Obama says recession will worsen without bold action

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama will seek Thursday to rally support for a massive fiscal stimulus package by warning that the United States could remain mired in recession for years without bold action.

MSNBC's Chris Matthews won't run for Senate

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - After months of will-he or won't-he speculation, MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews has opted not to run for the U.S. Senate in his native Pennsylvania.

Obama to name law professor as regulatory czar: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama will name Cass Sunstein, a Harvard Law School professor who pioneered efforts to design regulation around the ways people behave, as regulatory czar, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Senate Democrats move to seat Burris

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In an abrupt switch, Democratic leaders began talks on Wednesday to swear in Roland Burris, appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Paulson says Obama will decide on rescue spending

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama will decide how to spend the remaining half of a $700 billion economic rescue package, a top Bush administration official said on Wednesday, while a key Democratic lawmaker outlined his vision of how new rescue funds should be spent.

Obama to revamp counterterrorism efforts: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama will revamp the way the U.S. government coordinates counterterrorism efforts, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

Obama announces "chief performance officer"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama, who faces trillion-dollar government deficits stretching into coming years, named on Wednesday a former Treasury official as the first U.S. "chief performance officer" to oversee budget and spending reform.

Obama, Bush dine with ex-presidents at White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush and his successor, Barack Obama, joined all the living U.S. presidents on Wednesday for a historic meeting at the White House two weeks before the country's next transfer of power.

Smooth approval seen for Obama healthcare nominee

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Shirley Hunter reviewed her finances to make sure she could afford to retire in 1999, she never banked on health care costs more than doubling in less than a decade.

Obama plans regular talks with key market players: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said on Wednesday that he will be communicating with key market participants on a regular basis.

Clegg reshuffles top Lib Dem team

Nick Clegg reshuffles his frontbench team to prepare for a general election with moves for Simon Hughes and Steve Webb.

Interest rates hit all-time low

The Bank of England cuts rates to 1.5%, the lowest level in its 315-year history, as it continues efforts to help the economy.

No plan to print money - Darling

Chancellor Alistair Darling denies he is planning to "print money" in order to boost the UK economy.

C-charge fine for Boris Johnson

London Mayor Boris Johnson admits being fined for failing to pay the city's congestion charge.

PM hails UK tourism opportunities

Gordon Brown says Britain must be a leader in the "new type of world economy", ahead of a cabinet meeting in Liverpool.

School tables must be rushed out

News organisations say a rule change hampers their publication of secondary school league tables for England.

Downturn 'fuels unpaid overtime'

The economic downturn is helping to drive record levels of unpaid overtime by workers fearing for their jobs, the TUC claims.

Restraint urged over tax arrears

Councils are taking people to court too quickly if they fall behind with their council tax, the Liberal Democrats claim.

Clegg urges Israel condemnation

Gordon Brown must "unambiguously condemn" Israel's actions in Gaza, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says.

PM swaps fitness tips with Mr Motivator

TV fitness guru Mr Motivator meets Gordon Brown, fresh from a morning run, at Downing Street.

End of an era

Will UK and US ever be as close after Blair and Bush?

Brown on tour

BBC reporters take temperature of industry en route

Best Bushisms

How the outgoing US president tied his tongue in knots

Inside City Hall

Shaun Ley looks at eight years of the London mayoralty

Cones hotline

The lasting legacy of John Major's much ridiculed plan

Nick Robinson

Credit crunch allows Tory rethink on spending plans

Brown boost for apprenticeships

Gordon Brown arrives in Derby as he begins a three-day regional tour, aimed at showing he is heeding economic concerns.

Gurkhas decision delay criticised

The government is criticised over delays in producing a new policy on Gurkha veterans wanting to settle in the UK.

Blair 'hopeful' of Gaza ceasefire

Former UK PM Tony Blair says the elements of a peace plan for Gaza have been accepted, but hard work is still needed.

Cases have 'cut UK terror threat'

The terrorist threat to the UK has been reduced by a series of successful criminal prosecutions, the head of MI5 says.

Credit crunch warning for schools

The economic downturn could be about to hit funding for schools and children's services, a government committee warns.

UK 'must ratify' disability pact

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is urging the British government to ratify the UN Disability Convention

Companies 'facing' gambling levy

Bookmakers and other firms may be forced to fund research into gambling addiction under plans put forward by ministers.

Car parking plan to be extended

A London council announces plans to extend a scheme that charges the most polluting vehicles more to park.

Cable gives house price warning

Vince Cable warns house prices could fall another 20% as negativity surrounding the market shows no sign of lifting.

Brown voices Gaza ceasefire hopes

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is hopeful a basis for a ceasefire in Gaza will be found to end the Middle East's "darkest hour".

UK short-selling ban to be lifted

A ban on the short-selling of financial shares is to be lifted, the UK's financial regulator confirms.

Blair to get US Medal of Freedom

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will be awarded the US's highest civilian award next week, the White House confirms.

Cameron makes savings tax pledge

David Cameron proposes to axe tax on basic rate taxpayers' savings and to increase pensioners' tax free allowances.

State widens homeowner help

The government extends state help for people struggling to make mortgage payments after losing their jobs.

Lobbying rules 'must be stricter'

Lax rules are allowing former ministers to exploit contacts built up in public office for private gain, a committee of MPs warns.

Thatcher pays tribute to Walters

Lady Thatcher leads tributes to her "fearless" economics adviser Sir Alan Walters, who has died aged 82.

PM defends handling of downturn

Gordon Brown says his priority for the year is working on getting the UK economy back into shape, not a general election.

Tories want tougher primary tests

The Tories are calling for more rigorous testing in primary schools amid concern over literacy and numeracy levels.

Disabled rights delay criticised

The UK government is criticised for failing to ratify a UN Convention giving new rights for disabled people.

Brown urges end to Gaza violence

Gordon Brown reiterates the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, as Israeli troops and Hamas clash in Gaza.

SNP under fire on bridge funding

Scottish ministers are accused of burning bridges instead of building them, as the Forth crossing funding row continues.

Brian Taylor's political blog

Dummy puff/betsan blog

US envoy confident on commitment

Paula Dobriansky says she is confident Washington will continue its strong commitment to Northern Ireland under Barack Obama.

Mark Devenport's political blog

Dummy puff/betsan blog

Jones invokes 'Calzaghe spirit'

Carwyn Jones, a leading candidate to succeed Rhodri Morgan, outlines his vision for Welsh Labour.

Betsan Powys' political blog

Dummy puff/betsan blog

The Cabinet: Who's Who

Here is a minister-by-minister guide to the members of Gordon Brown's Cabinet.

Shadow Cabinet: Who's Who

Here is a minister-by-minister guide to the members of Tory leader David Cameron's Cabinet.

Obama warns of dire consequences without stimulus (AP)

AP - Pr