BARACK OBAMA

Glam pop singer Lady Gaga is on the brink of becoming the first living person to have 10 million fans on a single social networking site, having already overtaken U.S. President Barack Obama on Facebook, a British group that measures online popularity said on Friday.

Private payrolls rose only modestly in June and overall employment fell for the first time this year as thousands of temporary census jobs ended, showing the economic recovery failing to pick up steam.

U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Friday nearly $800 million in loans and grants for the build-out of broadband networks to reach homes, schools and hospitals.

U.S. President Barack Obama is slated to announce on Friday nearly $800 million in loans and grants for the build-out of broadband networks to reach homes, schools and hospitals.

Employment fell for the first time this year in June as thousands of temporary census jobs ended and private hiring grew less than expected, dealing a blow to President Barack Obama who has identified job creation as a key priority.

Private payrolls rose less than expected in June and overall employment fell for the first time this year as thousands of temporary census jobs ended, showing the economic recovery is failing to gain traction.

In a blow to Indian jewelers, the US has stopped the duty-free status for gold necklaces from India as the product was found to be competitive in US markets. Earlier, US used to allow duty-free status to certain products from developing countries to help them expand their economies. Other items that have been struck off the duty-free list are passenger tyres from Thailand and wood flooring from Brazil.

Employment likely contracted for the first time this year in June as thousands of temporary jobs for census workers ended, though private-sector hiring probably picked up, according to a Reuters survey.

Tropical storm Alex slowed oil spill clean-up and containment work in the Gulf of Mexico and drove more petroleum into fragile Gulf wetlands and beaches on Thursday, with any permanent fix to BP Plc's ruptured deep-sea well still several weeks away.

U.S. jobless numbers likely fell in June for the first time this year, a Reuters poll showed. The key monthly unemployment report will be released on Friday.

New claims for U.S. jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, while growth in the manufacturing sector slowed in June, heightening fears the country's economic recovery was stalling.

Goldman Sachs officials insisted demands for billions of dollars from insurer AIG ahead of a $182-billion government rescue package were based on legitimate market prices and denied gaming values for a massive payout.

New claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, while manufacturing activity slowed in June, heightening fears the country's economic recovery was stalling.

Whoever said it's all about the economy, stupid, got it only partially right. It is indeed all about the economy, or at least half of it is about the economy. The rest is about a country's national interest. Typically, nations act or react to situations involving one of the above-mentioned

Hurricane Alex slowed oil clean-up and containment efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, with any permanent fix to BP Plc's ruptured deep-sea oil well still several weeks away.

New claims for state jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, while manufacturing activity and employment slowed in June, heightening fears the U.S. economic recovery is stalling.

The number of workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance rose unexpectedly last week, a report showed on Thursday, heightening fears the labor market recovery was stalling.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a landmark overhaul of financial regulations but the Senate put off action until mid-July, delaying a final victory for President Barack Obama.

Oil fell for a fourth straight day on Thursday, shedding 1.7 percent toward $74, on signs that China's economic growth was slowing, raising concerns about energy demand. The pace of manufacturing growth in the world's second largest oil consumer slowed in June as government steps to cool the property market and curb bank lending combined with a faltering global recovery.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday maintained pressure on China to ensure its currency policy did not give it an unfair export advantage.

U.S. President Barack Obama launched a broad attack against Republican lawmakers on Wednesday, calling them out of touch with ordinary Americans for opposing Wall Street reform and siding with Big Oil.