WASHINGTON - THE US economy exited recession in the third quarter, posting the strongest growth in two years, according to government data released on Thursday.
After four quarters of contraction, the economy grew at an annualized 3.5 per cent in the July-September period from the prior quarter, the Commerce Department reported.
ABU DHABI - NICO Rosberg will be driving in his last race for Formula One team Williams at this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Rosberg confirmed his decision on Thursday without saying which team he would join in 2010. Brawn GP or McLaren are thought to be the major contenders for the German's signature, with much to hinge on Mercedes' decision on its future ownership stakes in those two teams.
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S Islamic opposition party said on Thursday it has ruled out forming a pact with the ruling party Umno, a proposal that caused a leadership crisis and undermined the opposition alliance.
The Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) has been beset by infighting after several top figures said they were keen to form a pact with Umno, which heads the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
TEHERAN - IRAN will not retreat 'one iota' on its nuclear rights, but it is ready to cooperate on issues regarding atomic fuel, power plants and technology, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday.
He said the provision of nuclear fuel for a Teheran research reactor was an opportunity for Iran to evaluate the 'honesty' of world powers and the UN nuclear agency watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
