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China, US to try new tone in desert outing

China and the United States are hoping for a new chance to set the course for smoother relations through a secluded desert summit as the Asian power's leader Xi Jinping projects a more confident style. Xi and Barack Obama will meet June 7-8 at the tony Sunnylands resort in Rancho Mirage, California, their first encounter since the Chinese president took power and three months ahead of their first scheduled run-in at the Group of 20 summit in Russia.

Obama to tour Jersey Shore with Gov. Chris Christie the day after Memorial Day

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The White House says the president will tour the coastline with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday and speak about the need to expand economic opportunities for middle-class families hit by the storm. He plans to meet with business and home owners who have benefitted from the recovery. Obama and Christie were a picture of bipartisanship after Sandy hit in October.

US photographer Leibovitz wins top prize in Spain

Spain honoured the US photographer Annie Leibovitz, known for her iconic portraits of a naked John Lennon and a pregnant Demi Moore, with its top humanities prize on Thursday. The Prince of Asturias prize jury hailed Leibovitz, 63, as "one of the driving forces of world photojournalism", in a statement naming her the winner of its Communication and Humanities award. "She has achieved recognition for her snapshots and portraits which reflect an era of politics, literature, film, music and sport through its leading figures."

IRS official at center of scandal takes administrative leave

By Kim Dixon WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lois Lerner, the Internal Revenue Service official who this week asserted her right not to answer questions about the controversy over extra scrutiny for conservative groups, took administrative leave on Thursday, a congressional source close to the matter said. Acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel announced her replacement in a employee memo. Werfel replaced Acting Commissioner Steve Miller, who was fired by President Barack Obama over the controversy last week.

Questions Obama dodged in terror speech

US President Barack Obama set out Thursday to redefine the US fight against global terrorism. But despite calling for a more targeted and not "boundless" theater of global operations, Obama left the specifics and timelines for action, by which his success or failure can be measured, out of his big speech. Here are some critical questions Obama did not raise or answer in the address at the National Defense University. Guantanamo Bay timeline Obama renewed his call for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay camp for terror suspects in Cuba.

Anthony Weiner kicks off attempt at political redemption despite tabloid mockery

WASHINGTON - Two years after his already pun-friendly surname became associated with a lewd Twitter scandal, Anthony Weiner officially kicked off his mission for political redemption on Thursday, hitting the campaign trail in his improbable bid to become mayor of New York City. The disgraced onetime congressman, forced into retirement after he confessed to sending crotch shots to some of his female Twitter followers, has acknowledged he faces an uphill battle.

Business Highlights

___ Why worry? Less aid by Fed would point to recovery WASHINGTON (AP) — Investors have grown nervous that the Federal Reserve will scale back its efforts to boost the U.S. economy sooner than many expected. Yet almost lost in the anxiety that gripped the stock market this week is that whenever the Fed slows its drive to keep interest rates low, it will be cause for celebration: It would mean policymakers think the economy is strong enough to accelerate with less help from the Fed.

Sushi's Abenomics wave: posh tuna in, plain mackerel out

By Taiga Uranaka TOKYO (Reuters) - Investors in Japan might keep a close eye on sales of the homely horse mackerel as an early warning of any trouble ahead. The good news is that in the more confident Japan of 2013, tuna remains king. So says Mizuho Securities economist Kenta Ishizu, who believes he has found a leading indicator of Japanese consumer demand that relies on two of the most common items on a sushi menu: Japanese horse mackerel and tuna.

Obama releases rules for US drone strikes

President Barack Obama announced Thursday he signed new policy guidance outlining when the United States can use "lethal force" to kill terror suspects abroad. Here are the main points of the policy guidelines, released by the White House, regulating the drone bombing raids -- which until now have been carried out secretly by the Central Intelligence Agency in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

carbon capture-plant

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Friday began operating its first carbon capture facility at a thermal power plant that is designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 90 percent. The carbon capture and storage (CCS) unit at the Boryeong Thermal Power Plant Complex on the country's west coast is currently attached to a 10-megawatt station to test its effectiveness, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
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