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Tuesday, June 26, 2012 12:23 AM PDT

Today's Politics - Bloomberg News Headlines - Yahoo! News: New Egypt president has tight window on economy Sudan says no retreat on cuts despite protests IMF urges Congo to improve mining revenue collection Tribal raids killed 900 S.Sudanese in Dec-Feb: UN Rwanda says being made a scapegoat for Congo mutiny African extremist groups linking up: US general Nigeria's governors back sovereign wealth fund Dutch shun closer Europe as election looms Austria backs towards closer Europe in debt crisis Supreme Court splits its verdict on Arizona immigration law Romney gains toehold in Silicon Valley fundraising In Utah, a softer touch on a still-tough immigration law China forcing refugees back to Myanmar conflict zone: report African extremist groups linking up: U.S. general House to vote Thursday on Holder contempt charge South Korea replaces Iran oil with other Middle East sources Greek finance minister resigns, crisis deepens Wen Jiabao signs accords, eyes Argentina's corn Six arrested at Oregon capitol in clear-cut logging protest Summit doubts to drive up Spain's debt costs Arizona governor hails immigration ruling, opponents dismayed U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. takes leave of absence Senators optimistic deal close on transport bill Guatemala says arbitration panel with U.S. on hold Spy chief toughens employee polygraph to stem leaks Cities split $111 million to hire, retain police Paraguay's Lugo protests as new cabinet sworn in Lockheed workers to vote Thursday on new contract U.S. wants "flesh on the bone" from Europe on crisis Romney cautious in response to immigration ruling Republican senator says time for compromise Reputation damaged, NY's Rangel battling to hold House seat High court splits its verdict on Arizona immigration law GSA scandal hits travel groups, convention hosts Turkey turns to NATO after Syria downs jet U.S. tomato farmers say want to dump Mexico deal Factbox: Quotes from Reuters Washington Summit UK hackers admit plotting attacks on CIA, firms Egypt's Mursi never made overtures to Iran, says aide Teen prostitutes rescued, pimps held, in FBI sweep New Egypt president has tight window on economy Mon,25 Jun 2012 11:41 PM PDT Reuters - CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's new president has a window of opportunity to pull the economy from the brink of disaster, but he will have to chart a careful path to convince a host of deeply sceptical players at home and abroad that his is a government they can trust. After winning the country's first freely contested election for head of state, the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi, 60, brings with him strongly free-market policies that would delight investors were it not for Egypt's daunting economic challenges and fraught politics. ... Full Story Top Sudan says no retreat on cuts despite protests Mon,25 Jun 2012 11:37 PM PDT Reuters - KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan's finance minister said on Monday the government would stick to its decision to cut fuel subsidies despite more than a week of anti-austerity protests in Khartoum and other cities. Sudanese police used teargas to disperse the latest demonstration which took place in an impoverished eastern region, where witnesses said protesters also set fire to a local office of the ruling party. ... Full Story Top IMF urges Congo to improve mining revenue collection Mon,25 Jun 2012 11:21 PM PDT Reuters - KINSHASA (Reuters) - The Democratic Republic of Congo needs to continue improving governance and transparency in its extractive sector if it is to receive the latest instalments of a $550 million loan, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday. The statement followed a visit by the IMF's chief of mission to the country, Robert York, to assess Congo's economic performance under the new government of prime minister Matata Ponyo. ... Full Story Top Tribal raids killed 900 S.Sudanese in Dec-Feb: UN Mon,25 Jun 2012 11:20 PM PDT Reuters - JUBA (Reuters) - Nearly 900 South Sudanese died during a burst of violence between rival cattle herding tribes in late 2011 and early 2012, the United Nations said on Monday, criticising the newly formed state's army for failing to protect civilians. South Sudan, which split away from Sudan a year ago, has been struggling to stamp its authority on an undeveloped country the size of France awash with weapons. ... Full Story Top Rwanda says being made a scapegoat for Congo mutiny Mon,25 Jun 2012 11:19 PM PDT Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo on Monday condemned "disingenuous" claims that high-ranking Rwandan officials are backing an army mutiny in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a bid to make Rwanda a scapegoat for its former enemy's problems. Mushikiwabo called for calm and warned that the situation had resulted in rhetoric reminiscent of the lead-up to a 1994 Rwandan genocide in which 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus were killed. ... Full Story Top African extremist groups linking up: US general Mon,25 Jun 2012 11:18 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three of Africa's largest extremist groups are sharing funds and swapping explosives in what could signal a dangerous escalation of security threats on the continent, the commander of the U.S. military's Africa Command said on Monday. General Carter Ham said there are indications that Boko Haram, al Shabaab and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - groups that he labeled as the continent's most violent - are sharing money and explosive materials while training fighters together. ... Full Story Top Nigeria's governors back sovereign wealth fund Mon,25 Jun 2012 11:17 PM PDT Reuters - ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's powerful state governors said on Monday they had approved federal government's proposal to launch a sovereign wealth fund with an initial $1 billion, ending months of political wrangling. Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in October last year the fund was being launched but governors initially blocked the proposal, leading to eight months of negotiations. ... Full Story Top Dutch shun closer Europe as election looms Mon,25 Jun 2012 10:58 PM PDT Reuters - AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - In the Netherlands, two people matter when it comes to the euro zone crisis: Henk and Ingrid. And they're not happy. The mythical Mr and Mrs Average, conjured up by populist politician Geert Wilders, have taken on a life of their own. Married with two children, they live in a typical suburban house, and take one or two holidays a year. According to Wilders, they resent seeing their taxes squandered on foreigners - whether as welfare handouts to immigrants, overseas development aid, or bailout funds to profligate Greeks and debt-ridden Spanish banks. ... Full Story Top Austria backs towards closer Europe in debt crisis Mon,25 Jun 2012 10:55 PM PDT Reuters - VIENNA (Reuters) - Under fire from right-wing nationalists for helping out euro zone laggards, Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter stood before parliament this month to say why Europeans had to stick together. "Europe is our guarantor of peace. Europe is our greater homeland and our common destiny. We don't want to have nationalism get out of hand. We had this once before and we know we have to avoid this," she said, in a reference to the rise of Austria's far-right before its annexation by Nazi Germany. "Thus it is about creating this Europe together. And now we have a lot to create. ... Full Story Top Supreme Court splits its verdict on Arizona immigration law Mon,25 Jun 2012 10:33 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the main provision of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants but threw out three other parts, handing partial victories to President Barack Obama in his challenge to the law and to the measure's conservative supporters. In an important test of whether federal or state governments have the power to enforce immigration laws, the top U.S. court unanimously upheld the statute's most controversial aspect, a requirement that police officers check the immigration status of people they stop, even for minor offenses such as jay-walking. ... Full Story Top Romney gains toehold in Silicon Valley fundraising Mon,25 Jun 2012 10:07 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON/SEATTLE (Reuters) - Presidential candidate Barack Obama, his Blackberry always close at hand, was the darling of the technology world and it rewarded him with generous donations to his 2008 campaign. Although he is still raising far more money there than current Republican rival Mitt Romney, Obama in 2012 is finding Silicon Valley to be tougher terrain. ... Full Story Top In Utah, a softer touch on a still-tough immigration law Mon,25 Jun 2012 10:04 PM PDT Reuters - SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Utah insists that on immigration issues, it is no Arizona. Its laws are kinder and gentler, officials say. Despite its conservatism, Utah is one of only three states, for instance, where illegal immigrants can drive. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Monday that upheld a key part off Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants will set the pace for Utah and other states where laws have been on hold pending the high court decision. ... Full Story Top China forcing refugees back to Myanmar conflict zone: report Mon,25 Jun 2012 08:40 PM PDT Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese authorities are forcing back into Myanmar some of the ethnic Kachin refugees who have fled into China trying to escape civil war, and Beijing is denying basic care to many who remain, a human rights group said on Tuesday. Myanmar's government is in talks with Kachin rebels, and more than a dozen armed or political groups, to try to end all its decades-old conflicts. The Kachin conflict, which flared up in the middle of 2011 after a 17-year truce, has pushed up to 10,000 people to seek refuge across the border in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan. ... Full Story Top African extremist groups linking up: U.S. general Mon,25 Jun 2012 07:53 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three of Africa's largest extremist groups are sharing funds and swapping explosives in what could signal a dangerous escalation of security threats on the continent, the commander of the U.S. military's Africa Command said on Monday. General Carter Ham said there are indications that Boko Haram, al Shabaab and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - groups that he labeled as the continent's most violent - are sharing money and explosive materials while training fighters together. ... Full Story Top House to vote Thursday on Holder contempt charge Mon,25 Jun 2012 07:51 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House will decide on Thursday whether to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for refusing to turn over all documents demanded by lawmakers investigating a botched U.S.