Istanbul/Washington  - US president-elect Barack Obama threw his weight behind Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics, recording a video message for organizers meeting in Turkey on Friday.

Obama promised his incoming administration "will bring a fresh perspective on America's role and responsibilities around the world" and praised the Olympic movement for its ability to bring the global community together.

Washington  - US president-elect Barack Obama has settled on much of his economic and foreign policy team, including New York Federal Reserve Chairman Timothy Geithner to lead the Treasury and Hillary Clinton for secretary of state, US media reported Friday.

Obama will unveil his entire economic team, including Geithner, on Monday, broadcaster NBC reported, offering some clarity on who will manage the world's largest economy in a time of global economic crisis.

New York  - US stocks surged Friday on news that president- elect Barack Obama would tap New York Federal Reserve Chairman Timothy Geithner to head the Treasury.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index both gained more than 6 per cent on Friday, one day after the S&P had reached an 11-year low. The Dow hit a five-year low on Wednesday.

Washington  - US President-elect Barack Obama has already settled on much of his economic and foreign policy team, including Hillary Clinton for secretary of state and New York Federal Reserve Chairman Timothy Geithner to head the Treasury, US media reported Friday.

Obama will unveil his entire economic team, including Geithner, on Monday, broadcaster NBC reported, offering some clarity on who will manage the world's largest economy in a time of global economic crisis.

Transition aides reveal that U. S.

Washington, Nov. 21 : US President-elect Barack Obama will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010, to ask Congress to end the military''s decades-old ban on open homosexuals in the ranks.