BARACK OBAMA

The apparent loss this week of a U.S. in-flight refueling tanker contract worth up to $50 billion will not affect EADS's finances, the European aerospace group's chief executive said on Thursday.

The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.

(Corrects day bill passed to Wednesday in paragraph 6)

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday that fundamental reform of the government's role in the housing finance market is needed and it will be next year before proposals are ready for Congress.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the challenge in Haiti today is to prevent a second disaster as more than a million people in the earthquake-hit nation remain homeless ahead of the rainy season.

Legislation that would write into law and widen the proposed Volcker rule to limit proprietary trading was unveiled in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday with the support of five Democratic senators.

Comparing medical treatments to find the best and the cheapest may be a pillar of U.S. healthcare reform efforts, but very little such research is being done, according to a report published on Tuesday.

With economic policy stimuli already at full tilt, no government wants an overvalued exchange rate to slay recovery, and the rival soft currency needs are producing some elaborate rhetorical jousting.

Congressional Democrats on Tuesday cast doubt on their chances of meeting the White House's March 18 deadline for voting on a stalled healthcare overhaul, but said they are moving as fast as they can.

President Barack Obama, making a final push for healthcare reform, will back bipartisan plans to stamp out waste in government-run medical programs for the old and needy, the White House said on Tuesday.

Palestinians told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday that Israel's new plan to build 1,600 homes for Jewish settlers challenged Washington's efforts to get indirect peace talks underway.

The leader of the House of Representatives -- a persuasive arm-twister and deal maker -- faces her toughest challenge yet in the coming weeks: getting 216 votes to pass final legislation revamping the U.S. healthcare system.

China is setting up a new agency to help streamline its trade negotiating bureaucracy as the world's third-largest economy faces a growing number of commercial disputes.

Greece, pressing for curbs on financial speculation that it blames for worsening the country's debt crisis, said on Tuesday the idea would be examined by the Group of 20 leading powers at their next summit.

Greece, pressing for curbs on financial speculation it blames for worsening the country's debt crisis, said on Tuesday the idea would be examined by the G20 leading powers at their next meeting.

Clamping down on spending now to cut the gaping U.S. budget deficit would be pound-foolish and derail the economic recovery, a top White House economic adviser said on Tuesday.

Top Greek officials pressed their case on Tuesday for curbs on speculative trading they blame for pushing the country into crisis, but the Obama administration reacted coolly, saying it was working on its own plans to make trading more transparent.

Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou on Tuesday proposed a ban on derivative trading techniques that increase debt costs for countries like Greece which struggle to cut their deficits.

Hitting the road to rally support in the final push for healthcare reform, Obama used a campaign-style speech to urge Democrats to approve a bill and quickly end the political wrangling that has consumed Washington since July.

The gaping U.S. budget deficit is cause for concern but clamping down on spending immediately would be pound-foolish and derail the recovery, a top White House economic adviser said on Tuesday.

The gaping U.S. budget deficit is cause for concern but clamping down on spending immediately would be pound-foolish and would derail the recovery, a top White House economic adviser said on Tuesday.