dec 20
All but certain cuts to Medicare, a program financed with payroll deductions, means they will get less and less of what they paid for and expected. New York Times, Health Care Policy
Rep. Jack Kingston ( R-Ga. ) explained to HuffPost how the payroll impasse can be solved: " Here 's a situation where the president could easily call John Boehner and Harry Reid down to the White House and say, ' Hey look guys, let 's get together. 'Huffington Post Full Feed
President Obama made a surprise appearance today in the White House briefing room to pressure House Republicans to support a two-month payroll tax cut extension. Washington Post Politics
They were incensed that the Senate had overwhelmingly passed a two-month extension of a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans and then left town for the holidays. Seattle Times full feed
The 229-193 roll call Tuesday by which the House rejected legislation to extend a payroll tax cut and jobless benefits for two months. Seattle Times full feed
Congress, it seems, is back at Square One in its debate over extending the payroll tax cut. CNN Business
" The clock is ticking, time is running out, " Obama said shortly after House voted 229-193 to request negotiations with the Senate on renewing the payroll tax cuts for a year. Time
The largest month-over-month decline occurred in Wisconsin, a drop of 14,600 payroll jobs. Time
This past Saturday, eighty-nine senators—including the vast majority of Republican Senators—voted for the bipartisan compromise to extend unemployment benefits and a middle class payroll tax cut for two months. The Nation Articles
Another Holiday, Another Stalemate: President Obama sought to publicly shame the House GOP for rejecting the bipartisan short-term payroll tax cut extension passed by the Senate earlier this week. ABC News Politics
dec 21
This week 's tense standoff over how to extend payroll tax cuts for 160 million Americans offered an unflattering look at how conservative House Republicans occasionally have overreached in avoiding compromise, lawmakers, strategists and analysts say. Reuters Most Read
House Republicans have rejected a Senate-passed bill that would extend the payroll tax cut for two months and let the long-term unemployed continue to receive benefits during that time. Huffington Post Full Feed
The lender is doing steady business in pawn loans to small business operators to help them with cash flow and to make payroll, said store manager Droo Hong. Huffington Post Full Feed
* Senate Dems debut a new talking point on the looming expiration of the payroll tax cut: “Boehner tax hike.” Washington Post Opinions
Boehner remained insistent on a full-year extension of the existing payroll tax cut before Jan. 1, urging Obama to haul Senate Democrats back to town to talk to his chosen negotiators. Tulsa World
With less than two weeks before the Iowa caucuses, the two rivals exchanged ever sharper words over a barrage of negative ads coming from Romney 's allies as they took a divergent approach on the payroll tax dispute deadlocking Washington. Road Runner AP Newswire
This week 's tense standoff over how to extend payroll tax cuts for 160 million Americans offered an unflattering look at how conservative House Republicans occasionally have overreached in avoiding compromise, lawmakers, strategists and analysts say. Reuters Politics
Most House Republicans voted against the Senate bill, which would extend by two months long-term jobless benefits and a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans. Reuters Politics
The Democratic-controlled Senate voted last week to prolong the break on payroll taxes by two months, to give lawmakers time to work out details of a one-year extension later. VOA US News
As the Congressional battle over the extension of the payroll tax holiday has come down to a high-stakes game of chicken, many small business owners have suspended their 2012 plans amid uncertainty about their customers' discretionary income next year. Washington Post Business
House Republicans have rejected a Senate-passed bill that would extend the payroll tax cut for two months and let the long-term unemployed continue to receive benefits during that time. Seattle Times full feed
dec 22
Sen. John McCain said Congress ' failure to reach agreement on legislation extending a payroll tax cut for working Americans " hurts the Republican Party. Huffington Post Full Feed
The White House has launched an online campaign that enlists regular Americans to pressure House Republicans into passing an extension of the 2 percent payroll tax cut before the cut expires on New Year 's day. Huffington Post Full Feed
Employers slashed payrolls deeply during the recession. Seattle Times full feed
Another source of uncertainty for 2012 is what Congress will end up doing about extending the Social Security payroll tax cut. Seattle Times full feed
President Barack Obama is using Americans ' money worries to pressure House Republicans to pass a short-term extension of payroll tax cuts. Seattle Times full feed
Embattled House Republicans are facing mounting pressure across the political spectrum Thursday to yield in their opposition to a bipartisan plan for a short-term extension of the payroll tax cut -- an issue many in the GOP fear is damaging the party's anti-tax reputation heading into the 2012 campaign. CNN Top Stories
He says handling of the payroll tax cut extension hurts their chances CNN Top Stories
Weak economic growth is one reason that the Obama administration and many in Congress say they need to pass an extension of the payroll tax holiday, as well as extended unemployment benefits. CNN Business
"... President Obama seemed to regain his political footing this week with the help of House Republicans, whose handling of a standoff over payroll taxes had even leading conservatives accusing them of bungling the politically charged issue. Fox News Politics
dec 23
Traders were relieved by news that Congress extended of a payroll tax holiday for workers and emergency unemployment benefits. LA Times Business
Conservatives were initially sceptical about extending the payroll tax break, which economists say would aid US economic recovery. BBC Top Stories
We did get the extension on the payroll tax cut, which is going to help the consumer outlook. BBC World
Well, the Republicans quit killing themselves in Washington and agreed to proceed with the fix for the payroll tax. Washington Post Opinions
Investors got more good news after Thursday 's market close, as House Speaker John Boehner said that he would accept a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, a move that ensures taxes will not increase on Jan. 1, 2012. CNN Business
After a false finale last weekend, congressional leaders once again are trying to polish off an extension of the payroll tax cut -- moving ahead with a deal House Speaker John Boehner struck with his Senate Democratic counterpart despite objections from the rank and file. Fox News Politics
The last partisan standoff of the year could come to a close Friday morning as Congress is set to approve a short-term extension of President Obama 's payroll tax cut. LA Times Politics
dec 22
Thursday morning 's carnage throughout the capital was undoubtedly the work of Sunni extremists. Guardian World
It is too much of a coincidence that Hashimi is both a rival to Maliki and a Sunni. Guardian World
The apparently coordinated attacks struck days after the last American forces left the country and in the midst of a major government crisis between Shiite and Sunni politicians that has sent sectarian tensions soaring. Seattle Times full feed
The apparently coordinated attacks struck days after the last American forces left the country and in the midst of a major government crisis between Shiite and Sunni politicians that has sent sectarian tensions soaring. AP Top Headlines
A rash of bombings hit Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 57 people in the first big attack on Iraq 's capital since a crisis between its Shi'ite Muslim-led government and Sunni rivals erupted days after the U.S. troop withdrawal. Reuters Most Read
" The blasts... came on the heels of a political crisis between Iraq 's Sunni and Shiite factions that erupted this weekend. NPR News Headlines
On a day when Iraq 's prime minister, a Shiite, demanded that the leader of the Kurds arrest the Sunni vice president, Friedman celebrated the unity of the three groups as " the most important product of the Iraq war. Huffington Post Full Feed
The apparently coordinated attacks struck days after the last American forces left Iraq and in the midst of a major government crisis between the country 's top Shiite and Sunni political leaders that has sent sectarian tensions soaring. AP Top Headlines
But the bombings bore all the hallmarks of an attack by the Sunni insurgents of al Qaeda. CTV News Latest
? s arrest of a Sunni leader and threat to abandon a power-sharing government. Daily Beast Most Recent
The blasts were the worst violence to hit the country since a political crisis between Iraq 's Sunni and Shia factions erupted last weekend, raising fears of a new wave of sectarian conflict Guardian World
The blasts were the worst violence since a political crisis between Iraq 's Sunni and Shiite factions erupted this weekend. Fox News Top Headlines
Aug 25
Jobs wrote in a letter to the board that " if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple 's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Fox News Top Headlines
As Reuters reports and Apple has confirmed, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is stepping down from his leadership position. Huffington Post Full Feed
Apple chief executive officer Steve Jobs shocked the world again Wednesday, this time with his sudden resignation, and the board of directors announced shortly afterward that chief operating officer Tim Cook, who has been filling in for Jobs since he took medical leave in January, will replace him. Daily Beast Most Recent
As Steve Jobs steps down from his role as CEO at Apple, we take a look back at some of the big moments in his tenure at the iconic electronics company he co-founded. CNET News
Few, if any individuals have had so profound an effect on their given spaces; a unprecedented track record that began in 1976 with the co-founding of Apple. Engadget
Stocks rallied for a second day on Wednesday as investors bought beaten-down financial shares and unloaded gold, but tech stocks could fall on Thursday after late news about Apple 's Steve Jobs stepping down as CEO. Reuters Top News
Apple has a very, very deep bench of talent and the product roadmap is stellar and their ability to execute and supply it is beyond compare. Reuters US News
oct 5
Today's event was the first Apple launch presided over by Tim Cook, who recently became CEO after the company 's founder, Steve Jobs, stepped down for medical reasons. Christian Science Monitor All
Apple announced an upgrade to its iPhone 4, but many were expecting the iPhone 5. Rapid City Journal
Apple and Samsung are vying for the top spot in the global smartphone market. MSNBC Business
Samsung and Apple are unlikely to look closely at the opportunity as they don’t really need it and probably see as much value in letting RIM continue to lose ground than in attempted a hostile and complicated acquisition. Forbes Tech 2
Samsung could target the iPhone 4S, the announced only yesterday next-generation Apple smartphone, in an ongoing patent infringement battle between the two companies. ZDNet Blogs
As it turns out, Siri — the voice-activated data assistant available on Apple’s iPhone upgrade — is a veteran. Wired Top Stories
While the world waited with bated breath on the release of a brand new iPhone 5, Apple 's anti-climactic announcement yesterday of the iPhone 4S not only took the wind out of a lot of sails, it also made the company 's naming choice for its new intelligent personal assistant look a little culturally ignorant. MSNBC Top Headlines
" The big guys -- Apple, Google -- aren't interested. CNN Business
Shares of Apple ( AAPL, Fortune 500 ) slid Wednesday as investors signaled disappointment after the tech giant unveiled its newest generation of the iPhone but failed to live up to the hype over expectations of a radically changed iPhone 5. CNN Business
oct 6
When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died on Wednesday, at age 56, the loss resonated throughout the tech world in unprecedented ways. He was described as our generation's Thomas Edison and his legacy has been celebrated accordingly. MSNBC Tech & Science
From the introduction of the first Apple computer in the late 1970s to his " wilderness years " at NeXT and Pixar in the late 1980s and early 1990s to his leadership in developing the iPod, iPhone and iPad during the last 10 years at Apple, Jobs turned his energy to creating new offerings that change people's lives. CNN Technology
When Steve Jobs founded Apple, he began a relentless pursuit to improve the consumer experience. Huffington Post Full Feed
From his earliest days with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, he was a half-step ahead of the rest of us, innovating and inventing and creating and doggedly marketing it all by building a lifestyle around it. Seattle Times full feed
The head of Nokia Corp. said Thursday that Steve Jobs will be remembered for generations for his simple and elegant designs, calling the Apple founder and competitor " a true visionary. "Seattle Times full feed
jul 16
He 's having a splendid time with the phone-hacking scandal. Slate
In the same way that today 's scandals are given the suffix -gate in memory of the Watergate affair, today 's football bowls are named after the granddaddy of college football stadiums, the Rose Bowl (which in turn was inspired by the Yale Bowl, so named because its shape resembled a bowl). Slate
The Ministry of Rail had already come under fire for a massive corruption scandal this year over alleged safety flaws and high-priced tickets. LA Times World News
Les Hinton forced out as scandal threatens Rupert Murdoch 's empire Guardian World
Scandal claims first US News Corp casualty, while former News of the World editor also resigns Guardian World
The twin steps were designed to quell an escalating scandal that has forced Murdoch to close the News of the World newspaper and drop a $ 12 billion plan to buy full control of pay TV operator BSkyB. Reuters Top News
The phone-hacking scandal 's fallout continues to dominate the newspapers. BBC Top Stories
Paterson, who succeeded Spitzer in 2008 after his resignation amid a prostitution scandal, spent much of his remaining $ 218,166 to pay off campaign bills. Huffington Post Full Feed
News International has placed adverts in a series of British newspapers to apologise for the phone-hacking scandal. BBC Top Stories
Two key lieutenants in Rupert Murdoch 's media empire resigned Friday as a widening scandal involving illegal phone hacking by Murdoch 's British newspaper journalists continued to engulf his company. Seattle Times full feed
Rupert Murdoch accepted the resignations of The Wall Street Journal 's publisher and the chief of his British operations as the once-defiant media mogul struggled to control an escalating phone hacking scandal, offering apologies to the public and the family of a murdered schoolgirl. Washington Times
nov 12
His last term was marred by sex scandals, " bunga bunga " parties and criminal charges he paid a 17-year-old girl to have sex — accusations he denies. USA Today
Penn State scandal: Assistant coach wo n't be at Saturday 's game Christian Science Monitor All
In the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, another university, The Citadel military college in South Carolina, revealed on Saturday that it had investigated accusations against a camp counselor but took no action. Reuters Top News
It was an extraordinary backdrop for a man on the eve of re-emergence from one of the most spectacular scandals in recent political history; but then, Mr. Abramoff is an extraordinary man. NYTimes Front Page
"We apologize for any confusion about today’s 'To the Point,' which dealt with both the Penn State child-sex scandal and the issue of same-sex couples as foster or adoptive parents, " Olney wrote, noting he planned to clarify the error on Monday 's show. Huffington Post Full Feed
Sandusky, 67, was charged last weekend with molesting eight boys over a 15-year period in a scandal that rocked the Penn State campus and brought down the university 's beloved football coach, Joe Paterno. Huffington Post Full Feed
Economist Mario Monti is expected to replace the 75-year-old media mogul, whose reign was filled with scandal and financial woes. Huffington Post Full Feed
Saturday 's game was a combination of pep rally, cleansing and tribute for a Penn State community rocked by the child sex-abuse scandal involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky that cost Joe Paterno his job. Huffington Post Full Feed
A conviction would mean Berlusconi would be permanently barred from public office - but he has already pledged not to run again and his hopes of one day becoming Italian president were dashed by the sex scandal. Seattle Times full feed
News of the scandal elicited threats to McQueary, the school said, and brought heightened security. Sports Illustrated
dec 21
I was so taken by the color, style and pattern choices of each president ( or most likely their First Ladies ) that when I read the names of whom each piece belonged to, I was not at all reminded of their scandals, their failings or their successes. Huffington Post Full Feed
Or the multimillionaire who used a fortune inherited from her art dealer grandfather to post her husband 's original $ 6m bail and then defended his character during numerous sex scandals ? Guardian World
Federal authorities are separately investigating other aspects of the Fiesta Bowl scandal, including an alleged scheme to reimburse employees for political contributions. CNN Sports
Dozens of black-suited investigators, marching double-file, raided the office building of three small Olympus Corp subsidiaries on Wednesday, one of 20 sites searched in a probe of a $ 1.7 billion accounting scandal that threatens the once-proud Japanese medical device maker 's survival. MSNBC Business
Morgan, now a CNN talk-show host in the United States, edited the Rupert Murdoch tabloid at the heart of the phone-hacking scandal, the News of the World, from 1994 to 1995 before going on to edit the Daily Mirror from 1995 to 2004. Reuters Media
Along with the Penn State scandal, the sports world has also been rocked by accusations that Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine ( who has since been dismissed ) abused at least two young boys in the mid-1980s. NPR News Headlines
Morgan, formerly the top editor at two tabloids, appeared as a witness at the public inquiry into ethics and culture of the British press that was established by Prime Minister David Cameron following the phone hacking scandal earlier this year. Daily Beast Blogs and Stories
The scandal has raised serious questions about corporate governance in Japan, and whether major companies are complying adequately with global standards. Huffington Post Full Feed
Earlier this year the pair caused a scandal with their touchy feely beach display. Fox News Top Headlines
mar 25
Iyas, who is also a prominent human rights activist, describes what is happening in Daraa. Huffington Post Full Feed
Before headlining a GOP fundraiser, the possible presidential hopeful told a group of students and conservative activists in Manchester, " You 're the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord. Huffington Post Full Feed
But activists using the Syrian Revolution Facebook page had called for a day of solidarity with Deraa, where according to unofficial reports at least 44 have been killed in the past week. Guardian World
" The demonstrations are spread across various points in the country, " said Najib Gadban, a Syrian human rights activist with a network of contacts throughout the country. LA Times World News
In Iowa, a state that would seem tailor-made for her style of conservative politics, many GOP activists are decidedly cool to her as a possible presidential candidate — even those who say they admire her. Washington Post Politics
Police in authoritarian Belarus have attacked hundreds of opposition activists who tried to hold an anti-government rally. Seattle Times full feed
Climate change activists around the world will go dark on Saturday night as the annual Earth Hour event aims to raise awareness about ongoing actions people can take for the sake of the environment. MSNBC Tech & Science
The young blogger and activist, also one of the revolutionary protesters, has of late been a vocal critic of the Army's detention and military trial of protesters. Christian Science Monitor All
jun 1
An exhibit on scientific breakthroughs in the Muslim world has opened in Los Angeles, and a leading Egyptian activist stopped by for a preview. VOA US News
Mr Audoin ran a French Aids organisation called Sidaction, before heading the IAS - an organisation of 18,000 health professionals and activists. BBC Top Stories
The activists are among a few hundred demonstrators who gather with posters and old bullhorns on Fridays in downtown Baghdad 's Tahrir Square, where they are cordoned off by ropes and watched by hundreds of police and soldiers in combat gear. LA Times World News
A video posted on the Internet by activists showed scenes from what were said to have been hours of angry street demonstrations, when pro-Qaddafi forces opened fire on crowds who had turned out for the funeral of two protesters. New York Times, World
Iowa GOP activists travel to New Jersey to implore Gov. Chris Christie to run, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry weighs a campaign. Fox News Politics
Human-rights activists say security forces have killed more than 1,000 protesters since the demonstrations began in mid-March. Seattle Times full feed
Christie, his wife and political advisers had the group of seven donors and activists over for dinner at the governor 's mansion in Princeton. Seattle Times full feed
It also comes against the backdrop of efforts by conservative activists and media outlets to throw back at the Obama administration the charges of politicizing the Justice Department that were made against the Bush administration. NYTimes Front Page
sep 25
I published a post in May expressing opposition to the legislation, by linguist Stephen Krashen, professor emeritus at the University of Southern California and an educational researcher and activist in the fields of second language acquisition, bilingual education, and reading. Washington Post National
Environmental activists, state and local officials, Indian tribes and others across most of the Great Lakes region are pleading with the Corps to move faster. Seattle Times full feed
That may be welcome news for party activists who 've been discouraged by some of the president 's compromises with the Republicans. The Guardian
Some of the arrests were filmed and activists posted the videos online. MSNBC News
In January, a group of female activists launched a campaign on social networking websites to push the kingdom to allow women to vote and run in the municipal elections. LA Times
" This is great news, " said Wajeha al-Huwaider, a Saudi writer and women 's rights activist. Reuters Most Read
" If the activists feel that they 're facing an uphill battle, it 's because the facts do n't support their overheated rhetoric, " TransCanada spokesman Shawn Howard said. ABC News US
Not only have animal rights activists increased pressure to outlaw the fights — as was the case in Catalonia — but bullfighting is also confronting a financial crisis that has forced public subsidy cuts to local venues that once relied on them. New York Times, Europe
Liberal activists in the country have long called for greater rights for women, who are barred from travelling, working or having medical operations without the permission of a male relative and are forbidden from driving. Guardian World
Perry 's forceful defense of the legislation -- he said skeptics of the bill do n't " have a heart " -- was the talk of conservative activists in Orlando this weekend for Presidency 5, the three-day Republican Party of Florida convention that hosted the debate. CNN Politics
Bauer, a freelance journalist, and Fattal, and environmental activist, have denied the charges, saying they were just hiking in Iraq 's scenic north, and might have accidentally crossed an unmarked border with Iran. ABC News Top Stories
oct 7
But while tea party activists eventually became a crucial part of the Republican coalition, the Occupy Wall Street protesters are cutting President Barack Obama little slack. Guardian World
Meanwhile, activists said seven people were killed after security forces opened fire to try to disperse protests after Friday prayers. BBC Top Stories
The Committee rewarded Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and the Yemeni Tawakkul Karman " for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women 's rights to full participation in peace-building work. Huffington Post Full Feed
Shadi Sadr, a prominent Iranian activist and lawyer based in London who campaigned for travel restrictions for Iranian officials, said the EU decision would " make a mockery of travel bans ". Guardian World
The Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Leymah Gbowee, a social worker turned peace campaigner from the same country, will share the 10 million kronor (£ 950,000) prize with Tawakul Karman, a journalist and pro-democracy activist in Yemen who has been a leading figure in the protests against the Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, since January. Guardian World
A year since Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, his wife is still living under house arrest. MSNBC Top Headlines
But Democrats, including the president seem hopeful that a combined effort by government-worker unions, student organizations, and liberal activist groups collectively known as Occupy Wall Street will add the same populist zeal to the left that the right has been benefiting from for three years. Fox News Politics
Environmental activists, religious groups and young people inspired by the protests against Wall Street plan are protesting the 1,700-mile ( 2,735-kilometer ) pipeline, which would travel through six states. Guardian World
Syrian security forces opened fire at protesters in several parts of the country on Friday, killing at least eight people and wounding scores, while a leading opposition figure was beaten up by pro-government gunmen and rushed to a hospital in Damascus, activist said. Guardian World
More than 30 people have been killed during the demonstrations, in which activists say Bahraini security forces used live ammunition against protesters. CNN World
dec 21
" Bus drivers who drive by and honk their horn are just as much a part as the most die-hard political activist, " she said. Huffington Post Full Feed
Ellsberg was the man who leaked the Pentagon Papers and was here Monday to support Manning with Daniel Choi, the former army lieutenant and gay rights activist. Guardian World
Havel, an absurdist playwright turned political activist, spent four and a half years in prison for opposing Czechslovakia 's Communist government before emerging as a leader of the Velvet Revolution. CNN World
But it has made an increasingly iconic Republican with a good many of the grassroots activists who will attend the caucuss. The Nation Blogs
The opposition intensified this month with activist Xue Jinbo, who was detained after the protests and then died while in police custody. VOA News
Artist, activist and photojournalist Dan Eldon lived a short, yet full, life expressing himself through photos, drawings and journals. VOA US News
Syrian troops assaulting a northwest town with machine gun fire and shelling have killed at least 100 people in one of the deadliest episodes of the 9-month-old uprising against President Bashar Assad 's regime, activists said Wednesday. NPR World
While not as dramatic as the change in some polls of the wider electorate, support for Mitt Romney among local Republican activists in the early primary and caucus states has risen over the last week, while support for Newt Gingrich has slipped. Huffington Post Full Feed
A group of about 40 South Korean activists and North Korean defectors launched balloons over the border carrying leaflets criticising the anticipated power succession in their northern neighbour. BBC Top Stories
mar 25
Unions in New Jersey are forming an advocacy group free from fundraising or spending limits to fight Gov. Seattle Times full feed
But at least Europe is now showing the will to cope with this crisis, as a union of many countries and as individual members. Christian Science Monitor All
Paul LePage incensed union officials when he ordered the removal of the 36-foot mural from the lobby of the building that houses the Maine Department of Labor. Seattle Times full feed
There were no regulations back then and there was no union to enforce them. USA Today
"Currently, 45 states define marriage as the union of one man and one woman," € Smith said. Washington Post
The court found in its Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision that the First Amendment allows unfettered spending on campaigns by corporations, nonprofits and unions. Washington Post
) Kasich tells me, "We've unveiled the most comprehensive reform budget people have seen in a generation. €The union reform is key, but it's only one element to allow local governments to control their costs." Washington Post
NEW YORK -- The centennial commemoration of the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire became a rally for organized labor Friday, as hundreds marched and vowed to resist efforts to weaken unions in state capitals across the country. Huffington Post Full Feed
The call for protests has come instead from the Coalition for a Bahraini Republic, a union of hard-line Shiite opposition parties, and other smaller groups. LA Times World News
Enfield also signaled that she wants to keep the Measures of Academic Progress ( MAP ), which the teachers union would like to see replaced with better tests. Seattle Times full feed
The county executive is also calling on Nassau' s public-sector unions to make concessions to avert deeper cuts. NYTimes Front Page
An Indiana prosecutor said one of his deputies resigned Thursday after admitting he sent an email to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker suggesting the Republican fake an attack on himself to discredit public employee unions. Huffington Post Full Feed
june 29
Trade unions began a 48-hour strike against the EU/IMF-imposed measures. Reuters Business
The White House, acknowledging concerns from labor unions, had threatened to hold up passage of the pacts unless the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, or TAA, was renewed. ABC News
Stern said there are few firm details about the latter - which has frustrated the union - because it can't be completed until a new deal with the players is done. NBA.com
Unions had begun a 48-hour strike that shut down services and staged mass rallies throughout the capital in another day of chaotic protest. The Guardian
Despite Obama's effort to tie the trade pacts to something the unions want, the AFL-CIO and other labor groups continue to oppose the treaties -- which they say don't do enough to protect workers' rights. CNN Business
The measure was the latest setback for unions, which lost battles to prevent Republican-run state governments in Ohio and Wisconsin from enacting legislation that limited public employees' collective-bargaining rights. Seattle Times full feed
Kelley, who was first elected union president in 1999, faces reelection in August. Washington Post Politics
In defending his vote, Steve Sweeney, Democratic president of the state Senate and a member of the ironworkers union, told colleagues last week: "No one in the last 10 years has advanced more pro-labor legislation then I have." LA Times National News
In negotiations with its union before the lockout, Canada Post cited declining revenue due to a decrease in mail volume as a reason for pushing back against workers ' demands. CTV News Latest
" I think marriage is... as defined by the law, " he said, saying unions should be between a man and a woman. Reuters US News
feb 17
Mr. Keker also twice invoked the role of the Internet in helping to fuel the protests in Tunisia and Egypt, raising the specter of government officials using such data to identify their political opponents. New York Times, Internet
President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a handwritten message of support to his embattled foreign minister, Michèle Alliot-Marie, on Wednesday, the day after embarrassing new revelations about her Christmas visit to Tunisia with her husband and her parents. New York Times, Europe
Described by diplomats in Paris as a routine courtesy call, the conversation nevertheless calls into question an earlier account by Ms. Alliot-Marie in which she said that she had no "privileged contact" with Mr. Ben Ali and was not aware of events unfolding in Tunisia when she was vacationing there between Christmas and New Year â € ™ s. New York Times, Europe
It was also Le Canard Enchaîné that two weeks ago broke the news of the ill-timed Tunisia trip. New York Times, Europe
Ms. Alliot-Marie's credibility related to Tunisia was first damaged Jan. 11, when she offered to Mr. Ben Ali's administration French police expertise in dealing with " security situations of this type. " € New York Times, Europe
It was later reported that France had approved the export of police equipment and crowd-control devices to Tunisia at the height of the demonstrations. New York Times, Europe
mar 2
In a rambling and defiant speech lasting more than 90 minutes, he challenged the United Nations to send a fact-finding mission to confirm his version of events, the opposite of what much of the world believes about the latest outbreak of discontent that has toppled the leaders of neighboring Tunisia and Egypt and threatened others in Yemen, Bahrain and elsewhere. NYTimes Front Page
Two American warships sailed through the Suez Canal on their way to the Mediterranean on Wednesday while, on Libya's western frontier with Tunisia, an exodus of migrant workers from Libya has reached "crisis point," €with tens of thousands of migrants, many of them Egyptians, unable to travel home. NYTimes Front Page
Foreign workers trying to leave Libya waited at the country's border with Tunisia on Tuesday as logistical challenges delayed them. New York Times, World
But far to the west, on the border with Tunisia, relief officials said Wednesday a crisis is unfolding as tens of thousands of migrant workers, mainly Egyptians, flee Libya's turmoil, some saying that they fear for their lives. New York Times, World
Unlike the protesters in Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain who have demanded that their leaders step down, the large crowds here chanted praise for their sultan, Qaboos bin Said, who has ruled for nearly 41 years. New York Times, World
"We don't want to be like Tunisia, where I hear a lot of things were destroyed," Mr. Miaani said. New York Times, World
may 19
On Saturday, Syrian troops went into Tel Kelakh -- a day after a demonstration there demanded " the overthrow of the regime, " the slogan of revolutions that toppled Arab leaders in Egypt and Tunisia and challenged others across the Middle East. Reuters Top News
Tunisian security source says wife and daughter crossed border into Tunisia with Libyan delegation Guardian World
As part of his speech on the Middle East and North Africa Thursday, Obama will announce an economic aid package for Egypt and Tunisia — the two countries that have seen dictators actually relinquish power this year. NPR News Headlines
He will give his assessment of the impact of popular uprisings that have led to political changes in Egypt and Tunisia, Â and which continue in places like Syria, Libya and Yemen. VOA News
And he will reveal other steps to bolster loans, trade and international support in Egypt and in Tunisia, the two nations seen as models of hope in a time when protests elsewhere in that part of the world are being violently crushed. MSNBC Mideast/N. Africa
Promises by the U.S. to launch a new trade partnership in the Middle East and North Africa and to prod world financial institutions to help Egypt and Tunisia more. AP Top Headlines
' " She said he told her the four were to be taken early Thursday to the border with Tunisia, where they would cross out of Libya. AP World
WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - President Barack Obama will unveil an economic aid program for Egypt and Tunisia on Thursday as part of a broad effort to support democratic reform in the Middle East and North Africa, U.S. officials said. Reuters International
President pledges cash to support Egypt and Tunisia after criticism US has been too slow to support uprisings Guardian World
