BARACK OBAMA

New U.S. Internet traffic rules cleared a hurdle on Thursday, surviving an attempt by the Senate to block them from taking effect later in the month.

On the eve of the day meant to remember those who fought for the U.S., the Senate passed a portion of President Barack Obama's jobs plan, a mix of increased benefits and tax incentives to hire veteran enduring prolonged unemployment. The vote accompanied U.S. companies promising to provide 100,000 jobs for veterans.

Asia-Pacific CEOs will press world leaders on Friday to boost growth and seal a regional trade deal, goals made more urgent by the European debt crisis that has darkened global economic growth prospects.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney laid down a foreign policy marker on Wednesday, saying that if elected he would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Friday declared Japan's readiness to join talks on a U.S.-led free trade pact that could radically transform the nation's economy and challenge its political status quo.

The U.S. government on Thursday delayed approval of a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline until after the 2012 U.S. election, bowing to pressure from environmentalists and sparing President Barack Obama a damaging split with liberal voters he may need to win reelection.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner pressed Europe on Thursday to act more forcefully to quell its debt crisis, setting the stage for an Asia-Pacific summit overshadowed by euro-zone upheaval.

The United States said on Thursday it will study a new route for the Keystone XL Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline, delaying any final approval beyond the U.S. 2012 election and sparing U.S. President Barack Obama a politically risky decision during an election year.

The Obama administration reportedly plans to study other routes for the Keystone XL pipeline.

President Barack Obama is headed to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hawaii this weekend, where he will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders.

Democrats have brought a $2.3 trillion offer to the table, in the ongoing back and forth over how to the budget deficit super committee should lop $1.2 trillion off the federal deficit over the next decade. Republicans immediately rejected the proposal.

Owing to the negative publicity by some conservatives, the US Department of Agriculture is re-assessing a 15 percent tax on purchase of Christmas trees.

Republican presidential candidates often struck a professorial tone, forgoing several chances to attack their opponents during Wednesday night's GOP debate at Michigan's Oakland University. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney emerged the winner -- not by any merit of his own, but by exhibiting the fewest flaws in an otherwise very deficient field.

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday it would investigate whether Chinese companies sell solar panels in the United States at unfair discounts and receive illegal government subsidies.

E-mails made public by the U.S. House of Representatives appear to show a major donor to President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign and investor in Solyndra discussed federal loans to the solar company with officials, despite White House assertions to the contrary.

In a breaking news development, the Obama administration has decided to revisit the idea of the supposed Christmas Tree Tax.

Election Day 2011 will best be remembered for Democratic victories on ballot initiatives in Ohio and Mississippi, but another statement was made when the few states electing legislators and governors generally held on to incumbents and their parties.

The Republican primary debate held in Michigan's Oakland University has the potential to start whittling down the field. Recent headlines lend importance to the event's economic focus. But ultimately, Republicans may decide the night's winner with a simple question: Who wants to undo President Barack Obama's work with the greatest fervor?

President Barack Obama pledged to veto a congressional measure that would overturn new U.S. Internet traffic rules, his staff tweeted to his Twitter account on Wednesday.

The Republican members of the Congressional budget deficit super committee offered a mixed bag of reduced deductions and tax cuts in an effort to jumpstart discussions to close at least a $1.2 trillion hole in the national deficit. But the plan was dismissed by Democrats as minimal in concessions.

Israel will be closely watching its most powerful ally's presidential race with great concentration, trying to figure out which American candidate will have its best interests in mind.