-Mexico gun running sting. A senior Republican aide confirmed the date for the unprecedented vote against a sitting attorney general following the recommendation of a House of Representatives committee for the full chamber to take that step. ... Full Story Top South Korea replaces Iran oil with other Middle East sources Mon,25 Jun 2012 07:40 PM PDT Reuters - SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's economy ministry said on Tuesday most of its Iranian oil imports had already been replaced by supplies from other producers such as Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and by spot purchases, although some still needed to be covered. The world's fourth-largest buyer of Iranian crude oil had no plan to follow Japan by providing state guarantees to insure tanker shipments to continue Iranian oil imports, given current oil supplies, Moon Jaedo, deputy minister for international affairs at the economy ministry, told a briefing. ... Full Story Top Greek finance minister resigns, crisis deepens Mon,25 Jun 2012 07:29 PM PDT Reuters - ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's new finance minister resigned because of ill health on Monday, throwing the government's drive to soften the terms of an international bailout into confusion days before a European summit. Vassilis Rapanos, 64, chairman of the National Bank of Greece, was rushed to hospital on Friday, before he could be sworn in, complaining of abdominal pain, nausea and dizziness. Greek media said he had a history of ill-health. ... Full Story Top Wen Jiabao signs accords, eyes Argentina's corn Mon,25 Jun 2012 07:26 PM PDT Reuters - BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China is interested in buying more corn from Argentina, the world's second-biggest supplier after the United States, a senior Argentine Agriculture Ministry official told Reuters on Monday. Argentina signed a deal with China on corn exports earlier this year, raising market expectations that Argentine corn would soon start heading to the world's most populous country. ... Full Story Top Six arrested at Oregon capitol in clear-cut logging protest Mon,25 Jun 2012 07:21 PM PDT Reuters - PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - Six environmental activists were arrested on Monday at Oregon's state capitol, two of them for climbing up flagpoles, while protesting a plan they said would sharply increase clear-cut logging of old-growth timber in a state forest. Four protesters were cited for "unlawfully occupying the entrance to two state office suites" after locking themselves together at the offices of Oregon's secretary of state, Kate Brown, and state Treasurer Ted Wheeler, state police Lieutenant Gregg Hastings said. ... Full Story Top Summit doubts to drive up Spain's debt costs Mon,25 Jun 2012 06:38 PM PDT Reuters - MADRID (Reuters) - Struggling debtor Spain is likely to pay its highest short-term borrowing rates in over six months on Tuesday as investors demand high premiums, skeptical about euro zone leaders' readiness to act decisively to tackle the bloc's problems. Spain formally requested European aid worth as much as 100 billion euros for its troubled banks on Monday, but that failed to assuage doubts about how the country can repair its finances as it sinks into what many fear will be a deep and prolonged recession. The Treasury will issue between 2 billion and 3 billion euros ($2.5 billion-$3. ... Full Story Top Arizona governor hails immigration ruling, opponents dismayed Mon,25 Jun 2012 06:36 PM PDT Reuters - PHOENIX (Reuters) - Republican Governor Jan Brewer hailed Monday's U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding a key part of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants, while the law's critics said thousands of families will live in fear in the southwestern state bordering Mexico. The Supreme Court supported the law's most controversial aspect, requiring police to check the immigration status of people they stop, but threw out three other provisions that had been challenged by the federal government. ... Full Story Top U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. takes leave of absence Mon,25 Jun 2012 06:35 PM PDT Reuters - CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. began a medical leave of absence from Congress on June 10 and is being treated for exhaustion, his office said on Monday. The offices of the Chicago Democrat, who has served in Congress since 1995, remain open to serve constituents, said a statement from Jackson spokesman Frank Watkins. "He asks that you respect his family's privacy," the statement said. U.S. Representative Danny Davis, a fellow Chicago Democrat, said he was surprised to learn of the leave because Jackson was "his normal, jovial self" two weeks ago. ... Full Story Top Senators optimistic deal close on transport bill Mon,25 Jun 2012 04:45 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senators involved in marathon talks on a two-year deal for funding U.S. road, bridge and rail projects said on Monday they were