UNITED STATES

A research director, one of the central figures in the controversy over hacked e-mails from the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit announced Tuesday that he is stepping down while the university investigates the incident.

GM's Quick Replacement; Stocks Hit High; Stimulus Withdrawal Timing Key

U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday evening that his administration plans to send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan.

President Obama announced Tuesday night that he will reinforce Afghanistan with some 30,000 more United States troops to reverse the momentum of the Taliban insurgents, and begin to withdraw in July, 2011.

Following is the prepared text of President Obama's address on a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, as released by the White House on Tuesday:

British TV and record producer Simon Cowell, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in British and U.S. show business, is planning to bring his The X Factor talent show to Las Vegas in a global pay-per-view Internet venture.

The Black Eyed Peas announced an ambitious 100-date world tour, including a series of 2010 shows in North America, the popular hip-hop group's first full-scale tour of the U.S. and Canada in nearly four years.

Teen idol Nick Jonas is stepping away from his brothers and going on tour in January with his new band The Administration.

General Motors Chief Executive Frederick Fritz Henderson stepped down at the request of the company's board of directors on Tuesday and will be replaced by current Chairman Ed Whitacre.

Corrects month that Henderson was named CEO of GM, paragraph 4

President Barack Obama will unveil plans on Tuesday to send some 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan over six months, a senior administration official said, an escalation he hopes will permit a quicker U.S. exit.

President Barack Obama will unveil his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan in a prime-time televised speech on Tuesday. But in the hours beforehand, officials offered a preview of what he will tell Americans, who are sharply divided over the war.

President Barack Obama will say on Tuesday he is sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan by next summer to speed the battle against the Taliban and plans to bring some soldiers home in 19 months.

General Motors Co's board of directors, citing a need to chart a new course, dismissed Chief Executive Fritz Henderson on Tuesday, a person with direct knowledge of the proceedings said.

Sweden said it was too early to say if loss-making Saab would survive after U.S. parent GM announced on Tuesday it would consider offers for the car firm until the end of the year.

If allegations are proven true, Tiger Woods may have had extra marital affairs with at least two women, Rachel Uchitel, 34 and Jamie Grubbs, 24, according to media reports.

Corrects paragraph 4 to show Henderson was named CEO of GM in March instead of April

The U.S. Federal Reserve must be prepared to raise interest rates if needed before the jobless rate has fallen to an acceptable level, or risk losing its inflation-fighting credibility, a senior Fed official said on Tuesday.

CVS Caremark Corp has found a way to stop the Energizer bunny. It will discontinue sales of the company's alkaline batteries early next year.

Microsoft Corp said on Tuesday it had found no evidence that its recent security updates were causing problems with its new Windows 7 operating system, which some users said left them with a black screen of death. See full story.

General Motors Co's board of directors fired Chief Executive Fritz Henderson on Tuesday, saying it wanted to chart a new course as the top U.S. automaker pushes ahead with its restructuring.