UNITED STATES

News Corp, Time Warner Inc's Time Inc and three other publishers detailed their long-expected plans to develop open standards for a new digital storefront and technology to help prepare their print titles for devices ranging from e-books to tablet computers.

Diversified manufacturer 3M Co issued a cautious outlook for 2010 on Tuesday, saying tight credit conditions and other headwinds would make economic recovery patchy and slow.

H&R Block Inc , the largest U.S. tax preparer, posted a narrower-than-expected second-quarter loss, aided mainly by better results in Tax Services segment, but said it is looking to close 400 regular offices this year as part of a cost-cutting plan.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff cited concerns on Tuesday with the design and analysis of clinical studies intended to support the effectiveness of Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental cystic fibrosis drug.

Stocks fell on Tuesday after a disappointing outlook from 3M Co and a second straight month of falling domestic sales at McDonald's Corp triggered concern about consumer spending.

China led calls by developing nations on Tuesday for deeper emissions cuts from the United States, Japan and Europe at U.N. climate talks on Tuesday, as a study showed that this decade will be the warmest on record.

Helmerich & Payne Inc (HP.N), the second-largest land-drilling rig contractor by market value, raised its 2010 capital expenditure forecast by $40 million and said its active rig count continues to rise.

President Barack Obama proposed on Tuesday small business tax cuts, fresh infrastructure spending and energy efficiency rebates to boost jobs, but there were few details on the scale or cost of the measures.

Canada's Freewest Resources (FWR.V), which is the target of a takeover battle between Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF.N) and Noront Resources (NOT.V), rejected Noront's sweetened bid, calling it inadequate.

U.S. copper futures slipped more than 1 percent in early business on Tuesday, as global credit concerns resurfaced and prompted investors to seek safety in the dollar.

NEW YORK - Supermarket operator Kroger Co posted quarterly profit far below expectations and slashed its full-year forecast amid intense competition, and its shares fell 14 percent.

President Barack Obama proposed a variety of programs on Tuesday to boost U.S. employment, including cutting taxes for small businesses to boost hiring.

West Hollywood-based motion picture finance and production company Film Department Holdings Inc hopes to go public in an initial public offering that would raise $85 million to $100 million.

The sudden fall of Lend America, a nationwide vendor of government-backed home loans, is leaving many borrowers with deep regrets.

U.S. small business lender CIT Group Inc headed to court on Tuesday to ask a New York bankruptcy judge for approval of its prepackaged reorganization plan.

McDonald's Corp said sales at established U.S. restaurants fell for the second straight month as competitors like Burger King and Taco Bell pushed low prices to attract customers.

Stocks fell on Tuesday after a disappointing outlook from 3M Co and a second consecutive month of domestic sales declines at McDonald's Corp triggered worry about the pace of consumer spending.

Car bombs killed 112 people in Baghdad on Tuesday, leaving charred buses and scattered body parts in a blow to the government's efforts to show it can defend Iraqis before U.S. troops withdraw by the end of 2011.

Iran will show no mercy towards opposition protesters seen as threatening national security, a judiciary official said on Tuesday, a day after thousands of students staged anti-government rallies.

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates told Afghans on Tuesday Washington would not abandon them, describing a withdrawal that would begin in 2011 but be spread over several years to give Afghan troops time to train.

The threat of bombs and violence will compete with the lure of some of the world's most promising oilfields when oil majors fly into Baghdad this week to bid in Iraq's second auction of oil contracts since the U.S. invasion.