close to a compromise with House Republicans, although they might need to work through a Friday deadline to finish negotiations. They declined to talk about specifics, or address whether the potential deal would include a measure to approve the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline, which has been a major hurdle. ... Full Story Top Guatemala says arbitration panel with U.S. on hold Mon,25 Jun 2012 04:41 PM PDT Reuters - GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - The United States has agreed to freeze an arbitration panel with Guatemala in order to informally settle accusations that the Central American nation has failed to protect workers' rights, Guatemala's economy minister said on Monday. "Initiating an arbitration panel could have negative effects on commerce between the two nations, which is why we have entered into this agreement before the panel is formed," said economy minister Sergio de la Torre. Two-way trade between the United States and Guatemala totaled $10.8 billion last year. U.S. ... Full Story Top Spy chief toughens employee polygraph to stem leaks Mon,25 Jun 2012 04:40 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. intelligence official on Monday ordered that a new question be added to federal employee lie-detector tests to help uncover any leaks of secret information to the media. In true spy-agency form, the wording of the question was not made public. ... Full Story Top Cities split $111 million to hire, retain police Mon,25 Jun 2012 04:36 PM PDT Reuters - PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Some 220 cities and counties across the United States are sharing $111 million in federal grants to retain and hire police officers, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Monday. Beneficiaries of the Justice Department funds include Los Angeles, which received a $6.4 million grant to fund 25 officers, and Chicago and Philadelphia, which each got $3.1 million for 25 officers. ... Full Story Top Paraguay's Lugo protests as new cabinet sworn in Mon,25 Jun 2012 04:04 PM PDT Reuters - ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguay's new center-right president swore in his cabinet on Monday as neighboring nations intensified diplomatic pressure over the sudden impeachment of his leftist predecessor, Fernando Lugo. Federico Franco took office on Friday, moments after Lugo - a former Roman Catholic bishop - was ousted by the opposition-controlled Congress in an impeachment hearing that lasted less than six hours. ... Full Story Top Lockheed workers to vote Thursday on new contract Mon,25 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Striking workers from the Fort Worth, Texas, plant where Lockheed Martin Corp builds F-16 and F-35 fighter planes will vote on Thursday on whether to accept a new contract agreed to by a key union and management late Saturday, the union said. The modified contract, posted on the union's website, would give union members wage increases of 2.5 to 3 percent in each of the next four years, a lump sum payment of $2,000, and an additional $1,600 in cash to pay for inflation. ... Full Story Top U.S. wants "flesh on the bone" from Europe on crisis Mon,25 Jun 2012 03:56 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday urged European leaders to put "more flesh on the bone" for their ideas to tackle the euro zone's debt crisis as they prepare for a crucial EU summit this week. In an interview with Reuters, U.S. Treasury Under Secretary Lael Brainard said that while euro-zone leaders were moving with a greater sense of urgency to deal with the crisis, more details were needed on how they would get it done. ... Full Story Top Romney cautious in response to immigration ruling Mon,25 Jun 2012 03:53 PM PDT Reuters - SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney blasted President Barack Obama on Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court's divided ruling on Arizona's illegal-immigration law, and said he wished the court had approached the issue differently. In a ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court upheld a requirement that police check the immigration status of anyone they stop, rejecting the Obama administration's stance that only the U.S. government should enforce immigration laws. ... Full Story Top Republican senator says time for compromise Mon,25 Jun 2012 03:53 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Republican lawmaker said Monday it was time for Washington to learn how to compromise again so the country can solve its deepening problems. "I'm bothered by our politics generally that suggest that if you don't get exactly what you want, that's somehow a failure," said Senator Roy Blunt, a member of his chamber's Republican leadership and the former second-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. ... Full Story Top Reputation damaged, NY's Rangel battling to hold House seat Mon,25 Jun 2012 03:41 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, a once-towering figure in New York politics whose reputation was diminished when he was censured in Washington, is again fighting to keep his seat as a group of Democrats prepare to challenge him in a primary on Tuesday. Rangel, who has represented Harlem since 1971 and is a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, is battling a crowd of younger politicians in a redrawn district that is now heavily Latino. Yet