WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly endorsed on Saturday the biggest healthcare overhaul in decades, giving President Barack Obama a crucial victory in a battle that now moves to the Senate.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US House of Representatives has approved the broadest overhaul of US health care in four decades, handing President Barack Obama a hard-fought victory for his top domestic priority.

TEL AVIV (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Washington on Sunday to address a Jewish gathering and hoping to meet President Barack Obama amid a delicate time in US efforts to restart Middle East peace talks.

GINOWAN, Japan (Reuters) - Thousands of Japanese gathered in sweltering heat on the southern island of Okinawa on Sunday to demand that a U.S. Marine base be moved out of the region, days ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama.

The US House of Representatives has approved the broadest US health care overhaul in a half-century, handing President Barack Obama a major victory.

In the 20 years since its launch, the Asia-Pacific's top economic grouping has witnessed a stunning realignment with China on the march and the US in crisis.

FORT HOOD, Texas (AFP) - US President Barack Obama will Tuesday attend a memorial service here to honor victims of the wild shooting rampage on the military base in which 13 people died, the White House said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives rejected an alternate Republican health plan on Saturday and prepared for an expected close final vote on a bill that would lead to the biggest healthcare overhaul in four decades.

Barack Obama this week heads to Asia for the first time as president, seeking to show the region the US is not distracted by multiple crises elsewhere.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US House of Representatives is drawing close to a vote on the broadest US health care overhaul in forty years, spurred on by President Barack Obama's call to "answer the call of history."

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is wrapping up deliberations on war strategy in Afghanistan and is considering final Pentagon options that include sending about 30,000 more troops, officials said on Saturday.

A US Army spokesman says the Texas shooting spree suspect has been taken off a ventilator but still remains in intensive care at a military hospital.

A US Army spokesman says the Texas shooting spree suspect has been taken off a ventilator but still remains in intensive care at a military hospital.

Decrying Barack Obama as "white power in black face", hundreds of African Americans marched on the White House on Saturday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives headed to a final vote on a sweeping healthcare overhaul on Saturday, with Democratic leaders confident they can secure the 218 votes needed for a narrow victory.

Seven Afghan security personnel have been killed in a mis-targeted NATO air strike in the country's remote northwest, the defence ministry says.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama, fighting for his top domestic priority, urged fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives to "vote yes" Saturday on the broadest US health care overhaul in a half-century.

KABUL (AFP) - Seven Afghan security personnel were killed in a mis-targeted NATO air strike in the remote northwest, the defence ministry said Saturday, signalling further trouble for a fraying Western military effort.