Trump gives nod to Republican tax-credit proposal on Obamacare

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump backed the use of tax credits to help people purchase health insurance in a speech to Congress on Tuesday, the first time he signaled support for a key component of House Republican proposals to replace Obamacare.

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New Trump immigration order will remove Iraq from list of banned countries: AP

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's new immigration order will remove Iraq from the list of countries whose citizens face a temporary U.S. travel ban, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

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Fed officials jolt market with talk of pending rate hike

SANTA CRUZ, Calif./NEW YORK (Reuters) - A handful of Federal Reserve policymakers on Tuesday jolted markets into higher expectations for a March U.S. interest rate increase, with comments that suggested rate-setters are worried about waiting too long in the face of pending economic stimulus from Washington.

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Dow breaks 12-day record streak ahead of Trump speech; retail down

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks slipped on Tuesday and the Dow snapped a 12-day streak of record closes as investors awaited President Donald Trump's address to Congress, while a disappointing outlook from Target dragged down retailers.

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NSA risks talent exodus amid morale slump, Trump fears

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The National Security Agency risks a brain-drain of hackers and cyber spies due to a tumultuous reorganization and worries about the acrimonious relationship between the intelligence community and President Donald Trump, according to current and former NSA officials and cybersecurity industry sources.

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Trump plan to slash State, foreign aid spending has foes in Congress

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to slash funding for the State Department and foreign aid faces stiff opposition in Congress, which must pass any spending plan, not just from Democrats, but also from many of his fellow Republicans.

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Trump intelligence nominee pledges support for Russia probes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's nominee to be the top U.S. intelligence official pledged on Tuesday to back a thorough investigation of any Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election, seeking to reassuring lawmakers worried that partisan politics might interfere with a probe.

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Russia, China block U.N. sanctions on Syria over gas attacks

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia on Tuesday cast its seventh veto to protect the Syrian government from United Nations Security Council action, blocking a bid by Western powers to impose sanctions over accusations of chemical weapons attacks during the six-year Syrian conflict.

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Wilbur Ross sworn in as secretary of commerce

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross was sworn in as U.S. commerce secretary on Tuesday after helping shape Republican President Donald Trump's opposition to multilateral trade deals.

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Door knocks in the dark: The Canadian town on front line of Trump migrant crackdown

EMERSON, Manitoba (Reuters) - Jaime French was jarred out of bed in Emerson, Manitoba early one morning this month by pounding at her front door, just yards from the U.S. border. A face peered in through the window, flanked in the darkness by others.

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Trump looks for reset with speech to Congress

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump gets a chance to put the rocky start to his presidency behind him on Tuesday night with a speech to the U.S. Congress where he will lay out his plans for the year including a healthcare overhaul and military buildup.

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Samsung Group dismantles nerve center as chief faces bribery charge amid scandal

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean prosecutors said on Tuesday they will charge Samsung Group [SARG.UL] chief Jay Y. Lee with bribery and embezzlement as the top conglomerate announced the dismantling of its corporate strategy office, the latest developments in a scandal that has rocked the country for months.

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Trump to sign measure to bolster U.S.'s historically black colleges

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will sign a measure on Tuesday aimed at boosting government support for the nation's historically black colleges, a senior White House official said.

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U.S. appeals court will not put Trump travel ban case on hold

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Monday rejected a U.S. Department of Justice request to place on hold an appeal over President Donald Trump's travel ban on people from seven majority-Muslim countries.

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Malaysia to charge women for airport murder of North Korean

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Two women - an Indonesian and a Vietnamese - will be charged with murder on Wednesday over their alleged involvement in the killing of the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader at Kuala Lumpur's main airport, Malaysia's attorney general said.

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Senate confirms Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate easily confirmed billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as U.S. commerce secretary on Monday with strong support from Democrats, installing President Donald Trump's top official on trade matters.

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SpaceX to send privately crewed spacecraft beyond the moon next year

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - Private launch company SpaceX plans to fly two paying customers on a tourist trip around the moon using a spaceship under development for NASA astronauts and a heavy-lift rocket that has not yet flown, Chief Executive Elon Musk told reporters on Monday.

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Trump meets China's top diplomat amid tensions

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump held his first face-to-face meeting with a member of China's leadership on Monday at a time of tensions between Washington and Beijing, and the White House said the Chinese visit was a chance to discuss shared security interests.

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U.S. pending home sales fall to lowest level in a year

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes dropped in January on a shortage of inventory in the Midwest and West regions, the National Association of Realtors said on Monday.

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'Moonlight' upsets 'La La Land' for top Oscar after major gaffe

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - African-American coming-of-age tale "Moonlight" won the Oscar for best picture on Sunday on a big night for Hollywood diversity that was overshadowed by an embarrassing onstage gaffe over the top award.

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U.S. says Trump order will not undermine data transfer deals with EU

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - An executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump to crack down on illegal immigration will not undermine two data transfer agreements between the United States and the EU, Washington wrote in a letter to allay European concerns.

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Trump's trade czar expected to get easy U.S. Senate confirmation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is expected to be easily confirmed as U.S. Commerce Secretary on Monday, clearing President Donald Trump's top trade official to start work on renegotiating trade relationships with China and Mexico.

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Killing of Kim Jong Nam organized by North Korean govt ministries: South Korea

SEOUL (Reuters) - The killing of the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was organized by the reclusive state's ministry of state security and foreign ministry, according to South Korean lawmakers briefed by the country's intelligence agency.

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Trump's pick for Navy secretary withdraws

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for secretary of the Navy withdrew from consideration on Sunday, the second time a Trump nominee to lead one of the armed services bowed out because of government conflict-of-interest rules.

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North Korea spy agency runs arms operation out of Malaysia, U.N. says

(Reuters) - It is in Kuala Lumpur's "Little India" neighborhood, behind an unmarked door on the second floor of a rundown building, where a military equipment company called Glocom says it has its office.

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Trump administration re-evaluating self-driving car guidance

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said on Sunday she was reviewing self-driving vehicle guidance issued by the Obama administration and urged companies to explain the benefits of automated vehicles to a skeptical public.

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White House does not rule out Sessions recusal on Russia probes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Sunday did not rule out that Attorney General Jeff Sessions may recuse himself from Justice Department investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

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Iran holds naval war games amid rising tensions with U.S.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran launched naval drills at the mouth of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean on Sunday, a naval commander said, as tensions with the United States escalated after U.S President Donald Trump put Tehran "on notice".

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Vehicle hits crowd at New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, injuring at least 12: media

(Reuters) - A vehicle plowed into a crowd watching a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on Saturday, critically injuring at least 12 people, police told local media.

