Reuters: Top News

CIT talks fall apart, bankruptcy looms

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:03:56 -0400

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - CIT Group Inc, a lender to hundreds of thousands of small and mid-sized U.S. businesses, said bailout talks with the government had ended, a development that could ultimately drive the company into bankruptcy.

Talks fail to break California budget impasse

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:28:18 -0400

SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers failed on Wednesday night to agree to balance the state's budget by closing a $26.3 billion deficit, but officials said talks would continue.

Sotomayor treads careful line

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:16:25 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers stepped up pressure on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Wednesday, hoping to paint her as judicial activist who will stamp the court with President Barack Obama's liberal agenda.

Foreclosures at record high in first half 2009 despite aid

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:22:33 -0400

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. home foreclosure activity galloped to a record in the first half of the year, overwhelming broad efforts to remedy failing loans while job losses escalated.

Obama prods Congress on healthcare; Senate panel acts

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:40:39 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saying it was "time to get this done," President Barack Obama pressed on Wednesday for swift congressional action on healthcare after a Senate panel approved a bill to overhaul the $2.5 trillion industry.

Afghan Taliban says they are holding missing U.S. soldier

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:10:02 -0400

KHOST, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A Taliban commander in southeastern Afghanistan said on Thursday that a missing U.S. soldier was being held unharmed by insurgents, but warned he would be killed if efforts were made to find him.

U.S. raises "fair treatment" in China after Rio case

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:38:16 -0400

BEIJING (Reuters) - The U.S. commerce secretary plans to bring up "fair treatment" for employees of foreign companies in meetings with Chinese officials on Thursday, in a sign of international concern over the detention of four Rio Tinto executives.

U.S. commander consults Pakistan on anti-Taliban campaign

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:49:37 -0400

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer arrived in Islamabad on Thursday for talks with Pakistani generals, as both sides seek to crank up pressure on Taliban fighters either side of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Clinton aims to deepen ties, dispel doubts in India

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:13:56 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves for India on Thursday on a high-profile mission to deepen ties and dispel any doubts about the U.S. commitment to New Delhi under U.S. President Barack Obama.

Capitol police say suspect killed near Capitol

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:20:23 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Capitol Police said one suspect was killed and two officers injured in a shooting near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in an incident police said was not related to Capitol security.