Obama says Koran burning can badly damage U.S. abroad

WASHINGTON/GAINESVILLE, Florida (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Friday he hoped a Florida pastor would drop a plan to burn Korans on U.S. soil, saying such an act could deeply harm the United States abroad.

Obama says Republicans holding recovery hostage

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama accused Republicans on Friday of holding the middle class hostage as he pushed new ideas to stimulate the sluggish U.S. economy and try to reverse Democrats' grim election prospects.

U.S. troops charged with murder of Afghan civilians

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twelve U.S. soldiers have been charged with gruesome crimes in Afghanistan ranging from murdering civilians to keeping body parts as war trophies -- revelations that the Pentagon said on Thursday damaged America's image around the world.

Judge rules ban on gays in military unconstitutional

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military rule banning openly gay people from serving in the armed forces violates constitutional rights to free speech and due process, a federal judge in southern California ruled Thursday.

Four dead in San Francisco suburb gas line inferno

SAN BRUNO, California (Reuters) - At least four people died after a gas line explosion and fire razed 38 homes in a San Francisco suburb, and officials expected the death toll to rise on Friday as firefighters search the wreckage.

Hitmen kill 25 in bloodiest day on Mexico-U.S. border

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Reuters) - The murders of 25 people by suspected drug hitmen on the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday was the bloodiest day in almost three years in an area gripped by an escalating drug war, officials said on Friday.

U.S. resumes funding controversial stem cell research

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government said it was resuming work on controversial human embryonic stem cell research on Friday after an appeals court ruled in its favor.

Obama sees enormous hurdles in Mideast peace talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said Friday he saw "enormous hurdles" ahead in Middle East peace negotiations, but said it was a risk worth taking and the United States would remain engaged even if talks break down.

Obama taps Goolsbee as top White House economist

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has chosen Austan Goolsbee as the new head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. administration officials said on Thursday, promoting a longtime adviser from his inner policy circle.

Japan PM widens lead in party leadership race

TOKYO (Reuters) - Prime Minister Naoto Kan has widened his lead over powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa ahead in a party leadership vote, Kyodo news agency said on Friday, days before the contest that could set Japan's fiscal priorities.

Analysis: Don't use the "s" word in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Stimulus" has become a dirty word in Washington.

Florida pastor's daughter says "he needs help"

BERLIN (Reuters) - The estranged daughter of a U.S. pastor who has threatened to burn copies of the Koran believes he has gone mad and needs help, she said in a German media interview conducted on Friday.

Analysis: Obama makes tax cuts a centerpiece of campaign

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama dared Republicans on Friday to wage an election campaign on tax cuts, telling voters his opponents are the party of the rich and all but ruling out a compromise before November elections.

New York imam says no meeting planned with pastor

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The imam behind a proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque near the World Trade Center site said on Friday he has no meeting planned with the Florida pastor who had threatened to burn copies of the Koran.

Obama warns of backlash on Koran burning

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Friday he hopes a Florida pastor refrains from burning copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks and warned it could cause "profound damage" to U.S. interests.

Koran-burning plan is an attack on Islam: reports

DUBAI (Reuters) - A threat by a U.S. pastor to commemorate the September 11 attacks by burning copies of the Koran is an attack on Islam and a deliberate attempt to infuriate Muslims, Gulf Arab newspapers said.

Factbox: Highlights from Obama's news conference

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama held a news conference on Friday at the White House. Following are some of the highlights from the question-and-answer session:

Obama says prepared to sign tax measure this month

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Friday he was prepared to sign a bill this month to ensure that U.S. middle class families get tax relief and said it makes no sense to taxes for the wealthiest Americans.

Special Report: Power struggles: charging tomorrow's cars

LONDON (Reuters) - Imagine driving across America using a fuel so new you have to carry your own supply wherever you go.

Tokyo's electric taxi experiment

TOKYO (Reuters) - Yoshihiko Takahashi chuckles politely when asked if he's weary of having the same conversation with passengers, day in and day out, as he shuttles them around Tokyo in his white-and-blue all-electric taxi. How often do you have to recharge? How far can you go? Does this car really have no emissions?