![[The original in Copenhagen's harbor draws about 1.5 million visitors a year.]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AQ855_MERMAI_D_20090726170142.jpg)
A Danish arts society wants a statue of Hans Christian Andersen's "Little Mermaid" removed from a Michigan town.
![[Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED308_henryl_A_20090727140842.jpg)
The arresting officer said Harvard scholar Gates was uncooperative and told the dispatcher to "keep cars coming," according to radio tapes.
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![[new home sales]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED307_homesa_AC_20090727140103.gif)
New-home sales jumped 11% in June from the previous month, the third increase in a row and supplying fresh evidence housing is beginning to stabilize.
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Lending continues to slow as bankers and borrowers refrain from taking risks, a bearish sign for the economy. The total amount of loans held by 15 large U.S. banks shrank by 2.8% in the second quarter.
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Verizon's profit fell 21% as weak business spending offset continued gains in wireless subscribers. The company said it would cut another 8,000 jobs.
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![[Cheap The High Cost of Discount Culture]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED310_0727ch_A_20090727143630.jpg)
Americans' mania for good deals has cost plenty, says Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of a new book about the forces that shape our buying habits.
![[U.S. Opens Two Days of High-Level Talks With China]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED315_0727ob_A_20090727153154.jpg)
Obama set the tone of his administration's first high-level talks with China by focusing on "mutual interests."
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![[video game sales]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AX432_VIDGAM_A_20090726175030.jpg)
Last month, videogame sales plunged by a record 29% year over year and sales of consoles like Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii dropped 38%.
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![[Bernanke speaks at town-hall forum]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED196_lehrer_A_20090726213831.jpg)
Bernanke defended actions he has taken over the past two years as necessary to avoid another Great Depression.
![[horses]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-AZ259_HORSES_C_20090726180756.jpg)
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![[organic foods]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AX408_ORGANI_C_20090726175634.jpg)
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![[outlook]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-AZ254_OUTLOO_C_20090726164346.jpg)
![[Lede]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED073_Sun072_C_20090724164610.jpg)
![[IOU]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-EC679_0722io_C_20090722190113.jpg)
![[How to Build a Portfolio Wisely, Safely]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MI-AX926_PREPAR_C_20090724175313.jpg)
![[PT-AM101_Golf1_C_20090724143717.jpg]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/PT-AM101_Golf1_C_20090724143717.jpg)
![[PT-AM110_TASTIN_C_20090724174233.jpg]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/PT-AM110_TASTIN_C_20090724174233.jpg)
![[G20]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-AZ218_SUMMIT_C_20090724151531.jpg)
![[PT-AM104_sonvol_C_20090721144436.jpg]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/PT-AM104_sonvol_C_20090721144436.jpg)
![[OB-EC927_cover__C_20090723193247.jpg]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-EC927_cover__C_20090723193247.jpg)
![[WK-AQ579_FILMJU_C_20090722124959.jpg]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/WK-AQ579_FILMJU_C_20090722124959.jpg)
![[WK-AQ565_THEATE_C_20090722122708.jpg]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/WK-AQ565_THEATE_C_20090722122708.jpg)
![[Mouse]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-AZ190B_STEMC_C_20090723155857.jpg)
![[Reps. Mike Ross, left, and HenryWaxman, center, have jousted over health care.]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AQ845_BLUEDO_A_20090726165451.jpg)
Blue Dog Democrats could delay a vote until after Labor Day. The fiscally conservative group wants to ensure the plan isn't too costly for small businesses.
![[Hillary Clinton]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED146_clinto_A_20090726134316.jpg)
Clinton said the Obama administration considered Russia a "great power," in an apparent effort to reassure Moscow that the U.S. remains committed to "reset" relations.
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The U.S. has joined the U.K. in lobbying Europe over strict proposals to regulate hedge- and private-equity funds
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Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and SK Telecom will tie up with other companies to develop semiconductors for smart phones and digital TV sets.
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Stocks closed slightly higher Monday as new-home sales helped lift Bank of America and a host of other financials. Technology stocks, including Verizon, paused after a string of gains.
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![[marketwatch]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED074_Sun072_A_20090724165317.jpg)
New rules aimed at making home appraisals more accurate are raising costs and prompting longer waits to get to the closing table, some in the industry say.
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![[alberto contador]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AX421_SP_COU_A_20090726191158.jpg)
The Couch climbs out of his man cave to watch a Spaniard seize the Tour de France.
![[OB-ED324_oj_ran_A_20090727154604.jpg]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED324_oj_ran_A_20090727154604.jpg)
It’s much easier to raise taxes if you don’t pay them.
![[reinvent]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-DE288_CJ_Rei_C_20090222143118.jpg)
In order to have long-term, successful careers, we all must rethink how we'll stay marketable in the future work force.
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![[manhattan apartment hunt]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED229_heddin_C_20090727095606.jpg)
The flailing New York City real estate market is a breeding ground for buyer remorse these days as home values continue to drop. One of contributor Douglas Heddings's clients recently walked away from $250,000 deposit in search of a better deal. Mr. Heddings offers advice on "timing the market."
![[minimumwage]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED233_wage72_C_20090727102508.jpg)
Employers are now required to pay hourly workers at least $7.25 per hour. But rising labor costs aren't entirely a bad thing.
![[OB-ED237_0727cu_A_20090727113104.jpg]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED237_0727cu_A_20090727113104.jpg)
Merce Cunningham, who died Sunday at age 90, was committed to allowing random chance to dictate his dancemaking.
![[Brian Billick]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-EC997_longto_A_20090724113011.jpg)
Brian Billick weighs in on the tough choices facing his billion-dollar sport in his new book.
![[today's photos]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-ED279_0727po_A_20090727131521.jpg)
An alternative rocker rolls on, a sailor gets a goodbye kiss, Hindu men show their devotion and more.
![[cheesecake factory]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AX438_satisf_A_20090726170646.jpg)
Companies are upgrading their software tools, offering more training to employees and investing in service efforts in an effort to please customers amid the recession.
Zelaya’s removal from office was a triumph for the rule of law.
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![[organic foods]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AX408_ORGANI_A_20090726175634.jpg)
Organic farmers and grocery retailers are embracing the idea of lower-cost, private-label products to retain newly budget-conscious consumers.
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![[swan upping]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-EC922_swan2_C_20090723184123.jpg)
![[White House budget director Peter Orszag, President Obama's point man on controlling health-care spending, has been laboring over the past week to address challenges to the president's health plan from Capitol Hill.]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AQ810_MEDSPE_C_20090723181129.jpg)