Clinton Says U.N. Needs More Women In Top Jobs

Clinton Moscow Talks to Cover START, Iran, Mideast

6:48 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Moscow next week for a meeting of the quartet of Middle East mediators and talks with Russian officials about arms control and Iran's nuclear program.

Clinton Berates Netanyahu Over Settlements

6:46 PM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday he must work to repair relations with Washington after a debacle over Jewish settlements that has undermined U.S. efforts to mediate new peace talks with the Palestinians.

Ex - Gov. Blagojevich Fights Back on New "Apprentice"

5:46 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rod Blagojevich has already lost one job. Now the disgraced former governor of Illinois is hoping to avoid the words "You're fired!" as he fights for his favorite charity, and his reputation, on the TV show "Celebrity Apprentice".

Att'y General Failed to Give Legal Briefs to Senate

4:46 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attorney General Eric Holder failed to tell the Senate about seven legal briefs he signed when lawmakers considered his nomination to his current job, according to a letter released on Friday.

U.S. Has No Plan to "Americanize" Somalia Conflict

4:36 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday denied coordinating plans by Somalia's embattled government to launch an offensive against Islamist fighters, saying it had no plans to "Americanize" the conflict.

Sen. Schumer Says Plans China Currency Bill

4:28 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Charles Schumer said on Friday he plans to move forward soon on legislation aimed at stopping China from "manipulating" its currency.

Obama's Proposed Student Loan Overhaul Gets Boost

4:18 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's stalled bid to overhaul the federal student loan program by cutting subsidies to private lenders and increasing aid to students received a boost on Friday.

Clinton Warns Israel Over Settlements

5:36 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday his government sent a "deeply negative signal" by taking steps that undermined renewed Middle East peace talks.

Obama Delays Trip For Final Healthcare Push

5:38 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday delayed an overseas trip to focus on the final drive for healthcare reform as the House of Representatives prepared to vote on the sweeping overhaul next week.

Geithner Still Optimistic on Financial Reform

1:48 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A day after U.S. Senate bipartisan talks on financial reform collapsed, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sought to revive hope that Congress can still complete a bill to overhaul financial rules.

Student Loans to Be In Healthcare Package: Pelosi

11:56 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Friday the final version of a broad healthcare overhaul would include a revamp of the student loan program but not a government-run health insurance option.

Cheap Cigars, Politics And The Volcker Rule

11:56 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - In mid-January, a who's who of Wall Street gathered to hear Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman whose role in the White House seemed at best unclear.

House Panel to Consider Healthcare Bill Monday

4:06 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives Budget Committee on Monday will consider a reconciliation bill that Democrats hope clears the way for final congressional approval of an overhaul of U.S. healthcare, House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer said on Friday.

Michelle Obama to Visit Mexico on First Solo Trip

10:16 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - First lady Michelle Obama will visit Mexico next month on her first solo international trip, the White House said on Friday.

Obama Delays Pacific Trip For Healthcare

10:08 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is delaying his trip to Indonesia and Australia next week to stay home and focus on his final push for a healthcare overhaul, White House officials said on Friday.

Yellen Leads Picks For Fed Seat

5:06 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen, a monetary policy dove, tops President Barack Obama's list to be No. 2 at U.S. central bank, the White House said on Friday.

Leave Yuan to Us, China Tells Obama

3:16 AM ET

BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States should not make a political issue out of the yuan, a Chinese central banker said on Friday, as the two countries lurched toward a potential bust-up over Beijing's currency regime.

Sen. Reid's Family Injured In Car Accident

10:56 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The wife and daughter of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were seriously injured on Thursday when their vehicle was rear-ended by a truck on a highway, the senator's office said.

SEC Head Prods Congress on Derivatives Rules

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. securities regulator said market watchdogs need to supervise credit default swaps, securities blamed for exacerbating 2008's market meltdown and more recently the Greek debt crisis.

Democrats Move Closer to Healthcare Deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats drew closer on Thursday to agreement on a broad healthcare overhaul that could clear the way for a final vote in the next few weeks, but vowed not to be bound by White House deadlines.

Obama Lobbied on Black Unemployment, Immigration

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday faced pressure to help create jobs in African-American communities and deliver an immigration overhaul even as he tried to push healthcare reform across the finish line.

Obama Gives $1.4 Million Nobel Prize to 10 Charities

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday named 10 charities to share his $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize, with causes ranging from wounded veterans to Haiti's earthquake survivors and education for minorities.

NY AG Cuomo Removes Himself From Governor Probe

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo on Thursday said he "removed himself" from two ethics probes of state Governor David Paterson.

Gates Sees Gulf Support For Iran Sanctions Push

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that leading Gulf states appeared ready to use their clout to lobby China to support sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program.

U.S. Says It Believes Mideast Talks Still On

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday it believed indirect Mideast peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians were still on, saying it had no confirmation that the Palestinians had decided to drop out.

White House Optimistic Of Passing Financial Reform

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Thursday it was optimistic Congress would pass financial regulatory reform this year despite the collapse of Senate talks aimed at producing bipartisan legislation on the issue.

Reid Says Will Use "Reconciliation" on Healthcare

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid formally notified Republicans on Thursday that he will attempt to pass the final changes to a healthcare overhaul through the budget process of reconciliation.

Reid Says Still Working on Healthcare Deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said on Thursday there were still issues to work out on a sweeping healthcare overhaul and Congress would not be bound by arbitrary deadlines.

Geithner Will Work With Dodd on Financial Reform

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Thursday praised Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd for his work on financial reform and pledged to work with him on a bid to overhaul banking rules.