UNITED STATES

U.S. securities regulators charged a Toronto-based fund manager, who describes himself as the Chinese Warren Buffett and his hedge fund with operating a multimillion dollar investment fraud, the Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday.

An ice bridge which had apparently held a vast Antarctic ice shelf in place during recorded history shattered on Saturday and could herald a wider collapse linked to global warming, a leading scientist said.

It will be hard work getting rich nations to agree cuts in greenhouse gases that are deep enough to satisfy the demands of developing countries at climate talks, U.N.'s climate chief told Reuters on Monday.

Oil prices fell nearly 3 percent on Monday to near $51 a barrel as U.S. stock markets sputtered on worries over the banking sector and the dollar gained against the euro.

U.S. President Barack Obama urged the European Union on Sunday to accept Turkey as a full member of the 27-nation bloc, in remarks rejected outright by France and met coolly by Germany.

North Korea launched a Taepodong-2 rocket over the Sea of Japan on Sunday. The launch rattled the North's neighbors and countries around the world. The U.S. and its rallies asked for quick punishment at an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting held hours after launch.

Results of a late-stage trial of MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc's inhaled migraine drug will represent a critical moment for the company given the recent failure of its other key drug to treat asthma in children.

Stocks fell on Monday after a warning from a prominent analyst revived worries over the health of banks and the potential collapse of a takeover of Sun Microsystems bruised sentiment in the technology sector.

Citigroup Inc named Michael Corbat permanent chief executive of Citi Holdings, a unit housing the Smith Barney brokerage and a variety of businesses and riskier assets that may be shed.

Oil prices fell more than 4 percent on Monday to near $50 a barrel as U.S. stock markets sputtered on worries over the banking sector and the dollar gained against the euro.

Student loan company Sallie Mae plans to move its overseas operations back to the United States, creating 2,000 domestic jobs, in what analysts called an attempt to curry favor with the Obama administration.

U.S. stocks slid on Monday, as a prominent analyst warned the bank sector's problems still have further to run and the potential collapse of a takeover of Sun Microsystems hurt sentiment in the technology sector.

U.S. stocks extended losses on Monday, sending the S&P 500 down 2 percent, as a prominent banking analyst gave a bleak view on the bank sector and the collapse of a potential takeover of Sun Microsystems punctured recent enthusiasm about the technology sector.

Ford Motor Co said on Monday it had slashed automotive debt by 38 percent, or $9.9 billion, bolstering its finances amid a deep auto industry downturn and sending its shares up more than 13 percent.

The U.S. Treasury on Monday extended the deadline for fund managers to apply to its toxic securities purchase program by two weeks and said it eased selection criteria for these firms.

Ford Motor Co has reduced its automotive debt by 38 percent, or $9.9 billion, part of a series of moves to bolster its finances amid a deep industry downturn, sending its shares up more than 11 percent.

Five central banks in Europe, Japan and the United States said on Monday they have agreed to currency swap lines that enable the Federal Reserve to provide foreign currencies to U.S. financial institutions.

Oil prices fell toward $51 a barrel on Monday as stock markets sputtered, erasing early gains on expectations that rich nations' efforts to stimulate their economies may help end the global downturn sooner than expected.

Ford Motor Co has reduced its automotive debt by 38 percent, or $9.9 billion, part of a series of moves to bolster its finances amid a deep industry downturn, sending its shares up more than 11 percent.

Shares of utility Energias de Portugal (EDP.LS) are the top pick for April among Portuguese fund managers polled by Reuters, followed by oil company Galp (GALP.LS) and Zon Multimedia (ZON.LS).

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Monday to help Turkey resolve its differences with Armenia as the United States sought to strengthen ties with a crucial NATO ally in its war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.