The budget was announced, including an unusual 18% increase in spending on defence.

ECONOMIST: Politics this week

After analysing an unusual but temporary increase in Titan's brightness, Dr Griffith concluded that the most likely explanation was the presence of a thick, reflective cloud, covering roughly 9% of the part of Titan's surface then visible from earth.

ECONOMIST: Comparative meteorology

The GOP opposition to any kind of tax rate increase has stalled deficit negotiations for two years and led to unusual political drama, such as McConnell recently filibustering a proposal he introduced and Thursday night's rebuff by House Republicans of the alternative tax plan pushed by Boehner, their leader.

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