Deals of the Hour

Trying to find out what's the deal with the world, tracking what's on sale and who's talking about it on Twitter. Update hourly.

Deals of the Hour / October 8, 2010, 10:41 am

Nobel in literature to Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa

STOCKHOLM -- Peruvian Mario Vargas Llosa won the 2010 Nobel Prize in literature on Thursday as the academy honored one of the Spanish-speaking world's most acclaimed authors and an outspoken political activist who once ran for president in his tumultuous ... (Source: San Jose Mercury News 2010-10-08T17:12:34Z)

France, UK poised for EU hedge fund deal -diplomat

BRUSSELS, Oct 8 (Reuters) - France is ready to drop objections to a key part of a law to tighten rules on hedge funds in exchange for concessions from London, a senior diplomat said, moving to end a row that threatened to harm relations with Washington. As ... (Source: The Guardian 2010-10-08T15:39:31Z)

Nobel literature prize a platform for Vargas Llosa's combative political activism

CARACAS, Venezuela - The Nobel Prize in literature brings a long-awaited accolade to Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa, and also a new platform for him to assail leftist leaders Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba. The 74-year-old writer has ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-10-08T17:05:25Z)

Short-lived Tropical Storm Nicole no big deal for South Florida

After a six-hour lifespan, Tropical Storm Nicole faded into oblivion Wednesday afternoon, another unwanted Florida visitor that thankfully never arrived. Instead of blustery rain, expect blue skies and gentle breezes for Thursday, with highs in the low 90s ... (Source: Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 2010-09-29T22:23:54Z)

'Dancing with the Stars' drama: Sarah Palin, Bristol Palin clash over The Situation

Sarah and Bristol Palin have quite a Situation on their hands. The onetime vice presidential nominee has ordered her wayward daughter to stay away from "Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino while the two are on "Dancing with the Stars," The ... (Source: Gather.com 2010-10-07T06:08:02Z)

Bristol Palin Friends With The Situation

Two opposite cast members are now friends on "Dancing With The Stars": Bristol Palin and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino. Sources on the show told the Chicago Sun-Times that the teen mom and the "Jersey Shore" party guy are not an item. But they do live in ... (Source: MyFox Phoenix 2010-10-07T18:03:52Z)

Liu Xiaobo and Chinese Democracy

Congratulations to Liu Xiaobo for winning the Nobel Peace Prize – and to the Nobel committee for giving it to him. China has countless dissidents and people pushing for democracy, of course, but there's a reason Liu rose to the top in Nobel estimations ... (Source: New York Times Blogs 2010-10-08T16:00:59Z)

Jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a move that dramatically highlighted both the plight of those who speak out against the authoritarian government in Beijing and the lengths to which it goes to silence ... (Source: Lexington Herald-Leader 2010-10-08T15:46:40Z)

Wells Fargo in Mortgage-Relief Pact

Wells Fargo & Co. agreed to offer hundreds of millions of dollars in mortgage relief to borrowers in eight states as part of a pact over allegedly deceptive marketing of payment-option adjustable-rate mortgage loans offered by companies it acquired. The ... (Source: Wall Street Journal 2010-10-06T19:45:16Z)

BP, Azerbaijan reach Caspian Sea oil deal

BP PLC says it has reached an agreement with Azerbaijan's state oil company to develop a new oil field in the Caspian Sea. BP said Thursday that the 50-50 joint venture will seek to develop oil production in the Shafag-Asiman sector, 125 kilometers (78 ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-07T06:50:59Z)

BP signs gas deal with Azerbaijan

LONDON (AP) — BP's new chief executive Bob Dudley signed a deal with Azerbaijan's state oil company yesterday to develop a major new gas field in the Caspian Sea — his first big move since taking over the top job this month. Azerbaijan is one of the ... (Source: the Royal Gazette 2010-10-08T13:23:30Z)

Nobel Peace Prize to imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo

OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize today for using nonviolence to demand fundamental human rights in his homeland. The award ignited a furious response from China, which accused the Norwegian Nobel ... (Source: San Jose Mercury News 2010-10-08T17:05:25Z)

China vs. the World: "Distress and Anger" Not Limited to U.S., FT's Wolf Says

Earlier this week, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said a sharp rise in the yuan " will bring disaster to China and the world." U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner retorted by saying China's policy of keeping its currency undervalued "sets off a dangerous ... (Source: Yahoo Finance 2010-10-08T16:29:37Z)

Pa. woman in Boston bridal scam pleads guilty

A Pittsburgh woman who prosecutors say defrauded advertisers and exhibitors out of thousands of dollars with a fake Boston bridal show pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud and identity theft as part of a plea deal. Karen Tucker, 47, entered a plea to U.S ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-07T17:56:42Z)

Wells Fargo In Pact To Provide $772M In Mortgage Relief

Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) agreed to offer hundreds of millions of dollars in mortgage relief to borrowers in eight states as part of a pact over allegedly deceptive marketing of payment-option adjustable rate mortgage loans offered by companies it acquired ... (Source: Wall Street Journal 2010-10-06T19:02:19Z)

