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China sex tape official: I'm a lecher but no crook

Call me a lecher but don't call me a crook, an ex-city official at the heart of a sex tape scandal has said in his unusually spirited courtroom defense against corruption charges. More>>

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Boehner dances between GOP, Dems on immigration

The immigration protesters advanced on the news conference, poking signs that read "Do Not Reward Criminals" and "No Amnesty!" over the heads of Republicans who had just finished speaking about finding a civilized tone in... More>>

Senators closing in on border security compromise

White House-backed immigration legislation is gaining momentum in the Senate, where key lawmakers say they are closing in on a bipartisan compromise to spend tens of billions of dollars stiffening the bill's border... More>>

House to vote on cuts to crop insurance

The House will vote Thursday on whether to cut federally-subsidized crop insurance that helps farmers when they lose crops or revenue. More>>

House votes to delay food safety rules

The House voted late Wednesday to delay sweeping food safety rules that would require farmers and food companies to be more vigilant about guarding against contamination. More>>

Compromise among senators eyed on border security

After secretive talks, key senators expressed optimism Wednesday night that they were closing in on a bipartisan agreement to dramatically toughen the border security requirements in immigration legislation that also offers... More>>

Mueller: FBI uses drones for surveillance

The FBI uses drones for surveillance of stationary subjects, and the privacy implications of such operations are "worthy of debate," FBI Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday. More>>

China's Xi harks back to Mao in party 'cleanup'

China's new leader Xi Jinping is commanding wayward Communist Party cadres to purify themselves of corruption, and he's summed it up in a pithy slogan as Mao Zedong might have done: Look in the mirror, take a bath. More>>

House votes to cut food stamps by $2 billion

The House voted on Wednesday to cut food stamps by $2 billion a year as part of a wide-ranging farm bill. More>>

Obama making plans to tackle global warming

President Barack Obama is planning a major push using executive powers to tackle the pollution blamed for global warming in an effort to make good on promises he made at the start of his second term. "We know we have to do... More>>

US calls out China, Russia over human trafficking

The U.S. accused China and Russia of failing to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, ranking them on a par with North Korea and Syria. More>>

Senate backs Froman as next trade representative

Michael Froman, a senior White House economic adviser and classmate of President Barack Obama at Harvard Law School, on Wednesday won Senate confirmation to be the next U.S. trade representative. More>>

Few options for Brazil leader in face of protests

With massive protests by middle-class Brazilians demanding wholesale government reforms, people all over this continent-sized country have reached a verdict on the streets and online: "The giant has awakened." More>>

Russia could stand in way of Obama's nuke cuts

By saying he intends to bargain with Russia over new reductions in nuclear weapons, rather than make cuts on his own, President Barack Obama is asking for cooperation from a former Cold War foe in no mood to agree. More>>

Mueller urges caution on NSA program changes

FBI Director Robert Mueller on Wednesday urged Congress to move carefully before making any changes that might restrict the National Security Agency programs for mass collection of people's phone records and information... More>>

Dem senator presses Pentagon on Guantanamo feeding

The force-feeding of terror suspects at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, runs counter to international standards, medical ethics and the practices at American prisons, the head of the Senate Intelligence... More>>

Biden calls for DC voting rights during tribute

Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday used a tribute to 19th-century abolitionist Frederick Douglass to renew the call for equal voting rights for people who live in the nation's capital. More>>

IRS draws new criticism over $70M employee bonuses

Already reeling from a pair of scandals, the Internal Revenue Service is drawing new criticism over plans to hand out millions of dollars in employee bonuses. More>>

Bipartisan proposal on student loans circulating

Students applying for financial aid for the coming school year could find some comfort in a bipartisan student loan compromise taking shape in the Senate that would prevent interest rates from doubling and set a single rate... More>>

Kerry calls Karzai to ease anger on Taliban office

Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday made his second call to the Afghan president in 24 hours to ease Hamid Karzai's anger over the rollout of the Taliban's new political office in Qatar - a rift that... More>>

Syria troops fight rebels near major Shiite shrine

Hezbollah fighters joined Syrian forces in battling rebels in a Damascus suburb that is home to a revered Shiite Muslim shrine, in a push to secure the area around the ornate, golden domed mosque. More>>

