Full Text: Republicans' Letter to Bernanke Questioning More Fed Action  —  The top four congressional Republicans sent the following letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Monday ahead of the central bank's two-day meeting that began today:  —  Dear Chairman Bernanke,

For immediate release  —  Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in August indicates that economic growth remains slow.  Recent indicators point to continuing weakness in overall labor market conditions, and the unemployment rate remains elevated.

Barack Obama joins Open Government Partnership for group photo  —  U.S. President Barack Obama waves while standing with other leaders during the Open Government Partnership event at the United Nations September 20 in New York City.  The United Nations General Assembly kicks off September 21 …

Poll finds Obama losing ground to Republicans  —  WASHINGTON — Look out President Barack Obama.  Even Sarah Palin's gaining on you.  —  A new McClatchy-Marist poll finds that Obama looks increasingly vulnerable in next year's election, with a majority of voters believing he'll lose to any Republican …

Rick Perry's pledge to stand with Israel “as a Christian” is a gift to Islamic extremists.  —  Yesterday Rick Perry went to New York, stood with Jewish leaders, and declared his support for Israel.  He called it a democracy, a bulwark against terrorism, and a stalwart ally of the United States.

In U.S., Significantly Fewer 18- to 25-Year-Olds Uninsured  —  Percentage of uninsured 26- to 64-year-olds increasing  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fewer young adults in the U.S. reported lacking health insurance coverage in each of the three quarters since the new healthcare law …

R.E.M. Break Up After Three Decades  —  Legendary rock band have ‘called it a day’  —  R.E.M. have announced that they have broken up after 31 years together.  “As lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band,” the band said in a statement on their official website today.

Marine Recruiters Visit Gay Center in Oklahoma  —  TULSA, Okla. — Master Sgt. Anthony Henry, a top Marine recruiting trainer for the southwestern United States, pulled up to Tulsa's biggest gay community center on Tuesday morning and left his Chevy where he could make a fast getaway.

Ron Paul says he'd consider putting Dennis Kucinich in his Cabinet  —  Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) says he would consider putting the liberal congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) in his Cabinet if he wins the presidency in 2012.  —  Paul said his libertarian political philosophy helps him connect …

Obama's Tax on Millionaires  —  President Obama's proposal for a new tax on millionaires echoes a call in many countries struggling with budget deficits and overwhelming debts to make the wealthy pay more.  —  Britain and France have imposed new taxes on their highest earners — and Italy …

I got your class warfare right here … She's doing well in the early polls running against Scott Brown for his Senate seat.  If she doesn't get it, can we in the UK have first dibs on her?

U.S. assembling secret drone bases in Africa, Arabian Peninsula, officials say  —  The Obama administration is assembling a constellation of secret drone bases for counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula as part of a newly aggressive campaign …

A Grievous Wrong  —  Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday for the 1989 killing of a police officer in Savannah, Ga. The Georgia pardon and parole board's refusal to grant him clemency is appalling in light of developments after his conviction: reports about police misconduct …

Apple's Next Event to Be Held on October 4, Starring Its New CEO  —  That's the day Apple is currently expected to hold its next big media event, according to sources close to the situation, where the tech giant will unveil the next iteration of its popular iPhone.

Law gives huge pension perks to union leaders  —  In all, 23 expected to collect combined $56 million in their lifetimes  —  Dennis Gannon, then-president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, speaks with a bullhorn in April 2010 outside the Willis Tower as he joins around union members …