What Obama Wants and What Congress Will Give Him

President Obama offered a passionate defense of a progressive agenda in his inaugural address Monday, laying out the legislative priorities for the next four years that will likely be echoed in his State of the Union address next month. That includes unfinished business from his first term, such as immigration (which has a future in Congress) and climate change (which doesn’t). There was a pledge...

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Defterios: What keeps Davos relevant

STORY HIGHLIGHTSSince the late 20th Century, the ski resort of Davos has been synonymous with the World Economic ForumDefterios: I first came to Davos as a relatively junior correspondent, two months after the Berlin Wall fellFall of Communism, China's opening, removal of apartheid in South Africa unfolded in the 90sIt's the inter-play between geo-politics and business is what keeps the forum relevantDavos...

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At least 3 hurt in extra-alarm fire at South Side high-rise

A fire in a high-rise residential building on the South Side...

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Israel goes to polls, set to re-elect Netanyahu

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israelis voted on Tuesday in an election that is expected to hand hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a third term, opening the way for a showdown with Iran and bolstering opponents of Palestinian statehood. However, Netanyahu's own Likud party, running alongside the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu group, looks set to win fewer seats than in the previous...

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European shares test two-year highs, yen volatile before BOJ

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares inched towards two-year highs on Monday, as a political attempt to break a budget impasse in the United States and expectations of aggressive Japanese stimulus bolstered the appetite for shares. U.S. House Republican leaders said on Friday they would seek to pass a three-month extension of federal borrowing authority in the coming days to buy time for...

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Harbaugh brothers take 49ers, Ravens to Super Bowl

This Super Bowl will be filled with firsts — and one significant last.The Harbaughs, San Francisco's Jim and Baltimore's John, will be the first pair of brothers to coach against each other in the NFL title game.Quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers and Joe Flacco of the Ravens each will be playing in his first Super Bowl — where success is the ultimate measure of elite QBs.It'll be Baltimore's...

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Exxon Mobil boss meets Iraqi leader in Baghdad

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s prime minister met with the head of Exxon Mobil on Monday to discuss the firm’s plans in the country, raising the possibility that Baghdad could be mending its dispute with America’s largest oil company.Exxon is helping to develop one of Iraq’s largest oil fields, but it has infuriated Baghdad by signing separate deals with the OPEC member’s largely autonomous Kurdish region...

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How Obama made opportunity real

STORY HIGHLIGHTSLZ Granderson: Specifics of Obama's first term may not be rememberedHe says his ability to win presidency twice is unforgettableGranderson: Obama, the first black president, makes opportunity real for manyHe says it makes presidency a possibility for people of all backgroundsEditor's note: LZ Granderson, who writes a weekly column for CNN.com, was named journalist of the year by the...

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President Obama begins 2nd term

Singers, musicians, vendors and a veteran parade planner tune up on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, for President Obama's Monday inauguration. (Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune) ...

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Wall Street Week Ahead: Earnings, money flows to push stocks higher

NEW YORK (Reuters) - With earnings momentum on the rise, the S&P 500 seems to have few hurdles ahead as it continues to power higher, its all-time high a not-so-distant goal. The U.S. equity benchmark closed the week at a fresh five-year high on strong housing and labor market data and a string of earnings that beat lowered expectations. Sector indexes in transportation...

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