20 2009 GLOBE NEWSWIRE Maiden Holdings Ltd

But he said the plan that would pay or new roads, bridges, electrical grids and other projects would set the oundation or uture growth. Seeking to quell concern about the eye-popping price-tag or the stimulus plan, Obama promised to make go ernment more e icient and ensure that money is spent wisely.PLEDGES TO O ERHAUL WALL STREET RULES, RE ORM HEALTH CARE Obama's re erence to the lack o a watch ul eye on markets signaled he would put a priority on re amping inancial regulations. In an indication o how he may try to rame the debate o er Wall Street re orm, Obama praised the ability o markets to create wealth and spur reedom but insisted that care ul o ersight was also crucial. Obama listed re orm o the health care and education systems and action to tackle climate change as among his top domestic priorities.PROMISES "HUMILITY AND RESTRAINT" IN OREIGN POLICY Obama made re erence to his history-making election as the irst black U.S. president to highlight what he said was the nation's capacity or progress and said the United States could re i e its standing in the world by leading by example.Obama said American power "grows through its prudent use; our security emanates rom the justness o our cause, the orce o our example, the tempering qualities o humility and restraint." Obama promised to responsibly lea e Iraq and " orge a hard-earned peace in A ghanistan." He also underscored his willingness to engage America's oes, saying that the United States would "extend a hand i you are willing to unclench your ist. Obama promised to reach out to Muslims around the world, saying he wanted to "seek a new way orward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." One o Obama's irst acts as president may be to announce a new Middle East en oy Obama is likely to name ormer U.S. senator George Mitchell to the job soon a ter taking o ice, according to the Washington Post. During Israel's 22-day o ensi e in Gaza, Obama declined to discuss the issue in detail, citing the principle that there should be only one president at a time. But Obama promised during his campaign that he would engage on Middle East issues right away.(Writing by Caren Bohan, Editing by Anthony Boadle). (Reuters) - With the U.S. economy in shambles, Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner aces tough questions not only about his ailure to pay some taxes, but major inancial challenges i he is con irmed.

ChinaBelow is a summary o some o the knottier dilemmas in ront o the next treasury secretary.BANKSGeithner would di e right in to retooling outgoing Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's $700 billion bailout package, which President Barack Obama wants to result in more lending rom banks. Obama ad isers ha e made clear they want greater accountability rom institutions bene iting rom go ernment help.The Obama administration is expected to redirect its ocus to underlying causes o the credit crisis, the bursting o the housing bubble and the surge in de aults rom mortgages and mortgage-related assets. One possibility is setting up a bank to absorb toxic securities.Meanwhile, Geithner would need to grapple with a banking system that remains in deep distress despite months o o icial e orts, including central bank interest rate cuts and hundreds o billions o dollars o go ernment spending.DOLLAR/ OREIGN EXCHANGEGeithner cut his teeth under ormer Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, who indicated support or a strong dollar with metronomic regularity.Now, with economies around the world tumbling into recession, the dollar has strengthened. A stronger dollar is potentially an impediment to reco ery in the United States, where exports had until recently been a strength.A worry or Geithner would be the risk that a ter a big run-up in U.S. This raises the risk that in estors could someday withdraw rom lending to the United States.But creditors in Asia don't look like they will be able to curtail lending lows any time soon. With many de eloped economies in recession, howe er, China and Japan may boost Treasury buying in months ahead to stop their currencies rom appreciating and their exports rom getting too expensi e.(Reporting by Mark elsenthal; Editing by Neil Stempleman) China.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Jan. 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Maiden Holdings, Ltd.(Nasdaq:MHLD) ("Maiden") and its wholly owned subsidiary Maiden Holdings NorthAmerica, Ltd. ("MHNA") announced today that on January 20, 2009, in connectionwith an o ering o Trust Pre erred Securities by an a iliated trust, MHNA hasissued subordinated debentures in the principal amount o $260 million (the"Debentures") pursuant to an Indenture with Wilmington Trust Company as Trustee.As part o the transaction, Maiden issued 11,700,000 shares o common stock tothe purchasers o the Debentures. These securities were placed pri ately withthe ounding shareholders and se eral institutional in estors riedman,Billings, Ramsey & Co Inc. ser ed as placement agent with respect to thesecurities purchased by the institutional in estors.The Debentures mature in January 2039 and bear interest at 14 per annum.