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Wednesday, December 14, 2011 8:42 PM PST

Today's Politics - Bloomberg News Headlines - Yahoo! News: Opium growth increasing in Myanmar, Laos - U.N. report Democrats mull dropping millionaire surtax Ann Romney campaigns for husband, stresses values China exporters face "very severe" Q1 2012: Commerce Ministry Egyptians set to give Islamists biggest bloc in vote Witness: Reflecting on Iraq as U.S. troops withdraw ECB's Noyer says French downgrade "not justified" House votes sanctions on Iran, North Korea, Syria Presidential dollar coins victims of budget crunch Drugmakers get more time to record gifts to doctors IMF OKs 3.9 billion euro tranche for Ireland Germans rebuff calls for ECB action after summit Venezuela to send drug kingpin to U.S. - source Republicans try to protect military from budget cuts House approves defense bill on detainees, Iran Health law keeps 2.5 million young adults insured Climate goals to lift energy bills 10 percent - adviser U.S. to award up to $527 million for infrastructure House passes defense bill on detainees, Iran, Pakistan House passes bill to expand sanctions on Iran Witness: Reflecting on Iraq as U.S. troops withdraw Doubts, fears nag Iraqis as U.S. pulls out U.S. military chapter in Iraq draws to a close Libya Central Bank expected to have sanctions lifted Lawmaker urges U.S. pursue trade pact with Egypt Islamists pursue gains in Egypt's phased election Australia media ownership laws set for shake-up: reports Mexico to issue findings in U.S. chicken dispute U.S. seeks oil supply cushion as Iran sanctions loom Democrats weigh dropping millionaire tax proposal Time names "The Protester" 2011 Person of the Year Syrian troops storm Hama to break anti-Assad strike Ron Paul gains ground, further stirring Republicans Analysis: Supreme Court immigration case a federal-state test Health law keeps 2.5 million young adults insured Tunisia president asks for six-month political truce Obama, Democrats weigh dropping millionaires tax Security Council puts pressure on Cypriots for deal Fed won't bail Europe out, Bernanke tells lawmakers Lawmakers urge action on China car duties Opium growth increasing in Myanmar, Laos - U.N. report Wed,14 Dec 2011 08:04 PM PST Reuters - BANGKOK (Reuters) - Opium cultivation is back on the rise in Myanmar and Laos despite government eradication campaigns, with impoverished farmers lured by higher prices and strong demand from neighboring countries, a U.N. report said Thursday. Land used for growing opium, a paste from poppy used to make heroin, has increased by 14 percent in Myanmar from last year and 38 percent in Laos, according to satellite and helicopter surveys carried out jointly by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Myanmar and Lao governments. ... Full Story Top Democrats mull dropping millionaire surtax Wed,14 Dec 2011 07:55 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats on Wednesday signaled a willingness to drop a proposed surtax on millionaires, but remained at odds with Republicans in efforts to extend an expiring payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans. Obama discussed abandoning the surtax, which Republicans have denounced as a levy on "job creators," at a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top Senate Democrats at the White House, party aides said. ... Full Story Top Ann Romney campaigns for husband, stresses values Wed,14 Dec 2011 07:22 PM PST Reuters - COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (Reuters) - Ann Romney on Wednesday urged Iowans to vote for her husband Mitt to be the Republican U.S. presidential nominee, painting an emotional picture of her high school sweetheart who she says has strong values and can be counted on in a crisis. Ann Romney, dispatched to Iowa with less than three weeks to go before the first Republican nominating contest on January 3, addressed about 50 people packed into the living room of a house in this city bordering Nebraska. ... Full Story Top China exporters face "very severe" Q1 2012: Commerce Ministry Wed,14 Dec 2011 06:44 PM PST Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - China's exporters will face "very severe" conditions in the first quarter of 2012, the Commerce Ministry said on Thursday, with Europe's debt crisis dragging on and dampening demand. "The overall trade environment next year for China will be complicated, partly due to the economic uncertainties in the European countries, and I should say that the export situation in the first quarter of next year will be very severe," Commerce Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang told a news conference. ... Full Story Top Egyptians set to give Islamists biggest bloc in vote Wed,14 Dec 2011 06:31 PM PST Reuters - CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptians return to polling stations on Thursday in a phased election likely to give Islamists the biggest bloc in a parliament that will play a key role in drafting a new constitution after decades of autocratic rule. The vote being staged over six weeks is Egypt's first free polls after a series of rigged elections under Hosni Mubarak, who after almost 30 years in power was driven from office by a popular uprising in February. ... Full Story Top Witness: Reflecting on Iraq as U.S. troops withdraw Wed,14 Dec 2011 05:05 PM PST Reuters - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - "Three days after U.S. tanks rolled into Baghdad in April 2003, I had my first encounter with an American marine. I opened my door to find him crouched on the street and holding a pump action shot gun. He wore full combat gear, with