Nobel Prize a platform for outspoken Mario Vargas Llosa

CARACAS, Venezuela — The Nobel Prize in literature brings a long-awaited accolade to Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa, and also a new platform for him to assail leftist leaders Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba. The 74-year-old writer ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-10-08T09:41:36Z)

Wells Fargo to offer mortgage relief to Florida borrowers

More than 4,000 Florida homeowners will be eligible for loan modifications and mortgage-balance forgiveness totaling nearly $388 million under an agreement Wells Fargo Bank reached with eight states, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday ... (Source: TradingMarkets.com 2010-10-07T15:55:01Z)

Pa. woman in Boston bridal scam to plead guilty

A Pittsburgh woman is scheduled to plead guilty to allegations she defrauded advertisers and exhibitors out of thousands of dollars with a fake Boston bridal show.Defense attorney Brad Bailey says Karen Tucker will plead guilty Thursday in a Boston federal ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-07T10:18:35Z)

Sarah Palin, 'Jersey Shore' cast offer 'DWTS' support

September 28, 2010 (LOS ANGELES) -- Sarah Palin may be outspoken, but she kept her opinions to herself on "Dancing With the Stars." The former vice-presidential candidate was in the ABC ballroom Monday to cheer on her daughter, whom she called "Bristol the ... (Source: KABC 2010-09-28T15:01:16Z)

Woman charged with murder plot against husband

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A North Carolina woman already accused of killing her mother with an ax in South Florida has been charged with plotting to kill her husband. The Broward Sheriff's Office reports that 41-year-old Martha Walker was charged ... (Source: Mysuncoast.com 2010-10-07T21:38:37Z)

Signs of French shift on EU hedge fund rules

France appears to have dropped its outright opposition to current European Union proposals for regulating hedge funds and private equity funds , meaning that a deal on the controversial regulations may finally be in sight. The French move, at a meeting of ... (Source: Financial Times 2010-10-06T16:53:28Z)

US presses Arab nations to back Israeli-Palestinian peace talks despite settlement dispute

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is pressing Arab leaders to help keep the U.S.-brokered peace talks alive ahead of Arab League meetings in Libya on Friday. U.S. officials have spent days trying to persuade Arab leaders not to withdraw their earlier ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-10-07T19:58:24Z)

Woman in bridal show scam pleads guilty to bilking exhibitors out of thousands

BOSTON -- A Pittsburgh woman who prosecutors say defrauded advertisers and exhibitors out of thousands of dollars with a fake Boston bridal show pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud and identity theft as part of a plea deal. Karen Tucker, 47, entered a ... (Source: News-Democrat 2010-10-07T18:11:01Z)

UPDATE 1-France, UK poised for EU hedge fund deal -diplomat

On Friday, the first signs began to emerge that pressure from Washington as well as wavering support from Germany for France on the issue had forced Paris to rethink. France is sensitive to Geithner's criticism on the eve of its presidency of the Group of ... (Source: Reuters UK 2010-10-08T15:39:31Z)

Nobel Peace Win Could Boost Reformers In China

Chinese officials reacted angrily to the news that this year's Nobel Peace Prize has gone to the country's most prominent dissident, but analysts say the decision could provide an opportunity for Chinese leaders who favor human rights reform. China's ... (Source: NPR News 2010-10-08T15:46:40Z)

Moon, winds conspire to raise tides

The elemental forces of the moon and the wind are conspiring to deliver higher than normal tides along South Florida's coast this week, raising water along seawalls, docks and canal banks. Dangerous rip currents too are a result of high tides that yearly ... (Source: Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 2010-10-05T23:57:00Z)

Azerbaijan sign deal on Caspian Sea gas

Azerbaijan is one of the British company's key targets as it seeks to build up businesses outside the United States, where its operations have been under pressure in the wake of the Gulf oil spill. The 50-50 joint venture with the State Oil Company of ... (Source: Today's Zaman 2010-10-07T23:40:18Z)

Chinese Dissident Liu Xiaobo Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for Human Rights Struggle

Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese dissident and prisoner of conscience, is the 2010 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize . The award will thrill lovers of freedom the world over almost as much as it will infuriate the Beijing regime. In fact, the Chinese government has ... (Source: Associated Content 2010-10-08T15:46:40Z)

Compromise is in the air in Israeli-Palestinian talks

JERUSALEM • In the clearest sign that a deal may be emerging to keep the troubled U.S. Mideast peace push alive, a top Palestinian official said Thursday that his side would accept an American proposal for Israel to curtail settlement construction for ... (Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2010-10-08T05:02:26Z)

Arab League delays debate on troubled peace talks

Cairo/Sirte, Libya - An Arab League meeting in Libya Friday to weigh continued support for direct peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel was unexpectedly postponed for several hours. The meeting had been schedule to begin in the late morning, but ... (Source: Earthtimes 2010-10-08T13:37:49Z)

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