China tries to cool yuan dispute with U.S.

China tries to cool yuan dispute with U.S.


China tries to cool yuan dispute with U.S.

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:52 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Friday said it was sending an envoy to the United States to try to ease trade frictions as its currency regime comes under fire, but cautioned that pressure from U.S. legislators would complicate talks.


Q+A - What does healthcare reform mean for Obama?

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:52 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama travels to Virginia on Friday for a rally to promote his effort to revamp the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare industry, which faces a critical vote in the House of Representatives on Sunday.


New Zealand's 'Madoff' jailed for $13 mln fraud

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:52 PM PDT

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A New Zealand banker defrauded clients of $13 million to fund a lavish lifestyle of prostitutes, property and wine, local media reported on Friday.


Cherry blossom forecasts weather change in Japan

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:52 PM PDT

TOKYO (Reuters Life!) - Japan's countdown to spring traditionally began with a government announcement on when the cherry blossom season will start, but this year, the people are taking over.


Kauto Star, Denman square up for Gold Cup decider (AFP)

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:28 PM PDT

Ruby Walsh riding Kauto Star celebrates as he rides toward the finish line to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2009. Kauto Star became the first horse to regain the prize after winning 2009 edition of one of British racing's most prestigious races. 2010 Cheltenham Festival reaches its climax on Friday when Kauto Star and Denman will trade punches again.(AFP/File/Adrian Dennis)AFP - The Cheltenham Festival reaches its climax on Friday when Paul Nicholls' duo Kauto Star and Denman - jump racing's two prize fighters - trade punches again in the Gold Cup.



Japan to boost Haiti aid to $100 mln: report (AFP)

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:36 PM PDT

Japan will boost its aid to quake-hit Haiti to 100 million dollars, a report said on Friday as the country's foreign minister, Katsuya Okada, prepared to visit the impoverished Caribbean nation this weekend.(AFP/File/Yoshikazu Tsuno)AFP - Japan will boost its aid to quake-hit Haiti to 100 million dollars, a report said Friday as the country's foreign minister prepared to visit the impoverished Caribbean nation this weekend.



Obama drops Asia-Pacific trip to focus on health bill

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 06:42 AM PDT

WASHINGTON -US President Barack Obama dramatically postponed his trip to Indonesia and Australia until June, so he can battle for a historic health reform bill that could shape his legacy.

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New Zealand's "Madoff" jailed for $13 million fraud

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:01 PM PDT

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A New Zealand banker defrauded clients of $13 million to fund a lavish lifestyle of prostitutes, property and wine, local media reported on Friday.


Samsung aims for double-digit sales growth (AP)

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:12 PM PDT

Shareholders of Samsung Electronics participate at the company's annual shareholders' meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)AP - Samsung Electronics predicted a strong 2010 as economic expansion in advanced and large developing economies gains speed and said it is aiming for double-digit sales growth from last year's record high.



US raid over Mexico killings

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 09:31 PM PDT

Texas raid targets gang said to be tied to deaths of US consulate officials in Mexico.


Pakistan arrests halt UN contacts with Taliban (AP)

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:28 PM PDT

A Pakistani man reads a newspaper reporting the capture of top Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar at a news stand in Karachi on February 16. The arrest of key Taliban leaders in Pakistan stopped a secret channel of communications with the United Nations, the former UN special representative to Afghanistan said Friday in a BBC interview.(AFP/File/Rizwan Tabassum)AP - Pakistan's recent arrests of top Taliban leaders have halted the United Nation's secret talks with the insurgency, the U.N.'s former envoy to Afghanistan said.



Deal Near on Gitmo, Trials for Detainees

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:40 PM PDT

The Obama administration is nearing a deal with a bipartisan group of senators to close the prison at Guantanamo and try more detainees before military commissions.


The Misinformed Tea Party Movement

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:01 PM PDT

For an antitax group, they don't know much about taxes.


Tigercide

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:01 PM PDT

The Chinese are breeding tigers for their parts.


No Rock 'N' Roll Fun

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 10:01 PM PDT

The banning of the popular Festival of Fire signals that the Iranian regime's days are numbered.


Inner Drive: Photo Play Of Warren Buffett, Larry Ellison, Arnon Milchan, John Arnold

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 09:59 PM PDT

The photo slideshow of these driven four.


Anger over freeing man convicted in bishop murder (AP)

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 08:45 PM PDT

AP - Guatemalan human rights groups expressed outrage Thursday over a judge's decision to release a former army colonel convicted of killing a prominent Roman Catholic bishop more than a decade ago.


Alcohol 'worse than drugs' in Pacific: report (AFP)

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 09:08 PM PDT

This file photo shows a grocer selling beer, rum and cigarettes at a store in the Philippines. Alcohol abuse is a bigger problem for Pacific communities than drugs, according to an Australian report, which links drinking to domestic violence and wide-ranging health problems.(AFP/File/Joel Nito)AFP - Alcohol abuse is a bigger problem for Pacific communities than drugs, according to an Australian report, which links drinking to domestic violence and wide-ranging health problems.



Obama drops Indonesia, Australia trip over health care

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 06:42 AM PDT

WASHINGTON -US President Barack Obama dramatically postponed his trip to Indonesia and Australia until June, so he can battle for a historic health reform bill that could shape his legacy.

Read more...


Malaysian Leader Targets Affirmative Action

Posted: 18 Mar 2010 07:39 PM PDT

Malaysia's dilemma over whether to end some of the world's most entrenched systems of racial-preference laws is coming to a head.