LA UNE DES JOURNAUX.info

Obama touched down in Afghanistan early Saturday morning, marking the beginning of week-long foreign tour during which the likely Democratic nominee will meet with local leaders and American military commanders.

The SEC's tightening of short-selling rules for 19 financial firms is drawing criticism from institutions not included on the agency's list.

Bush agreed to a "time horizon" for Iraq troop cuts. The move, which would be part of a broader accord authorizing the U.S. military to remain in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at year end, marks a concession to Baghdad. (Complete coverage)

Ford is preparing to retool some U.S. plants to make small passenger cars that it has produced and sold in Europe.

Iran and EU envoys agreed to resume talks on suspending uranium enrichment in two weeks, after Tehran ruled out freezing its program in talks that included the U.S. for the first time.

"The Dark Knight" set a one-day box office record with $66.4 million, surpassing the previous record set last year by "Spider-Man 3." The latest Batman movie looks likely to break the opening-weekend record, as well.

Citigroup posted a better-than-expected $2.5 billion loss, showing signs of progress at writing down its pile of bad assets. Shares of the bank, which took a $7.2 billion write-down, rose 7.7%. Still, Citi's results signaled that credit problems are spreading to a wider array of loans around the world. (Conference call transcript)

South Africa's MTN and India's Reliance Communications called off talks over a potential merger that would have created an emerging-markets wireless giant. Behind the talks' collapse is a bitter rivalry between a pair of Indian billionaire brothers.

Tribune was expecting offers from as many as nine separate groups looking to acquire the Chicago Cubs. Two bids had come in from major financial players in Chicago and another came from a New York group.

The Lowy family, which controls shopping mall owner Westfield Group, is under investigation for alleged use of tax shelters in Liechtenstein. Senators are looking into why the Lowys used LGT Group to hold $54 million in assets.

The Dow industrials climbed 49.91 points to close at 11496.57. For the week, the blue-chip indicator gained 3.6%, even though it posted its first close below the 11000 mark in two years during the period. Oil fell for a fourth straight day.

Motorola sued a former executive for allegedly violating a noncompete agreement by taking a job as head of global iPhone sales for Apple and helping Apple hire two other former Motorola employees.

Legg Mason plans to vote in favor of Yahoo's current directors, defying Carl Icahn's efforts to replace the board with his own slate.

Teva Pharmaceutical agreed to acquire Barr Pharmaceuticals for $7.46 billion in cash and stock, a deal that will boost the Israeli generic-drug maker's position in emerging markets and expand its product portfolio.

Federal prosecutors said they may seek additional criminal charges against former managers of two Bear Stearns funds who were indicted in June in the collapse of the funds last year.

IAC/InterActiveCorp has reached financing agreements to spin off Interval Leisure, Ticketmaster and HSN. The company will have an estimated $1.3 billion left to invest in its advertising-supported Internet businesses.

The U.K.'s public finances worsened last month in one of the clearest signs yet of the deteriorating British economy. New rules to make borrowing easier are being considered.

The U.S. will hold its highest-level contacts with Iran since 1979 at talks in Geneva Saturday, even as Washington fine-tunes a sanctions package.

Argentina's president canceled an increase in a farm-export tax following months of protest and a stunning rejection by the Senate.

Citigroup posted a better-than-expected $2.5 billion loss, showing signs of progress at writing down its pile of bad assets. Shares of the bank, which took a $7.2 billion write-down, rose 7.7%. Still, Citi's results signaled that credit problems are spreading to a wider array of loans around the world. (Conference call transcript)

The SEC's tightening of short-selling rules for 19 financial firms is drawing criticism from institutions not included on the agency's list.

Tribune was expecting offers from as many as nine separate groups looking to acquire the Chicago Cubs. Two bids had come in from major financial players in Chicago and another came from a New York group.

The Lowy family, which controls shopping mall owner Westfield Group, is under investigation for alleged use of tax shelters in Liechtenstein. Senators are looking into why the Lowys used LGT Group to hold $54 million in assets.

Freddie Mac is considering raising capital by selling as much as $10 billion in new shares to investors. The move would have the potential to avoid a full-blown government rescue for Freddie and Fannie Mae. Friday, Freddie filed an SEC form to register its common stock, removing one obstacle that has kept the company from raising capital.

Legg Mason plans to vote in favor of Yahoo's current directors, defying Carl Icahn's efforts to replace the board with his own slate.

Teva Pharmaceutical agreed to acquire Barr Pharmaceuticals for $7.46 billion in cash and stock, a deal that will boost the Israeli generic-drug maker's position in emerging markets and expand its product portfolio.

