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More Fed members seem open to taking further steps

More Fed members seem open to taking further steps
By MARTIN CRUTSINGERAP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - A growing number of Federal Reserve officials are open to taking further action to support the struggling U.S. economy. But minutes of the Fed's latest meeting show policymakers at odds over whether the economy needs more help now. At

W.Va. sheriff says woman tortured; husband charged

W.Va. sheriff says woman tortured; husband charged
By JOHN RABY and VICKI SMITHAssociated Press LEROY, W.Va. (AP) - While her husband returned a rototiller to a West Virginia rental shop, a limping woman sneaked into another part of the building seeking help. Soon, court papers say, she was at a shelter with a horrifying tale: She had been held

Viacom blocks online episodes in DirecTV fight

Viacom blocks online episodes in DirecTV fight
NEW YORK (AP) - Viacom is ramping up its war with DirecTV over how much it is paid for shows including "The Daily Show" and "SpongeBob SquarePants." Unfortunately, its latest tactic is causing some collateral damage. Viacom on Wednesday shut off access to full-length episodes on its own websites

Spain imposes more austerity amid protests

Spain imposes more austerity amid protests
By CIARAN GILES and DANIEL WOOLLS MADRID (AP) - Spain's government imposed more austerity measures on the beleaguered country Wednesday as it unveiled sales tax hikes and spending cuts aimed at shaving €65 billion ($79.85 billion) off the state budget over the next two and a half years. A day

Russian Wikipedia shuts down site to protest bill

Russian Wikipedia shuts down site to protest bill
By LAURA MILLS MOSCOW (AP) - Wikipedia on Tuesday shut down its Russian-language site for 24 hours to protest a bill that would give the Russian government sweeping powers to blacklist certain sites, the latest in a flurry of legislation that appears aimed at neutering a growing opposition

Parents defend putting children to work on farms

Parents defend putting children to work on farms
By JIM SUHRAssociated Press FULTS, Ill. (AP) - As he watched his 10-year-old son ease a tractor across a soybean field, Dennis Mosbacher acknowledged the risks of farming. But Mosbacher said the U.S. Labor Department was misguided in its attempts to protect children from farm accidents and he

European stocks close higher despite late fade

European stocks close higher despite late fade
By TOBY STERLINGAssociated Press AMSTERDAM (AP) - European markets gave back some of their earlier gains Tuesday with U.S. stocks mixed as enthusiasm about prospects for resolving Spain's banking crisis faded - and the euro again plumbed year lows against the dollar. Britain's FTSE 100

What to know about Egypt's new political drama

What to know about Egypt's new political drama
By STEVE NEGUSAssociated Press CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's newly elected President Mohammed Morsi is locked in conflict with the powerful military over whether the country's legislature should reconvene despite a June 14 court ruling that dissolved it. It's the latest twist in nearly 17

New law gives US companies a break on pensions

New law gives US companies a break on pensions
By ALAN FRAMAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - A new law will let companies contribute billions of dollars less to their workers' pension funds, raising concerns about weakening the plans that millions of Americans count on for retirement. But with many companies already freezing or getting

Bank of England exec denies pressure on Barclays

Bank of England exec denies pressure on Barclays
By ROBERT BARRAssociated Press LONDON (AP) - A senior Bank of England official denied Monday that he had given any hint to Barclays that it should manipulate reports of its borrowing costs. Paul Tucker, the Bank of England's deputy governor, also told U.K. lawmakers on the House of Commons