Politics - AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday to "finish the job" in Afghanistan and promised to unveil a decision soon on sending tens of thousands more US troops to battle Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States is to announce concrete targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions as pressure mounts on polluters to find a formula for success two weeks ahead of a crucial climate summit.

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan Tuesday urged the United States to sell the island F16 fighter jets to ensure its security, as a senior American envoy said a deal could not be ruled out during the Barack Obama administration.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US consumer confidence rose slightly in November after two months of declines but remained in the doldrums ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season, the Conference Board said Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US economic growth in the third quarter was slower than initially estimated, the Commerce Department said Tuesday in cutting its estimate to a 2.8 percent annual pace of expansion.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia and the United States are working to reach agreement on a new nuclear accord to replace the treaty which runs out next week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The United States upped pressure on Iraqi politicians on Tuesday to reach a deal on holding elections as Washington seeks to avoid delays on the pullout of thousands of troops from the country.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A new poll Tuesday found Americans deeply divided about deploying more US troops to Afghanistan, just days before President Barack Obama was to announce his decision on sending reinforcements.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US banking industry returned to profit in the third quarter, but the government insurance fund went into deficit for the first time since 1992, regulators announced Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama has given an award to a leading women's rights activist in Zimbabwe, labeling Robert Mugabe a "dictator" in the process.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama should "pick up the phone" and urge Chinese President Hu Jintao personally to ease pressure on a Beijing-based human rights lawyer, Jiang Tianyong, US lawmakers said Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama gathered his war cabinet Monday for what officials indicated could be the final time before he decides whether to dispatch tens of thousands more US troops to Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States will announce a target for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions before the UN climate conference in Copenhagen, removing a major obstacle to a deal, a senior official said Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Monday it was in talks with Russia to maintain monitoring provisions set out in an arms reduction treaty that expires next month before a new deal is ratified.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday appealed for wide-ranging cooperation with the United States on areas such as climate change and defense as he started a high-profile state visit.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A rush to cash in tax incentives helped boost sales of existing US homes 10.1 percent in October, according to data Monday showing fresh momentum for the sector at the heart of the economic crisis.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States is "deeply involved" in efforts to help Iraqi rivals adopt an electoral law, but elections may be delayed, Secretary of Stage Hillary Clinton said Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The worst of US job losses are expected to be over by March 2010 as the economic grows after a long recession, a poll of business economists showed Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The number of US hate crime victims rose slightly last year to nearly 9,700 from 9,500 in 2007, with most people targeted because of their skin color, the FBI said Monday.