Federal prosecutors said they may seek additional criminal charges against former managers of two Bear Stearns funds who were indicted in June in the collapse of the funds last year.

Schlumberger's net income rose 13% as the international sector once again more than made up for declining profits in North America and "extremely high commodity prices" led operators to increase their budgets overseas.

Republic Services rejected merger negotiations with Waste Management, saying the rival trash hauler's $6.3 billion takeover bid "seriously" undervalued the company. Republic has a pending deal with Allied Waste.

Mattel reported a 48% decrease in second-quarter net income as higher costs offset sales gains and benefits from the weakened dollar. But the company's shares jumped 13% to $20.66 after results topped expectations and a favorable court ruling.

Motorola sued a former executive for allegedly violating a noncompete agreement by taking a job as head of global iPhone sales for Apple and helping Apple hire two other former Motorola employees.

Overstock's shares plummeted over 40% despite the online retailer reporting a narrower loss, as investors worried the company won't stand up to stiff competition in the Internet retail space.

Sony got a long-awaited boost for its PlayStation 3 in June, when sales of the console surged after the release of the blockbuster game Metal Gear Solid 4.

American Airlines will trim 1,500 jobs in its maintenance division, as the carrier spelled out previously announced plans to reduce its work force by 8% to cope with tough business conditions.

Starbucks' disclosure of the 600 locations it wants to shutter has given rise to a phenomenon: the Save Our Starbucks campaign. Across the nation, customers and city officials are pleading with the coffee giant to change its mind.

The Lowy family, which controls shopping mall owner Westfield Group, is under investigation for alleged use of tax shelters in Liechtenstein. Senators are looking into why the Lowys used LGT Group to hold $54 million in assets.

The U.K.'s public finances worsened last month in one of the clearest signs yet of the deteriorating British economy. New rules to make borrowing easier are being considered.

Britain's prime minister held talks Saturday with Iraqi leaders on an unannounced trip to Baghdad less than a week after the announcement of expected British troop cuts in southern Iraq.

Iran and EU envoys agreed to resume talks on suspending uranium enrichment in two weeks, after Tehran ruled out freezing its program in talks that included the U.S. for the first time.

A Belgian team appointed by King Albert started work to resolve a stalemate between French and Dutch speakers.

Morgan Stanley and Dresdner Kleinwort are likely to do better than expected on HBOS's rights issue after the U.K. lender's stock surged.

Czech generic-drug maker Zentiva turned down a €1.24 billion ($1.96 billion) buyout offer from French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis, saying the bid didn't reflect its underlying value.

Ford is preparing to retool some U.S. plants to make small passenger cars that it has produced and sold in Europe.

Russian authorities granted a 10-day visa extension to TNK-BP's chief executive, but there appeared to be no letup in the administrative pressure on his tenure amid a conflict with Russian shareholders in the oil company.

European shares rose Friday as cheer from U.S. banking giant Citigroup's better-than-expected results offset downbeat news on sales and earnings trends from Belgium supermarket group Delhaize and French cosmetics firm L'Oreal.

Sony Ericsson struggled to break even in the second quarter as continued weak sales of mid-to-high-end phones and investments in emerging markets weighed on earnings.

European nations are considering funding technology aimed at possible European manned missions in space. An EU ministerial conference is slated to take up the issue in November.

Barclays said only 19% of its existing shareholders took part in an open share offer that closed Thursday, with the remaining shares allocated to other investors, including several Asian and Middle Eastern sovereign-wealth funds.

Global trade talks in Geneva present a crucial test for how a new world order can handle challenges such as climate change and food supply, the EU's Mandelson said, but disputes remain over tariffs for cars, chemicals and other goods.

UBS said some Swiss-based private bankers will stop offering American clients Swiss accounts and other services. The move will affect some 20,000 U.S. clients with about $20 billion in assets.

The U.S. will hold its highest-level contacts with Iran since 1979 at talks in Geneva Saturday, even as Washington fine-tunes a sanctions package.

BP will buy 90,000 acres of natural gas properties in Oklahoma from Chesapeake Energy for $1.75 billion, placing a big bet on unconventional gas fields.

European lawmakers want the ECB to reconsider its inflation ceiling, raising the pressure on the central bank as it struggles to damp inflation.

The IMF raised its global economic-growth forecast, but cautioned that rising inflation may jeopardize expansion.

The EU launched new antitrust charges against Intel, saying the chip giant paid rebates to a major retailer to encourage it not to carry computers using chips from its smaller rival AMD.

