U.S. National - AFP

Miami hotel moves 300 guests due to water-borne bacteria
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 1:15 pm ET

AFP/File

MIAMI (AFP) - An upscale hotel in downtown Miami has relocated 300 guests after a bacteria in its water system was suspected in one death and two hospitalizations. Full Story »
Obama demands new commitments from top banks
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 1:02 pm ET

AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama on Monday demanded an "extraordinary commitment" from bank chiefs to help rebuild the US economy and warned them they would not block his regulatory reform drive. Full Story »
Brussels welcomes Oracle's concessions in Sun bid
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 12:57 pm ET

AFP/Getty Images/File

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The EU's competition watchdog on Monday welcomed concessions made by US business software giant Oracle over its bid for Sun Microsystems, saying the deals in now likely to be approved. Full Story »
After 'fat cat' jibe Obama meets bankers
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 12:26 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Fresh from lambasting Wall Street "fat cats," President Barack Obama Monday called banking chiefs to the White House to press them to relax credit to small businesses to boost job growth. Full Story »
Spitzer call girl turns advice columnist
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 11:00 am ET

AFP/MySpace-HO/File

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Ashley Dupre, the high-priced call girl who brought down New York governor Eliot Spitzer, has found a new line of work -- as an advice columnist for the New York Post on "sex, love and relationships." Full Story »
Obama gives himself B+ for first months in office
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 10:44 am ET

AFP/File

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama, in remarks aired late Sunday, awarded himself a B plus for his first 11 months in office, stressing in an interview with talk show queen Oprah Winfrey that there was still much to be done. Full Story »
ExxonMobil to buy XTO for $41 billion
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 8:48 am ET

AFP/File

WASHINGTON (AFP) - ExxonMobil has agreed to acquire oil exploration firm XTO Energy, in an all-stock transaction valued at 41 billion dollars, the companies said Monday. Full Story »
Afghan war decision toughest of presidency: Obama
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 7:30 am ET

AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama said that his decision to pour 30,000 more US troops into the war in Afghanistan was the most difficult of his presidency so far. Full Story »
Iran to put three US hikers on trial
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 7:15 am ET

AFP/HO/File

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran is to put on trial three US hikers arrested after they "illegally" entered the country four months ago, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday. Full Story »
Woods' future cloudy as wife buys new Swedish home
AFP – Mon Dec 14, 5:36 am ET

AFP/Getty Images/File

ORLANDO (AFP) - Gloom increased around scandal-tainted golf legend Tiger Woods on Monday after it was announced that his wife bought a new home in Sweden and more corporate sponsors severed ties. Full Story »