Coming after a modest decline in Chinese investments in US government bonds, were in contrast to an earlier statement in Beijing which had said the recent sell-off was a routine transaction.

The incident, captured early morning outside a Nottinghamshire nightclub, was given to a local radio station and published to YouTube.

The Energy Department is planning to award $18.5 billion in loan guarantees for the construction of new nuclear power plants to four utilities, government sources said today. The companies include UniStar Nuclear Energy, NRG Energy Inc., Scana Corp. and Southern Co.

Projects must obtain official permission to use imported goods, said an order issued by China's main planning agency and eight other government bodies.

Justices heard last month from a Muslim woman who sued [a judge] because her small claims case was dismissed when she refused to remove her veil.

Hamtramck District Judge Paul Paruk told Ginnnah Muhammad he needed to see her face to judge her truthfulness. The 45-year-old from Detroit kept her niqab on during the 2006 hearing.

Holder said officials were discussing how to handle such suspects and whether new legislation would be required to hold them. He said even without a trial, a judge would have to review the basis for holding such detainees.

"The thought we had was that there would be some kind of review with regard to the initial determination and then a periodic review," Holder said.