Egypt to replace finance and interior ministers: agency

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s finance and interior ministers are to be replaced in a partial cabinet reshuffle that was promised by President Mohamed Mursi last month in an attempt to assuage public anger at an economic crisis, the state news agency MENA reported on Saturday.“Middle East News Agency has learned that the new ministers will include General Mohamed Ibrahim for the Interior Ministry and …...

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Iran building software to control networking sites

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s police chief says the Islamic Republic is developing new software to control social networking sites.Gen. Esmail Ahmadi Moghadam was quoted in Iranian newspapers Saturday as saying the new software will prevent Iranians from being exposed to malicious content online while allowing users to enjoy the benefits of the Internet. He did not say when the software would be introduced.Moghadam...

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"Cliff" concerns give way to earnings focus

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors' "fiscal cliff" worries are likely to give way to more fundamental concerns, like earnings, as fourth-quarter reports get under way next week. Financial results, which begin after the market closes on Tuesday with aluminum company Alcoa , are expected to be only slightly better than the third-quarter's lackluster results. As a warning sign, analyst current...

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Saban: Alabama players must put aside 'clutter'

MIAMI (AP) — Two days after team leaders held a players-only meeting, Alabama coach Nick Saban says the Crimson Tide's performance in Monday's BCS championship against Notre Dame will show a lot about whether his players have put aside the "clutter" that comes with their success."You fight against human nature a little bit," Saban said Saturday at media day for the title game.In the past, Saban has...

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Storm over Depardieu's 'pathetic' move

STORY HIGHLIGHTSRussian President Vladimir Putin has bestowed Russian citizenship on actor Gérard DepardieuFor Depardieu, a public war of words erupted, with many in France disgusted by his moveDepardieu more than anyone, represents the Gallic spirit, says Agnes PoirierMajority of French people disapprove of his action but can't help loving him, she addsAgnes Poirier is a French journalist and political...

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Boyz II Men to Vegas for extended gig at the Mirage

(Reuters) – One-time boy band Boyz II Men is Vegas-bound for an extended stay at the Mirage hotel and casino, the group said on Friday.The Grammy-award winning R&B trio will begin performances on March 1, with 78 shows slated through December 2013.“We’ve been dreaming of this day since we performed an extended holiday show two years ago in Las Vegas,” said founding member Nathan Morris in a statement,...

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UK service sector activity falls

4 January 2013 Last updated at 10:00 ETActivity in the UK’s services sector fell for the first time in two years in December, a survey has suggested, raising fears of yet another recession.The PMI services index from Markit/CIPS fell to 48.9 in December, down from 50.2 in November. Any score below 50 indicates the sector is shrinking.Markit blamed the surprise contraction on a fall in new business.It...

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Do You Know Your Ag-IQ? PA Preferred Launches Agri-cational Campaign

HARRISBURG, PA–(Marketwire – Jan 4, 2013) – Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s largest industry, yet few appreciate the full impact of locally-produced goods on our financial and nutritional well-being. With the 97th annual PA Farm Show opening in Harrisburg this weekend, PA Preferred® launched an “Agri-cational” campaign for all Pennsylvanian’s visiting the PA Preferred booth at the Farm Show or joining...

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Wall Street mixed following jobs, ISM data reports

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks firmed on Friday after a jobs report showed the pace of hiring met expectations by easing slightly in December, but gave indications of momentum in the labor market recovery. The market also reacted modestly to data from the Institute for Supply Management, which showed the U.S. service sector grew at its fastest pace in 10 months in December, boosted by a...

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Chiefs, GM Pioli part ways after 4 seasons in KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Scott Pioli is out as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been negotiating the past two days with Andy Reid to become their next coach.Pioli and the team "mutually parted ways," the Chiefs said in a statement Friday. The decision came after four tumultuous seasons marked by poor draft choices, ineffective free-agent moves, failed coaching hires and a growing...

