On the back of Saturday's defeat, Johnson took time to defend his coaches, who have recently come under fire for their part in England's underwhelming displays.

BBC: Martin Johnson's England job is secure - RFU chief

Meanwhile, Obama came under fire for sermons made by his pastor and long-time friend, the Rev.

CNN: Obama wins tight Democratic race

Privately, several officials also said Bremer was carrying a stern message from the president that it is time, as one put it, to "light a fire" under the council, whose work, in the view of the White House, has been stalled by personal, ethnic and religious rivalries.

CNN: Bush: Iraqis should assume more responsibility

And then, for a fifth time, they went back -- into the fury of that village, under fire that seemed to come from every window, every doorway, every alley.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

Yet that study has come under fire from other economists, who argue that comparing different states over time shows that raising the minimum wage hurts job growth.

NPR: Obama, Business Groups Differ On Minimum Wage Plan