Economy Feb 12 New Jobless Claims Drop; Retails Sales Up Slightly Government reports show the number of new jobless benefit claims dropped to a seasonally adjusted 623,000, from 631,000 the previous week, while U.S. retail sales jumped 1 percent in January, reversing a six-month downward trend.
Politics Feb 11 Congress Reaches Agreement on $789 Billion Stimulus Bill House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement Wednesday on a $789 billion economic stimulus plan aimed at creating millions of jobs and providing tax cuts for millions of lower and middle income taxpayers, lawmakers say.
Politics Feb 11 Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Becomes Prime Minister Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe swore in opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister Wednesday, creating a unity government in an unprecedented move during Mugabe's virtually unchallenged rule.
World Feb 11 Taliban Attack in Kabul Leaves at Least 19 Dead Taliban insurgents with assault rifles and suicide vests stormed two government buildings and killed at least 19 people Wednesday, Afghan officials said, in one of the most audacious attacks on the capital by the Islamist group since its 2001 ouster.
Politics Feb 11 Israeli Election Results Split Between Rival Parties Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima party and Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party both claimed victory in Israel's parliamentary elections Tuesday, complicating prospects of a coalition government.
Economy Feb 10 Congress to Mesh $800 Billion Stimulus Bills The Senate on Tuesday approved an $838 billion economic stimulus package of spending and tax cuts that now must be reconciled with the House's $819 billion version. President Barack Obama is pushing to get the plan signed by mid-February.
Nation Feb 10 Rekindling the Electronic Book's Future: Amazon Unveils Updated Reading Device Despite Amazon's unveiling of the latest version of its electronic reading device, the Kindle, to the delight of many bookworms Monday, it appears that bookshelves, libraries and backpacks have not been rendered obsolete -- at least not yet.
Economy Feb 10 New Bank Rescue Plan Aimed at Easing Credit Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner announced Tuesday a strategy to overhaul the widely criticized bank bailout fund that is aimed at unclogging credit markets that provide loans to consumers and businesses.
Nation Feb 09 $838 Billion Stimulus Plan Clears Senate Procedural Hurdle The Senate on Monday voted 61-36 to end debate on an $838 billion economic stimulus bill, one more vote than needed to avoid a potential filibuster on the measure when it goes to a final vote as early as Tuesday.
Politics Feb 09 Khatami to Challenge Ahmadinejad in Iranian Presidential Election Former Iranian leader Mohammad Khatami, who lobbied for improved relations with the West while he was president, said Sunday he will challenge President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the country's June 12 election.