U.S. News Headlines: Reuters

BEND, Oregon (Reuters) - Acting even more like he has clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama said on Saturday he would be willing to campaign jointly with Republican John McCain and acknowledged he needed to better introduce himself to Americans.

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Saturday it was "very concerned" about the outbreak of violence in Sudan between Darfur rebels and government troops and urged both sides to exercise restraint.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp on Saturday dropped its $580 million bid for Tribune Co's Newsday newspaper, just days after Murdoch said a deal was imminent, leaving cable television operator Cablevision as the likely winner of the Long Island daily.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Even with some signs of improvement in the U.S. financial markets and a temporary boost from the economic stimulus package, the growth outlook for the second half of this year has deteriorated, according to a panel of economic forecasters.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday sentenced a New York man to 88 months in prison for his role in a foreign currency exchange scheme that cost investors about $6.5 million.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City could be on the hook for as much as $7 billion if it cannot revive a faltering deal to develop one of the last large vacant land tracts in Manhattan, a credit rating agency said on Friday, while Mayor Michael Bloomberg vowed that the deal is not dead.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress could enact the new $285 billion U.S. farm law over a presidential veto by late May, ending 15 months of work to overhaul U.S. farm policy, the Senate Agriculture Committee said on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans urged House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday to end her delaying tactics and allow a vote on a free trade agreement with Colombia.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of senior U.S. senators urged President George W. Bush on Friday to visit Tibet when he travels to China in August to attend the Beijing Olympics.

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Rap star DMX was arrested on Friday on suspicion of drug possession and animal cruelty after two searches of his home allegedly turned up weapons, drugs, dog carcasses and abused pit bulls.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Did U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain vote for President George W. Bush in 2000?

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The iconic New York State Supreme Court house, a popular backdrop for movies and television shows, was busy preparing for Monday's showdown over the $20 billion buyout of Clear Channel Communications.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Friday set out terms for a possible deal on a housing market rescue plan, as a sweeping package backed by the House of Representatives was on its way to an uncertain greeting in the Senate.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Seven astronauts climbed inside the space shuttle Discovery on Friday as part of a dress rehearsal for a May 31 mission to deliver a Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Six years after he was charged with videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl, R&B superstar R. Kelly went on trial on Friday, with his alleged victim prepared to deny she is the person on the tape.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Eight years ago, Colombian rocker Juanes was an immigrant seeking opportunities in Los Angeles before he found a music producer who gave him his big break.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boosted by high prices and good weather, the world's farmers will reap record wheat and rice crops this year, the U.S. government said on Friday, which should somewhat allay fears of scanty food supplies.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama earned more support from party leaders and won praise from former rival John Edwards on Friday as he gathered momentum in his drive to the U.S. presidential nomination.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards on Friday declined to make an endorsement in the Democratic presidential battle, but said Barack Obama could unite the party and win in November.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department said late on Thursday that Hawaii-based Palama Holdings is voluntarily recalling about 68,670 lbs of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's new government is trying to convince the United States that unilateral strikes against al Qaeda militants on its territory could be "counter-productive," the country's foreign minister said on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Now that Democrat Hillary Clinton is fading, Republican John McCain's U.S. presidential campaign is girding for a tough election battle against Barack Obama and McCain aides believe he has weaknesses to exploit.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. economic downturn has spread personal financial worries far and wide, but women are more worried about paying bills, losing jobs, providing for children and saving for retirement, according to a study released on Thursday.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's ruling Labour Party fell to its lowest-ever poll rating in a survey published on Friday, a week after big losses in local elections cast doubt on the leadership of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - He backs an unpopular war in Iraq, represents an unpopular political party and is endorsed by an unpopular president in the midst of an economic downturn.

BOGOTA (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress should pass the Colombian free trade agreement to help the Andean country reform and strengthen its economy and improve its democratic institutions, the World Bank said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A California man described by prosecutors as an "eco-terrorist" was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison on Thursday for plotting to blow up a federal forestry site, telephone towers and other targets.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Ethics Committee on Thursday dismissed a complaint against Sen. David Vitter, a suspected patron of a prostitution ring headed by a woman who killed herself last month.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama on Thursday accused Republican John McCain of "losing his bearings" over a foreign policy issue, sparking countercharges that he is making McCain's age an issue in the U.S. presidential campaign.