BARACK OBAMA

President Barack Obama remains committed to ending unfair loopholes and tax breaks for international corporations, but congressional tax writers and others doubt that will happen without broader reforms, such as cutting the top corporate tax rate.

Major U.S. defense contractors, braced for restrained U.S. spending and higher pension costs, are likely to forecast flat or slow growth for 2010, while commercial aerospace firms could offer more evidence that economic conditions are firming.

President Barack Obama remains committed to reforming international corporate taxation to end unfair loopholes, although congressional tax writers and others doubt that will happen without broader reforms such as cutting the top corporate tax rate.

The rivals in Honduras' political crisis open new talks on Tuesday to discuss the proposed return of ousted President Manuel Zelaya, a thorny issue that could derail the fragile negotiations altogether.

Afghan politicians on Tuesday expressed frustration over delays to the outcome of the August presidential election, held up by elaborate efforts to wipe clean the widespread fraud that marred the vote.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday the time had not yet come for more sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program and praised what she said was Russia's help in tackling the issue.

U.S. President Barack Obama's push for sweeping healthcare reform was poised to clear a key Senate hurdle on Tuesday, opening a new phase in the raging debate over his top domestic priority.

Within weeks of taking office, U.S. President Barack Obama rode to the rescue of homeowners resigned to financial ruin.

Move over, Astro Boy and Iron Man -- Bat Boy could be stepping up to the plate soon.

Within weeks of taking office, U.S. President Barack Obama rode to the rescue of homeowners resigned to financial ruin.

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee will vote on Tuesday on a bill to reform the U.S. healthcare system, President Barack Obama's main domestic objective.

The Obama administration has helped pull the U.S. economy back from the abyss with aggressive efforts to spur growth and stabilize financial markets, a top White House adviser said on Monday.

The Obama administration has helped pull the U.S. economy back from the abyss with aggressive efforts to spur growth and stabilize financial markets, a top White House adviser said on Monday.

Official Washington sounded more upbeat on Monday than it has for weeks in sizing up U.S. President Barack Obama's chances of progress on a climate-change bill in Congress this year.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said on Monday he was still hopeful President Barack Obama would be able to sign a domestic carbon-cutting bill before a crunch global climate meeting in Copenhagen in December.

The White House Monday blasted a report from the health insurance industry that said Senate healthcare legislation would lead to increases in annual insurance premiums of as much as $4,000 by 2019.

A rising population will make it harder for the United States to make 2050 cuts in greenhouse gas emissions than for Russia and some other rich nations with shrinking populations, a Reuters survey showed.

On the surface, a glimmer of confidence is returning to the battered U.S. housing market, after more than three years of gut-wrenching defaults, price slumps and foreclosures.

U.S. President Barack Obama's top economic adviser said on Monday the United States is on the path toward economic recovery, conditions in financial markets are steadier and there have been initial signs of stabilization in the housing market.

Large Caps Set for Big Season; Blackstone's IPOs; Hummer Pursuit

President Barack Obama's top economic adviser said on Monday the United States is on the path toward economic recovery, conditions in financial markets are steadier and there have been initial signs of stabilization in the housing market.