The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, Chinese President Hu Jintao urged on November 13 free trade and investment liberalization, and also urged Asian Pacific business and political leaders to oppose protectionism.

The FINANCIAL -- The economic downturn can be blamed for a number of lifestyle changes, but causing Americans to cook more is not one of them, according to The 24th Annual Report on Eating Patterns in America, recently released by The NPD Group, one of the leading market research companies.

The FINANCIAL -- KABUL, A suicide bombing near a U.S. military base on the outskirts of the Afghan capital of Kabul killed at least two people on November 13, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry said.

The FINANCIAL -- According to RIA Novosti, President Obama has renewed U.S. economic sanctions against Iran for another year, the White House has said.

The FINANCIAL -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has airlifted relief supplies to El Salvador and provided an initial $100,000 for the local purchase of additional relief items and fuel for the helicopter and airplanes the government El Salvador is using to transport supplies and fly assessment missions over the areas affected by Tropical Storm Ida.