NEW YORK (Reuters) – China can now bypass Wall Street when buying U.S. government debt and go straight to the U.S. Treasury, in what is the Treasury’s first-ever direct relationship with a foreign government, according to documents viewed by Reuters.
The US Senate approved new sanctions against Iran aimed at convincing the Islamic Republic to suspend its uranium enrichment, which western powers say is a cover for developing nuclear weapons. The measure was approved unanimously ahead of talks Wednesday in
(AP) TOKYO The world’s tallest tower and Japan’s biggest new landmark, the Tokyo Skytree, opened to the public on Tuesday. Nearly 8,000 visitors were expected to take high-speed elevators up to the observation decks of the 634-meter (2,080-foot) tower to
By BINAJ GURUBACHARYAAssociated PressKATMANDU, NepalDays after four people died amid a “traffic jam” of climbers scrambling to conquer Mount Everest, Nepal officials said a similar rush up the world’s tallest peak will begin soon, and there’s little they can do
By BRADLEY KLAPPER and MATTHEW LEEAssociated PressWASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama’s preferred path to end the Iranian nuclear standoff faces a stern test this week when world powers sit down with Iran in another bid to press it to meet international demands
By DENISE LAVOIEAP Legal Affairs WriterBOSTONA former Boston University student who was ordered to pay $675,000 for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs on the Internet says he will continue fighting the penalty, despite the Supreme Court’s refusal Monday to
Big Hollywood readers can catch up on their TV viewing this summer thanks to a new giveaway attached to two long-running USA Network shows. The fifth season of “Burn Notice” hits stores June 5 along with the third season of
President Barack Obama isn’t the only one “evolving” on gay issues. DC Comics is set to reintroduce a major character as gay, according to Fox News. Honchos at Superman’s comic book home, DC Comics, said this weekend that one of their
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Whitney Houston’s last recording – a new duet with “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks – was released on Monday ahead of the singer’s upcoming film, “Sparkle.” “Celebrate,” produced by R. Kelly for “Sparkle” which will hit
(AP) Suicide bombing kills nearly 100 soldiers in YemenBy AHMED AL-HAJAssociated PressSANAA, Yemen A suicide bomber blew himself up at a military parade rehearsal Monday in Yemen’s capital, killing 96 soldiers in one of the deadliest attacks in the city
By CHRIS TALBOTTAP Entertainment WriterNASHVILLE, Tenn.Tim McGraw has chosen a new record label run by an old friend. The country music superstar has signed a multi-album deal with Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Records, officially ending his acrimonious relationship with his
By GEOFF MULVIHILLAssociated PressNEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. A former Rutgers University student who used a webcam to spy on his gay roommate was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail, just a fraction of the maximum, in a case that focused
By IAN DEITCHAssociated PressJERUSALEMIran is seeking atomic weapons to destroy Israel and world powers should not make any concessions over its nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday. Netanyahu made the remarks as the head of the U.N
(AP) Fort Hood bomb plot suspect wears mask in courtBy ANGELA K. BROWNAssociated PressWACO, TexasA soldier accused of planning to bomb Fort Hood troops wore a mask in court for the first time Monday as jury selection began in his
GREGORY KATZAssociated PressLONDON Her sons were blessed with musical gifts that brought riches and fame. On Monday Barbara Gibb was living a parent’s ultimate nightmare – preparing, for the third time, to lay a child to rest. Her son Robin
(AP) Chicago braces for final day of NATO protestsBy TAMMY WEBBER and SOPHIA TAREENAssociated PressCHICAGODemonstrators prepared Monday to launch another day of major protests in Chicago as world leaders met at the NATO summit, while commuters heading into the city
(AP) Robin Gibb of Bee Gees dies at 62By GREGORY KATZAssociated PressLONDONRobin Gibb, one of the three Bee Gees whose falsetto harmonies powered such hits as “Stayin’ Alive” and “Night Fever” and defined the flashy disco era died Sunday, his
(AP) LOS ANGELES – “The Avengers” continues to muscle out everything else Hollywood throws at it, easily sinking naval rival “Battleship” and other new releases. With $55.1 million domestically, Disney’s superhero sensation remained No. 1 for a third-straight weekend and
By IBRAHIM BARZAKAssociated PressGAZA CITY, Gaza StripRelatives of a slain Hamas operative seek to block the release of a movie being made in Israel about his 2010 assassination in a Dubai luxury hotel, a family member said Sunday. The killing
(AP) Libyan convicted in Lockerbie bombing dies at 60By ADEL OMRAN and LEE KEATHAssociated PressTRIPOLI, Libya Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer who was the only person ever convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, died at home in Tripoli
(AP) Former Israeli PM: Jerusalem must be partitionedBy AMY TEIBELAssociated PressJERUSALEM Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is urging Israeli leaders to relinquish the idea of a unified Jerusalem if they truly want peace. Olmert contends that years of government neglect
The Hill reports that Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), who chairs the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, believes that the White House has despaired of diplomatic options in Syria, and may be close to authorizing the use of force to
(AFP) The Hunt”, a taut psychological thriller starring Danish heart-throb Mads Mikkelsen as a man falsely accused of molesting a child, emerged Sunday as a hot contender at Cannes. With a controversial take on an intensely emotional issue, director Thomas
(AP) Qatar’s ruler: Arab Spring a loss for IsraelDOHA, Qatar Qatar’s ruler says Israel is more isolated by the Arab Spring and will face increasing pressures over issues such as its presumed nuclear arsenal. Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
(AP) NAACP backs same-sex marriage as civil rightMIAMIThe NAACP passed a resolution Saturday endorsing same-sex marriage as a civil right and opposing any efforts “to codify discrimination or hatred into the law.” The National Association for the Advancement of Colored
