The Obama administration told Congress on Thursday it will waive democracy requirements to release up to $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt despite concerns that the country is backsliding on commitments it made to democratic governance and rule of law.
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US OKs Egypt aid despite congressional concerns
A Tibetan monk set himself on fire in western China Wednesday, an overseas activist group and a Chinese state news agency reported, the latest self-immolation by Tibetans over the suppression of their religion and culture.
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Tibetan monk self-immolates in western China
A 39-year-old man charged in connection with threatening letters containing white powder that were sent to members of Congress and some media organizations was arrested Friday.
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Arrest in threatening letters sent to Congress
Reuters – President Barack Obama called on Monday for new spending to boost growth and higher taxes on the rich, laying out an election-year vision for America in a budget that drew heavy fire from Republicans for failing to curb huge deficits.
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Obama budget sets up election-year tax fight
(Reuters)
Reuters – An Oregon special election in which national Democrats have sought to paint the Republican congressional candidate as a Tea Party radical foreshadows a tactic the party will employ in its quest to take back Congress seats lost in the 2010 election.
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Democrats slam Tea Party ties in Oregon special election
(Reuters)
Reuters – UK-based Diageo, the world’s biggest liquor company that sells Captain Morgan’s rum, is enjoying a $2.7 billion subsidy from the U.S. Virgin Islands, aided in part by a tax break rubber-stamped by Congress annually with little public debate.
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Analysis: Tax breaks on autopilot with little debate
(Reuters)
The Christian Science Monitor – President Obama used his weekly address to the nation to pound the same terse message that he’s been repeating all week — that Congress should act quickly on his recent proposals for job creation.
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Obama says ‘Pass this jobs bill.’ But what’s actually in the bill?
(The Christian Science Monitor)
AP – President Barack Obama has acceded to House Speaker John Boehner’s wishes to deliver an address on jobs and the economy to a joint session of Congress on Sept. 8. The president had requested Sept. 7 for the long-anticipated speech.
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Obama bows to Boehner; jobs speech will be Sept. 8
(AP)
Reuters – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke goes to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to testify about the sputtering recovery, but may have to spend much of his time convincing a stubborn Congress to raise the debt ceiling.
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Bernanke to face grilling on jobs, debt, Europe (Reuters)
AP – In the first ruling by a federal appeals court on President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, a panel in Cincinnati handed the administration a victory Wednesday by agreeing that the government can require a minimum amount of insurance for Americans.
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Obama reaps victory as judges uphold health law (AP)