WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama signed into law on Friday sweeping reforms that restrict credit card interest rates and fees, marking a victory for Democrats trying to help recession-weary consumers.

But the law is expected to hurt profits of major card issuers such as Citigroup Inc, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Capital One Financial Corp.

WASHINGTON - WHITE House press secretary Robert Gibbs says he doesn't expect the US government's credit rating to be cut.

Mr Gibbs says President Barack Obama is more concerned about 'getting in place a recovery plan that will create jobs and get this economy moving again.'

LONDON - WORKERS at Honda's UK factory have voted for a temporary pay cut to protect 490 jobs, their union said on Friday.

Autoworkers are due to return to duty at the Honda plant in Swindon, southern England, on June 1 following a four-month layoff intended to work off the company's inventory of unsold cars.