TWO incomplete, sun-whitened human skeletons lie spoon-fashion beneath a drought-stunted palo verde tree in the Arizona desert.

THE recent G-20 meeting of finance ministers in St Petersburg confirmed that the debate between growth and austerity is over — at least for now.

US firms with an Irish presence have reportedly been paying less than the recommended 12.5% rate of corporation tax for overseas firms.

The emerging consensus among economists is that immigration provides a net benefit, writes Edward Krudy

The bill removes most threats to a recovery, but many issues remain, writes Jason Lange

The shape of a deal to avert the US "fiscal cliff" is emerging with just hours to go before a midnight deadline, Washington sources have said.

Democrats and Republicans say signs of progress are emerging in urgent negotiations to avert the looming US fiscal cliff ahead of a midnight deadline.

Barack Obama and House of Representatives speaker John Boehner met at the White House amid talks to avert America’s impending “fiscal cliff” as a growing number of Republicans in Congress appeared to be veering towards accepting the president’s demand that the wealthy must pay more tax.

Barack Obama signalled he was willing to compromise with Republicans – but refused to give ground on tax rises for the rich.

US president Barack Obama said last night his re-election means Americans support his approach for avoiding a looming “fiscal cliff” that threatens a new recession — and that his approach means the country’s wealthiest people will have to pay more in taxes.

US president Barack Obama has said his re-election means Americans support his approach for avoiding a looming “fiscal cliff” that threatens a new recession - and that his approach means the country’s wealthiest people will have to pay more in taxes.

Four years on, the sad truth is that despite the initial ‘cause for great rejoicing’, Barack Obama has not delivered on his election promises, argues Niall Ferguson

Republican Mitt Romney received no immediate boost to his White House bid by naming US Representative Paul Ryan as vice-presidential running mate, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

Presidential candidates have different ideas about the economy but Obama’s make more sense, writes Laura Tyson

The bitter partisanship gripping Washington blocked a deal among members of a special congressional panel that struggled and eventually failed in its mission to cut more than a trillion dollars from America’s crippling and expanding debt.

The US “super-committee” that was supposed to solve the country’s massive deficit problem was being wound up today, having failed to bridge bitter differences between Republicans and Democrats.

REPUBLICANS and Democrats rushed to rework rival deficit reduction plans yesterday, but, with the fate of both proposals heavily in doubt, top lawmakers pursued a behind-the-scenes compromise to avert a crippling US debt default.

The US government’s deficit spending will surge to a record $1.5 trillion (€1.09 trillion) this year, congressional budget experts estimated, blaming the slow economic recovery and last month’s extension of Bush-era tax cuts.

The Republican party is poised for head-to-head clashes with President Barack Obama as it takes charge of the US House of Representatives today, promising an era of smaller government and less spending.

US President Barack Obama is leading his Democratic allies in an all-out campaign to win over wavering lawmakers ahead of a cliffhanger vote tomorrow on his historic healthcare overhaul.

DEMOCRATS in the House of Representatives are pushing to the brink of passage a landmark $940 billion (€690bn) healthcare overhaul bill that would simultaneously deliver on President Barack Obama’s promise to expand coverage while slashing the deficit, a strategy aimed at winning over the party’s fiscal conservatives.

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama pushed job creation to the top of his agenda and vowed not to abandon his struggling healthcare overhaul after a political setback that raised doubts about his leadership.

US SENATE Democrats cleared the second of three 60-vote hurdles on President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul yesterday, moving its version of the landmark legislation one step closer to passage before Christmas.

JUBILANT US Senate Democrats secured the 60th and decisive vote for historic healthcare reform legislation, putting President Barack Obama’s top domestic policy issue firmly on a path for Christmas Eve passage.

Jubilant US Senate Democrats secured the 60th and decisive vote for historic health care reform legislation, putting President Barack Obama’s top domestic policy issue firmly on a path for Christmas Eve passage.

WITH support from a lone Republican, a key Senate committee yesterday approved a middle-of-the-road healthcare plan that moves President Barack Obama’s goal of wider and affordable coverage a giant step closer to becoming law.

Health care reform – President Barack Obama’s top domestic policy priority – is poised for a critical but far-from-final vote today.

The White House is to announce that the US government's deficit is about US$262bn (€184bn) less than was predicted early this year, but still three times bigger than last year's.

US president Barack Obama, who quoted a new White House study suggesting that small businesses pay far more per employee for health insurance than big companies, said the disparity was “unsustainable” and “unacceptable”.

THE White House is being forced to acknowledge the wide gap between its once-upbeat predictions about the economy and today’s bleak landscape.

THE first 100 days of President Barack Obama’s administration has seen some major successes in the bid to push through its agenda but it has also encountered some teething problems along the way.

What are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

Legislation that would allow imports of low-cost drugs from Canada and European countries would save only about 1% on US prescription spending over the next 10 years, a report from the Congressional Budget Office said.

US SECRETARY of State Colin Powell sought support from Britain, France, Germany and Russia yesterday for a proposed UN resolution that would give the world body a larger role in Iraq’s economic and political future.

THE US federal government is in store for at least eight more years of budget deficits, including a record $480 billion shortfall in 2004, congressional budget, according to analysts.

THE White House yesterday opposed an alternative congressional resolution authorising force against Iraq, saying it does too little to disarm President Saddam Hussein.

The White House today opposed an alternative congressional resolution authorising force against Iraq, saying it does too little to disarm President Saddam Hussein.