U.S. Top News Early Edition: Alibaba hires U.S. lobbying firm as it eyes Yahoo

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	12/29/2011
Good Morning LATEST NEWS Alibaba hires U.S. lobbying firm as it eyes Yahoo (Reuters) - Alibaba Group has hired a Washington lobbying firm in a sign that the Chinese e-commerce company would be willing to make a bid for all of Yahoo Inc in the event that talks to unwind their Asian partnership fail. | Full Article Italy seeks bigger euro fund after tough debt sale December 29, 2011 08:50 AM ET MILAN/ROME (Reuters) - Italy's PM called for significantly more firepower for the euro zone's bailout fund after a bond auction did little to ease concerns over how the country would finance public spending in the next few months. | Full Article Arab observers fan out across protest-hit Syria December 29, 2011 08:51 AM ET BEIRUT (Reuters) - Arab League peace monitors headed to three more Syrian cities on Thursday to check whether government forces have halted violence against protesters as Damascus promised after observers in the center of the unrest were mobbed by people demanding protection. | Full Article North Korea hails nuclear, military feats of Kim Jong-il December 29, 2011 09:07 AM ET SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea lauded the military might built up by deceased leader Kim Jong-il on Thursday, likely tying his young successor to the same policies that have set Northeast Asia on edge as the impoverished state inches closer to nuclear weapons capability. | Full Article Retail sales resilient in final holiday stretch December 28, 2011 06:27 PM ET (Reuters) - Retail sales look poised for a solid finish to the holiday season as warm weather and deep discounts encouraged shoppers to hit stores or go online to snap up last-minute gifts, according to data released on Wednesday. | Full Article BUSINESS NEWS Futures point to slight gains after data December 29, 2011 09:27 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to modest gains at the open on Thursday as a decline in Italian bond yields offset a weak reading on jobless claims a day after the S&P 500's gains for the year were erased. | Full Article Jobless claims rise but labor market healing December 29, 2011 08:52 AM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, a government report showed on Thursday, but the underlying trend continued to point to improving labor market conditions. | Full Article New York Times sends email to millions by mistake December 29, 2011 09:05 AM ET (Reuters) - Some 8 million people received emails from the New York Times on Wednesday offering a special discount if they would reconsider their decision to cancel their subscriptions. | Full Article China speeds up QFII approvals amid signs of capital outflow December 29, 2011 03:08 AM ET SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has since October granted nearly $1 billion in quotas for foreign institutions to invest in the country's capital markets following a five-month hiatus, reflecting Beijing's desire to encourage inbound investment amid signs of a capital outflow. | Full Article Tough India IPO market drives deals between private equity funds December 29, 2011 04:00 AM ET MUMBAI (Reuters) - When Ind-Barath Power Infra Ltd dropped plans for a $200 million IPO earlier this year, it not only thwarted the fundraising plans of its controlling shareholder, but blocked an exit route for a clutch of private equity investors. | Full Article HEALTH NEWS Obesity tied to older adults' risk of falls: study Mead Johnson confirms FDA visits in Enfamil probe Parents show modest gains after smoking programs New York unions sue over retiree health-care change Exercise doesn't prevent pregnancy-related diabetes RELATED VIDEO Asia marks "Dear Leader" Kim's memorial Anti-whaling protest ship in distress Warehouse blast kills 17 in Myanmar A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today. Your daily briefing on the latest tech developments from around the world from Reuters expert tech correspondents. Register Today. The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day.. Register Today. » MORE NEWSLETTERS ODDLY ENOUGH For the not-so-serious drinker: Marshmallow vodka Full Article Venezuela's Chavez: Did U.S. give Latin American leaders cancer? Now or never for workers as "Elvis" the croc strikes again Whale sperm, orgasmic feet top 2011 bad science list Crime scene cleanup ad lifts Handel's Messiah Stressed Chinese fight back - with pillows - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend