 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The tentative U.S. deal to avoid a crushing debt default is at best a mild relief for the U.S. economy that nearly stalled in the first half of the year and has yet to show signs of any realistic pickup. | |
| White House: expiry of Bush tax cuts to spur reform Sun,31 Jul 2011 07:14 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House officials said on Sunday the spending cuts laid out under a new deficit deal would not take effect until 2013 and the expiry of Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would spur broad tax reform. Full Story | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers reached into the past to find a way to enforce future budget cuts called for in the deal to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit, but history shows these enforcement mechanisms do not always work. | |
| U.S. holds off on post-August 2 plan for moment Sun,31 Jul 2011 07:10 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Treasury determined that it was not necessary on Sunday to unveil plans for how the government will pay its bills if Congress does not raise the debt cap by Tuesday. Full Story | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has one important tool in its arsenal to influence congressional talks over further deficit reduction measures in the coming months: the expiry of Bush-era tax cuts at the end of 2012. | |
 NEW YORK (Reuters) - If debate in Washington over raising the U.S. debt ceiling finally ends with a deal on Sunday, the last-minute reprieve could spark a relief rally when global markets open. | |
 BEIJING (Reuters) - China's central bank said it would keep monetary policy prudent for the rest of the year as inflation risks escalating from three-year highs if it takes its foot off the policy brakes. | |
 AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrians began the Muslim Ramadan fast in somber mood on Monday after troops stormed into Hama, scene of a 1982 massacre, in one of the bloodiest days of a five-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. | |
 NEW YORK (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings Plc said on Sunday it will shed nearly half of its underperforming U.S. branch network, selling 195 branches to First Niagara Financial Group Inc for about $1 billion, and closing 13 others. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After months of vitriolic discord, Republican and Democratic lawmakers were expected to vote on Monday on a White House-backed deal to raise the U.S. borrowing limit and avert an unprecedented default. | |
 BEIJING (Reuters) - China's media are curbing combative reporting of a high-speed train disaster after what observers said were orders from the ruling Communist Party's propaganda arm to stop criticism that has echoed public outrage over the tragedy. | |
 SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Sticky heat was expected to smother much of the country's midsection in the coming days as hotter-than-usual temperatures continued to roast parts of the Midwest and South, forecasters said on Sunday. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Speaker John Boehner told fellow Republicans that he wants the House of Representatives to vote on Monday on a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling, a Republican lawmaker said on Sunday. | |
| NEW YORK (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings Plc on Sunday said it will shed nearly half of its underperforming U.S. branch network, selling 195 branches to First Niagara Financial Group Inc for about $1 billion, and closing 13 others. | |
 LONDON/TOKYO, Jul (Reuters) - Governments and policy makers around the world warned of the risk of financial disaster if Washington fails to raise the U.S. debt ceiling. | |
| German security official warns of Breivik copycats Sun,31 Jul 2011 06:46 AM PDT Reuters - BERLIN (Reuters) - The recent mass killing in Norway could easily serve as a blueprint for other anti-Muslim militants, one of Germany's top security officials warned in a magazine interview Sunday. Full Story | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Speaker John Boehner told fellow Republicans on Sunday that he aims to bring a debt-ceiling deal up for a vote "as soon as possible" even though it is not perfect, his office said. | |
| Police kill 4 after blasts, attacks in China's west Sun,31 Jul 2011 05:40 AM PDT Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - Police shot dead four "rioters" in China's far west on Sunday after at least three people, including a policeman, were killed in the latest in a series attacks in the region this month, the state-run news agency Xinhua reported. Full Story | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama announced on Sunday that Democrats and Republicans leaders have reached an agreement to reduce the U.S. deficit and avoid default. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan plan to raise the debt ceiling will be presented to Democrats and Republicans on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Sunday. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the House of Representatives might decide not to support a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling when they meet on Monday, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama plans to deliver a statement on Sunday at 8:40 p.m. EST, the White House said, amid signs that a deal was near for raising the U.S. debt ceiling. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers were close to a last-ditch $3 trillion deal on Sunday to raise the U.S. borrowing limit and assure jittery financial markets that the United States will avoid a potentially catastrophic default. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid will support the tentative debt-ceiling deal as long as other Democrats back it as well, a spokesman said on Sunday. | |
 AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrians began the Muslim Ramadan fast in somber mood on Monday after troops stormed into Hama, scene of a 1982 massacre, in one of the bloodiest days in a five-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. | |
 KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - When Iraq's northern Kurdish region sent a division of troops to surround Kirkuk in February, it may have been a signal of the delicate balancing act to come when U.S. forces leave the disputed oil city. | |
 ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's military and political leaders face a battle to restore order in NATO's second-biggest army Monday at a military council overshadowed by the resignation of its top four generals in protest at the jailing of hundreds of officers. | |
| Senate vote unlikely until at least Monday: aide Sun,31 Jul 2011 03:16 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate vote on a possible debt-limit deal is "highly unlikely" until at least on Monday, a senior congressional aide said. Full Story | |
 BENGHAZI (Reuters) - Rebel forces fought gunmen loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in eastern Libya on Sunday in the latest incident to undermine the insurgents' grip in territory they hold. | |
 GEORGETOWN (Reuters) - A packed Caribbean Airlines passenger jet skidded off a runway as it landed in Guyana at night on Saturday, then broke in two at the edge of a ravine. There were no casualties. | |
| Obama adviser Sperling sees no "double dip" recession Sun,31 Jul 2011 06:35 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House economic adviser Gene Sperling said on "Fox News Sunday" he was "not worried the U.S. will have a double-dip recession" and urged Congress to approve an increase in the debt limit as a way to give certainty to financial markets. Full Story | |
 BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Saturday his government would buy 36 F-16 fighters from the United States, doubling the number it had initially planned to purchase to strengthen its weak air defenses. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday delayed a test vote on the Democratic debt limit increase plan until 1 p.m. EDT Sunday to give negotiators more time to work out a deal. | |
 KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - It is unclear if the United States will be able to pay troops on time in the event of a debt default, the top U.S. military officer told troops in Afghanistan on Saturday. | |
| Moody's expects to affirm U.S. rating, negative outlook Fri,29 Jul 2011 05:12 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States will likely keep its top-notch credit rating from Moody's for now, despite the "limited magnitude" of the deficit reduction plans being discussed in Washington, the ratings agency said on Friday. Full Story | |
| McConnell says deficit deal is "very close" Sun,31 Jul 2011 06:20 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Sunday that U.S. deficit negotiations are "very close" to a $3 trillion deal to raise the federal debt limit. Full Story | |
| Reid confident debt cap to be raised long term Sat,30 Jul 2011 07:52 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Saturday that he was confident that any deal to raise the country's borrowing cap will extend the limit for the long term. Full Story | |
 ISTANBUL (Reuters) - For Turkey's political leaders it was business as usual Saturday, denying any crisis, or simply not mentioning the resignation of the country's four top military commanders. | |
 BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan rebels say the gunmen who shot dead their military chief were militiamen allied in their struggle to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi, raising questions about divisions and lawlessness within rebel ranks. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Saturday it "strongly supports" a bill being considered in the House of Representatives that incorporates both Democratic and Republican ideas and would raise the debt limit to early 2013. |