knee pads and a heavy pack. I couldn't see his eyes through his black glasses. But he looked nervous. I asked him if there was a problem. "He looked at me and said: 'Sir, we are here to protect you. We are here to liberate you from Saddam's regime and bring you elections to choose your president freely. ... Full Story Top ECB's Noyer says French downgrade "not justified" Wed,14 Dec 2011 05:03 PM PST Reuters - PARIS (Reuters) - A downgrade of France's AAA credit rating would not be justified and ratings agencies are making decisions based more on politics than economics, European Central Bank policymaker Christian Noyer said on Thursday. Speaking in an interview with local newspaper Le Telegramme de Brest to be published later on Thursday, Noyer also questioned whether the use of ratings agencies to guide investors was still valid. ... Full Story Top House votes sanctions on Iran, North Korea, Syria Wed,14 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday that would expand sanctions on Iran, cracking down on a wider range of energy issues and closing some loopholes in existing energy and financial sanctions. Some senators in both parties are also working on legislation to tighten sanctions on Iran, the world's fifth biggest oil exporter, because of concerns it is developing a nuclear bomb. ... Full Story Top Presidential dollar coins victims of budget crunch Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:56 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sorry, President Chester Arthur. Nobody wants you. Searching for savings in a tough economy, the White House said on Tuesday that the U.S. Mint would scrap automatic production of millions of dollar coins bearing the image of deceased American presidents at a saving of $50 million a year. "As will shock you all, calls for Chester A. Arthur coins are not big," said Vice President Joe Biden, referring to the country's 21st president, who died in 1886. "I'm not commenting on his presidency, but it just is not very high." The U.S. Treasury estimates there are almost $1. ... Full Story Top Drugmakers get more time to record gifts to doctors Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:51 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. drugmakers and device companies got an extension on the deadline to record all payments and gifts to doctors because of a delay in a proposed rule from health officials. The Physician Payment Sunshine Act, part of President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul last year, requires manufacturers to report all payments to doctors above $10 and pay penalties if they fail to do so. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday posted draft regulations that outline procedures for companies to report the information and share it with the public. ... Full Story Top IMF OKs 3.9 billion euro tranche for Ireland Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:51 PM PST Reuters - (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday approved a 3.9 billion euro ($5 billion) disbursement to Ireland under the country's IMF-EU rescue loan agreed in December last year to address the country's financial crisis. The IMF loan tranche is part of a broader 85 billion euro ($110.08 billion) financing package for Ireland from the IMF and European Union. The IMF said it would issue a full statement on board deliberations later. ... Full Story Top Germans rebuff calls for ECB action after summit Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:51 PM PST Reuters - BERLIN/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's chancellor and central banker urged Europe to stick to stricter budget discipline and forget about one-shot solutions after financial markets judged that another EU summit had failed to resolve the euro zone's debt crisis. Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann, speaking separately, rebuffed pressure for the European Central Bank to intervene decisively to stop the crisis escalating. ... Full Story Top Venezuela to send drug kingpin to U.S. - source Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:29 PM PST Reuters - CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela will extradite one of the region's most-wanted drug traffickers to the United States on Thursday, a Venezuelan government source said. Maximiliano Bonilla Orozco, a 39-year-old Colombian who had a $5 million bounty on his head and was better known by his alias Valenciano, was captured in the central Venezuelan city of Valencia late last month. ... Full Story Top Republicans try to protect military from budget cuts Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:21 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Republican on Wednesday introduced legislation to protect the military from automatic budget cuts despite stiff opposition from Democrats and a veto threat from President Barack Obama. Republicans have been trying to find savings to replace the $1.2 trillion in automatic budget cuts that go into effect from 2013 after a congressional debt panel failed to reach a deficit reduction plan in November. Half the savings would come from the Pentagon's budget and the rest from domestic federal programs. ... Full Story Top House approves defense bill on detainees, Iran Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:19 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a defense bill requiring the military to handle suspected militants allied with al Qaeda, acting not long after President Barack Obama removed a veto threat from the controversial legislation. The bill was expected to pass the Senate this week and then go to President Obama's