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Wary of Trump unpredictability, China ramps up naval abilities

BEIJING (Reuters) - The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China's upcoming defense budget as Beijing seeks to check U.S. dominance of the high seas and step up its own projection of power around the globe.

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Aggressive cuts to Obama-era green rules to start soon: EPA head

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration will begin rolling back Obama-era environmental regulations in an "aggressive way" as soon as next week, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency said on Saturday - adding he understood why some Americans want to see his agency eliminated completely.

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Buffett upbeat on American business; Berkshire operating profit down

(Reuters) - Warren Buffett on Saturday mounted a forceful and upbeat defense of the prospects for American business, as his Berkshire Hathaway Inc reported a higher quarterly profit though operating income fell.

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Man drove into crowd in German town, injuring three people: police

BERLIN (Reuters) - A man drove into a group of people standing by a bakery in the southern German town of Heidelberg on Saturday, injuring three people, one of them seriously, police said in a statement.

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Malaysia to sweep Kuala Lumpur airport for toxic chemicals after Kim Jong Nam murder

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia will sweep one of the terminals at Kuala Lumpur international airport for toxic chemicals after Kim Jong Nam was murdered there with a nerve agent last week, as authorities said they would issue an arrest warrant if a North Korean diplomat wanted over the death did not come forward.

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Warren Buffett urges investors to stick with index funds

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billionaire Warren Buffett, whose stock picks over several decades have turned Berkshire Hathaway Inc into one of the most successful conglomerates, delivered another black eye to the investment management industry on Saturday, saying investors should "stick with low-cost index funds."

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France's Hollande fires back at Trump over Paris comments

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande fired back at Donald Trump on Saturday after the U.S. president remarked in a speech that a friend thought "Paris is no longer Paris" after attacks by Islamist militants.

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Dakota protesters regroup, plot resistance to other pipelines

CANNON BALL, N.D. (Reuters) - Opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline who were pushed out of their protest camp this week have vowed to keep up efforts to stop the multibillion-dollar project and take the fight to other pipelines as well.

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Democrats to pick chairman to lead party against Trump, Republicans

ATLANTA (Reuters) - After a brutal election loss in November, Democrats will choose a new leader on Saturday to begin the daunting task of rebuilding the party and heading the political opposition to Republican President Donald Trump.

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First planned North Korea-U.S. contact in Trump administration canceled: WSJ

SEOUL (Reuters) - Plans for the first contact between North Korea and the United States after President Donald Trump took office were canceled after the U.S. State Department denied a visa for the top envoy from Pyongyang, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

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Trump asks NASA to explore putting crew on rocket's debut flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - The Trump administration has directed NASA to study whether it is feasible to fly astronauts on the debut flight of the agency’s heavy-lift rocket, a mission currently planned to be unmanned and targeted to launch in late 2018, officials said on Friday.

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White House bars some news organizations from briefing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House excluded several major U.S. news organizations, including some it has openly criticized, from an off-camera briefing held by the White House press secretary on Friday, representatives of the organizations said.

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Trump to put 'regulatory reform task forces' in U.S. agencies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to place "regulatory reform" task forces within federal agencies in what may be the most far reaching effort to pare back U.S. red tape in recent decades.

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Former Border Patrol officials question Trump plan to add agents

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. Department of Homeland Security plan to add more than 5,000 border enforcement agents will present logistical challenges and might be unnecessary, according to former government officials familiar with earlier pushes to accelerate border hiring.

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U.S. governors prepare wish lists for Trump infrastructure promise

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's campaign promise for a $1 trillion infrastructure program will be in focus when U.S. governors gather on Friday in Washington, D.C., with some states making wish lists of projects ranging from a bullet train to statewide broadband internet service.

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Pro-Kremlin politicians warn Trump could unleash new arms race

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian politicians close to the Kremlin said on Friday U.S. President Donald Trump's declared aim of putting the U.S. nuclear arsenal "at the top of the pack" risked triggering a new Cold War-style arms race between Washington and Moscow.

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Trump wants to make sure U.S. nuclear arsenal at 'top of the pack'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he wants to ensure the U.S. nuclear arsenal is at the "top of the pack," saying the United States has fallen behind in its weapons capacity.

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Iraqi forces push into first districts of western Mosul

SOUTH OF MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces advanced deeper into the western half of Mosul on Friday one day after launching attacks on several fronts toward Islamic State's last main stronghold in the city.

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Kansas man charged in shooting of two Indians in possible hate crime

(Reuters) - A Kansas man was charged on Thursday with fatally shooting an Indian man and wounding another Indian man and an American in a bar, as federal authorities investigated the incident as a possible hate crime.

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Malaysia says highly toxic VX nerve agent used in murder of Kim Jong Nam

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - VX nerve agent, a chemical on a U.N. list of weapons of mass destruction, was used to kill the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in last week's bizarre murder in a busy Kuala Lumpur airport, Malaysian police said on Friday.

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Malaysia says VX nerve agent was used in murder of Kim Jong Nam

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was killed with a highly toxic chemical weapon known as VX nerve agent, Malaysian police said on Friday, citing a preliminary report.

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White House sees greater enforcement on recreational marijuana

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The administration of President Donald Trump expects to see greater federal enforcement of laws against the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, a White House spokesman said on Thursday.

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Exclusive: Trump calls Chinese 'grand champions' of currency manipulation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump declared China the "grand champions" of currency manipulation on Thursday, just hours after his new Treasury secretary pledged a more methodical approach to analyzing Beijing's foreign exchange practices.

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Exclusive: Trump says Republican border tax could boost U.S. jobs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday spoke favorably about an export-boosting border adjustment tax proposal being pushed by Republicans in the U.S. Congress, but did not specifically endorse it.

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Pope suggests 'better to be atheist than hypocritical Catholic'

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis delivered another criticism of some members of his own Church on Thursday, suggesting it is better to be an atheist than one of "many" Catholics who he said lead a hypocritical double life.

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Trump again vows to bring back U.S. jobs, but offers few details

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump told about two dozen chief executives of major U.S. companies on Thursday he plans to bring millions of jobs back to the United States, but offered no specific plan on how to reverse a decades-long decline in factory jobs.

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Deportation plans cast shadow on Trump envoy talks with Mexico

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico will relay its anger to senior U.S. officials on Thursday about a bid by President Donald Trump to deport non-Mexican illegal migrants south across the border, the latest point of tension between the two neighbors.

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Iraqi forces storm Mosul airport, military base

SOUTH OF MOSUL (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces captured Mosul airport on Thursday, state television said, in a major gain in operations to drive Islamic State from the western half of the city.

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Jobless claims up, four-week average lowest since 1973

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose slightly more than expected last week, but the four-week average of claims fell to its lowest level since 1973, pointing to strengthening labor market conditions.