Human rights groups say the Assad government has killed more than 800 protesters since demonstrations erupted two months ago in the wake of pro-democracy revolutions ousting autocratic rulers in Tunisia and Egypt. LA Times World News
The pro-democracy protests sweeping the Arab world arrived in the semiautonomous Kurdish region of Iraq nearly three months ago, inspired by the revolts in Tunisia and Egypt. NYTimes Front Page
In a newly released audio tape, Osama bin Laden is heard rejoicing in the string of uprisings in the Arab world, which have toppled autocratic rulers from Tunisia to Egypt. Daily Beast Cheat Sheet
oct 23
Since uprisings began 10 months ago, the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have been toppled, while Syria and Yemen continue to see mass demonstrations against autocratic rule. Reuters Media
Facts and figures about Tunisia, which on Sunday is holding its first truly free elections since 1956 independence: Seattle Times full feed
This year 's autonomous surge for democracy in Egypt and Tunisia has done far more to galvanise the region and undermine its dictatorships than anything the US did in Iraq. Guardian World
GEOGRAPHY: Tunisia lies in the center of North Africa, sandwiched between Algeria to the west and Libya to the east. Washington Post World
Tunisia was the first Arab country to topple its dictator, and it is now also the first to put democracy into practice. Christian Science Monitor All
In the 10 months since the uprising, Tunisia 's economy, part of the reason for the revolution in the first place, has only become worse as tourists and foreign investors have stayed away. MSNBC World
A glance at the main parties competing in Tunisia 's elections for a constitutional assembly. ABC News World
Tunisia 's revolution set off a series of similar uprisings across the Middle East that are now being called the Arab Spring, and if Tunisia 's elections produce an effective new government they will serve as an inspiration to pro-democracy advocates across the region. Seattle Times full feed
A glance at the main parties competing in Tunisia 's elections for a constitutional assembly. Seattle Times full feed
oct 24
Lieberman added that Abbas was concerned only about his personal survival after the overthrow of his " friends " in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Seattle Times full feed
Tunisia 's voters go to the polls in Arab spring 's first election - video Guardian World
Tunisia 's first democratic elections were already threatening to overshadow the WEF event, even before the death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi. BBC Business
A moderate Islamist party claimed victory Monday in Tunisia's landmark elections as preliminary results indicated it had won the biggest share of votes, assuring it will have a strong say in the future constitution of the country whose popular revolution led to the Arab Spring. CTV News Latest
In Tunisia, Radio Mosaique FM posted results from polling stations around the country Monday, with many showing a commanding lead for Ennahda. NPR News Headlines
Inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Yemen 's loose coalition of student protesters, tribal leaders and dissident army factions has been pressing him to leave since January. Reuters International
Live coverage as Libya comes to terms with liberation and death of Muammar Gaddafi and Tunisia awaits outcome of first elections of Arab spring Guardian World
Thousands took to the streets of Tunisia to call for old regime politicians to be ousted after the fall of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, as the cabinet prepared a reshuffle. MSNBC World
aug 21
People magazine bought exclusive rights to the wedding, which is also being filmed as a two-part special called " Kim 's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event " to be broadcast in October on E! Reuters Sports
Kim, Khloe and Kourtney pose together at the Unbreakable fragrance launch party in Los Angeles on April 4, 2011. MSNBC Top Headlines
Kim was spotted early Saturday in a white sweatsuit, prior to getting all dolled up for her nuptials in order to keep her look top secret. Huffington Post Full Feed
It was Kim 's first visit to Russia in nearly a decade, part of a return to the international stage that experts say may have been prompted by an urgent need for economic aid to assuage a spiraling food crisis at home. Seattle Times full feed
Kim crossed into Russia on his armored train Saturday at the invitation of President Dmitry Medvedev, with the two leaders reportedly planning a summit aimed at discussing the restart of nuclear disarmament talks and the construction of a pipeline that would stream Russian natural gas to North and South Korea. The Guardian
The 69-year-old Kim traveled to China in May in a trip seen by many as an attempt to secure aid, investment and support for a transfer of power to his youngest son. MSNBC World
dec 19
Asian indexes fell as analysts warned Kim 's death could cause an uncertain power transition and put the brakes on talks aimed at getting the communist country to give up its nuclear weapons. LA Times Business
It does, however, appear to be offering the first glimmers of an answer to one question that has long dogged North Korea watchers: whether the powerful military and other parts of the nation’s small, privileged ruling elite would go along with the Kim family’s ambitions to extend its dynastic rule to a third generation. New York Times, World
On " 30 Rock, " Kim captured Jack Donaghy 's ( Alec Baldwin ) wife, TV journalist Avery Jessup ( Elizabeth Banks ) in North Korea. Huffington Post Full Feed
Kim supposedly looks like his late grandfather, a similarity the North Korea propaganda machine has played up. Washington Post World
It was Kim 's last public appearance before intelligence officials suggested he had fallen gravely ill. MSNBC Top Headlines
Kim was one of the last remnants of a Cold War-era that ended years earlier in most other countries. The Guardian
South Korea 's military went on high alert against the North 's 1.2 million-strong armed forces following news of Kim 's death, after 17 years in power, of heart failure Saturday at age 69 while carrying out official duties on a train trip. Boston Globe
So little is known about the younger Kim, both within his home country and by the outside world, even his age appears to be a state-guarded secret. CTV News Latest
And no sooner did Kim Jong-il pass from the earth than his military practiced the belligerence Kim preached: it test-fired a missile. Wired Danger Room
dec 21
South Korean intelligence experts have questioned the north 's account, which said Kim died on a train on Saturday on one of his field guidance trips. Guardian World
Asian markets rose earlier, as positive signs from key Western export markets helped shore up sentiment that was jolted by Kim 's death and fears of a possible power struggle in a country pursuing nuclear weapons. Seattle Times full feed
Tens of thousands of mourners packed Pyongyang 's snowy main square Wednesday to pay respects to late leader Kim Jong Il as North Korea tightened security in cities and won loyalty pledges from top generals for Kim 's son and anointed heir. CBS News
Kim's third son and heir Kim Jong Un is a vice chairman of that commission. ABC News World