desk for his signature into law. Shortly before the House vote, the White House announced the president's advisers would not recommend a veto, although they still had concerns about the measure. ... Full Story Top Health law keeps 2.5 million young adults insured Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:16 PM PST Reuters - (Reuters) - U.S. healthcare reforms have enabled 2.5 million young adults to join or remain in their parents' health insurance plans, the U.S. government said on Wednesday, up from 1 million reported earlier this year. Federal officials fully credited the gains to the Affordable Care Act, legislation championed by President Barack Obama that took effect last year and is deemed the biggest overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system in nearly 50 years. ... Full Story Top Climate goals to lift energy bills 10 percent - adviser Wed,14 Dec 2011 04:09 PM PST Reuters - LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's low-carbon goals could increase household energy bills by 10 percent out to 2020, although costs need not rise if homeowners are encouraged to use heating controls and more efficient appliances and lighting, a government adviser said. In a report, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said its best estimate showed the government's low-carbon policies will add 110 pounds to average household energy bills in 2020, compared with an average bill of 1,060 pounds in 2010. ... Full Story Top U.S. to award up to $527 million for infrastructure Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:58 PM PST Reuters - (Reuters) - The Obama administration is expected on Thursday to announce up to $527 million in grants for transportation projects nationwide. The oversubscribed Tiger program awards money to states and local governments for road, bridge, rail, port and other priority infrastructure projects. Transportation Department officials said last month there were 820 applications for $527 million in available grant funding. Congress has been struggling to approve a long-term transportation funding bill, heightening interest outside of Washington for any additional sources of federal money. ... Full Story Top House passes defense bill on detainees, Iran, Pakistan Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:58 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives approved a defense bill on Wednesday requiring the military to handle suspected militants linked to al Qaeda, acting not long after President Barack Obama removed a veto threat from the controversial legislation. The bill is expected to pass the Senate this week and then go to Obama's desk for his signature into law. Shortly before the House vote, the White House announced the president's advisers would not recommend a veto, although they said they still had concerns about the measure. ... Full Story Top House passes bill to expand sanctions on Iran Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:56 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday that would expand sanctions on Iran, cracking down on a wider range of energy issues and closing some loopholes in existing energy and financial sanctions. Some senators in both parties are also working on legistlation to tighten sanctions on Iran, the world's fifth biggest oil exporter, because of concerns it is developing a nuclear bomb. ... Full Story Top Witness: Reflecting on Iraq as U.S. troops withdraw Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:47 PM PST Reuters - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - "Three days after U.S. tanks rolled into Baghdad in April 2003, I had my first encounter with an American marine. I opened my door to find him crouched on the street and holding a pump action shot gun. He wore full combat gear, with knee pads and a heavy pack. I couldn't see his eyes through his black glasses. But he looked nervous. I asked him if there was a problem. "He looked at me and said: 'Sir, we are here to protect you. We are here to liberate you from Saddam's regime and bring you elections to choose your president freely. ... Full Story Top Doubts, fears nag Iraqis as U.S. pulls out Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:42 PM PST Reuters - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Zahora Jasim lost two brothers to bombs and gunmen in the years of turmoil and violence that followed the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Now, as the troops leave for home, the Baghdad housewife fears her country's troubles are not over and wonders, like many Iraqis, if their fragile democracy will slide back into sectarian strife. "The only images I have in my mind from these nine years are the deaths of my brother and his wife, of being forced from our homes, and the death of another brother in a bombing," she said. "I don't think anything will really change. ... Full Story Top U.S. military chapter in Iraq draws to a close Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:36 PM PST Reuters - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Nearly nine years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq ousted Saddam Hussein, American troops are pulling out and leaving behind a country still battling insurgents, political uncertainty and sectarian divisions. Nearly 4,500 U.S. soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis lost their lives in a war that began with a "Shock and Awe" campaign of missiles and bombs pounding Baghdad, but later descended into a bloody sectarian struggle between long-oppressed majority Shi'ites and their former Sunni masters. Saddam is dead and the violence has ebbed, but the