BEIJING (Reuters) – Heavy snow hit Beijing on Sunday, stranding thousands of passengers at the Chinese capital’s main airport and casting an unusual quiet over normally busy streets as people stayed out of the freezing weather.

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Heavy snow brings Beijing to standstill

President Barack Obama planned to ring in the New Year by plowing through initial probes into the botched bombing of a US plane, after slamming “systemic” intelligence failures.

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Obama to examine probes into foiled plane attack

Wall Street enters the first trading week of 2010 on a bullish note but the market remains dogged by concerns on the timing of any interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve amid economy recovery.

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Bullish Wall Street grapples with rate concerns

A Chinese explosives maker has been sentenced to death for supplying an illegal iron mine with material that ignited in the tunnels, killing 26 miners.

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China to execute mine explosives maker

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police arrested thousands in a drive against Internet pornography throughout 2009, officials said, vowing a deepening crackdown that critics say is being used to tighten overall censorship.

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China says 5,394 arrested in Internet porn crackdown

The US is sharply increasing both military and economic aid to Yemen, as it has been doing in Afghanistan and Pakistan, to fight al-Qaeda, officials say.

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US boosts Yemen’s economic, military aid

North Korea will ban the use of foreign currency for purchases among both its citizens and foreigners beginning on January 1, Chinese state television reports.

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NKorea to ban use of foreign currency

Higher spot prices may force Chinese steelmakers to cut deals with miners. 31 Dec 2009 8:32 AM

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India hikes iron ore export tax by 5%

Conditions in real estate sector to stabilise in 2010. 31 Dec 2009 8:20 AM

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Commercial property market set to improve

Local currency gains as end of year approaches. 31 Dec 2009 8:08 AM

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Australian dollar opens higher as investors balance portfolios