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Reuters - The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.

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AP - The Treasury Department sank billions into auto finance giant GMAC Inc. without an exit strategy or proof the company was viable — a decision that could cost taxpayers $6.3 billion, a new watchdog report says.

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AFP - Japan will oppose a proposed global trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna, which has won EU and US backing ahead of an international conference, the top government spokesman said Thursday.

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AP - China’s inflation spiked higher in February, adding to pressure on Beijing to prevent overheating and keep the recovery in the world’s third-largest economy on track.

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AP - The foreclosure crisis isn’t over, but the pace of growth may finally be slowing down.

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AP - With unemployment high and personal wealth diminished, how was it that strapped consumers were paying down their credit card debt last year? It turns out they probably weren’t.

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AP - For the want of a better two-second picture of a tachometer, ABC News has called into question its reporting on acceleration problems with Toyota vehicles.

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Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications nudged higher last week, reflecting increased demand for home purchase loans even as interest rates trekked higher, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

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AP - Colorado’s unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point in January to 7.4 percent, the state Department of Labor and Employment said Wednesday.

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AP - The government ran up the largest monthly deficit in history in February, keeping the flood of red ink on track to top last year’s record for the full year.

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