The Obama administration, caught off guard by the sudden passing of Kim Jong Il, has adopted a wait-and-see attitude, and they 've made it clear that they do n't expect much to happen in the immediate period of " mourning " in the wake Kim 's death. NPR Opinion
His victims, like those of his father before him, are so many, in lives ended and lives stunted, that they become faceless and formless in our minds, like those tens of thousands of dancers in the mass performances Kim liked to stage. NPR Opinion
Kim 's third son and heir Kim Jong Un is a vice chairman of that commission. Seattle Times full feed
When Kim 's father, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, died in 1994, the mourning proved infectious to Kim Yeong-nam, who defected to South Korea in 1998 and now runs an art troupe of fellow defectors. NPR.org
Asian markets rose earlier, as positive signs from key Western export markets helped shore up sentiment that was jolted by Kim 's death and fears of a possible power struggle in a country pursuing nuclear weapons. AP World
Some of the leaflets had an image of Kim next to pictures of former dictators Hosni Mubarak and Moammar Gadhafi. VOA News
july 13
House Speaker John Boehner discusses the latest in the ongoing debt ceiling talks in an interview with Fox News ' Bret Baier. Fox News Top Headlines
WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - President Barack Obama warned on Tuesday that elderly Americans could suffer first from a debt default, raising pressure on lawmakers as prospects for a deal to lift the debt ceiling appeared far from reach. Reuters Politics
While Obama and Republicans maneuvered for political position, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during the day that the two parties ' debate over deficit reduction " should not be tied to the debt ceiling. The Republican
Obama on Monday repeated his willingness to look at changes to Social Security and Medicare as part of a deal to raise the $ 14.3 trillion U.S. debt ceiling. Reuters Politics
The Washington noise on ( the federal ) debt ceiling is driving a lot of volatility. Reuters Health
If Obama wins, having managed only to kick the twin cans of the debt ceiling and the fiscal situation down the road, his second term could be as grim as the first. Washington Post Opinions
Acknowledging that no deal may pass muster with many Republicans, Senate and House Republican leaders began exploring an escape hatch that would essentially allow all Republicans to vote no but allow the debt ceiling to rise nonetheless. NYTimes Front Page
A vote on raising the debt ceiling has to be accompanied by a major effort to restructure and reduce the size of government. Christian Science Monitor All
Congressional Republicans should not relent in the battle with President Barack Obama over raising the federal debt ceiling, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said during a presidential campaign swing through South Carolina on Tuesday. AP Politics
The current high-profile negotiations on the debt ceiling will make it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for the president to dodge responsibility for crucial economic policies that he will, for better or worse, endorse. Daily Beast Blogs and Stories
Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad is losing patience with arguments for raising the debt ceiling. Daily Beast Blogs and Stories
july 15
Moody 's Investor Service threatened this week to downgrade the United States' credit rating if lawmakers don't raise the nation 's $ 14.3 trillion debt ceiling. Slate
Under the emerging proposal, Obama would be able to order increases in the debt ceiling on his own, without congressional approval. LA Times National News
President Barack Obama sits with House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, as he meets with Republican and Democratic leaders regarding the debt ceiling, Monday, July 11, 2011, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. Huffington Post Full Feed
By “this” Obama meant Cantor’s insistent demand that the president accept a short-term hike in the debt ceiling, which would mean Congress would have to vote on yet another increase before next year’s election. Washington Post Opinions
Bernanke’s remarks, delivered to the Senate Banking Committee, marked the latest warning of economic catastrophe if Congress doesn’t raise the federal government’s debt ceiling by Aug. 2. Washington Post Economy
President Barack Obama on Thursday gave congressional leaders a weekend deadline to find a way to raise the debt ceiling, but a divide over spending and taxes remained a huge hurdle to a deficit-cutting deal. Reuters Politics
Ratings agency Standard & Poor 's has warned there is a one-in-two chance it could cut the United States ' prized AAA credit rating if a deal on raising the government 's debt ceiling is not agreed soon. Reuters Business
President Barack Obama gave lawmakers 24 to 36 hours to finalize the path forward for raising the debt ceiling during the latest high-stakes White House meeting on Thursday. Huffington Post Full Feed
Ratings agency Standard & Poor 's has warned there is a one-in-two chance it could cut the United States ' prized triple-A rating if a deal on raising the government 's debt ceiling is not agreed soon. Huffington Post Full Feed
The US must raise its $ 14.3tn ( £ 8.9tn ) debt ceiling to borrow beyond 2 August. BBC Top Stories
It said there was a "one-in-two" chance that it may cut the US 's AAA rating if a deal to raise the government 's debt ceiling is not agreed upon soon. BBC Top Stories
Credit rating agency Standard & Poor 's said on Thursday that there is a 50 percent chance it will downgrade the U.S. government 's credit rating within three months because of the congressional impasse over approving an increase in the debt ceiling. Seattle Times full feed
july 26
The markets had been sanguine since the United States hit its $ 14.3 trillion debt ceiling in May, with stock prices high and borrowing costs low. Slate
Following the debt ceiling debate in real time. Slate
President Barack Obama will warn Americans on Monday that failure to reach a political compromise in Congress to raise the debt ceiling will do "incalculable damage" to the United States. Reuters Economy
Even some conservative media types seems downright astonished that Republican officeholders aren't cutting a deal right now on the debt ceiling debate which includes increasing revenues. Huffington Post Full Feed
Right now Republicans in Washington are waging a battle they may well win, to ensure that no sacrifice is asked of any wealthy American, or any conglomerate that is now paying zero taxes, in a debt ceiling deal that would heap even more Draconian pain on the poor and the middle class. Huffington Post Full Feed
Earlier today, House and Senate leaders each formally presented their plans to raise the debt ceiling in time to avoid the Aug. 2 deadline by which if a deal is not reached, the country would default on its debt for the first time in history. NPR News Headlines
President Obama addresses the nation about the ongoing debate over the nation 's debt ceiling. VOA News
A first step calls for Congress to pass $ 1.2 trillion in spending cuts, allowing the president to request a $ 1 trillion hike in the debt ceiling. Christian Science Monitor All
President Obama, in a nationally televised address to the nation Monday, urged a "balanced approach" in crafting a deal to raise the debt ceiling and reduce the federal deficit ahead of the Treasury's Aug. 2 deadline, when the country is said to risk default on its debt. Fox News Politics
