Archive for February, 2009
Obama picks Sebelius as health secretary
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has decided to nominate Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to head the Department of Health and Human Services and will formally announce the decision at a White House ceremony on Monday, a U.S. official said on Saturday.
UK’s Cameron says son’s death an indescribable loss
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's main opposition leader David Cameron said on Saturday the sudden death of his young son had left his family with a "hole in our life so big that words can't describe it."
AIG near deal on new terms of U.S. bailout: source
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc is close to a deal with the U.S. government that would ease the terms of its bailout, provide a further equity commitment and help it pay down debt, a person familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
Israel’s Netanyahu gives up on alliance with Livni
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's right-wing Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has abandoned efforts to woo centrist Tzipi Livni into forming a broad coalition government, a spokeswoman said on Saturday.
HSBC looks to raise $18 billion
NEW YORK (Reuters) - British banking giant HSBC will try to raise $18 billion to quell investor concerns as a worsening global economy punished famed investor Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway with a 96 percent plunge in profits.
Pakistan says wins key region on Afghan border
KHAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani forces have defeated Islamist militants in a strategically important region on the Afghan border and expect to clear militants out of other areas by the end of the year, a commander said on Saturday.
Mugabe says Zimbabwe land seizures will continue
CHINHOYI, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe said on Saturday land seizures from white farmers would continue and vowed to press ahead with plans for locals to take majority stakes in foreign companies operating in Zimbabwe.
Abbas, Hamas signal first dispute over unity talks
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday any unity government with Hamas would have to agree to a two-state solution with Israel, a demand quickly rejected by his Islamist rivals.
California declares drought emergency
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday declared a state emergency due to drought and said he would consider mandatory water rationing in the face of nearly $3 billion in economic losses from below-normal rainfall this year.
PM: Banks must be cleaned up now
The government is exploring legal action over pension payments to bank executives who have received 'too much' money.
