USA - House GOP Seeks Election Year Budget Contrast painting clear differences with President Barack Obama

Published on Mar 20, 2012 by AssociatedPress

Conservative Republicans unveiled a budget blueprint that combines slashing cuts to safety net programs for the poor with sharply lower tax rates in an election-year manifesto painting clear differences with President Barack Obama. (March 20)

Afghanistan - General Allen: Mission on Track Has no intention to stay in the country forever

Published on Mar 20, 2012 by AssociatedPress

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says winding down the decade-plus war is on track and the U.S. has no intention to stay in the country forever. (March 20)

What's In The News- March 20, 2012 GE (NYSE:GE) BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Uploaded by FinancialNewsOnline on Mar 20, 2012

This is what's in the news for Tuesday March 20, 2012. Wall Street Journal reports Moody's Investors Service said it may downgrade the credit ratings of GE (NYSE:GE) and its finance unit, pointing to risks its lending arm could pose in another credit crisis. The Wall Street Journal also reports Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg doesn't expect to play a hands-on role selling the social network's IPO to analysts. Reuters reports BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) said it was seeing signs of "flattening" iron ore demand from China, though for now it was planning to expand production. Bloomberg reports a number of companies recently opted for a cloud provider like Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) over Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), evidence of shifting loyalties in the $113.8B business applications market. Finally Bloomberg also reports Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) will finish work on Windows 8 in the summer, setting the stage for personal computers and tablets with the operating system to go on sale around October.

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North Korea - IAEA receives invitation

Published on Mar 20, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ The United Nations nuclear watchdog says it has received an invitation from North Korea to visit the country.

The move appears to be an attempt by Pyongyang to show it is serious about a nuclear moratorium deal despite a planned satellite launch. South Korea accuses its neighbour of trying to disguise a long range rocket test.

Iraq - Bomb blasts rock cities

Published on Mar 20, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.com/ The latest bomb blast to rip through a city in Iraq exploded in the oil rich province of Kirkuk where police say a total of three explosions killed nine and wounded 39.

The string of attacks, say sources have now claimed the lives of at least 39 people, the deadliest in the holy city of Kerbala where at least 13 were killed.

Sixteen car and roadside bombs have exploded across the country, one in Mahmudiya in the south killed three people.

The blasts come despite heightened security ahead of next weeks Arab League summit in Baghdad. Officials said about 100,000 troops have been deployed to safeguard the politicians.

Analysts believe the Iraq government will be in the spotlight as they host the regions leaders for the first time since the withdrawal of US troops in December.

France - observes a minute of silence to remember Toulouse Jewish school shooting

Uploaded by telegraphtv on Mar 20, 2012

French President Nicolas Sarkozy led the mourning in a central Paris school as the country remembered the victims of Monday's shooting at a Jewish school in Toulouse.

How to dress: sporty clothes - the Guardian

Uploaded by TheGuardian on Mar 20, 2012

This week Jess Cartner-Morley outlines the best approach to sportswear. This does not in fact mean donning the local football strip, but rather 'sportswear in the catwalk sense'. That said, you'll see everything from gym-kit throwbacks to basketball chic. Even the rugby shirt makes an appearance