Although failing to raise the debt ceiling by the early August deadline would plunge the United States into a sea of uncertainty, the government might be able to pay the bills and avoid a default on obligations for longer than expected, economic analysts said. Washington Post Economy
The Twitter trend was started by the seemingly mild-manner media analyst Jeff Jarvis, who explains (warning: not work safe): " I listened to the latest from Washington about negotiations over the debt ceiling...After dinner, I tweeted: "Hey, Washington * * * * *, it 's our country, our economy, our money. Huffington Post Full Feed
The Republican leader in the House and Democratic leader of the Senate issued dueling proposals Monday to allow the federal debt ceiling to be raised – both with steep spending cuts, but neither with a clear route to ending the standoff over the government's ability to pay its bills. LA Times Politics
july 31
WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) may not be pushing the issue publicly, but in private she " clearly " supports President Barack Obama using the Constitution to raise the debt ceiling as a last resort, according to one Democratic member of Congress. Huffington Post Full Feed
House Speaker John Boehner ( R-OH ) ( L ) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) ( R ) speak at a news conference about the U.S. debt ceiling crisis at the U.S. Capitol in Washington July 30, 2011. Reuters Politics
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, made a plea on the Senate floor Saturday evening for President Obama to invoke the 14th Amendment to raise the debt ceiling if Congress fails to strike a deal before the Aug. 2 default deadline. ABC News Politics
We repeat: There is no rational basis for insisting on a dollar of savings for every dollar increase in the debt ceiling. Christian Science Monitor All
After all, the go-to haven for years has been U.S. Treasury securities, the very investment at risk of default if Congress does not enact legislation raising the debt ceiling by early August. Washington Post Business
On Friday, he became the kind of speaker he had to be, yielding to rebellious tea party conservatives and altering his bill to raise the debt ceiling to avoid a humiliating defeat. Washington Post Politics
Efforts to reach a last-minute deal to stave off a potentially disastrous federal default remained at an impasse Saturday as House Republicans engaged in some psychological warfare and their colleagues in the Senate seemed poised to block a key vote on a bid by Democrats to raise the debt ceiling. LA Times National News
Or it could be that he offers a diversion during a summer consumed by the national obsession with the Casey Anthony trial, a heart-wrenching terrorist attack in Norway and the numbing grind of the debt ceiling debate. NYTimes Front Page
Sen. Harry Reid proposed moving the vote on his plan to raise the debt ceiling until 1 p.m. Sunday. Daily Beast Cheat Sheet
McConnell has notably played both sides of the debate, aligning at times with the White House and Reid on raising the debt ceiling, and at other times endorsing Boehner's actions—and his proposal—in ways that have alienated Hill Democrats. Daily Beast Blogs and Stories
Aug 1
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ( D-NV ) walks from a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the debt ceiling crises on Capitol Hill in Washington July 31, 2011. Reuters Politics
World markets staged a relief rally as U.S. lawmakers moved closer to a reaching a deal over the nation 's debt ceiling. CNN Business
Multiple Democratic sources tell The Huffington Post that the level of defense cuts that would take place should a bipartisan super-committee not agree to a second round of spending cuts is one of the last remaining sticking points holding up an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. Huffington Post Full Feed
Clean energy could be among the hardest-hit sectors if the U.S. government does not raise the debt ceiling and then defaults on the national debt. Huffington Post Full Feed
It 's the way of the world that this little triumph was completely overshadowed by the mass murders in Norway, the debt ceiling fight in the US, the famine in Somalia, and the Murdoch hacking scandal in the UK, to name but a few of the world 's worries. Huffington Post Full Feed
For the most part, the mainstream media -- with the exception of much of the New York Times coverage and its intelligent editorials -- have been in the role of enablers, treating the debt ceiling as if it were the main story. Huffington Post Full Feed
But that 's what has happened with the debt ceiling negotiations. Huffington Post Full Feed
Japanese officials had become increasingly alarmed that U.S. lawmakers would miss an August 2 deadline for raising the country 's debt ceiling due to wrangling over spending and tax cuts, sources told Reuters on Sunday. Reuters Business
President Barack Obama said on Sunday that spending cuts included in deal to raise the debt ceiling will not happen so quickly that they will drag on the fragile U.S. economy. Reuters Politics
Aug 6
While Fitch and Moody s have said they are evaluating the U.S. debt ceiling deal, S&P has been silent to this point. Fox News Top Headlines
Now that we have managed to avert a catastrophic financial disaster and the $ 14.3 trillion debt ceiling has been raised, we have to concentrate on the untold crisis of youth unemployment. Huffington Post Full Feed
The move follows the long political battle in Washington in recent months over raising the US debt ceiling. BBC Top Stories
Just days after Washington struck a harrowing, last-minute deal to lift America’s ceiling, a stark reality has come crashing in on both sides of the Atlantic. NYTimes Front Page
In particular, Standard & Poor 's added, it grew more pessimistic about U.S. debt because of the dispute over raising the debt ceiling. ABC News Top Stories
Obama said he hoped that after the August recess, Congress would work in a more constructive way than it did on the debt ceiling. Seattle Times full feed
When Moody’s put U.S. debt on review for downgrade during the debt ceiling standoff, if also put on notice 7,000 other bonds, worth a total of $ 130 billion, that rely directly on revenue from federal government payments, such as certain kinds of municipal bonds. Washington Post Economy
But the narrative of Obama’s presidency has been that other things — most recently, the protracted negotiations over the debt ceiling — keep interrupting that story line. Washington Post Politics
Earlier this week, the other two major credit rating agencies, Fitch and Moody 's, reaffirmed their versions of AAA ratings after the end of the debt ceiling fight. Guardian World
We lowered our long-term rating on the U.S. because we believe that the prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and the related fiscal policy debate indicate that further near-term progress containing the growth in public spending, especially on entitlements, or on reaching an agreement on raising revenues is less likely than we previously assumed and will remain a contentious and fitful process. Forbes Tech 2
“What’s changed is the political gridlock,” said David Beers, S.& P.’s global head of sovereign ratings, in an e-mail several days before a debt ceiling agreement was announced. NYTimes Front Page
