Washington  - US President Barack Obama's attempts to sell his economic proposals to the public took a 21st century twist on Thursday as he held an online townhall forum from the White House.

Obama has taken to the airwaves with television interviews and press conferences in recent days, but Thursday's format allows the admitted technology buff a chance to interact live with more people.

Washington  - President Barack Obama's administration, in a massive overhaul of the US financial regulatory system, is seeking the power to keep watch on all types of financial firms and to seize failing companies integral to the health of the system.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner unveiled the plans in congressional testimony on Thursday, arguing that the current financial turmoil has proven the system is "too unstable and fragile" to be allowed to manage itself.

Washington - President Barack Obama's administration, in a massive overhaul of the US financial regulatory system, is seeking the power to keep watch on all types of financial firms and to seize failing companies integral to the health of the system.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner unveiled the plans in congressional testimony on Thursday, arguing that the current financial turmoil has proven the system is "too unstable and fragile" to be allowed to manage itself.

Beijing - Criticism from China rose Thursday against US monetary policy with economists saying Washington must do more to restore confidence in the dollar.

The United States should "take real responsibility to clear up the mess it has created," Erh-Cheng Hwa, chief economist at the Bank of Communications and a former economist with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), told the official China Daily newspaper.

Washington, Mar 26 : Pop singer Ashanti was left embarrassed when her dress split and exposed her bare bottom at a posh red carpet event.

The 28-year-old star anxiously hid her naked butt while her dresser rushed to stitch up the slit.

"You could see my butt. While I was doing interviews on the red carpet, the seamstress was behind me sewing up the hole in my dress," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

Ashanti has hinted she will marry her rapper lover Nelly in 2009.