Washington - The United States issued more visas in 2008 for students and other academic and cultural exchanges than any other year in history, the US State Department said Tuesday.
Citizens from China and nations in the Middle East accounted for the largest increases during the 2008 fiscal year, which ended September 30, the State Department said.
Los Angeles - US president-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday pledged urgent action to implement the climate and clean-energy policies he laid out in his campaign, telling a meeting of state governors that "delay is no longer an option."
Obama pledged to spend 15 billion dollars a year to help US industry develop clean energy technology and to institute a cap-and- trade system to reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
Washington - Chiefs of the three US automakers went before Congress on Tuesday seeking an emergency injection of government money to stave off bankruptcies that could cost the US economy millions of jobs.
The so-called Big Three - General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler LLC - are asking for 25 billion dollars from the 700- billion-dollar financial rescue package passed in October, arguing that the ongoing credit crisis has pushed their already struggling industry to the brink of collapse.
New York - US stocks rallied at day's end Tuesday as energy and technology shares led the way and investors snapped up bargain basement prices.
The three major indices closed up despite a drop in confidence among homebuilders that was the lowest since record-keeping began in 1985, Bloomberg financial news service reported.
Hewlett-Packard Co jumped 14 per cent as earnings topped analysts' estimates, while Exxon Mobil Corp climbed more than 4 per cent.
Washington - Barack Obama spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday as the president-elect continues to return phone calls from leaders congratulating him on winning the White House.
The Obama transition team did not disclose details of Obama's conversation with Abbas.
Obama has vowed that he will continue to work for Israeli- Palestinian peace. He telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert two days after the November 4 election.
Washington - US president-elect Barack Obama has selected lawyer Eric Holder to become the top law enforcement officer in his administration, US media reported Tuesday.
Holder has accepted the offer to serve as attorney general and his final approval is pending a vetting process by the Obama transition team, CNN and Newsweek magazine reported.
Holder served as deputy attorney general in former president Bill Clinton's administration, the second highest position in the Justice Department.
Washington - The United States issued more visas in 2008 for students and other academic and cultural exchanges than any other year in history, the US State Department said Tuesday.
Los Angeles - US president-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday pledged urgent action to implement the climate and clean-energy policies he laid out in his campaign, telling a meeting of state governors that "delay is no longer an option."
Washington - Chiefs of the three US automakers went before Congress on Tuesday seeking an emergency injection of government money to stave off bankruptcies that could cost the US economy millions of jobs.
New York - US stocks rallied at day's end Tuesday as energy and technology shares led the way and investors snapped up bargain basement prices.
Washington - Barack Obama spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday as the president-elect continues to return phone calls from leaders congratulating him on winning the White House.
Washington - US president-elect Barack Obama has selected lawyer Eric Holder to become the top law enforcement officer in his administration, US media reported Tuesday.
