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U.S. banks agree to $25 billion in homeowner help

09 Feb 2012

WASHINGTON - Five big U.S. banks accused of abusive mortgage practices have agreed to a $25 billion government settlement that may help roughly one million borrowers but is no magic bullet for the ailing housing market. | Video

Exclusive: Alibaba plans to take Hong Kong unit private

12:27am EST

HONG KONG - Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group plans to take its Hong Kong-listed unit private, two sources familiar with the matter said, and is working with Yahoo on an asset-swap deal that may result in Yahoo owning a direct stake in one of Alibaba Group's operating businesses.

Socialist leader George Papandreou leaves the Greek prime minister's office after a meeting in Athens February 9, 2012. REUTERS/John Kolesidis

Greeks clinch austerity deal, lenders skeptical

ATHENS/BRUSSELS - Greek political leaders clinched a long-delayed deal on harsh austerity measures and reforms required to secure a second international bailout in two years but the country's financial backers reacted skeptically.  Full Article | Video 

Pacific Investment Management (PIMCO) founder and co-chief investment officer Bill Gross plays golf on the first hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links before the start of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, California, February 8, 2012. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

The twilight of the Bond King

NEWPORT BEACH, California - Over more than three decades, Bill Gross became the barometer by which other bond traders are judged. But the very recipe that enabled Gross to dominate his industry may now be conspiring against him.  Full Article | Video 

Sgt. Audrey Johnsey (L) greets Sfc. Joshua Herbig (R) who she served with in Afghanistan, during the Welcome Home Heroes Parade in downtown St. Louis, Missouri January 28, 2012. REUTERS/Sarah Conard

Pentagon shift may put women closer to combat

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is preparing to open thousands of military jobs including medics and intelligence officers to women in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, a move likely to shift them closer to the fighting and rekindle the debate on women in combat.  Full Article 

Built by Thales Alenia Space, the 4.1-tonne Star One C2 and an Ariane 5 rocket blasts off in Kourou, French Guiana April 18, 2008.  REUTERS/Handout/CNES/CSG.

U.S. warns French satellite maker over China

WASHINGTON - The United States has threatened action that could disrupt a French-led satellite maker's supply chain, spurred by suspicion that it illegally used U.S. know-how or parts in spacecraft launched by Chinese rockets.  Full Article 

The main Apple website featuring Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is seen on an iPhone in this photo illustration taken in Central Sydney, October 6, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Daniel Munoz

FBI memos paint Jobs as driven visionary

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, hailed as one of the greatest technology visionaries of his generation, intimidated associates and insisted on getting his way, yet inspired admiration and respect, according to interviews conducted by the FBI in the 1990s.  Full Article 

U.S Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) points to a chart showing U.S. employment change per quarter over the past several years, as U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (not pictured) testifies before a Senate Budget Committee hearing on the outlook for the U.S. Monetary and Fiscal Policy on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 7, 2012.   REUTERS/Jason Reed

Fears fade as economy flexes its muscles

WASHINGTON - A few months ago economists were all but certain the U.S. economy would slow sharply at the start of this year, but that pessimism has been shaken up with growth in the jobs market, manufacturing, and the service sector.  Full Article | Video 

A supporter of presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum wears a campaign button, featuring his picture and wearing his trademark vest, at Santorum's Charleston campaign headquarters in South Carolina, January 14, 2012. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Candidate fashion draws attention on the trail

NEW YORK - Whether it's rolled-up sleeves or a checked shirt with no tie, candidates vying for the White House in November balance their fashion to appeal to average Americans while still looking like a world leader, say experts at New York Fashion Week.  Full Article 

Over 50 flamingos die in cold weather

Feb. 10 - Some 55 pink flamingos in southern France fall victim to the bitter cold that is sweeping across Europe. Sophia Soo reports.

Ian Bremmer

The truth about Israel’s rumored strike on Iran

An attack on Iran by Israel probably won't happen. At least not anytime soon. So why are the Israelis telegraphing that an attack could come before very long?   Commentary 

A woman walks past a "Jobs" banner hung above the Chamber of Commerce in Washington February 6, 2012. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Still a long slog for U.S. jobs

There’s still a long road ahead for the unemployed in America. Jobs growth has started picking up, but full employment may not be reached until 2020. A new Breakingviews calculator shows how a faster or slower rate of job creation will change that outlook.  Full Article 

Edward Hadas

The great race for jobs

The current shortage of jobs in most rich countries is the latest leg of a long race between technological forces that lead to job destruction and socio-economic forces which provide new kinds of employment.  Commentary 

Felix Salmon

Mark Zuckerberg and the case for a wealth tax

When politicians talk about taxing the rich, a common rejoinder is that income is not the same as wealth, and it’s wealth, not income, which really makes you rich. Fair enough. So let’s tax wealth.   Commentary 

David Cay Johnston

How Romney would tax us

The Republican frontrunner’s 160-page “plan for jobs and economic growth” contains some sound ideas. But there’s a side to the plan that would raise taxes on the poorest 125 million Americans while tilting tax cuts further toward the rich.  Commentary 

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