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McCain: Palin to Play Leadership Role as Ex - Governor 4:06 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator John McCain expressed support for his former presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, on Saturday as Washington speculated about why the Alaska governor abruptly announced her resignation.

Schwarzenegger Signals Key Budget Concession 3:57 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, optimistic California can finish its budget negotiations in a few days, is willing to reconsider his proposed cuts to education in hopes of averting a cash crisis, the San Francisco Chronicle said on Saturday.

U.S. Hopes Obama's Visit to Ghana Will Spur Others 1:58 PM ET

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The United States hopes President Barack Obama's decision to visit Ghana this month will spur other African governments to try and emulate the West African country's democratic record.

Russia to Grant U.S. Afghan Supply Route 1:21 PM ET

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will grant President Barack Obama permission next week to ship U.S. weapons supplies across its territory, or through its airspace, en route to Afghanistan, sources on both sides told Reuters on Saturday.

McCain Says Resigning Palin Will Still Play Republican Role 1:08 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator John McCain issued a statement of support for resigning Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on Saturday, saying she will play a leadership role in the Republican Party and in America.

Iraq Declines Offer Of U.S. Help With Reconciliation 12:08 PM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq on Saturday ruled out foreign involvement in its efforts to reconcile rival factions, just after visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden urged Iraqis to do more to bury grievances and stave off renewed conflict.

U.S. Urges North Korea Not to Aggravate Tensions 11:46 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States urged North Korea on Saturday not to "aggravate tensions" but did not confirm whether Pyongyang had launched a series of missiles.

Palin to Resign as Alaska Governor In Surprise Move 9:27 PM ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate in 2008, said on Friday she will resign this month, an unexpected move that could signal a run for higher office.

Biden Urges Iraqis to Heal Divisions 6:10 PM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq has a hard road ahead if it is to heal the divisions that spurred six years of bloodshed and achieve lasting peace, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said during a trip there on Friday.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Will Resign 3:55 PM ET

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said Friday she will resign this month and will not run for re-election as governor.

U.S. Sets New Israel Meeting, Presses Arabs to Help 2:57 PM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's envoy will hold a second meeting in a week with Israel's defense minister, an Israeli official said on Friday, announcing talks on Monday likely to focus again on a dispute over settlements.

Putin Rejects Obama Criticism Before Meeting 2:49 PM ET

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected U.S. President Barack Obama's charge that he was mired in Cold War thinking, setting the scene for a stormy first meeting at a Moscow summit next week.

Israel's Barak to Meet U.S. Envoy Mitchell Next Week 1:47 PM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will fly to London on Sunday for a meeting with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell, an Israeli official said on Friday.

Obama's Africa Visit Prompts Nigerian, Kenyan Angst 11:00 AM ET

LAGOS (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's choice of Ghana for his first official trip to Africa next week has triggered a bout of self-questioning in Nigeria and Kenya, where many see his itinerary as a deliberate snub.

Russia Hopes Obama Visit Restores Trust: Kremlin 10:45 AM ET

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia hopes next week's visit by U.S. President Barack Obama will help restore confidence between the two biggest nuclear powers, a Kremlin aide said on Friday, after strains over Georgia and a U.S. missile shield plan.

Syria's Assad Offers Informal Invitation to Obama 6:29 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued an informal invitation to President Barack Obama to visit Damascus for talks, in a sign that relations between the two countries may gradually be thawing.

No Russia - U.S. Arms Deal Yet: Sources 5:54 AM ET

MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. and Russian negotiators have still not reached agreement on cutting stocks of their deadliest nuclear weapons ahead of President Barack Obama's first visit to Moscow on Monday, sources close to the talks said.

CEOs Use Obama Visit to Press Russia on Rule Of Law 5:51 AM ET

MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. businessmen are expected to use a Russia-U.S. business summit on Tuesday to press Moscow to rein in corruption and improve conditions for western companies operating in the country.

Hope For California Budget Deal as IOUs Planned 12:42 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Top California lawmakers raised hope on Thursday that an elusive budget deal could be at hand, as officials began issuing billions of dollars in "IOUs" to avoid a cash crisis on the second day of a new fiscal year without an agreement to balance the state's books.

Sanford Cleared on Use Of State Funds 11:42 PM ET

ATLANTA (Reuters) - South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who faces growing calls to quit over an extramarital affair, did not misuse public funds in trips he made to see his mistress, the state's top police official said on Thursday.

California Turns to IOUs Amid Budget Impasse 11:09 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - As California marked its second day of a new fiscal year without a budget agreement, the state government moved ahead on Thursday to issue billions of dollars in "IOUs" in order to avoid a cash crisis.

Congressman Henry Waxman Headed Back to Work 7:17 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Henry Waxman, hospitalized in Los Angeles for a fainting spell days after spearheading House passage of a landmark climate change bill, will be back at work on Capitol Hill next week, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.