U.S. ... Full Story Top Libya Central Bank expected to have sanctions lifted Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:19 PM PST Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Libya's central bank and a subsidiary are expected to have U.N. sanctions against them lifted on Friday in a move to ease a cash crunch since the country's civil war ended, diplomats said on Wednesday. They said the Central Bank of Libya and the Libyan Foreign Bank (LFB), an offshore institution wholly owned by the central bank, would be taken off the Security Council's sanctions list unless there were objections from council members. ... Full Story Top Lawmaker urges U.S. pursue trade pact with Egypt Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:18 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Republican lawmaker urged President Barack Obama's administration on Wednesday to pursue trade talks with Egypt to help shape the nascent democracy after a tumultuous year. "Engagement is now more important than ever," Representative David Dreier said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which has issued a report recommending the two countries establish a path toward negotiation of a free trade agreement. ... Full Story Top Islamists pursue gains in Egypt's phased election Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:18 PM PST Reuters - CAIRO (Reuters) - Rival Islamist groups sought more gains in the second round of Egypt's parliamentary election on Wednesday, with liberals also fighting for a voice in an army-led transition that began with the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. Egypt's first free election in six decades is unfolding in three stages until January. Even then, the generals who stepped in when an uprising toppled Mubarak in February will not hand power to civilians until after a presidential vote in mid-2012. ... Full Story Top Australia media ownership laws set for shake-up: reports Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:10 PM PST Reuters - CANBERRA (Reuters) - A review of Australia's media will call for a radical overhaul of laws that curb the influence of media proprietors, potentially paving the way for more consolidation between newspapers, internet and television, reports said on Thursday. Australian media is already among the world's most concentrated, with Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd controlling some 70 percent of the country's newspaper ownership. Previous attempts to ease ownership laws have drawn criticism that they will threaten democratic protections. ... Full Story Top Mexico to issue findings in U.S. chicken dispute Wed,14 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST Reuters - MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico expects to issue preliminary findings in an anti-dumping investigation into chicken imports from the United States toward the end of the month, a senior government official said on Wednesday. In late January, Mexico announced the investigation into chicken leg and thigh imports from the United States, Mexico's top trading partner, following complaints by domestic chicken processors alleging unfair trade practices. "We're just about to publish our preliminary findings," Victor Aguilar, an official with the economy ministry, told Reuters in an interview. ... Full Story Top U.S. seeks oil supply cushion as Iran sanctions loom Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:55 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is building ties with a range of oil producing countries in an effort to ensure a steady supply of crude to global markets as the West ratchets up the threat of increased sanctions against Iranian exports. According to a State Department official, the groundwork is being laid with exporters including Ghana, Angola, and Iraq, where the oil industry is recovering from war and years of neglect, to boost global spare oil capacity in case of outages that can lead to price spikes that threaten the fragile economy. ... Full Story Top Democrats weigh dropping millionaire tax proposal Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:45 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats are considering dropping a surtax on millionaires to pay for a payroll tax cut for U.S. workers, a move that would remove a major stumbling block to a compromise deal with Republicans. Obama discussed the possibility of abandoning the millionaire tax, which Republicans strongly oppose, at a White House meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and fellow Democrats, a Senate Democratic leadership aide told Reuters. If Democrats drop the plan to impose a 1. ... Full Story Top Time names "The Protester" 2011 Person of the Year Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:42 PM PST Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - From the Arab Spring to the Occupy Wall Street movement, "The Protester" was named Time magazine's 2011 Person of the Year on Wednesday. Time defines the Person of the Year as someone who, for better or for worse, influences the events of the year. "Is there a global tipping point for frustration? Everywhere, it seems, people said they'd had enough," Time Editor Rick Stengel said in a statement. "They dissented; they demanded; they did not despair, even when the answers came back in a cloud of tear gas or a hail of bullets. ... Full Story Top Syrian troops storm Hama to break anti-Assad strike Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:42 PM PST Reuters - BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian troops swept into the city of Hama to break a three-day strike by opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, killing at least 10 people but running into resistance from armed insurgents who destroyed two armored vehicles, activists said. Outside Hama, army deserters attacked a convoy of military jeeps, killing eight soldiers, they said, adding to a death toll of at least 30 people across the country on Wednesday. The assault in Hama was the first armored incursion there since a tank offensive in August crushed huge protests in the city. ... Full Story Top Ron Paul gains ground, further stirring Republicans Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:42 PM PST Reuters - AMHERST, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul declared on Wednesday his campaign was "peaking at the right time" as polls show him closing in on the two perceived front-runners. The libertarian congressman from Texas with a passionate core of followers complained that pundits were dismissing his longshot campaign prematurely and sounded optimistic about catching former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich. ... Full Story Top Analysis: Supreme Court immigration case a federal-state test Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:41 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court's promised ruling next year on Arizona's immigration crackdown could turn on how much a state can intrude on federal government enforcement powers. The country's highest court agreed on Monday to decide whether federal immigration laws take precedence and so preempt Arizona's law boosting the power of local police to crack down on illegal immigrants. Oral arguments are likely in April and a ruling by late June. ... Full Story Top Health law keeps 2.5 million young adults insured Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:26 PM PST Reuters - (Reuters) - U.S. healthcare reforms have enabled 2.5 million young adults to remain in their parents' health insurance plans, the U.S. government said on Wednesday, up from 1 million reported earlier this year. Federal officials fully credited the gains to the Affordable Care Act, legislation championed by President Barack Obama that took effect last year and is deemed the biggest overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system in nearly 50 years. ... Full Story Top Tunisia president asks for six-month political truce Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:25 PM PST Reuters - TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's new president on Wednesday asked for a six-month political truce and a moratorium on strikes and protests, warning that otherwise the country would be committing "collective suicide." Tunisia electrified the Arab world when it overthrew its autocratic leader in January, but since then the caretaker authorities have been buffeted by social unrest, political turmoil and rows over the role of Islam in the political system. ... Full Story Top Obama, Democrats weigh dropping millionaires tax Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:19 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats on Wednesday discussed abandoning efforts to impose a surtax on millionaires to help pay for extending a popular payroll tax break for workers, a Senate Democratic leadership aide said. Obama and fellow Democrats in Congress are trying to find a way to pass the payroll tax extension in the face of stiff Republican opposition to the millionaires surtax. The tax workers pay to the Social Security retirement system will rise to 6.2 percent from 4.2 percent at the end of the month unless Congress acts to extend the lower rate. ... Full Story Top Security Council puts pressure on Cypriots for deal Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:14 PM PST Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council threw its weight on Wednesday behind a push by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to clinch a Cyprus deal, urging the rival parties to speed up talks and be more constructive. Following talks with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, Ban last month called them to a summit in January to settle the decades-old conflict on the divided Mediterranean island that is harming Turkey's bid to join the European Union. ... Full Story Top Fed won't bail Europe out, Bernanke tells lawmakers Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:12 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Republican senators on Wednesday the Fed can't and won't provide bailout funds to support European banks or nations, lawmakers said. "We're all concerned, is the American taxpayer going to be bailing out European nations and banks," Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters after a meeting with the Fed chairman. "He said, no, he doesn't have the intention or authority to do that," Graham said. (Reporting By Mark Felsenthal and Pedro Nicolaci da Costa; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Full Story Top Lawmakers urge action on China car duties Wed,14 Dec 2011 02:11 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New Chinese duties on U.S. cars are "unjustifiable," four senior U.S. lawmakers said on Wednesday in a joint statement urging President Barack Obama's administration to challenge the measures. "We are extremely concerned by China's announcement today that it will impose new duties on U.S. auto exports," the lawmakers said. "China's actions are unjustifiable and, unfortunately, this appears to be just one more instance of impermissible Chinese retaliation against the United States and other trading partners. ... Full Story Top

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