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Myanmar: Evolution, not revolution

Tourists walk around the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon in April. The tourism industry is set for expansion.STORY HIGHLIGHTSMyanmar is undergoing incremental change, welcomed by all, says Parag KhannaBut he says people still tread lightly, careful not to overstep or demand too muchMyanmar has survived succession of natural and man-made ravages, Khanna addsWith sanctions lifted, foreign investment is now...

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Actor Dempsey: Coffee chain bid appears successful

SEATTLE (AP) — Actor Patrick Dempsey said it appears his bid to buy a small coffee chain has prevailed in a bankruptcy auction that included Starbucks Corp.Late Thursday night, Dempsey announced that his company, Global Baristas LLC, made the winning bid for Tully’s Coffee. He noted in a KOMO-TV interview that a bankruptcy judge will have the final say on Jan. 11. Still, Dempsey tweeted “We got it!...

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The Millionaire Tax Is Becoming a Headache for France

François Hollande’s promise of a 75 percent income tax rate on millionaires was a winner on the campaign trail, with polls showing that six in ten voters supported it. But now that Hollande is President of France, the plan has caused so many headaches that even some leftists are saying it should be scrapped.At a Jan. 3 press briefing, Hollande’s spokeswoman said the government would modify and reintroduce...

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News Summary: 30-year mortgage rate at 3.34 pct.

RATES REMAIN LOW: Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages moved closer to their record lows this week, offering more incentive for consumers to buy homes and helping sustain a housing recovery.THE NUMBERS: Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on the 30-year loan rate slipped to 3.34 percent from 3.35 percent last week. That’s near the 3.31 percent rate reached in November, the lowest on...

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Wall Street rises after post-cliff deal rally

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks edged up on Thursday, adding to Wall Street's biggest single-day rally in a year on Wednesday after a deal in Washington to avert the "fiscal cliff." Investors were more wary than in the previous sessions as they turned their focus to upcoming battles in Congress, including likely bitter fights over spending cuts and raising the federal debt ceiling. ...

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NHL, union to resume talks in hopes to save season

NEW YORK (AP) — After a long night of talks, the NHL and the union are to return to negotiations — but not just yet.The sides were supposed to meet at the league office Thursday at 10 a.m. EST. That, however, did not happen.The Players Association said it was updating its members on negotiations and no time had been set for bargaining to resume.Both sides understand the urgency to save a shortened...

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Why U.S. lives under the shadow of 'W'

Julian Zelizer says former President George W. Bush's key tax and homeland security policies survive in the age of ObamaSTORY HIGHLIGHTSJulian Zelizer: For all the criticism Bush got, two key policies have survivedHe says fiscal cliff pact perpetuates nearly all of Bush's tax cutsObama administration has largely followed Bush's homeland security policy, he saysZelizer: By squeezing revenues, Bush...

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Putin gives tax exile Depardieu Russian citizenship

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted citizenship to Gerard Depardieu, the French movie star who is quitting his homeland to avoid a tax hike on the rich, the Kremlin said on Thursday.The “Cyrano de Bergerac” actor bought a house across the border in Belgium last year to avoid a new tax rate for millionaires in France planned by Socialist President Francois Hollande but said...

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Canada says “significant risks” remain in U.S. after fiscal deal

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada‘s finance minister on Wednesday welcomed the U.S. “fiscal cliff” agreement, but warned that significant risks remain and urged more action to put the U.S. fiscal situation on a sustainable path.“Canada welcomes the agreement reached between the president and the Congress that protects the U.S. economy in the short term,” Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in a statement.“That...

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What the “Fiscal Cliff” Bill Means to Taxpayers

The Senate passed a deal to address the so-called “fiscal cliff” 90 minutes after the midnight deadline by a vote of 89 to 8. The bill then moved to the House of Representatives, which passed the measure 257-167 late Tuesday night.In addition to the tax changes, the Senate and House agreed to a two-month delay in addressing $ 110 billion in government spending cuts (aka the “sequester”), which were...

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