WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama turned to local television stations across the United States on Wednesday to increase public pressure on congressional Republicans to avert $85 billion in budget cuts set to begin in nine days.

Obama scheduled interviews with television stations in eight markets, most of which have a strong military presence, on a day when the Pentagon was set to describe its plans for laying off some 800,000 civilian employees for 22 days to save money.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama renewed pressure on congressional Republicans to head off budget cuts that are due to begin on March 1, staging a White House appearance with emergency workers to illustrate jobs he said were at risk.

Obama is trying to get concessions from Congress to stall the cuts by ending tax breaks enjoyed mainly by wealthy Americans.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama renewed his pressure on congressional Republicans to head off budget cuts that are due to begin on March 1, staging a White House appearance with emergency workers to illustrate jobs he said were at risk.

Obama is trying to get concessions from Congress to stall the cuts by ending tax breaks enjoyed mainly by wealthy Americans.

, Feb 13 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama
visited a truck parts plant on Wednesday to highlight the role
of U.S. manufacturing in reviving the economy, and follow up on
his State of the Union message of strengthening the middle
class.

“I believe in manufacturing,” he said, standing before a
backdrop of massive parts made for 400-ton mining trucks. “It
makes our country strong.”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When the Volvo manufacturing plant shut its doors in Asheville, North Carolina, in 2010 and moved more than 200 jobs out of state, it was time for Ben Teague to go to work.

As the region’s economic development officer, he worked with state and local officials to advertise the town’s skilled labor force and offer the right mix of incentives to lure in a new business.

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama
challenged a divided Congress on Tuesday to raise the minimum
wage and make government work for “the many” in a State of the
Union speech focused on economic fairness for the middle class
as the Democrat takes a more assertive tack in his second term.

Looking to use momentum from his re-election victory last
November, Obama vowed to turn much of his attention toward
economic troubles like the 7.9 percent unemployment rate, an
issue that dogged his first four years as president.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama told the heartbreaking stories of lives shattered by gun violence in a speech viewed by tens of millions of Americans on Tuesday, part of his pledge to bring the full power of his office to a push for tougher gun laws.

In an emotional finish to his annual State of the Union address, Obama urged Congress to hold votes on measures to expand background checks, prevent gun trafficking, ban assault weapons and limit the size of magazines, saying victims deserved to have their elected officials vote on the proposals.

WASHINGTON/CALGARY (Reuters) – U.S. regulators have approved the $15.1 billion takeover of Canadian oil and gas company Nexen Inc by China’s state-owned CNOOC Ltd, removing the final obstacle to the Asian country’s largest-ever foreign takeover.

But a senior U.S. legislator said he planned to introduce legislation to block future deals like this, which involve U.S. properties that are free of royalties.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama called a nuclear test on Tuesday by North Korea a “highly provocative act” and said Pyongyang’s “threatening activities” warranted action by the international community.

North Korea’s third nuclear test came less than 24 hours before Obama’s annual State of the Union address, a televised speech viewed by millions of Americans that lays out his priorities for the coming year.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama called a nuclear test on Tuesday by North Korea a “highly provocative act” and said Pyongyang’s “threatening activities” warranted action by the international community.

North Korea’s third nuclear test came less than 24 hours before Obama’s annual State of the Union address, a televised speech viewed by millions of Americans that lays out his priorities for the coming year.