Archive for August, 2009
Japan’s new leader a question mark over US ties
TOKYO (AP) — Yukio Hatoyama, the Stanford Ph.D and political blue blood who led Japan’s opposition party to a stunning election victory, is coming to power amid questions about how he will pursue his desire for a more independent relationship with the United States. Hatoyama is widely expected to form Japan’s next government and become prime minister after his Democratic Party of Japan routed the incumbent conservative and pro-Washington Liberal Democratic Party in historic parliamentary elections Sunday. Official results were still being tallied Monday, but it was clear that Hatoyama’s party captured more than 300 seats of the 480 up for grabs
Sen. Grassley hopeful on limited health reform
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley said Monday he remains hopeful a limited health care reform measure can be negotiated but a small group working on the issue agrees a government-run public option won’t be part of a package. Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is among a bipartisan group of six lawmakers who are negotiating a compromise to overhaul the nation’s health care system.
Gears move on possibly naming Kennedy replacement
BOSTON (AP) — The push to name a successor to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy gained momentum Monday, with state lawmakers scheduling a hearing on whether to allow an appointee to serve until a special election in January
Wildfire makes menacing advance near Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A deadly wildfire that has blackened a wide swath of tinder-dry forest around Los Angeles made another menacing advance Monday, surging toward thousands of suburban homes and a vital mountaintop broadcasting complex while trapping five people inside a smoky canyon. Fire crews battling the blaze in the Angeles National Forest tried desperately to beat back the flames and prayed for weather conditions to ease. The fire was the largest of at least eight burning across California after days of triple-digit temperatures and low humidity.
Welcome back, Kim: Clijsters wins at US Open
NEW YORK (AP) — Excited to be seeing an old pal for the first time in a while, the U.S. Open spectators dotting the mostly empty stands in Arthur Ashe Stadium called out to Kim Clijsters as she stepped on the court that means so much to her. “Come on, Kim!” yelled one fan.
AIG agrees to arbitrate disputes with Greenberg
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Monday dealt a setback to American International Group Inc. in its legal fight with former CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, ruling that a company he ran did not improperly seize AIG stock from an executive retirement plan. Separately, AIG signaled it is looking to mend ties with its former CEO, agreeing to settle their disputes through arbitration.