Obama urges 'bold' nuclear cuts in Berlin speech

Summoning the harsh history of this once-divided city, President Barack Obama on Wednesday cautioned the U.S. and Europe against "complacency" brought on by peace, pledging to cut America's deployed nuclear weapons by... More>>

Pruitt: DOJ broke rules in phone records seizure

The Justice Department violated its own rules when it secretly seized records for thousands of phone calls to and from journalists for The Associated Press as part of a leak investigation, the head of the company said... More>>

Banks fall short in helping struggling homeowners

Homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure must wait too long for their loan modification applications to be reviewed by some of the nation's top mortgage servicers, according to a report released Wednesday. Such delays can... More>>

House panel starts rewrite of No Child Left Behind

House Republicans on Wednesday finished their rewrite of GOP President George W. Bush's prized No Child Left Behind Act, sending to their colleagues a bill that would strip Education Secretary Arne Duncan and his... More>>

News Summary: 5 key health overhaul points to know

By The Associated Press Here are five key facts to know about the health care overhaul before major portions of it begin next year. More>>

GOP targets high-speed rail, transportation grants

House Republicans are pushing to eliminate money for high-speed rail and a popular grant program for transportation projects. More>>

Obama renews calls for nuclear reductions

Appealing for a new citizen activism in the free world, President Barack Obama renewed his call Wednesday to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear stockpiles and to confront climate change, a danger he called "the global threat of... More>>

VP Biden pays tribute to civil rights leader

Vice President Joe Biden is hailing Frederick Douglass for his work to bring about equal justice, leading a series of tributes at the unveiling of a statue of the 19th-century orator and writer. More>>

Republican Sen. Murkowski supports gay marriage

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she now supports gay marriage, becoming the third Senate Republican to do so. More>>

Kerry to address top world issues on upcoming trip

Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Friday to visit seven countries on a trip focusing on global issues such as the Syrian crisis, Middle East peace and the West's standoffs with Iran and North Korea over their nuclear... More>>

Senators seek cost cuts for F-35 fighter jet

Senators sought cost-cutting opportunities Wednesday in the Pentagon's $400 billion program for the next-generation F-35, a fighter jet with a troubled testing record that military leaders said America couldn't... More>>

Vietnam hunger strike tests official intimidation

Cu Huy Ha Vu's books come with pages torn out by prison guards. Only some of his letters reach home. He is not allowed to access evidence from his trial or to see his wife alone. More>>

Social issues still fire up GOP despite 2012 loss

Republican lawmakers have a message for those who want the party to soften its emphasis on social conservatism in hopes of reaching a wider national audience: Not so fast. More>>

Obama relying on untested oversight board on NSA

The obscure oversight board that President Barack Obama wants to scrutinize the National Security Agency's secret surveillance system is little known for good reason. The U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board... More>>

NSA director says plot against Wall Street foiled

The U.S. foiled a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange because of the sweeping surveillance programs at the heart of a debate over national security and personal privacy, officials said Tuesday at a rare open hearing on... More>>

Gov't report: Smooth launch unsure for health law

There's no guarantee that President Barack Obama's health care law will launch smoothly and on time, congressional investigators say in the first in-depth independent look at its progress. More>>

CBO: Senate Immigration bill would help economy

Sweeping immigration legislation moving toward a vote in the Senate would boost the economy and reduce federal deficits, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday, at the same time it would bestow legal status on an... More>>

House passes far-reaching anti-abortion bill

The Republican-led House on Tuesday passed a far-reaching anti-abortion bill that conservatives saw as a milestone in their 40-year campaign against legalized abortion and Democrats characterized as yet another example of a... More>>

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control of the country's... More>>

Maine governor says he won't talk to 3 newspapers

A spokeswoman for Maine Gov. Paul LePage says the administration will no longer comment for stories published in three of Maine's daily newspapers. More>>

IRS worker: No political bias against tea party

An Internal Revenue Service manager and self-described conservative Republican said the close scrutiny of tea party groups' tax forms originated in his Cincinnati IRS office and not in Washington, according to a full... More>>

Military plans would put women in most combat jobs

Declaring "the days of Rambo are over," a top general said Tuesday that cultural, social and behavioral concerns may be bigger hurdles than tough physical fitness requirements for women looking to join the military's... More>>