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Deportation spat overshadows Trump envoys' talks with angry Mexico

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A bid by U.S. President Donald Trump to deport non-Mexican illegal migrants to Mexico that has enraged Mexicans will top the agenda when officials from both countries meet on Thursday amid a deepening rift between the two nations.

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Malaysia requests Interpol alert on four North Koreans over airport murder

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has requested Interpol to put an alert out for four North Korean suspects in the murder of Kim Jong Nam, Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Thursday.

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White House delays revamped immigration order to next week: official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has pushed back the release of a new executive order to replace its directive suspending travel to the United States by citizens of seven mostly Muslim countries, a White House official said on Wednesday.

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Asia stocks ease, dollar steadies after Fed-led losses

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian stocks pulled back from a 19-month high on Thursday, while the dollar tried to steady from losses suffered in the wake of the U.S. Federal Reserve minutes indicating a cautious approach to more interest rate increases.

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Astronomers find seven Earth-size planets where life is possible

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - Astronomers have found a nearby solar system with seven Earth-sized planets, three of which circle their parent star at the right distance for liquid surface water, bolstering the prospect of discovering extraterrestrial life, research published on Wednesday showed.

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Trump expected to revoke rules on transgender bathrooms: draft document

(Reuters) - Republican President Donald Trump's administration was expected to revoke landmark guidelines issued to public schools in defense of transgender student rights, according to a draft document seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

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Mexico fumes over Trump immigration rules as U.S. talks loom

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Senior envoys of President Donald Trump are likely to receive a chilly reception in Mexico on Wednesday, after the United States issued new immigration guidelines that deeply angered the southern neighbor the day before bilateral talks.

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Trump seeks jobs advice from some firms that offshore U.S. work

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump, who has vowed to stop U.S. manufacturing from disappearing overseas, is seeking job-creation advice from at least six companies that are laying off thousands of workers as they shift production abroad.

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College Board tightens SAT exam security, but key risk remains

BOSTON/LONDON (Reuters) - The owner of the SAT college-entrance exam, which has been plagued by a raft of cheating incidents overseas, outlined new security measures but stopped short of remedying the test’s biggest vulnerability.

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Iran ready to give U.S. 'slap in the face': commander

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States should expect a "strong slap in the face" if it underestimates Iran's defensive capabilities, a commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday, as Tehran concluded war games.

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Malaysia identifies North Korean embassy official among suspects

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian police identified a senior official in the North Korean embassy on Wednesday as a suspect in the murder of Kim Jong Nam, and said another was linked to the North Korean airline.

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Trump to spare U.S. 'dreamer' immigrants from crackdown

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration plans to consider almost all illegal immigrants subject to deportation, but will leave protections in place for immigrants known as "dreamers" who entered the United States illegally as children, according to official guidelines released on Tuesday.

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U.S. Homeland Security employees locked out of computer networks: sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some U.S. Department of Homeland Security employees in the Washington area and Philadelphia were unable to access some agency computer networks on Tuesday, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

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Firebrand Milo quits Breitbart News after child sex remarks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Provocative far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos resigned on Tuesday as a senior editor of the Breitbart News website after he was vilified and lost a book deal over comments that condoned certain intimate relations between men and young teenage boys.

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Trump's new security advisor differs from him on Russia, other key issues

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has shown little patience for dissent, but that trait is likely to be tested by his new national security adviser, Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster.

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Trump issues first public condemnation of anti-Semitic incidents

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his first public condemnation of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States on Tuesday after a new spate of bomb threats to Jewish community centers around the country and vandalism in a Jewish cemetery.

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Conservative U.S. justices skeptical in cross-border shooting case

(Reuters) - Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday expressed skepticism about reviving a lawsuit filed by the family of a Mexican teenager against a U.S. Border Patrol agent who fatally shot the 15-year-old from across the border in Texas in 2010.

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Exclusive: White House delivered EU-skeptic message before Pence visit - sources

BERLIN (Reuters) - In the week before U.S. Vice President Mike Pence visited Brussels and pledged America's "steadfast and enduring" commitment to the European Union, White House chief strategist Steve Bannon met with a German diplomat and delivered a different message, according to people familiar with the talks.

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Exclusive: CIA-backed aid for Syrian rebels frozen after Islamist attack - sources

BEIRUT/AMMAN/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA-coordinated military aid for rebels in northwest Syria has been frozen since they came under major Islamist attack last month, rebel sources said, raising doubts about foreign support key to their war against President Bashar al-Assad.

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Malaysia says still to establish what killed North Korean

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian authorities said on Tuesday they had still to establish what was used to kill the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and the body had not been formally identified as no next of kin have come forward.

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Asia stocks consolidate recent gains; China shines

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian stocks held ground on Tuesday though Chinese equities surged to a fresh 2-1/2 month high as domestic funds piled into financial counters on expectations the world's second biggest economy may have turned a corner.

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Malaysia says cause of death still unknown in killing of North Korean

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian authorities said on Tuesday they had yet to determine a cause of death in the killing of the half-brother of North Korea's leader, and had still to confirm the identity as no next of kin has come forward.

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Suicide bombers hit court in Pakistan, at least four killed: police

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Suicide bombers attacked a court complex in Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least four people, officials said, in the latest incident in a new surge of Islamist violence.

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Five die as light plane crashes into mall in Australia

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Five people were killed on Tuesday when a small plane crashed in to the roof of a shopping mall after taking off from an airfield outside Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, police said.

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Kremlin says Ukraine peace plan mooted by lawmaker 'absurd'

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday it had no prior knowledge of a Ukrainian lawmaker's peace plan for his country, which was detailed in the New York Times newspaper, and called it absurd anyway.

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Exclusive: Burger King and Tim Hortons owner nears deal to buy Popeyes - sources

(Reuters) - Restaurant Brands International Inc, owner of the Burger King and Tim Hortons fast-food chains, is nearing a deal to acquire Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

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Trump weighs security adviser options; Pence 'disappointed' by Flynn

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla./BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump considered his options for a new national security adviser on Monday as his vice president, Mike Pence, said he had been disappointed by the actions of the man ousted from the job and supported his dismissal.

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Russian envoy to UN, Vitaly Churkin, dies in New York: foreign ministry

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, has died in New York, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

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Norway pledges $10 million to counter Trump's global anti-abortion move

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway has joined an international initiative to raise millions of dollars to replace shortfalls left by U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on U.S.-funded groups worldwide providing information on abortion.

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EU welcomes Pence assurance of Trump's support

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence assured the European Union in Brussels on Monday that the Trump administration will develop their cooperation in trade and security and backs the EU as a partner in its own right.

