UNITED STATES

McDonald's Corp posted an expectations-topping 2.6 percent increase in January sales at established restaurants, as overseas results overshadowed a sluggish performance in the United States.

President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he hoped Congress would soon deliver a package of measures to boost U.S. employment and growth.

Senior Chinese military officers have proposed that their country boost defence spending, adjust PLA deployments, and possibly sell some U.S. bonds to punish Washington for its latest round of arms sales to Taiwan.

U.S. consumer confidence fell in February to near a level seen at the beginning of the recession, as high unemployment and some stock market weakness sapped January's optimism, a research group said on Tuesday.

Apple and Google's mobile platforms are gaining market-share on rivals, while Microsoft and Palm are continuing to slip.

McDonald's Corp posted an expectations-topping 2.6 percent increase in January sales at established restaurants, as overseas results overshadowed a sluggish performance in the United States.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, led by commodity-related stocks, as speculation Greece would get help from the European Union to cut the country's deficit weakened the U.S. dollar, lifting prices of oil and basic materials.

Molson Coors Brewing Co reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday mainly on weak volumes across all markets, prompting the beer maker to issue a tepid volume forecast for 2010.

U.S. stock markets rallied today as investors increasingly expect the European Union to offer some sort of assistance for Greece.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that the United States wanted a U.N. Security Council resolution within weeks to tackle Iran's nuclear programme as Iran said it had begun making higher-grade nuclear fuel.

The world's richest economies are set to grow faster this year than forecast a month ago, although the latest Reuters economic outlook showed the upturn will be feeble in comparison to resurgent emerging market peers.

Molson Coors Brewing Co reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, weighed down by weak volumes across all markets and cost inflation in the United States and Britain.

North Korea's top nuclear envoy arrived in Beijing on Tuesday as Pyongyang said it was willing to step up talks with China on resuming stalled disarmament-for-aid talks.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko launched action on Tuesday to call rival Viktor Yanukovich's election as president into question.

Coca-Cola Co reported a quarterly profit in line with analysts' estimates as strong volume in China, India and Brazil offset a decline in North America.

The U.S. government will continue its investigation into 2010 Prius hybrids over braking complaints even though Toyota Motor Corp has announced a recall of that model, the Transportation Department said on Tuesday.

Iran began making higher-grade nuclear fuel on Tuesday, state television reported, and the Pentagon said the United States wanted a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iran within weeks over its nuclear program.

The world's richest economies are set to grow faster this year than forecast a month ago, although the latest Reuters economic outlook showed the upturn will be feeble in comparison to resurgent emerging market peers.

President Barack Obama's vow to get tougher on countries such as China that undervalue their currencies has heightened attention on whether the Treasury Department will formally label China as a currency manipulator in a semi-annual report due in April.

MillerCoors, the second-largest brewer in the United States, on Tuesday reported a 21.6 percent slide in fourth-quarter net income reflecting a tough economy and a sharp rise in share-based salary bonus packages.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Being an older mother significantly increases the risk of having a child with autism, but being an older father only increases the risk when the mother is under the age of 30, U.S. researchers said on Monday.