AP sources: 4 US troops killed in Afghanistan

Defense officials say four U.S. troops were killed Tuesday at or near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. More>>

Google asks FISA court to lift gag order

Google on Tuesday sharply challenged the federal government's gag order on its Internet surveillance program, citing what it described as a First Amendment right to divulge how many requests it receives from the... More>>

Education Dept. offers more time to reach goals

States can ask for another year before being required to use student test results to decide whether to keep or fire teachers, Education Secretary Arne Duncan told school chiefs on Tuesday. More>>

Study finds housing bias against same-sex couples

Same-sex couples are treated less favorably than heterosexual couples when seeking information about rental housing advertised over the Internet, according to a first-of-its-kind national study from the Department of Housing... More>>

Fears of violence as Egypt nears June 30 protests

Massive nationwide protests that Egypt's opposition plans for June 30 are taking on a dangerous edge. More>>

House, Senate on diverging paths on agency budgets

Republicans controlling the House unveiled slashing cuts Tuesday to a program that helps localities build community development projects, while their rivals in the Democratic-led Senate proposed to restore GOP cuts to... More>>

G-8 NOTEBOOK: Cameron Tweets WWII bomb at G-8 site

Well, that was close. Or was it? Shortly after wrapping up one of the most peaceful Group of Eight summits in recent memory, Prime Minister David Cameron let a cat out of the bag. More>>

McCaskill endorses Ready for Hillary group

Sen. Claire McCaskill endorsed an outside political group encouraging Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016, saying it was important for Democrats to build a groundswell of support for the former secretary of... More>>

Obama's influence, limitations on display at G-8 Video included

Now a veteran of the international summit scene, President Barack Obama wielded significant influence over the agenda at this week's Group of Eight meetings, but had only modest success in achieving the results he sought. More>>

Nonprofit launches campaign to reach uninsured

A nonprofit group helping to spread the word about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul launched a campaign Tuesday that will target states with high numbers of uninsured Americans and tackle their skepticism... More>>

Biden vows to 'beat the gun lobby' and pass laws

A scrappy Vice President Joe Biden vowed Tuesday to "beat the gun lobby" by ultimately passing stronger firearm laws and said some lawmakers who voted against background checks have privately told him they want another... More>>

A look at US-Taliban relations

By The Associated Press Word that the Taliban and U.S. will hold formal talks to find a political solution to end nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan comes after years of failed efforts at peace talks. A... More>>

Medicare: Cost-saving changes coming for diabetics

Medicare begins a major change next month that could save older diabetics money and time when they buy crucial supplies to test their blood sugar - but it also may cause some confusion as patients figure out the new system. More>>

Civil rights groups sue NYPD over Muslim spying

The New York Police Department's widespread spying programs directed at Muslims have undermined free worship by innocent people and should be declared unconstitutional, religious leaders and civil rights advocates said... More>>

Obama opens 24-hour trip to Germany

President Barack Obama is opening a 24-hour visit to Germany, the culmination of which will be a speech Wednesday at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate. More>>

Officials: Kerry taps ex-senator for Africa post

Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Tuesday that he has chosen former Sen. Russ Feingold as the new U.S. special representative for the Great Lakes region of Africa and the ongoing crisis in the Congo. More>>

Chicago's next US attorney faces urgent dilemma

Chicago's next U.S. attorney faces a dilemma sprung from the twin evils bedeviling America's third-largest city. More>>

Texas governor woos disgruntled Conn. gun makers

Texas Gov. Rick Perry extolled the tax policies and regulatory climate of his state as he courted gun manufacturers that have threatened to leave Connecticut since the state passed new gun-control laws in response to the... More>>

Report: Slowdown in health care costs to continue

There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause. More>>

Obama: NSA secret data gathering 'transparent'

President Barack Obama defended top secret National Security Agency spying programs as legal in a lengthy interview Monday, and called them transparent - even though they are authorized in secret. More>>

Obama: Iranian people want a 'different direction'

President Barack Obama said Monday that Iran's election of a relative moderate shows that the country's people want to change course. But he stressed that Tehran still needs to show the international community that... More>>

