UNITED STATES

Iran's defence minister warned on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic could strike back at Western warships in the Gulf if it were attacked over its nuclear programme, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Japan and the United States reaffirmed their five-decade security alliance on Tuesday, vowing to expand ties into new areas even as they squabble over the relocation of a U.S. Marine base.

Oil fell below $78 a barrel on Tuesday, extending its recent losing streak, as producer group OPEC said supply was ample enough to meet winter demand and trimmed estimated demand for its oil.

The pace of food and medical aid deliveries picked up in earthquake-shattered Haiti, providing some hope to desperate survivors, but doctors worried disease would be the next big challenge for the tens of thousands left injured and homeless a week ago.

U.S. stocks were poised for a slightly weaker open on Tuesday after quarterly results from Citigroup Inc led to concern about the quality of financial sector earnings as reporting season ramps up.

China urged other powers on Tuesday to show more flexibility in dealing with Iran's disputed nuclear programme, playing down prospects of sanctions after six countries met to discuss the standoff.

Kraft Foods agrees a deal to buy Cadbury on Tuesday for around 11.9 billion pounds ($19.55 billion) by increasing its overall bid and offering more cash in an offer that was recommended by Cadbury's board.

Massachusetts voters head to the polls on Tuesday in a cliff-hanger election for a new U.S. senator that could derail Democrats' dominance in Washington and scuttle their top priority of sweeping healthcare reform.

Google Inc will not be treated as an exception to China's demand foreign companies obey its laws, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, a week after the world's largest search engine warned it could pull out of China.

Google has postponed the launch of two mobile phones in China which use its Android platform, in the first sign its business in the country is starting to be affected by a dispute over hacking and censorship.

Citigroup Inc posted a fourth-quarter loss of $7.6 billion after taking charges linked to repaying government funds.

Goldman Sachs is likely to unveil details of multi-million pound bonuses to staff next week, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, after a delay as the row over payouts heats up.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs is likely to unveil the details of multi-million pound bonuses to staff next week, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, after a delay as a row heats up over payouts.

Oil dipped below $78 a barrel on Tuesday, extending a losing streak from last week due to an expected dent in heating demand as northern hemisphere weather turned milder after a prolonged cold spell.

U.S. stock index futures slipped on Tuesday as Kraft Foods Inc reached a deal to acquire Cadbury and earnings season picked up steam.

U.S. stock index futures slipped on Tuesday as Kraft Foods Inc reached a deal to acquire Cadbury and earnings season picked up steam.

Google has postponed the launch of two mobile phones in China which use its Android platform, in the first sign its business in the country is starting to be affected by a dispute over hacking and censorship.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Tuesday as U.S. markets reopen after a long holiday weekend, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.04 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.07 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.2 percent at 1030 GMT (5:30 a.m. EST).

Google is investigating whether one or more employees may have helped facilitate a cyber-attack from China that the U.S. search giant said it was a victim of in mid-December, two sources told Reuters on Monday.

Japan Airlines Corp is set to file for one of the country's largest ever bankruptcies on Tuesday, marking the failure of the former state-owned carrier that once symbolized Japan Inc's international aspirations.

U.S.-based Kraft Foods Inc and Britain's Cadbury Plc are close to sealing a friendly deal to create the world's largest confectionery group for up to 11.7 billion pounds ($19 billion), sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.