U.S. Top News Early Edition: Congress passes Obama tax deal

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	12/17/2010
Good Morning Aron LATEST NEWS Congress passes Obama tax deal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress gave final approval late on Thursday to the deal President Barack Obama and Republicans made to extend expiring tax cuts -- a high-stakes gamble to create jobs at a cost of deepening the U.S. debt. | Full Article Irish debt downgraded after EU sets rescue fund December 17, 2010 09:02 AM ET DUBLIN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Ratings agency Moody's gave a resounding thumbs-down on Friday to Europe's efforts to resolve a rolling debt crisis, slashing Ireland's credit rating by five notches despite this month's EU/IMF bailout. | Full Article WikiLeaks' Assange says he is victim of smears December 17, 2010 08:30 AM ET ELLINGHAM, England (Reuters) - WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange has declared that he is the victim of a smear campaign after being freed on bail over rape allegations and sent to spend Christmas at an English country house. | Full Article North Korea says to strike South if drill goes ahead December 17, 2010 09:05 AM ET SEOUL/BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea said on Friday it would strike again at the South if a live-firing drill by Seoul on a disputed island went ahead, with an even stronger response than last month's shelling that killed four people. | Full Article Democrats abruptly drop spending fight December 16, 2010 09:42 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats abruptly abandoned a fight over spending on Thursday and said they would instead extend government funding on a temporary basis, a move that gives Republicans a greater chance to enact the deep cuts they have promised. | Full Article BUSINESS NEWS Market opens flat; European fears weigh December 17, 2010 09:37 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened near unchanged on Friday, with the euro zone debt crisis keeping investors cautious after Ireland's credit rating was slashed. | Full Article Total, Suncor in $1.8 billion Canada oil sands deal December 17, 2010 06:23 AM ET PARIS (Reuters) - France's Total said on Friday it would spend C$1.75 billion ($1.8 billion) to forge a partnership with Suncor Energy in Canada's oil sands, the latest foreign push into a booming new source of oil wealth. | Full Article Oracle software sales surge, shares rise December 16, 2010 07:35 PM ET BOSTON (Reuters) - Oracle Corp forecast that its profit in the current quarter will beat Wall Street estimates, suggesting that its strategy of offering a one-stop shop for software and hardware is paying off. | Full Article Level 3 calls for conditions on Comcast/NBC deal December 17, 2010 02:43 AM ET NEW YORK/ BANGALORE (Reuters) - Level 3 Communications Inc asked U.S. antitrust officials to set conditions on Comcast Corp's planned acquisition of NBC Universal that would assure "unfettered access" to all internet content. | Full Article Special Report: For Wall Street, dumb money pays December 17, 2010 09:00 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Yan Qin is a freelance consultant and do-it-yourself stock trader who works out of her apartment in Queens, New York. From the comfort of her living room, she keeps one eye on the business TV network CNBC, the other on a laptop computer, where her E*Trade account shows the best prices down to the penny, flickering moment to moment. | Full Article HEALTH NEWS U.S. and Europe seek limits on Roche's Avastin U.S., states spar in Florida court over health law Gene scan shows childhood brain cancer is different So how much does IVF cost, anyway? FDA uncovers more problems at J&J Fort Washington plant RELATED VIDEO Wen arrives in Pakistan Sweden plays down Assange bail row Boat injured fly to Perth hospital A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today. Your daily briefing on the latest tech developments from around the world from Reuters expert tech correspondents. Register Today. The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day.. Register Today. » MORE NEWSLETTERS ODDLY ENOUGH "Whatever" voted most irritating word in poll Full Article Embalmed head of France's King Henri IV found Online flirting: it's all about lip service Arizona teacher claims $95.3 million lottery jackpot Fireman admits causing farmer's death with siren - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend