MEETING IN THE MIDDLE: The Chinese vice premier said more talks were needed on the deal, indicating that the two top oil importers had not ironed out their differences
The US and China agreed on Wednesday to launch negotiations to forge a bilateral investment treaty and inked a 10-year accord to achieve energy security, officials said.

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China’s economy is weathering the global slowdown better than expected, the World Bank said yesterday as it raised its growth forecast for the Asian giant to 9.8 percent from 9.4 percent.

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MEANWHILE, DOWN UNDER: Engineers for Qantas said they would launch strikes against Australia's national carrier next week over a pay disagreement
Some 7,000 passengers were grounded yesterday because of labor disputes between the Japan Airlines group and its pilots, company officials said.

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WHY NOT YMAIL? : The firm said the popularity of its yahoo.com domain has its limits, as potential users find their name of choice taken by someone else
Yahoo Inc is offering free e-mail accounts under two new designations in an effort to attract Web surfers unhappy with their current addresses.

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Badminton matches look so real playing on Hyundai’s new 3D TV that you may reflexively dodge the shuttlecock. A polar bear pawing the glass of his tank may seem to be inside the TV pushing on the screen.

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■ ENERGY