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Obama signs $106B war spending bill

WASHINGTON, June 24 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama signed into law Wednesday a $106 billion supplemental spending measure that will help pay for U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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The bill had nearly fallen apart over controversy about how to keep out of the public eye photos showing the U.S. military abusing detainees in custody, The Hill reported.

Obama decided last month to keep the photos secret, and a federal court stayed an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit to have them released.

Last week, The Hill said, the Senate approved a measure to keep the photos secret, but the House still must vote on it.

After signing the bill, Obama said in a statement, "I want to thank the members of Congress who put politics aside and stood up to support a bill that will provide for the safety of our troops and the American people."

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Along with about $80 billion to pay for the wars until Sept. 30, the bill includes $7.7 billion to prepare for possible spread of the H1N1 flu and $5 billion in new borrowing for the International Monetary Fund.

The bill also includes $1 billion for the "cash-for-clunkers" program for car buyers who trade older cars for more efficient ones.


Iran diplomats uninvited to July 4 events

WASHINGTON, June 24 (UPI) -- Iranian diplomats will not be welcome at Independence Day celebrations at U.S. diplomatic missions around the world, the Obama administration said Wednesday.

The U.S. State Department said the Iranians were uninvited because their presence at July Fourth festivities in the wake of the Iranian government's crackdown on protesters in their country wouldn't mesh with American values, Voice of America reported.

"Given everything that's going on, given the kind of response that the Iranian government has had to the desires of the Iranian people to have their voices be heard, to have their basic freedoms be respected -- these are the most fundamental American political values that we have," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said. "I think it would be incongruous for Iranians to want to go to a celebration like that."

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Still, the Obama administration said, pulling the invites doesn't mean the United States is slamming the door on future talks with Iran on terrorism and nuclear weaponry issues, VOA reported.

It wasn't like there had been a rush by Iranian diplomats to confirm they planned to attend any of the celebratory activities. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said none had responded to the invitations, which are no longer valid.


Ontario liquor store workers get deal

TORONTO, June 24 (UPI) -- The union representing Ontario's public liquor store workers said it reached a tentative contract with provincial officials Wednesday, averting a strike.

Vanda Klumper of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union said the four-year deal with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario achieves the union's primary goal of protecting hours and rights for its members, particularly part-time workers, Canwest News Service reported. The contract covers approximately 7,000 workers, of which about 60 percent are part-time, with no vacation, sick time or benefits.

"We set a goal in this round of bargaining that we would not settle for any deal unless it protected the livelihoods of our permanent staff and made measurable gains for the majority of our members who are struggling to make ends meet as casuals," said Klumper, chairwoman of the union bargaining team. "We achieved that goal."

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Terms of the tentative contract were not divulged. The union was working on setting up a ratification vote.

"The bargaining team is unanimous in recommending acceptance of this historic contract," Klumper said. "This contract is a victory, not only for OPSEU members, but for working people across Ontario."

A strike scheduled for midnight Tuesday had been put off when it became apparent progress was being made in negotiations, the Toronto Star reported.

The threat of about 608 stores across the Canadian province being staffed by just 800 managers during a strike created a mad scramble at many Toronto liquor outlets and left shelves bare Tuesday, the newspaper said.

The union workers' contract expired March 31, and last month members voted 93 percent in favor of a strike, which would have been the first in the liquor board's history, the Star said.


Sanford admits affair, apologizes

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 24 (UPI) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday he went to Argentina during Father's Day weekend to visit a woman with whom he had been having an affair.

Sanford apologized to his wife and children and fought back tears during a 20-minute Capitol news conference, The (Columbia, S.C.) State reported.

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"The bottom line is this: I have been unfaithful to my wife," the two-term governor said. "Let me apologize to my wife, Jenny, and my four boys ... for letting them down."

Sanford said he had been having the affair with the woman in Argentina, whom he did not name, for the past year but would not say if it was over, The State reported.

He would not say if he and his wife are separated.

The governor said he misled his staff earlier this week when he told them he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

He said he would resign as chairman of the Republican Governor's Association after months of using that platform to criticize President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package.

Sanford's criticism contributed to speculation he was considering a 2012 run for president, the State said.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour assumed the chairmanship of the governor's association, CNN reported Wednesday.

Sanford did not respond when asked if he would resign as governor.

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