WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. lawmakers return to Washington on Wednesday for their first session since Republicans routed President Barack Obama’s Democrats, facing the threat of yet another tough budget fight.Funding next year’s government operations could emerge as a flash point in the “lame duck” session between last week’s midterms and the arrival of newly-elected and reelected members on Jan. 3.In September, lawmakers punted on negotiating a federal spending bill, instead passing a continuing re

BEIJING (AP) ― Meryl Streep, Stevie Wonder and Tom Brokaw are among the latest Americans tapped to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Barack Obama announced Tuesday.The performers and former NBC anchor will join 16 others at the White House on Nov. 24 for a ceremony marking their achievements. The medal is the highest honor granted to civilians in the U.S. and honors contributions to U.S. security, world peace and cultural achievement.“From scientists who kept America on the cu

Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner. (Bloomberg)BUENOS AIRES (AFP) ― President Cristina Kirchner, who has faced recurring medical problems, was released from the hospital Sunday after a new health crisis that forced her to cancel a trip to this week’s G20 summit.The Argentine leader, 61, who was hospitalized one week ago with fever and stomach pains, was diagnosed as having an intestinal infection. Doctors allowed her to leave the hospital but have ordered her to rest in bed for 10 days, her

PARIS (AFP) ― IMF chief Christine Lagarde hailed Friday the Bank of Japan’s “very brave” surprise move to step up its support for the country’s recovery.Lagarde praised Japan where “very brave monetary policy has been displayed, with a very constant and decided drive focused on ... taking Japan out of the rut where it has been for ten years,” in comments at a central bankers conference in Paris.Last Friday, the Bank of Japan said it would widen its asset-buying plan by as much as 20 trillion yen

BEIJING (AFP) ― The financial risks China faces are “not that scary,” President Xi Jinping said Sunday as leaders of the world’s second-largest economy look to transition from decades of super-charged growth to more sustainable expansion.China’s gross domestic product expanded at its slowest pace in five years in the third quarter, but Xi said the economy had entered a “new normal” that will be more beneficial to the country and the world in the long run.“Some worry whether China’s economic grow

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MOSCOW (AFP) ― The Russian central bank announced Wednesday it would limit its support for the ruble, letting the currency which has already taken a hit from the Ukraine crisis sink to a new record low.After having recently spent billions of dollars per day to support the ruble in a flexible trading band that limited swings in the currency, the Bank of Russia said it would end its unlimited daily interventions to avoid speculation against the currency.By limiting its daily interventions to $350

BRUSSELS (AFP) ― New European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker stoked a bitter row between London and Brussels Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister David Cameron of having a “problem” with other EU leaders.Juncker opened his first press conference as head of the EU’s powerful executive arm with an attack on “unjustified criticisms” by both Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at a summit in October.But he reserved his harshest words for Cameron, who is fighting Brussels over a budge