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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate unanimously voted on Wednesday to confirm David Petraeus as commander of the troubled Afghan war, pinning U.S. hopes on the four-star general who helped turn around the conflict in Iraq.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Two accused Islamist extremists were all bluster and no substance, their defense attorneys said in opening statements on Wednesday at a trial on charges they planned to bomb a New York airport.

HOUSTON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A relief well that might divert the gushing Gulf of Mexico oil leak is still weeks from completion, a top U.S. official said on Wednesday, as the season’s first Atlantic hurricane disrupted cleanup efforts.

MIAMI (Reuters) – Hurricane Alex strengthened into a Category 2 storm over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and was due to hit northeastern Mexico very soon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a landmark overhaul of financial regulations but the Senate put off action until mid-July, delaying a final victory for President Barack Obama.

RACINE, Wisconsin (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday maintained pressure on China to ensure its currency policy did not give it an unfair export advantage.

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Reuters) – Jitters that financial strains may derail the U.S. economic recovery mean the Federal Reserve will be in no rush to end its ultra-low interest rates, comments by officials of the U.S. central bank suggested on Wednesday.