WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve’s (search) interest-rate panel began a two-day meeting Wednesday, which economists expect will culminate on Thursday with a ninth straight quarter-point increase in short-term rates as the Fed seeks to keep inflation in check. The Federal Open Market Committee’s (search) two-day meeting began at about 2:00 …

Watch “Hannity & Colmes” weeknights at 9 p.m. ET! Here’s just some of what we’ve got planned for you: It’s a “Hannity and Colmes” exclusive. He’s led millions of followers with his spiritual message. Now, legendary Reverend Billy Graham sits down with Sean to reveal his plans for a special …

CHICAGO – U.S. food giant H.J. Heinz (HNZ) has agreed to buy Danone’s UK-based HP Foods (search) business for about $855 million in a deal that puts HP and Lea & Perrins (search) sauces under the same roof as its own Heinz Ketchup. The cash purchase would help Pittsburgh-based Heinz …

This is a partial transcript from “The Beltway Boys”, June 18, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. Watch “The Beltway Boys” Saturday at 6 p.m. ET and Sunday at 1 and 6 a.m. EST. FRED BARNES, CO-HOST: I’m Fred Barnes. MORT KONDRACKE, CO-HOST: Well, it’s good news and bad …

WASHINGTON – U.S. employers added only 78,000 workers to their payrolls last month, far fewer than expected, a government report showed on Friday, but the unemployment rate edged down to it lowest level since September 2001. “Payroll employment continued to grow over the month in health care and construction, but …

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – President Thabo Mbeki (search) dismissed his deputy Tuesday after he was implicated in a corruption scandal, throwing wide open the question of who will become the next leader of South Africa (search). Deputy President Jacob Zuma (search), who retains widespread support, had been groomed to …

LIVERPOOL, England – Strawberry Field, the children’s home that inspired a song by The Beatles (search), has closed after 69 years. The Salvation Army, which ran the home, said it decided to close the facility on Tuesday because the emphasis now is on placing children in foster homes or small …

BEIRUT, Lebanon – A prominent Lebanese journalist known for his anti-Syrian writings was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, a slaying in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. Anti-Syrian groups quickly blamed Damascus and its Lebanese …

HONG KONG – Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) said Thursday it will regain control of a southern China joint venture as overseas investors gear up for a brewing battle in China’s coffee market. In a deal with its Hong Kong partner Maxim’s Caterers Ltd. (search) , the Seattle-based coffee maker agreed to …

NEW YORK – Calling New York the “perfect place” to hold an Olympics, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (search) joined former Olympians and city officials Tuesday at a rally promoting the bid for the 2012 Summer Games (search). “If you walk along the streets of New York you will see …