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Washington prepares to bring North Koreans to U.S. for talks: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Preparations are under way to bring senior North Korean officials to the United States for talks with former U.S. officials, the first such meeting in more than five years, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.

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Trump's defense chief tells Iraq: We're not here for your oil

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military is not in Iraq "to seize anybody's oil", Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, distancing himself from remarks by President Donald Trump before arriving on an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Monday.

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'CEO' Tillerson faces internal skeptics, crisis-battling White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One of Rex Tillerson's first directives as U.S. secretary of state was an order to senior staff that his briefing materials not exceed two pages.

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Kraft withdraws offer to merge with Unilever

(Reuters) - U.S. food company Kraft Heinz Co has agreed to withdraw its proposal for a $143-billion merger with larger rival Unilever Plc , the companies said on Sunday.

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Trump's national security candidates promised autonomy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's next pick for national security adviser will have autonomy over staffing and key decisions, the White House said on Sunday as it scrambles to fill the post following the turbulent departure of Michael Flynn.

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Sweden asks the U.S. to explain Trump comment on Sweden

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Swedish embassy in Washington has asked the U.S. State Department for an explanation of a comment made by President Donald Trump that suggested there had been some sort of security incident in Sweden on Friday.

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Trump administration drafts plan to raise asylum bar, speed deportations

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Department of Homeland Security has prepared new guidance for immigration agents aimed at speeding up deportations by denying asylum claims earlier in the process.

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Trump's defense chief, unlike boss, says has no issues with media

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Sunday distanced himself from President Donald Trump's assessment of the media as "the enemy of the American people," saying during his first trip to the Middle East that he had no problems with the press.

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Four North Korean suspects fled Malaysia after airport murder: police

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Four North Korean suspects in the murder of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fled Malaysia on the day he was attacked at Kuala Lumpur airport and apparently killed by a fast-acting poison, police said on Sunday.

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McCain says suppressing free press is 'how dictators get started'

MUNICH (Reuters) - U.S. Senator John McCain, defending the media against the latest attack by President Donald Trump, warned suppressing the free press was "how dictators get started."

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U.S. carrier group patrols in tense South China Sea

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A United States aircraft carrier strike group has begun patrols in the South China Sea amid growing tension with China over control of the disputed waterway and concerns it could become a flashpoint under the new U.S. administration.

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Trump administration to expand groups of immigrants to be deported: documents

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's top homeland security official has signed two orders that could expand the number of undocumented immigrants who could be stopped and deported, according to documents seen by Reuters and first reported by McClatchy news organization.

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Back on the campaign trail already, Trump touts promises kept

MELBOURNE, Fla. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump, after a rocky first month in office, returned to the campaign trail on Saturday to deliver another attack on the media and tout his White House accomplishments in the friendly and familiar atmosphere of a rally with supporters.

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Washington PR offensive fails to quell Europe's anxiety over Trump

MUNICH (Reuters) - One month into the unusual presidency of Donald Trump, his most senior cabinet members were deployed to Brussels, Bonn and Munich this week to reassure nervous Europeans that everything would be okay.

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New U.S. travel ban to spare green card holders: Trump official

MUNICH (Reuters) - A new version of a Trump administration travel ban will not stop green card residency holders or travelers already on planes from entering the United States, U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security John Kelly said on Saturday.

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Petraeus falls off Trump's list for top national security job

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - Retired general and former CIA chief David Petraeus is no longer a candidate to be President Donald Trump's national security adviser, thwarted by differences over who controls staffing decisions within the White House's National Security Council.

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Trade Center bomber Omar Abdel-Rahman dies in prison in U.S., says son

CAIRO (Reuters) - Omar Abdel-Rahman, convicted of the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York in 1993, has died in prison in the United States, his son Ammar told Reuters on Saturday.

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With greetings from Trump, Pence says U.S. committed to Europe

MUNICH (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday brought a message of support for Europe from Donald Trump but failed to wholly reassure allies worried about the new president's stance on Russia and the European Union.

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Eight people flee U.S. border patrol to seek asylum in Canada

(This version of the Feb. 17 story corrects the headline and first paragraph to eight people from nine)

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Former U.S. general Jones: not considered as Trump's security adviser

MUNICH (Reuters) - James Jones, a former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, Saturday said on Saturday he is not under consideration to be U.S. President Donald Trump’s new national security adviser.

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Cuba says United States has deported 117 Cuban migrants since policy shift

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba said on Friday the United States had deported 117 migrants back to the island nation since ending its policy granting automatic residency to almost every Cuban who reached U.S. soil as part of the normalization of relations.

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China says policies unaffected by Trump plan to bring factories back to U.S.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China is closely following U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to create more domestic jobs by encouraging U.S. companies to bring home or "reshore" their overseas production, but the government will not change its overall strategy, Industry Minister Miao Wei said on Friday.

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Trump's team in disarray, U.S. Senator McCain tells Europe

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Republican Senator John McCain broke with the reassuring message that U.S. officials visiting Germany have sought to convey on their debut trip to Europe, saying on Friday that the administration of President Donald Trump was in "disarray".

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Exclusive: GM plans to build, test thousands of self-driving Bolts in 2018 - sources

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co plans to deploy thousands of self-driving electric cars in test fleets in partnership with ride-sharing affiliate Lyft Inc, beginning in 2018, two sources familiar with the automaker’s plans said this week.

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Exclusive: SoftBank willing to cede control of Sprint to entice T-Mobile - sources

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Japan's SoftBank Group Corp is prepared to give up control of Sprint Corp to Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile US Inc to clinch a merger of the two U.S. wireless carriers, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Car bomb in Turkey's southeast kills child: governor's office

DIYARBAKIR (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded in the garden of a housing complex in Turkey's southeastern town of Viransehir on Friday, killing a child and wounding 17 other people, the provincial governor's office told Reuters.

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Trump scrambles to find top national security aide

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, scrambling to find a new top security aide after firing his first one and being spurned by another candidate, said on Friday he has four people under consideration including acting national security adviser Keith Kellogg.

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More anti-Trump rallies planned in U.S. cities

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A second consecutive day of protests against U.S. President Donald Trump's month-old administration will unfold on Friday in cities across the country, with activists urging Americans to skip work and school in a show of dissent.

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Malaysia says needs kin's DNA before releasing Kim Jong Nam's body

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian police said on Friday it will not release the body of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un until it receives DNA samples from his next-of-kin.

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Supreme Court to set guidelines for Trump treatment of non-citizens

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court will decide three cases in coming months that could help or hinder President Donald Trump's efforts to ramp up border security and accelerate deportations of those in the country illegally.

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'I'm not ranting and raving.' Trump on defensive in first solo news conference

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The first gripe came three minutes into President Donald Trump's first solo news conference on Thursday, when he accused reporters of ignoring a poll showing him with a 55 percent approval rating - a figure at odds with most other surveys.

