuesday (2007-01-22)
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Insurer sued over damaged Picasso painting (2007-01-21)
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Clinton stands good chance for '08 (2007-01-21)
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More possible remains found at Ground Zero (2007-01-21)
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U.S. Stocks open flat on retail data (2007-01-21)
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Clinton stands good chance for '08 (2007-01-21)
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Insurer sued over damaged Picasso painting (2007-01-21)
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Latest orbiter sees '97 Mars Pathfinder (2007-01-21)
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More possible remains found at Ground Zero (2007-01-21)
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U.S. Stocks open flat on retail data (2007-01-21)
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Clinton stands good chance for '08 (2007-01-21)
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Insurer sued over damaged Picasso painting (2007-01-21)
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Latest orbiter sees '97 Mars Pathfinder (2007-01-21)
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More possible remains found at Ground Zero (2007-01-21)
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U.S. Stocks open flat on retail data (2007-01-21)
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Latest orbiter sees '97 Mars Pathfinder (2007-01-21)
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Mobile Social Networking Software - the next wave of virtual community - is already appearing on cellphones, beginning with college campuses (2007-01-19)
Mobile Social Networking Software - the next wave of virtual community - is already appearing on cellphones, beginning with college campuses.

A vending machine for iPods? (2007-01-18)
As US consumers get comfortable paying with plastic, automated sale terminals are selling much more than soda.

Blitz of mergers, buyouts sets a record (2007-01-16)
Not since 2000 has dealmaking worldwide been so prevalent, reaching $4 trillion in 2006.

In fight to help the homeless, French take to tents (2007-01-11)
Well-off Parisians have taken up residence alongside the homeless in a bid to raise awareness of their plight.

Fish farms in the ocean? Group pushes Congress to pass tough rules. (2007-01-10)
Using 'aquaculture' to meet the growing demand for protein raises environmental, genetic concerns.

In a map of dark matter, clues to galaxies' histories (2007-01-08)
Researchers unveil 3-D view of a part of 'unseen' universe.