most political watchers still see him being re-elected. ... Full Story Top High court splits its verdict on Arizona immigration law Mon,25 Jun 2012 03:29 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld the main provision of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants but threw out three other parts, handing partial victories to President Barack Obama in his challenge to the law and to the measure's conservative supporters. In an important test of whether federal or state governments have the power to enforce immigration laws, the top U.S. court unanimously upheld the statute's most controversial aspect, a requirement that police officers check the immigration status of people they stop, even for minor offenses such as jay-walking. ... Full Story Top GSA scandal hits travel groups, convention hosts Mon,25 Jun 2012 03:15 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - The fallout from the General Services Administration's headline-grabbing Las Vegas convention scandal is rippling through the travel and conference industries, who say their nascent recovery is being jeopardized by increasing scrutiny on government travel spending. Those industries predict that a recent Obama administration directive to federal agencies to slash travel budgets, and congressional proposals to further cap agency spending and travel, could hurt hotels, conference centers, rental car agencies and other private companies. The U.S. ... Full Story Top Turkey turns to NATO after Syria downs jet Mon,25 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT Reuters - ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is to demand backing from its NATO allies on Tuesday at a special meeting called after Syrian troops shot down a Turkish warplane last week in an incident Damascus said was self-defense but which Ankara branded an "act of aggression". It is only the second time in NATO's 63-year history that it has convened under Article 4 of its charter which provides for consultations when a member state feels its territorial integrity, political independence or security is under threat. ... Full Story Top U.S. tomato farmers say want to dump Mexico deal Mon,25 Jun 2012 02:44 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. tomato growers on Monday said they have formally asked the U.S. Commerce Department to tear up a pricing agreement with Mexican producers that they say has become "a charade." Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, told Reuters U.S. producers want the pact voided so they can file a new anti-dumping complaint against Mexico. The rare request comes in a dispute that dates back to 1996, when U.S. industry filed a petition accusing Mexican producers of selling in the United States at unfairly low prices. ... Full Story Top Factbox: Quotes from Reuters Washington Summit Mon,25 Jun 2012 02:39 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Key U.S. lawmakers, campaign officials, political operators and budget analysts discuss their strategies for the political battles ahead in the run-up to the November 6 presidential election and beyond, at the Reuters Washington Summit June 25 to 27. Here are some quotes from the summit: REPUBLICAN SENATOR ROY BLUNT "I could get in lots of trouble in the current environment saying I think we should have more compromise. But I think what I've said about that is what I believe - compromise is the price for living in a democracy. ... Full Story Top UK hackers admit plotting attacks on CIA, firms Mon,25 Jun 2012 02:38 PM PDT Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Two British hackers pleaded guilty in a London court on Monday to plotting attacks against computers of international firms, law enforcement bodies and government agencies including the CIA, in a cyber crime spree that gained global attention. Ryan Cleary, 20, of southeast England, and Jake Davis, 19, of Scotland, both members of the hacking group LulzSec, pleaded guilty at London's Southwark Crown Court to charges they conspired with others to hack websites last year, Britain's Press Association reported. ... Full Story Top Egypt's Mursi never made overtures to Iran, says aide Mon,25 Jun 2012 02:09 PM PDT Reuters - DUBAI/CAIRO (Reuters) - An Iranian news agency said Egypt's Islamist President-elect Mohamed Mursi had voiced interest in restoring long-severed ties with Tehran to create a strategic "balance" in the region, but a Mursi aide denied the interview ever took place. Iran's Fars agency said it spoke to Mursi a few hours before Sunday's election results were announced and quoted him saying the two countries should get closer - comments that go counter to Western efforts to isolate Tehran over its nuclear program. ... Full Story Top Teen prostitutes rescued, pimps held, in FBI sweep Mon,25 Jun 2012 02:07 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Seventy-nine teenagers held against their will and forced into prostitution were rescued at hotels, truck stops and storefronts in a three-day sweep of sex-trafficking rings across the United States, law enforcement officials said on Monday. The FBI said 104 alleged pimps were arrested during sting operations in 57 U.S. cities including Atlanta, Sacramento, and Toledo, Ohio. The operation lasted between Thursday and Saturday and involved state and local authorities as well as the FBI. ... Full Story Top

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