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Appeals court suspends proceedings over Trump travel ban

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday suspended proceedings over President Donald Trump's travel ban for individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries, after Trump announced a new executive order would come soon.

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Trump's pick for national security adviser turns down offer: White House official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's choice for national security adviser, retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, has turned down the offer, a senior White House official said on Thursday.

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Trump dismisses Russia controversy as 'scam' by hostile media

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump dismissed a growing controversy about ties between his aides and Russia on Thursday as a "ruse" and "scam" perpetrated by a hostile news media, and denied any of his associates had contacts with Moscow before last year's election.

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Trump's choice for national security adviser has turned down offer: Financial Times

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump choice for national security adviser, retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, has turned down the offer, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing two people familiar with the situation.

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Trump taps ex-labor board member Acosta to be labor secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated former National Labor Relations Board member R. Alexander Acosta to serve as U.S. secretary of labor, one day after Trump's original choice withdrew.

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Trump to replace travel ban order in near future

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will replace his executive order suspending travel from seven Muslim-majority countries "in the near future," according to a Justice Department court filing on Thursday.

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New Jersey judge again backs 'Bridgegate' complaint against Christie

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New Jersey judge has ruled for the second time that a citizen's criminal complaint against Governor Chris Christie over the "Bridgegate" scandal can move forward.

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Trump says will issue new order next week to protect Americans

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would be issuing an order next week aimed at keeping the American people safe, as his temporary ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries remains kept on hold by a federal court.

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Trump nominee for Israel ambassador heckled, questioned at Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Israel faced repeated heckling at a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday as well as tough questions on his criticism of liberal American Jews and prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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"It would be huge": U.S. border town confronts possible import tax

NOGALES, Arizona (Reuters) - For up to 16 hours a day, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and mangoes grown in Mexico flow north through a border checkpoint into Nogales, Arizona, helping to ensure a year-round supply of fresh produce across the United States.

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Snap seeks valuation of up to $18.5 billion in highly awaited IPO

(Reuters) - Snap Inc, owner of the popular messaging app Snapchat, is seeking a valuation of between $16.20 billion and $18.52 billion in its highly awaited initial public offering.

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Malaysia arrests second woman in suspected assassination of North Korean leader's half-brother

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian police detained a second woman on Thursday suspected of involvement in the apparent assassination of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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U.S. Labor Dept nominee Puzder withdraws, in blow to Trump

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a blow to President Donald Trump as he tries to assemble his administration, his nominee for labor secretary, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his name from consideration on Wednesday amid concerns that he could not garner enough Senate votes to be confirmed.

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Trump offers national security adviser post to Vice Admiral Harward: sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration has offered the job of White House national security adviser, vacated by former U.S. intelligence official Michael Flynn, to Vice Admiral Robert Harward, said two U.S. officials familiar with the matter on Wednesday.

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Senate Republicans push for answers on Trump team's Russia ties

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior Republicans issued their boldest challenge yet to U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, promising to get to the bottom of the relationship between his aides and Russia, and calling for ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn to testify before Congress.

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U.S. detains Mexican immigrant in Seattle covered by Obama program

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. immigration authorities have detained a 23-year-old Mexican man who was brought to the United States illegally as a child and given a work permit during the Obama administration, according to a lawsuit challenging the detention in Seattle federal court.

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Trump welcomes Israel's Netanyahu for Middle East talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, their first meeting since the inauguration and one that promises to shape the contours of Middle East policy for the years ahead.

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Trump backs Middle East peace, even if not tied to two-state solution

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump supports the goal of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, even if it does not involve the two-state solution, a senior White House official said on Tuesday.

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South Korea holds security meeting over death of North Korea leader's brother

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's prime minister will preside over a national security council meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss the suspected murder of the North Korean leader's estranged half-brother in Malaysia, his office said.

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Berkshire takes huge bite of Apple shares, ups stakes in airlines

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc was an aggressive buyer of stocks in last year's fourth quarter, disclosing significant increases in its stakes in Apple Inc and in the four biggest U.S. airlines.

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North Korea suspected behind murder of leader's half-brother: U.S. sources

KUALA LUMPUR/SEOUL (Reuters) - The U.S. government strongly believes that North Korean agents murdered the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Malaysia, U.S. government sources said on Tuesday.

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U.S. lawmakers seek deeper probe into Russia ties after Trump aide quits

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, called on Tuesday for a deeper inquiry into White House ties to Russia, after national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned in President Donald Trump's biggest staff upheaval so far.

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Exclusive: Yellen brushes off warning, says Fed has authority on global talks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, in response to a warning from a U.S. congressman to halt global regulatory talks in the early stages of Donald Trump's presidency, said in a letter the Fed has the authority and responsibility to consult with its foreign counterparts and does so to benefit the United States.

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U.N., Trump denounce North Korea, but no sign of any action

UNITED NATIONS/SEOUL (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council denounced North Korea's weekend missile launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.

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Seattle judge set to move forward on Trump immigration case

SEATTLE/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Monday rejected a Justice Department request to suspend Seattle courtroom proceedings over President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban from seven Muslim-majority countries until an appeals court has fully reviewed it.

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Ex-Goldman banker Mnuchin installed as Treasury secretary

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump swore in former Goldman Sachs banker and Hollywood financier Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary on Monday, putting him to work on tax reform, financial de-regulation and economic diplomacy efforts.

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Trump says will be 'tweaking' outstanding trade relationship with Canada

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States will be "tweaking" its trade relationship with Canada, unlike its trade ties with Mexico where it faces a more severe situation.

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Trump is evaluating situation around adviser Flynn: White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is evaluating the situation surrounding U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn over his Russian contacts, Trump's spokesman said on Monday, pointedly declining to make a public show of support for his embattled aide.

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Canada's Trudeau opens talks with Trump aiming to boost trade

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday opened talks at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump, seeking to nurture economic ties while avoiding tensions over issues such as immigration on which the two are sharply at odds.

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Courts likely to probe Trump's intent in issuing travel ban

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington state’s attorney general has promised to uncover "what truly motivated" President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, an approach that could prompt a rare public examination of how a U.S. president makes national security decisions.

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Netanyahu opposes Palestinian state, Israeli minister says ahead of U.S. visit

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Benjamin Netanyahu opposes a Palestinian state, a senior Israeli cabinet member said on Monday, but left it unclear whether the prime minister would say that publicly in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this week.

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Nearly 200,000 people told to flee crumbling California dam spillway

OROVILLE, Calif. (Reuters) - Evacuation orders for nearly 200,000 people living below the tallest dam in the United States remained in place early on Monday after residents were abruptly told to flee when a spillway appeared in danger of collapse.

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Adele and Beyonce turn in show-stopping Grammy performances

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop superstar Beyonce, proudly caressing her pregnant belly, took the Grammys stage by storm on Sunday on a night marked by political statements, sentimental tributes and a misstep by British singer Adele.

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North Korea says new nuclear-capable missile test successful

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Monday it had successfully test-fired a new type of medium- to long-range ballistic missile the previous day, claiming further advancement in a weapons program it is pursuing in violation of United Nations resolutions.

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Marchers across Mexico vent anger over Trump, and their own president

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters in more than a dozen Mexican cities took to the streets on Sunday to express their fierce opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump, portraying the new leader as a menace to both America and Mexico.

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Trump aide says endorsement of Ivanka's brand was 'light-hearted'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top aide to U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his colleague, Kellyanne Conway, after she was widely criticized for her public endorsement of the fashion line of Trump's daughter, Ivanka.

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White House official attacks court after legal setbacks on immigration

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A White House official on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the federal appeals court that blocked President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, calling its ruling a "judicial usurpation of power."

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North Korea fires unidentified projectile into sea: South Korea military

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea fired an unidentified projectile early on Sunday into the sea off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, the South Korean military said.

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Yale to change name of college tied to 19th century slavery defender

(Reuters) - Yale University will change the name of its Calhoun College after protesters said the Ivy League school should drop the honor it gave to an alumnus who was a prominent advocate of U.S. slavery, the university said on Saturday.

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Sears, Kmart drop 31 Trump Home items from their online shops

(Reuters) - Major U.S. retailers Sears and Kmart this week removed 31 Trump Home items from their online product offerings to focus on more profitable items, a spokesman said on Saturday.

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Trump says he will bring down the price of wall on Mexico's border

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump pushed back early on Saturday on assertions that the wall he wants built on the U.S. border with Mexico would cost more than anticipated and said he would reduce the price.

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Activists on both sides of abortion issue to protest across U.S.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anti-abortion groups have called demonstrations at more than 200 Planned Parenthood locations throughout the United States on Saturday to urge Congress and President Donald Trump to strip the women's health provider of federal funding.

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U.S. expresses objection to Palestinian as U.N. envoy to Libya

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States objected on Friday to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' choice of former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as the body's new representative to Libya.

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China gets an early win off Trump, but many battles remain

BEIJING (Reuters) - Combining public bluster with behind-the-scenes diplomacy, China wrested a concession from the United States as the two presidents spoke for the first time this week, but Beijing may not be able to derive much comfort from the win on U.S. policy toward Taiwan.

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Hundreds of immigrants arrested in 'routine' U.S. enforcement surge

(Reuters) - U.S. federal immigration agents arrested hundreds of undocumented immigrants in at least four states this week in what officials on Friday called routine enforcement actions.

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Top Federal Reserve official resigns as bank deregulation looms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve Board's top bank regulator said on Friday he would resign, giving a boost to President Donald Trump's plans to ease reforms put in place after the 2007-09 financial crisis.

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Trump promises new security steps after travel ban court setback

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump promised on Friday to introduce additional national security steps, a day after an appeals court refused to reinstate his travel ban on refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, and he expressed confidence his order would ultimately be upheld by the courts.

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Trump says U.S. committed to Japan security, in change from campaign rhetoric

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday praised the alliance between the United States and Japan as a cornerstone of regional peace and stability, edging away from campaign pledges to force Tokyo to pay more for the U.S. security umbrella.

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Syria's Aleppo takes first tiny steps toward recovery

ALEPPO, Syria (Reuters) - In the ruins of the Sabbagh textile factory in Aleppo's Belleramoun Industrial Zone, one wall smashed open by shellfire, a Belgian-made weaving machine stands idle while a family carefully strips the office of wood paneling for fuel.

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Russia halted Syrian army, rebel clash in northern Syria: sources

BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Russia intervened to halt a clash between Syrian government forces and Turkey-backed Syrian rebels in northern Syria, sources on both sides said on Friday, the first confrontation between them as both sides fight Islamic State in the area.

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Reckitt Benckiser reaches deal to buy Mead Johnson for $16.6 billion

LONDON (Reuters) - Reckitt Benckiser has agreed to buy U.S. infant formula maker Mead Johnson Nutrition for $16.6 billion, its biggest deal ever and opening up a new market area for the British consumer goods company.

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Trump changes tack and backs "one China" policy

BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump changed tack and agreed to honor the longstanding "one China" policy during a phone call with China's leader, a major diplomatic boost for Beijing which brooks no criticism of its claim to neighboring Taiwan.

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Exclusive - Trump border 'wall' to cost $21.6 billion, take 3.5 years to build: internal report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s “wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border would be a series of fences and walls that would cost as much as $21.6 billion, and take more than three years to construct, based on a U.S. Department of Homeland Security internal report seen by Reuters on Thursday.

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Trump vows 'phenomenal' tax announcement, offers no details

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump plans to announce the most ambitious tax reform plan since the Reagan era in the next few weeks, the White House said on Thursday, sending stock prices and the dollar higher on hopes for a cut in corporate tax rates.

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Exclusive: In call with Putin, Trump denounced Obama-era nuclear arms treaty - sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In his first call as president with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump denounced a treaty that caps U.S. and Russian deployment of nuclear warheads as a bad deal for the United States, according to two U.S. officials and one former U.S. official with knowledge of the call.

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Trump orders target cartels, crime as attorney general sworn in

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump used the swearing-in ceremony of Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday to sign three executive orders, including ones targeting transnational drug cartels and those who commit crimes against law enforcement.

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Trump adds nuance to pro-Israel approach ahead of Netanyahu visit

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - During his election campaign, Donald Trump signaled his presidency would be a boon for Israel and tough on Palestinians. The U.S. Embassy would move to Jerusalem, he would name an ambassador who backs Israeli settlements on land Palestinians seek for a state and there would be no pressure for peace talks.

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Tribe files new legal challenge against North Dakota pipeline

(Reuters) - A Native American tribe filed a last-ditch legal challenge on Thursday to block the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline project after the company constructing it won federal permission to tunnel under the Missouri River.

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In French bellwether city, scandal deepens election uncertainty

CHARTRES, France (Reuters) - Chartres has in past decades been a bellwether for France's presidential elections, but ahead of this spring's poll the signal from this white-collar city appears to be blurred by a scandal that has fed into a wave of anti-establishment feeling.

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U.S. jobless claims fall to near 43-year low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to near a 43-year low, amid a further tightening of the labor market that could eventually spur faster wage growth.

