Data shows economic recovery still on track

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week to a two-month low, while the trade deficit narrowed sharply in July, hopeful signs for the stuttering economic recovery.

Obama warns Koran-burning would boost al Qaeda

GAINESVILLE, Florida (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned on Thursday that an obscure U.S. Christian pastor's plan to burn the Koran could provoke al Qaeda suicide bombings, as international pressure mounted on Washington to step in.

U.S. Marines seize ship from pirates in the Gulf of Aden

DUBAI (Reuters) - U.S. Marines boarded and seized a commercial German vessel in the Gulf of Aden that had been attacked and boarded by pirates a day earlier, the U.S. Fifth Fleet said in a statement on Thursday.

Health reforms trigger spending shift

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. reforms are poised to dramatically shift the nation's healthcare spending, not only curbing Medicare costs but also pumping more money toward the private sector as roughly 32 million people gain coverage.

New York finally sees progress at Ground Zero site

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Nine years after the September 11 attacks, visible progress is finally being made toward rebuilding the World Trade Center site known as Ground Zero.

U.S. appeals court puts on hold stem cell funding ban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court granted on Thursday an Obama administration request for a temporary stay that lifts a judge's ban on federal funding of research involving human embryonic stem cells.

Iran says to free one American detainee

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will release on Saturday one of three detained American citizens accused of espionage, an official told Reuters on Thursday.

British MPs to grill BP CEO Hayward

LONDON (Reuters) - British Members of Parliament (MPs) will next week grill outgoing BP Plc Chief Executive Tony Hayward, as part of an investigation into risks around deepwater drilling in the North Sea.

Obama: Top aide Emanuel would make "terrific" mayor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said his hard-nosed chief of staff Rahm Emanuel would make a terrific mayor of Chicago but expects him to wait until after the November congressional elections to decide whether to run.

Obama says planned Koran burning is boosting Qaeda

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned on Thursday that a Florida pastor's plan to burn copies of the Koran is being used as an al Qaeda recruitment tool and he urged the minister to reconsider the decision.

White House: pastor should heed widespread condemnation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday said a Florida pastor should take into account the widespread condemnation as he decides whether to go ahead with a plan to burn copies of the Koran.

Iraqi PM says U.S. should halt Koran burning

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki urged the United States on Thursday to prevent the American pastor of an obscure Christian church from burning copies of the Koran in commemoration of the September 11 attacks.

State Department warns Americans of Koran protests

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Thursday warned Americans traveling overseas to be alert for anti-U.S. demonstrations in response to plans by a small Florida church to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

White House: Koran-burning pastor a "desperate man"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday described a Florida pastor who has threatened to burn copies of the Koran as a "desperate man" who craved attention.

U.S. says no information on Iran releasing American

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it had no information about Iran's reported plan to free one of three detained U.S. citizens, but said any release would be "terrific news".

White House: Government discussed call to Koran-burning pastor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday said government officials had discussed the possibility of calling a Florida pastor to urge him to drop a plan to burn copies of the Koran.

Koran-burning protests could delay Afghan poll: U.N.

KABUL (Reuters) - Violent protests in reaction to a plan by a small U.S. church to burn copies of the Koran have the potential to delay this month's Afghan parliamentary election, the head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said on Thursday.

U.S. leaders discuss calling pastor who plans Koran-burning

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is discussing whether to call a Florida pastor to ask him to call off plans for a Koran-burning day that U.S. leaders have warned could endanger American troops abroad, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

Interpol warns Koran-burning may trigger attacks

PARIS (Reuters) - The international police agency Interpol warned governments worldwide on Thursday of an increased risk of attacks on innocent people if the planned burning of the Koran by an obscure U.S. clergyman went ahead.

Analysis: Koran burning set to stoke communal strains

LONDON (Reuters) - Television pictures of a U.S. pastor tossing Korans onto a bonfire on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks would fit neatly into al Qaeda's populist message that Islam is under assault from an imperialist West.