South Africa's MTN and India's Reliance Communications called off talks over a potential merger that would have created an emerging-markets wireless giant. Behind the talks' collapse is a bitter rivalry between a pair of Indian billionaire brothers.

The Bank of Japan reaffirmed the central bank's neutral stance on policy amid an economic slowdown and inflationary pressure.

China is moving to strengthen its firefighting and rescue services in the wake of the massive earthquake that devastated a swath of southwestern China two months ago.

Sony Ericsson struggled to break even in the second quarter as continued weak sales of mid-to-high-end phones and investments in emerging markets weighed on earnings.

Qantas intends to eliminate 1,500 jobs world-wide and it shed plans to increase flying capacity as it continues to battle high jet-fuel costs.

Asian markets closed mostly lower, erasing early gains as investors remained cautious ahead of Citigroup earnings in the U.S.

Malaysian police investigating sodomy allegations against Anwar Ibrahim released the opposition leader on bail, but police warned they might detain him again and force him to give a DNA sample.

Pope Benedict XVI urged religious leaders of all kinds to unite against those who use faith to divide communities -- an apparent reference to terrorism in the name of religion.

China's rapid growth continued to slow in the second quarter as exports eased. GDP expanded 10.1% from a year earlier, slowing from the first quarter's 10.6% increase.

Taiwan will lift restrictions on investments in China by the island's largest companies and will raise investment ceilings for smaller firms.

India's Congress Party-led coalition government faces a no-confidence vote next week in the national Parliament over a nuclear pact with the U.S.

Tata Consultancy's CEO said Indian tech companies are facing increased pressure to sustain rapid growth as their major Western outsourcing customers suffer amid a global credit crisis.

The IMF raised its global economic-growth forecast, but cautioned that rising inflation may jeopardize expansion.

Hong Kong's market regulator attained its first insider-trading conviction since the practice was made a criminal offense in 2003.

Global trade talks in Geneva present a crucial test for how a new world order can handle challenges such as climate change and food supply, the EU's Mandelson said, but disputes remain over tariffs for cars, chemicals and other goods.

Obama touched down in Afghanistan early Saturday morning, marking the beginning of week-long foreign tour during which the likely Democratic nominee will meet with local leaders and American military commanders.

Bush agreed to a "time horizon" for Iraq troop cuts. The move, which would be part of a broader accord authorizing the U.S. military to remain in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at year end, marks a concession to Baghdad. (Complete coverage)

The U.S. will hold its highest-level contacts with Iran since 1979 at talks in Geneva Saturday, even as Washington fine-tunes a sanctions package.

Obama will hold private meetings with Middle Eastern and European leaders and avoid public appearances that could be perceived as campaigning in the face of Republican attacks that the coming overseas trip is a political stunt.

Russian authorities granted a 10-day visa extension to TNK-BP's chief executive, but there appeared to be no letup in the administrative pressure on his tenure amid a conflict with Russian shareholders in the oil company.

A Belgian team appointed by King Albert started work to resolve a stalemate between French and Dutch speakers.

European nations are considering funding technology aimed at possible European manned missions in space. An EU ministerial conference is slated to take up the issue in November.

California's gubernatorial race for 2010 could be the longest and most expensive in the state's history because of a confluence of factors including campaign-finance reforms and a star-studded potential slate of candidates.

China is moving to strengthen its firefighting and rescue services in the wake of the massive earthquake that devastated a swath of southwestern China two months ago.

The Bank of Japan reaffirmed the central bank's neutral stance on policy amid an economic slowdown and inflationary pressure.

Starbucks' disclosure of the 600 locations it wants to shutter has given rise to a phenomenon: the Save Our Starbucks campaign. Across the nation, customers and city officials are pleading with the coffee giant to change its mind.

The U.K.'s public finances worsened last month in one of the clearest signs yet of the deteriorating British economy. New rules to make borrowing easier are being considered.

Politicians are embracing a time-honored response to the nation's economic turmoil by going on a witch hunt to find the cause. The danger is that the sharpened attacks will sow the seeds of partisan conflict after the election.

Housing starts increased 9.1% in June from the previous month because a change to New York City building codes that took effect July 1 caused a deadline rush, but excluding the adjustment, housing starts tumbled 4%.

Global trade talks in Geneva present a crucial test for how a new world order can handle challenges such as climate change and food supply, the EU's Mandelson said, but disputes remain over tariffs for cars, chemicals and other goods.

European lawmakers want the ECB to reconsider its inflation ceiling, raising the pressure on the central bank as it struggles to damp inflation.

The IMF raised its global economic-growth forecast, but cautioned that rising inflation may jeopardize expansion.

Financial firms called for greater coordination among