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Aid ship to help Rohingyas arrives in Myanmar, greeted by protest

YANGON (Reuters) - A small group of protesters greeted a ship from Malaysia when it docked in Myanmar on Thursday carrying aid bound for the troubled state of Rakhine, where many members of the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority live.

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Abe hopes to avoid landing in rough in golf outing with Trump

(Reuters) - With golf long regarded as a stern measure of character and a natural setting for deal-making, U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's weekend outing in Florida could be viewed as more than a leisurely bonding exercise between two world leaders.

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Trump breaks ice with China's Xi in letter seeking 'constructive' ties

BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has broken the ice with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a letter that said he looked forward to working with him to develop relations, although the pair haven't spoken directly since Trump took office.

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Sessions confirmed as U.S. attorney general after battle with Democrats

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bitterly divided U.S. Senate confirmed Republican Senator Jeff Sessions on Wednesday as the next attorney general of the United States after strong pushback from Democrats concerned about his record on civil rights.

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Trump blasts retailer Nordstrom, raising new concern on business ties

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - President Donald Trump blasted department store chain Nordstrom Inc on Wednesday for dropping his daughter Ivanka's clothing line, prompting critics to accuse him of misusing public office to benefit his family's sprawling business empire.

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U.S. high court nominee calls Trump's attacks on judiciary 'demoralizing': spokesman

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, on Wednesday described the president's Twitter attacks on the judiciary as "demoralizing" and "disheartening," a spokesman for Gorsuch said.

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Trump presidency heralds new era of closer ties with Egypt

CAIRO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Friendly phone calls, an invite to the White House, a focus on Islamic militancy and what Donald Trump called "chemistry" have set the tone for a new era of warmer U.S.-Egyptian ties that could herald more military and political support for Cairo.

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Trump accuser follows Cosby playbook by pursuing defamation suit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - When former reality television contestant Summer Zervos accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct last fall, she pursued her claims solely in the court of public opinion, since the allegations dated too far back to allow a lawsuit.

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Controversial Dakota pipeline to go ahead after Army approval

WASHINGTON/HOUSTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army will grant the final permit for the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline after an order from President Donald Trump to expedite the project despite opposition from Native American tribes and climate activists.

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U.N. seeks $2.1 billion to avert famine in Yemen

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations appealed on Wednesday for $2.1 billion to provide food and other life-saving assistance to 12 million people in Yemen who face the threat of famine after two years of war.

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DeVos becomes U.S. education secretary as Pence breaks tie

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's choice of billionaire Betsy DeVos to be education secretary was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, but only after Vice President Mike Pence was called in to break a tie that threatened to defeat her.

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Couple calls it quits over Trump: Wounds still raw after bitter U.S. election

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Burning passions over Donald Trump's presidency are taking a personal toll on both sides of the political divide. For Gayle McCormick, it is particularly wrenching: she has separated from her husband of 22 years.

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Khamenei tells Trump 'no enemy can paralyze' Iran

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's warning to Tehran to stop its missile tests, and called on Iranians to respond to Trump's "threats" on Friday's anniversary of the 1979 revolution.

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Netanyahu, Trump align on Iran ahead of Israeli leader's visit

JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Seizing on an Iranian missile test, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and new U.S. President Donald Trump are nearing common ground on a tougher U.S. policy towards Tehran ahead of their first face-to-face talks at the White House.

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Trump: militant attacks 'all over Europe,' some not reported

TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Monday accused the news media of ignoring attacks by Islamist militants in Europe.

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Trump's immigration ban faces new legal hurdle on Monday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's temporary immigration ban faced a legal hurdle on Monday that could determine whether he can push through the most controversial and far reaching policy of his first two weeks in office.

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Kremlin says it wants apology from Fox News over Putin comments

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday it wanted an apology from Fox News over what it said were "unacceptable" comments one of the channel's presenters made about Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

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U.S. tech firms file legal brief opposing Trump's immigration ban

(Reuters) - Several technology giants, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, banded together on Sunday to file a legal brief opposing President Donald Trump's temporary immigration ban, arguing that it "inflicts significant harm on American business."

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Patriots rally to stun Falcons in Super Bowl thriller

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The New England Patriots stormed back from a 25-point deficit to win their fifth Super Bowl with a stunning 34-28 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the National Football League's championship game.

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Falcons lead Patriots 21-3 at halftime of Super Bowl

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Atlanta Falcons came to life in the second quarter with three touchdowns to lead the stunned New England Patriots 21-3 at halftime of the Super Bowl on Sunday.

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Asia shares track Wall Street higher, dollar becalmed

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares edged ahead on Monday as Wall Street gathered momentum into a busy week of earnings with more than 100 major companies due to report, while the dollar was again hobbled by a lack of progress on U.S. fiscal stimulus.

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Trump faces uphill battle to overcome court's hold on travel ban

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump faces an uphill battle to overcome a federal judge's temporary hold on his travel ban on seven mainly Muslim countries, but the outcome of a ruling on the executive order's ultimate legality is less certain.

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Patriotism and protests part of Super Bowl kickoff

HOUSTON (Reuters) - From U.S. President Donald Trump to the Pope, the world was settling in for a rousing Super Bowl Sunday with the Atlanta Falcons taking on the New England Patriots in an NFL title game that will be played with deep political undertones.

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Trump says Pence will lead voter fraud panel

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said in remarks broadcast on Sunday that he would put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of a commission to probe what he believes was voter fraud in last November's election.

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Iraqi traveler battling U.S. ban learns to 'never surrender'

BAGHDAD/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fuad Sharef took one of the first planes out of Iraq with a connection to the United States this past weekend, just hours after a judge in Seattle blocked U.S. President Donald Trump's ban on immigrants from seven mainly Muslim countries.

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German magazine defends cover showing Trump beheading Statue of Liberty

BERLIN (Reuters) - The editor-in-chief of Der Spiegel on Sunday said a front cover illustration of U.S. President Donald Trump beheading the Statue of Liberty, which split opinion at home and abroad, was a response by the German magazine to threats against democracy.

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Justice Department appeals judge's immigration order

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department filed an appeal late Saturday to restore President Donald Trump's immigration order barring citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries and temporarily banning refugees, even as travelers raced to enter the country while the ban was lifted.

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Trump: U.S. will win appeal of judge's travel ban order

WASHINGTON/PALM BEACH, Fla (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said the Justice Department will win an appeal filed late Saturday of a judge's order lifting a travel ban he had imposed on citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries.

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Immigration chaos and long nights led to Washington's court win

SEATTLE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson arrived in Seattle last Saturday after a trip to Florida, public outrage over the immigration order issued the previous day by President Donald Trump was quickly growing. He went home, greeted his family and then went to work.

