UNITED STATES

President Barack Obama's drive to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system faces uncertain prospects as lawmakers struggle to find agreement on cutting costs and funding the $1 trillion program. The outcome is at a critical juncture in the U.S. Congress. Here are some possible scenarios involving shortfalls in reaching his goals as planned:

President Barack Obama said on Wednesday a broad healthcare overhaul was critical to a U.S. economic recovery and urged Congress to take advantage of momentum behind the reform package, despite doubts about the plan even among fellow Democrats.

A growing shortage of primary care doctors could place a major burden on the U.S. healthcare system if President Barack Obama succeeds in extending medical insurance to millions of Americans who currently lack it.

Award-winning travel journalist Bruce Northam has wandered freestyle in over 100 countries on seven continents, with experiences ranging from drifting with Burma's sea gypsies, playing naked Frisbee with New Guinea natives, and beholding the beguiling shores of Antarctica.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer 3M Co reported a 17 percent drop in quarterly profit as the recession crimps demand for its Scotch tape, optical films for liquid crystal displays and other projects.

Stocks opened little changed on Thursday as investors digested a slew of quarterly results, including a brighter outlook and a forecast-beating profit from 3M Co and disappointing results from McDonald's Corp ahead of key housing market data.

Stocks were set to open slightly higher on Thursday as quarterly results, including a brighter outlook and a forecast-beating profit from 3M Co , gave investors confidence, ahead of key housing market data, that the earnings season will remain strong.

Aid of $10 billion from rich nations would be a good beginning to launch a U.N. climate treaty due to be agreed in Copenhagen in December, the United Nations' top climate official said on Thursday.

Natural Resource Partners LP, which leases coal reserves to miners, may see lower royalties as its clients find it increasingly difficult to obtain permits to mine, its chief operating officer said.

A plan to bring the ballooning U.S. deficit under control passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, requiring Congress to find savings to offset tax cuts or spending increases.

South Korea's anti-trust agency on Thursday imposed a $208 million fine on Qualcomm Inc and ordered the U.S. wireless chip and technology company to stop discriminating against companies using competitor's products.

President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he realized Americans were skeptical about his healthcare overhaul, but that the country's economic recovery depended on implementing the $1 trillion plan.

Hyundai Motor Co is likely to struggle to replicate its record quarterly profit as the benefits from a weaker won and government stimulus fade but the popularity of its small, cheap vehicles will help it gain share in a weak global market.

Ford Motor Co posted a $2.3 billion quarterly net profit, mainly due to debt restructuring, and said it was on track to at least break even in 2011, sending its shares up more than 7 percent.

Ford Motor Co posted a $2.3 billion quarterly net profit, mainly due to debt restructuring actions, with global markets still reeling from a recession that helped to push U.S. rivals General Motors and Chrysler into bankruptcy.

South Korea's anti-trust agency imposed on Thursday a $208 million fine on Qualcomm Inc and ordered the U.S. wireless chip and technology firm to end discriminatory licensing practices and rebates.

The U.S. consumer will not drive a global economic recovery and the United States is still at risk from high unemployment and souring commercial real estate loans, said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday.

Swiss drugmaker Roche gave a bullish forecast for the next two years on the back of its $47 billion acquisition of Genentech and said it would expand capacity for H1N1 flu drug Tamiflu.

World stocks rose close to the previous session's nine-month high and oil edged up on Thursday as forecast-beating earnings from major firms raised expectations for a global economic recovery. Swiss bank Credit Suisse's higher-than-expected second-quarter profits and drugmaker Roche's bullish two-year forecast followed solid reports in the United States from Apple and Starbucks on Wednesday.

Hyundai Motor Co's quarterly profit jumped by nearly half to a record high thanks to a weaker won boosting offshore sales and government incentives at home, factors which should help it outperform rivals this year.

Asian stocks climbed to a 10-month high on Thursday led by energy shares, though some investors wondered if upward momentum from corporate earnings reports justified increasingly pricey valuations.