Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cells

President Obama signed an executive order Monday repealing a Bush-era policy that limited federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research. Obama’s move overturns an order signed by President Bush in 2001 that barred the National Institutes of Health from funding research on embryonic stem cells beyond using 60 cell lines that existed at that time. Obama also signed a presidential memorandum establishing greater independence for federal science policies and programs

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Trouble Selling Your Home? Why Not Try a House Swap

A recent craigslist ad screamed, “I want to TRADE UP.” The author of the post offered a five-bedroom home in an Atlanta suburb for a house worth $100,000 more in either the metro Atlanta area, North Florida or Las Vegas. Another listing, by an 84-year-old widow, offered to trade her three-bedroom home in Scottsdale, Ariz., for one in the San Francisco Bay Area, which was closer to her family.

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U.S., Syria find ‘common ground’ in diplomatic talks

The United States and Syria found a lot of "common ground" on which to cooperate in the Middle East, the State Department’s top Middle East official said after talks in Damascus. But envoy Jeffrey Feltman on Saturday warned to “keep expectations in check” as Washington and Damascus re-engage after several years of strained relations.

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Limbaugh: A deliberate distraction or de facto leader?

As Democrats cast conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh as the de facto leader of the GOP, Republicans are decrying what they see as an orchestrated scheme designed to divert attention from the Democrats’ spending proposals. Democrats fired out two political e-mails about Limbaugh on Thursday morning, calling him the face of the GOP, and Republicans sent out one of their own, demanding that the White House “come clean” about and apologize for a “political attack game.” An e-mail sent on behalf of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee states: “Rush Limbaugh is the leading voice of the Republican Party.

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Critics question Obama’s pledge to end ‘pork’

As a spending bill loaded with pork makes its way through Congress, President Obama is getting pushback from members of his own party who are questioning his vow to end wasteful spending. The president on Wednesday pledged turn tide on an “era of fiscal irresponsibility,” reiterating his campaign promise that the days of “pork … as a strategy” are over

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Geithner Tries to Resell the Bank Plan — and Himself

It’s ugly, but it’s true: when a Washington power player looks set to fall, the capital drools. So Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner found himself the object of intense interest when he came before the House Ways and Means committee to testify Tuesday. It was his first major public appearance since his less than inspiring rollout Feb.

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Report: Nearly One in Five Owe More Than Homes Are Worth

How’s this for odds: If you have a house in Las Vegas, there’s a 58% chance you owe more on your mortgage than the place is worth. Nevada, of course, is ground zero for the real estate bust — but it’s hardly alone in having truckloads of “underwater” homeowners. As of December, 19.8% of mortgage holders nationwide had negative equity in their houses, according to a new report by loan-tracker First American CoreLogic.

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European markets close down

European markets closed lower Tuesday, following a global selling spree the day before. Europe’s major exchanges drifted up in morning trading but by the end of the day London’s FTSE 100 was down 3.1 percent, the CAC 40 lost 1 percent and Frankfurt’s Dax 30 sank 0.5 percent.

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