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Thousands protest in London against Trump's refugee ban

LONDON (Reuters) - Several thousand people demonstrated outside the U.S. embassy in London on Saturday against President Donald Trump and his temporary ban on refugees and nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

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Iran tests missile and radar systems, defying U.S. sanctions

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran is holding a military exercise on Saturday to test its missile and radar systems, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration imposed sanctions on Tehran for a recent ballistic missile test.

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Mattis says no need for dramatic U.S. military moves in South China Sea

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Saturday played down any need for major U.S. military moves in the South China Sea to contend with China's assertive behavior, even as he sharply criticized Beijing for "shredding the trust of nations in the region."

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Trump ignites political fight over U.S. banking law reforms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered reviews of major banking rules that were put in place after the 2008 financial crisis, drawing fire from Democrats who said his order lacked substance and squarely aligned him with Wall Street bankers.

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Trump administration imposes fresh Iran-related sanctions

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday sanctioned 13 individuals and 12 entities under its Iran sanctions authority, days after the White House put Tehran "on notice" over a ballistic missile test and other activities.

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French soldier shoots, wounds machete-wielding attacker at Paris Louvre

PARIS (Reuters) - A French soldier shot and wounded a man armed with a machete and carrying two bags on his back on Friday as he tried to enter the Paris Louvre museum in what the government said appeared to have been a terrorist attack.

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U.S. job growth seen accelerating in January, wages strong

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. job growth likely accelerated in January, with wages expected to have increased steadily, suggesting a strong start for the Trump administration as it seeks to boost the economy and employment.

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Trump names former 'black site' prison operator CIA deputy chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A veteran CIA clandestine service officer who ran one of the agency's "black site" prisons set up after the 9/11 attacks was named deputy director of the U.S. spy agency on Thursday by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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U.S. warns North Korea of 'overwhelming' response if nuclear arms used

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary warned North Korea on Friday of an "effective and overwhelming" response if Pyongyang chose to use nuclear weapons, as he reassured Seoul of steadfast U.S. support at the end of a two-day visit.

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Trump vows to end prohibition on church political activity

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to free churches and other tax-exempt institutions of a 1954 U.S. law banning political activity, drawing fire from critics who accused him of rewarding his evangelical Christian supporters and turning houses of worship into political machines.

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Uber CEO quits Trump's business advisory group

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick has quit President Donald Trump's business advisory group after coming under criticism for taking part, the company said on Thursday.

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Exclusive: U.S. expected to impose fresh sanctions on Iranian entities - sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is expected to impose sanctions on multiple Iranian entities as early as Friday following Tehran's recent ballistic missile test, but in a way that will not violate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

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U.S. House conservatives say 'hurry up' on Obamacare repeal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two influential conservatives in the U.S. House of Representatives urged lawmakers on Thursday to get moving with a repeal of Obamacare, reflecting concerns that the process is getting bogged down amid disputes over how to replace the healthcare law.

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Trump says his travel ban needed to ensure U.S. religious freedom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump defended his order to temporarily bar entry to people from seven majority-Muslim nations, which has come under intense criticism at home and abroad, saying on Thursday it was crucial to ensuring religious freedom and tolerance in America.

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Tillerson calls for unity, understanding as he starts at State Department

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for understanding and unity as he took the helm at the State Department on Thursday, as many countries seek greater clarity over foreign policy moves taken by the White House that have antagonized a range of allies.

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U.S. hopes to have border wall finished within two years: official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on Thursday he hoped to have a wall along the southern U.S. border with Mexico finished within two years, according to an interview with Fox News.

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Exclusive: Trump to focus counter-extremism program solely on Islam - sources

WASHINGTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Trump administration wants to revamp and rename a U.S. government program designed to counter all violent ideologies so that it focuses solely on Islamist extremism, five people briefed on the matter told Reuters.

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Trump threatens U.C. Berkeley after protests stop far-right speech

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to cut funding to the University of California at Berkeley after protesters smashed windows and set fires at the liberal-leaning school, forcing the cancellation of an appearance by a far-right Breitbart News editor.

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Trump adopts aggressive posture toward Iran after missile launch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House put Iran "on notice" on Wednesday for test-firing a ballistic missile and said it was reviewing how to respond, taking an aggressive posture toward Tehran that could raise tensions in the region.

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Protesters force UC Berkeley to cancel far-right speaker's speech

(Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters at the University of California at Berkeley on Wednesday smashed windows, set fires and clashed with police as they forced a right-wing speaker to cancel his appearance at the liberal-leaning institution.

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U.S. Senate confirms Tillerson as secretary of state

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate confirmed Rex Tillerson as President Donald Trump's secretary of state on Wednesday, filling a key spot on the Republican's national security team despite concerns about the former Exxon Mobil Corp chief executive officer's ties to Russia.

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Trump pays respects to U.S. SEAL who died when Yemen raid went wrong

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday paid his respects to a U.S. Navy SEAL who died in a raid on al Qaeda in Yemen that went wrong, the first military operation authorized by Trump as commander in chief.

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Trump likely to face questions over travel ban in CEO's meeting Friday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will likely face questions on his executive order restricting some travel to the United States when he meets chief executives of major U.S. companies on Friday at the White House.

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Democrats vow fight on Supreme Court nominee, Trump urges 'nuclear option'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Senate Republicans to "go nuclear" and invoke a rule change to force a simple majority vote toward confirmation if Democrats block his U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, as Democrats maneuvered for a tough fight.

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Two Republicans won't vote for Trump education pick DeVos, rejection looms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Republicans in the U.S. Senate said on Wednesday they will not vote to confirm billionaire philanthropist Betsy DeVos as the next secretary of education, increasing the possibility that the charter-schools advocate will be rejected by the Senate.

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Fed holds interest rates steady, remains upbeat on economy

WASHINGTON(Reuters) - The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday in its first meeting since President Donald Trump took office, but painted a relatively upbeat picture of the U.S. economy that suggested it was on track to tighten monetary policy this year.

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Senate panel backs Price as health secretary, Mnuchin for Treasury

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday voted to confirm Representative Tom Price to head the Department of Health and Human Services and banker Steven Mnuchin to be treasury secretary, sending the nominations to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

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Iran confirms new missile test, says it does not violate nuclear deal

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's defense minister said on Wednesday it had tested a new missile but this did not breach the Islamic Republic's nuclear accord with world powers or a U.N. Security Council resolution endorsing the pact.

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VW, Robert Bosch agree to pay $1.6 billion to settle U.S. diesel claims

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG has agreed to pay at least $1.26 billion to fix or buy back and compensate owners of about 80,000 polluting 3.0 liter diesel-engined vehicles -- and could be forced to pay more than $4 billion if regulators don't approve fixes for all vehicles, court documents filed late Tuesday showed.

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