Republicans block small business plan in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans blocked a $30-billion plan to help community banks boost lending to small businesses, dealing a blow to President Barack Obama's election-year battle to reduce unemployment.

Issues in Depth

BP's Bob Dudley poses for the media outside BP's headquarters in London July 27, 2010.  REUTERS/Toby Melville
Special Report:

Will BP's Dudley do right?

Supremely calm under pressure. Down to earth. Well liked, even by his enemies. And an American. BP is betting Bob Dudley has all the right traits to win over an angry public and deal with an unfriendly U.S. Congress in the aftermath of the Gulf oil disaster.  Full Article 

A demonstrator is arrested during a protest against Arizona's controversial Senate Bill 1070 immigration law outside Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office in Phoenix July 29, 2010. REUTERS/Joshua Lott

Gloves are off in Arizona

A judge's ruling on Arizona's controversial immigration law may be just the first step on the way to the Supreme Court.   Full Article | Video 

The Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi e-book reader is shown in this undated publicity photo released to Reuters July 28, 2010.  REUTERS/Amazon.com/Handout

New Kindle unveiled

Amazon launches a cheaper, wireless-only Kindle, betting the price will give its latest electronic reader mass-appeal as Apple's iPad gains ground. How much?  Video | Full Article 

President Barack Obama appears on the daytime TV talk show ''The View'' in New York City July 28, 2010. From left are Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Obama seeks "mojo" on "View"

President Obama goes on daytime TV to revive his common touch, and gets grilled about his Blackberry, Lindsay Lohan and the Afghan war.  Full Article 

A man holds a sign at a tax day rally by Tea Party activists in the New York City suburb of New City, New York, April 15, 2010. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Why taxes should rise

As politicians fight over tax cuts enacted under President Bush, few want to face an uncomfortable point -- taxes should rise, not just for the rich, but for most Americans.   Commentary 

A cameraman films in front the house where the bodies of eight newborn children were found in two different places in the house and the garden in the village of Villers-au-Tertre, northern France, July 29, 2010. REUTERS/Pascal Rossigno

Infanticide shocks French town

A 47-year-old woman has confessed to suffocating her eight new-born children and hiding their bodies in a village in northern France.  Video | Full Article 

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