Reuters: Top Global and Breaking News

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Growth in Japan's economy slowed to a crawl in the second quarter and analysts see more weakness ahead, adding to policymakers' headaches as they grapple with deflation and a rise in the yen that threatens an export-reliant recovery.

China tops Japan as second biggest economy in Q2

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) - An air strike in northern Afghanistan killed an al Qaeda leader who was planning suicide attacks, NATO-led forces said on Monday, underscoring the spread of the insurgency to once-peaceful areas of the country.

Air strike kills al Qaeda cell leader in Afghan north

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HOUSTON/NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Technical issues on Monday muddled the timing of BP's planned final kill of its blown-out Gulf of Mexico oil well as concerns lingered over the environmental and health fallout from the world's worst offshore oil spill.

Technical twists delay timing of BP final well kill

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - President Barack Obama painted Republicans as obstructionist allies of corporate America on Monday as he crossed the United States campaigning for his fellow Democrats fighting to keep control of the Congress and for state governorships in November's elections.

Obama campaigning, ties Republicans to big business

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Rand Paul, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement, has a narrow lead among likely voters in a Senate race in Kentucky, where economic worries top voters' concerns, a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday said.

Republican Paul leads Senate race in Kentucky

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SEATTLE (Reuters) - President Barack Obama pressed Senate Republicans on Tuesday to pass his $30 billion plan to help banks boost lending to small businesses, blasting the opposition for playing "political games" with a measure he says will help generate jobs.

Obama pushes Republicans on jobs bill

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ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Nearly half the $459 million needed to fund initial relief efforts following Pakistan's worst ever floods has been secured after days of lobbying donors and warnings that the country faces a spiraling humanitarian catastrophe, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

U.N. secures more Pakistan flood relief funds

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Opponents and supporters of a planned Muslim cultural center and mosque near the site of New York's World Trade Center will mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks with dueling events.

Sept 11 anniversary set for Muslim center marches

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Muslims in lower Manhattan who have prayed in a crowded basement or in the streets say they are not looking for confrontation with opponents of a new mosque. They simply need the space.

Muslims in Manhattan say they need a place to pray

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. regulators said on Wednesday they charged New Jersey with securities fraud for not disclosing to municipal bond investors that it was underfunding its pensions.

SEC charges New Jersey with securities fraud