BARACK OBAMA

The debate over U.S. healthcare reform is full of terms familiar to lawmakers and lobbyists but often obscure to the public.

The U.S. Senate approved President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul on Thursday, backing sweeping changes in the medical insurance market and new coverage for tens of millions of uninsured Americans.

U.S. stock index futures were higher on Thursday as the dollar weakened and investors awaited data expected to show improvement in durable good orders and the labor market.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.22 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.15 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.23 percent at 3:33 a.m.

Grammy-winning Cuban band Los Van Van are celebrating 40 years of salsa revolution with a long-awaited return to the United States.

A commission created by Congress to look into causes of the financial crisis will question the chief executives of Goldman Sachs Group Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley and other big banks at its first public hearing next month

If you're tired of the same old food, weather, and, ahem, people this holiday season, now may be the time for you to experience Christmas traditions from around the world. Here are five of the most unique celebrations from across the globe in plenty of time for you to make flight reservations:

U.S. Senate Democrats cleared the second of three 60-vote hurdles on President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul on Tuesday, moving its version of the landmark legislation one step closer to passage before Christmas.

A new government insurance program that would help the elderly and disabled stay in their homes is headed for passage in the U.S. Senate's sweeping healthcare revamp despite doubts about its viability and cost.

Mass Layoffs Drop; Boeing's Productivity Push; Obama and Small Bankers

Next year will be crucial for global nuclear non-proliferation efforts and all eyes will be on the United States and Russia to see if the two top atomic powers can reach a deal to reduce their arsenals.

The non-partisan Pulitzer Prize-winning site run by the St. Petersburg Times recently called Sarah Palin's description of health-care the biggest Lie of the Year.

President Barack Obama met with small and community bank CEOs on Tuesday and said he is looking for ways to help reduce their regulatory burdens.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing a computer hacking that targeted Citigroup Inc and resulted in the theft of tens of millions of dollars, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, but the financial institution denied its systems had been breached.

Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the threat of sanctions Tuesday, claiming his government is now 10times stronger than a year ago.

Australia promised to press on with its carbon trade plan on Tuesday despite the U.N. climate summit's failure to set emissions targets, but the Copenhagen outcome has cooled chances an early election on climate policy.

President Barack Obama has written a private letter to North Korea leader Kim Jong-il, presented by U.S. special envoy Stephen Bosworth to North Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju on Dec. 9 during his visit to the North.

President Barack Obama picked former Bush administration adviser Howard Schmidt to serve as national cybersecurity coordinator, the White House said on Tuesday.

The head of NATO said on Tuesday there would be no deadline for the exit of allied troops from Afghanistan, as fears grow among Afghans that foreign forces will leave before their own troops are able to guarantee security.

President Barack Obama on Monday heralded a U.S. Senate vote that moved a bill on his signature healthcare reform closer to passage and congratulated lawmakers for defying special interests.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was named president of Merck & Co Inc's vaccine division, the company said on Monday.