Senator jokes that Boehner's 'Plan B' shows progress finally being made on women's issues

WASHINGTON - A Democratic senator joked Thursday that with House Speaker John Boehner embracing "Plan B," women's issues are progressing in Congress.Washington Democrat Patty Murray told reporters that she "got really excited" when she heard Boehner talking about Plan B.But then, she kidded, she learned it didn't signify progress for women after all.Boehner had a backup plan for his fight over the...

Read More..

Malala asks Pakistan not to rename college in her honour to avert militant attacks on students

MINGORA, Pakistan - An official says Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban for promoting girls' education, has urged Pakistan to reverse a decision to rename a college in her honour to avert militant attacks on students.The 15-year-old who became a symbol of youth resistance to the Taliban made the request after students broke into the school, tore down Malala's pictures and boycotted classes...

Read More..

Former Singapore banker arrested in U.S. over Olympus fraud

SINGAPORE/NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former Singapore banker was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday and accused of helping "liquidate" hundreds of millions of dollars in an accounting fraud at Olympus Corp , one of the biggest corporate scandals in Japan's history.Chan Ming Fon, a one-time bank vice president, is the latest former executive and the first from outside of Japan to become ensnared in the...

Read More..

Congresswoman broke ethics rules, House panel says

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - A seven-term U.S. congresswoman from Nevada, Shelley Berkley, violated ethics rules by using her office to try to help her husband's medical practice but had no "corrupt intent" in doing so, the U.S. House Ethics Committee said on Thursday.The committee said no further action was needed against the Democratic member of the House of Representatives. It had launched a probe in...

Read More..

EM ASIA FX-US budget impasse dents Asia FX; rupiah hit

One-mth dollar/rupiah NDFs highest since Sept 2009* Sing dlr, Philippine peso down on U.S. dlr-short covering* Philippine c.bank deputy governor says peso to stay firm(Adds text, updates prices)By Jongwoo CheonSEOUL, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currenciesslid on Friday as deepening uncertainty over a U.S. budget dealprompted investors to reduce risky assets after a Republicanattempt to...

Read More..