Free Republic

(3rd LD) Gates says diplomatic engagement with N. Korea 'possible' By Kim Deok-hyun SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday diplomatic engagement with North Korea is "possible," but Pyongyang must first stop its "dangerous provocations and take concrete steps" to meet its international obligations. Gates made the remarks as he started talks in Seoul with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin to discuss concerns over the increasingly belligerent North and ways to further strengthen their deterrence against the communist state. "With regard to next steps on North Korea, diplomatic engagement is possible, starting with direct...

There's little doubt that these are tough economic times for most Americans. But of all the people affected by such a downturn, perhaps no one suffers more than low-wage workers who struggle even in good times to make ends meet. Their challenge in acquiring and maintaining assets – a house, a business or even a savings account – makes them even more vulnerable when times get tough. Millions of American households have no checking or savings account of any kind. The "unbanked" typically don't know if they qualify, how to open accounts or even if they should. Without bank accounts,...

Gov. Jeb Bush said it's not fair to punish the children of illegal immigrants if they're trying to build a better life through education. The governor supports a controversial bill that would let illegal immigrants' children pay in-state college tuition rates, but the bill still faces an uphill battle in the current political climate, WESH 2 News reported. Florida requires children of illegal immigrants to pay out-of-state tuition rates at colleges and universities. That means a college education would cost at least $60,000 more for the son or daughter of an undocumented worker. Bush said that's not fair to teens...

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush signed into law Saturday a measure aimed at saving U.S. companies more than $80 billion in pension contributions over two years, days before many firms make quarterly payments. Businesses lobbied hard for the bill, which would provide about $80 billion in pension accounting relief through the end of 2005 for some 31,000 companies with traditional "defined benefit" pension plans. Those cover about 35 million workers and promise a specific payout based on salary and service. Many traditional pension plans are underfunded because of the weak stock market the last few years and current low...