Judge throws out Obama art lawsuits

A judge has dismissed copyright lawsuits between the artist who created an iconic portrait of Barack Obama and the Associated Press.- 13/01/2011, Americas

Obama urges end to 'symbolic battles' in Congress

President Barack Obama urged newly empowered Republicans today not to wage "symbolic battles" against him but to instead work together to help spur job growth and economic recovery. Obama issued his appeal in his weekly radio address after Republicans took power in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting up potentially ...- 08/01/2011, Americas

Obama appoints new chief of staff

President Barack Obama named JP Morgan Chase executive William Daley as his new White House chief of staff yesterday. Announcing his decision at a White House ceremony, Mr Obama said he hoped Mr Daley – who was commerce secretary under former President Bill Clinton – would help energise the US economy. "He possesses a deep understandin...- 07/01/2011, Americas

Republicans vow to repeal Obama's healthcare plan

The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives took power yesterday vowing to open a legislative battle with Barack Obama over the size of government and how much it spends.- 06/01/2011, Americas

Obama looks back to the Windy City for reshuffle

Barack Obama was last night putting the final touches to a grand reshuffle of top aides, possibly including his chief of staff, which is likely to reinforce links both to his political base in Chicago and the Clinton White House.- 05/01/2011, Americas

The Year in Review: Obama's shellacking

"Black man Given Nation's Worst Job." That was the delicious headline in the satirical paper The Onion, in the heady days after Barack Obama's rousing election triumph. Back then we all laughed. Two years on, that same same Barack Obama is struggling to rescue his presidency, amid economic stagnation, massive deficits and continuing No...- 24/12/2010, Americas

Obama signs bill ending ban on gays in US military

Declaring that members of the US military will no longer be asked to lie, President Barack Obama fulfilled a campaign promise today and signed a landmark law repealing the ban on gay men and women serving openly in the armed services. The signing ceremony was a breakthrough moment for the US gay community, the military and for Obama himself. ...- 22/12/2010, Americas

Obama closes in on nuclear treaty

President Barack Obama's strategic nuclear arms treaty with Russia secured enough votes on Tuesday to clear a Republican procedural hurdle and appeared headed toward ratification in the US Senate this week.- 22/12/2010, World Politics

Senators urged to back Russia treaty

President Barack Obama lobbied senators by phone yesterday to back an arms treaty with Russia that he has called a national security imperative, as a top Senate Democrat conceded "house-by-house combat" would be needed to win enough Republican votes to prevail.- 21/12/2010, Americas

Video: Dramatic footage of Taliban ambush

Dramatic footage of British soldiers under fire from insurgents in central Helmand as US President Barack Obama says US troops are ready to pull out. - 17/12/2010, Asia

Holbrooke remains critical in hospital

Richard Holbrooke, the widely respected US diplomat who has been pivotal to President Barack Obama's evolving policy on Afghanistan, was in a critical condition yesterday after collapsing on Friday with a tear in his aorta. Mr Holbrooke, best known for brokering the Dayton Accords that ended the war in Bosnia in 1995, collapsed during a meeting w...- 13/12/2010, Americas

John Rentoul: Blair (right) and Obama (left)

I have been invited to comment on anonymous gossip. Kevin Maguire says in the New Statesman: The rightward trajectory of Tony Blair, multimillionaire, has led him to an American la-la land inhabited b ...- 09/12/2010, Commentators

Obama defends tax cuts for the wealthy

The White House defended a proposed tax deal championed by President Barack Obama, saying an extension of all Bush-era tax cuts over two years would not worsen the US deficit.- 08/12/2010, Americas

Obama blames bad weather for cancelled Karzai visit

US President Barack Obama visited Afghanistan yesterday but stayed on a US military base, cancelling a planned trip to Kabul to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai because of bad weather.- 04/12/2010, Americas

Obama pushes ahead with offshore oil ban

The Obama administration was expected to announce that it will not allow drilling off the Atlantic Coast or off Florida in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as part of a new plan running from 2012 to 2017, an official has said.- 02/12/2010, Americas