Last-Minute Deal Averts U.S. Government Shutdown -- Wall Street Journal
Congressional leaders reached a last-gasp agreement Friday to avert a shutdown of the federal government, after days of haggling and tense hours of brinksmanship.
Word of the deal came just an hour before a midnight deadline, as House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and President Barack Obama made separate appearances before TV cameras to hail what they said were its historically large budget cuts.
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MIDDLE EAST
Syrian activists call for daily protests.
Egypt protesters defy police crackdown.
Bahrain divisions grow, fanning fears.
US and Saudi Arabia discuss Iran 'meddling'.
Rising violence in Gaza stirs fears of another offensive.
Gates: U.S. troops could stay in Iraq for years.
ASIA
Japan: 'Ten years' to decommission nuclear plant. End to Japan nuke crisis is years, a fortune away.
Japanese struggle with blackouts after latest quake.
Obama silent on China’s human rights abuses.
Sri Lanka must account for missing - Human Rights Watch.
AFRICA
Fighting erupts anew on Libya's eastern front. Gaddafi forces shell retreating rebels.
NATO and Libya rebels try to mend fences after misfire.
Nigeria: Polling under way in delayed election. Nigerians head to polls for pivotal vote.
French helicopters attacked in Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast: Gbagbo forces regain ground in Abidjan.
In Algeria, a chill in the Arab spring.
EUROPE
Polish presidential plane crash one year on.Year on, grieving Poles pray at Russia crash site.
Netherlands shooting 'kills six'.
Russia to hand over new Katyn massacre files to Poland.
Russian President Medvedev slams 'revolting' attack on his blog.
AMERICAS
U.S. government shutdown 2011 avoided with 11th-hour budget deal.
Peru votes Sunday with reformer Humala favored.
Cocaine lab found in Honduras signals big shift in drug business.
U.S. health-care system unprepared for major nuclear emergency, officials say.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Petraeus says al-Qaida not on rise in Afghanistan.
Caucasus Emirate leader survived Russian raid.
'May Allah forgive me': Teen suicide bomber apologizes for attack.
350 suicide bombers training in North Waziristan.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Gold hits record, silver soars on dollar decline.
US corn reserves expected to fall to 15-year low.
In Portugal crisis, worries on Europe’s ‘Debt Trap’.
Small Illinois bank fails; 27th shuttered in 2011.