TEXCOCO (Reuters) – Carlos Slim and Bill Gates, the two richest men on the planet, inaugurated a new agricultural research center outside Mexico's capital, touting the millions they have donated to bolster global food security. The two tycoons participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new laboratories at the headquarters of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym CIMMYT. The new complex will double the center's capacity to develop better seeds and more productive farmers in the developing world, officials said. … Boeing appears confident about launching folding wing 777X
LYNNWOOD, Wash./PARIS (Reuters) – Boeing Co said Wednesday it plans to bring its next-generation 777X jet into service by the end of the decade, a time frame that had come under question after r emarks from the company's chief executive last year. At the same time, sources familiar with the design confirmed that the 777X design is expected to have folding wingtips, a novel feature that would allow bigger wings to fit into the same-sized airport parking space as the current 777. … World's richest men aid 'Green Revolution' center
TEXCOCO, Mexico (AP) -- The research center largely responsible for launching the "green revolution" of the 1960s that dramatically raised crop yields is getting support from the world's richest men to develop genetically-modified seeds to help farmers in the developing world grow more grain in the face of a changing climatic conditions and increased demand. NKorean nuclear test may be intelligence windfall
TOKYO (AP) -- North Korea's latest underground test shows it is making big strides toward becoming a true nuclear power. But the test may also reveal key clues the secretive nation might have hoped to hide about how close, or how far away, it is from fielding a nuclear weapon capable of striking the United States or its allies. Britain says intelligence sharing crucial despite abuse risks
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain is justified in sharing intelligence with countries suspected of human rights abuses to protect itself, Foreign Secretary William Hague will say on Thursday, despite concerns over the torture of suspects and costly court cases. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Britain has been wrestling with how to uphold its opposition to all forms of torture whilst ensuring it could gather information about planned attacks by militants, some of which might have been obtained through ill-treatment of suspects. … MPs say horsemeat discoveries "tip of the iceberg"
LONDON (Reuters) – Discoveries so far of horsemeat in products sold as beef are likely to be the "tip of the iceberg", a British parliamentary report into the sc andal said on Thursday. "The scale of contamination emerging in the meat supply chain is breathtaking," said Anne McIntosh, a legislator who chairs the cross-party Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which published the report. "More revelations will doubtless come to light in the UK and across the European Union. … Fashion firm Republic appoints administrators
LONDON (Reuters) – Fashion retailer Republic became the latest casualty of the economic downturn on Wednesday, seeking protection from creditors and putting around 2,500 jobs at risk. The firm, which operates 121 stores across the UK with a stronger presence in the north of the country, h as appointed administrators Ernst & Young to sell the business while it continues to trade. Republic is owned by private equity firm TPG. Ernst & Young said the retailer had been hit by poor autumn trading and a rapid decline in sales in late January. It has made 150 staff at Republic's head office redundant. … U.S. should hit the "pause" button on Afghan aid: watchdog
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government should reconsider whether to spend more on reconstruction aid in Afghanistan, the U.S. watchdog that monitors the funds said on Wednesday, citing Afghanistan’s persistent corruption and inability to manage projects as U.S. troops withdraw. John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghan reconstruction, said $20 billion in U.S. assistance for Afghanistan had been appropriated but not yet spent. Nearly $10 billion more in aid may soon be approved by Congress. Sopko asked whether any of this money should be released. …
Winnipeg Jets trade Alex Ponikarovsky to New Jersey Devils for two draft picks
WINNIPEG – Forward Alex Ponikarovsky was traded by the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday to the New Jersey Devils for two draft picks.
Yankees acquire reliever Shawn Kelley from Mariners for minor league OF Abraham Almonte
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The New York Yankees have added depth to their bullpen, acquiring right-hander Shawn Kelley from the Seattle Mariners for minor league outfielder Abraham Almonte.
Mexico arrests six suspects for rape of Spanish tourists
ACAPULCO (Reuters) – Mexico has arrested six men who confessed to the rape of six female Spanish tourists in Acapulco, a crime that drew global attention to the popular Mexican resort. “We have six detainees who have confessed, totally confessed,” Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo said on Wednesday at a news conference in Acapulco. Early on February 4, hooded gunmen forced their way into a beach house the women rented, roughed up their seven male companions and raped the women. Murillo said one of the suspects was apprehended on Tuesday, and the other five were detained overnight. …
American-US Air $11 billion merger gets board OK: sources
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The boards of AMR Corp and US Airways Group Inc each met on Wednesday to approve a merger that would create the world's largest airline with an expected market value of around $11 billion, people familiar with the matter said. The all-stock merger, which is set to be announced early on Thursday, would finalize the consolidation of legacy U.S. air carriers that helped put the industry on a more solid financial footing. … Obama speaks to Japan's Abe about North Korea's nuclear test
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama spoke t o Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday about North Korea's nuclear test and reaffirmed U.S. commitments to Japan's security, the White House said in a statement. "They pledged to work closely together to seek significant action at the United Nations Security Council and to cooperate on measures aimed at impeding North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs," the White House said in a statement. … Obama speaks to Japan's Abe about North Korea's nuclear test
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama spoke to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday about North Korea's nuclear test and reaffirmed U.S. commitments to Japan's security, the White House said in a statement. "They pledged to work closely together to seek significant action at the United Nations Security Council and to cooperate on measures aimed at impeding North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs," the White House said in a statement. … AP Sources: American Airlines and US Airways agree to merge and create world's biggest airline
DALLAS – American Airlines and US Airways will merge and create the world’s biggest airline. The boards of both companies approved the merger late Wednesday, according to three people close to the situation.
VP: Chavez undergoing 'tough and complex' post-op
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is undergoing "tough and complex treatments" following cancer-related surgery, his vice president said on Wednesday. Ukraine: 5 dead in crash-landing
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- A passenger plane carrying soccer fans headed for a match skidded past the landing strip and overturned in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on Wednesday, killing five people, officials said. Marois backtracks on some cuts to research funding in Quebec
QUEBEC – The Parti Quebecois minority government, which has been forced to retreat on several key policies since it took office last fall, continued down that rocky path Wednesday as it reversed itself on a decision to cut $63 million in funding for environmental protection and health research.
Chavez undergoing "delicate" cancer treatment: Venezuela's vice president
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is undergoing "complex" alternative treatments more than two months after having cancer surgery in Cuba, his vice president said on Wednesday. The 58-year-old socialist leader has not been seen in public since he went to Havana for the operation on December 11, his fourth surgery for cancer in 18 months. Vice President Nicolas Maduro did not give details of the alternative treatments the president was receiving. … 
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