Report: Slowdown in health care costs to continue

There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause. More>>

White House threatens veto of anti-abortion bill

The Obama administration is threatening to veto a measure being considered by House Republicans that would ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks. More>>

Texas, SD governors court Conn. gun makers

The governors of Texas and South Dakota visited Connecticut on Monday to court gun manufacturers that have threatened to leave since the state passed tough new gun-control laws this year in response to the massacre at Sandy... More>>

Military plans would put women in most combat jobs

Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon that would slowly bring women into thousands of combat jobs, including those in... More>>

Unions give lift to Turkish protest movement

Turkish labor groups fanned a wave of defiance against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's authority, leading rallies and a one-day strike to support activists whose two-week standoff with the government has shaken the... More>>

White House threatens veto of House farm bill

The White House is threatening to veto the House version of a massive, five-year farm bill, saying food stamp cuts included in the legislation could leave some Americans hungry. More>>

Chinese activist says he's being forced out by NYU

Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who was allowed to travel to the U.S. after escaping from house arrest, said Monday that New York University is forcing him and his family to leave at the end of this month because of... More>>

Court: Ariz. citizenship proof law illegal

States can't demand proof of citizenship from people registering to vote in federal elections unless they get federal or court approval to do so, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a decision complicating efforts in... More>>

Putin: US-Russia positions on Syria don't coincide Video included

Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Barack Obama on Monday that their positions on Syria do not "coincide" but the two leaders said during the G-8 summit that they have a shared interest in stopping the violence... More>>

Chicago's next US attorney faces urgent dilemma

Chicago's next U.S. attorney faces a dilemma sprung from the twin evils bedeviling America's third-largest city. More>>

Immigration splits GOP's national, House interests

The Republican Party's hope of running stronger presidential races by revamping immigration is about to hit a big hurdle: House Republicans. More>>

Court: 'Pay to delay' generic drugs can be illegal

Deals between pharmaceutical corporations and their generic drug competitors, which government officials say keep cheaper forms of medicine off the market, can sometimes be illegal and therefore can be challenged in court,... More>>

McCain presses Obama on secret emails

Republican Sen. John McCain on Monday questioned President Barack Obama about his political appointees' use of secret government email accounts at work, saying that Congress cannot tell the American people what its... More>>

Businessman tries his luck at building pot brand

For the activists who led the effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Washington state last fall, Jamen Shively was one of their biggest fears: an aspiring pot profiteer whose unabashed dreams of building a cannabis... More>>

Indiana woman condemned for killing at 15 is freed

A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 for taking part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old bible studies teacher was released from an Indiana prison Monday after growing to middle age behind bars. More>>

Military women moving into jobs closer to combat

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press 1948 - Law passed making women a permanent part of the U.S. military services More>>

North Korea changes tack and tells US: Let's talk

After months of threatening to wage a nuclear war, North Korea did an about-face Sunday and issued a surprise proposal to the United States, its No. 1 enemy: Let's talk. More>>

US sees nothing new in NKorea talks offer

The State Department says it sees nothing new in North Korea's offer of high-level talks with the U.S. More>>

Shiite Iraq militia claims it attacked Iran group

A Shiite militia leader on Monday claimed responsibility for a rocket attack over the weekend that killed two members of an Iranian exile group near Baghdad. Saturday's attack on the sprawling Camp Liberty also killed an... More>>

More anti-government protests occur in Bulgaria

Bulgaria's prime minister said Monday that Parliament's appointment of a media mogul as the nation's security chief was a mistake, but that his government will not resign over it. More>>

IRS official contradicts claims about reviews

Internal Revenue Service officials in Washington scrutinized the very first application from a tea party group seeking tax-exempt status - and dozens of others, including some requests that languished for more than a year... More>>

Summary of Supreme Court actions Monday

The Supreme Court on Monday handed down decisions in five cases and agreed to hear two important appeals in the fall. Among the court's actions: More>>

Pro-Obama group airing health ads

An outside group supporting President Barack Obama's agenda plans to air a series of ads this summer promoting Obama's health care overhaul. More>>

High court to hear NJ housing discrimination case

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to take on another dispute involving race, deciding whether people must prove they were victims of intentional housing discrimination to win lawsuits under federal law. More>>

High court says driver records protected

The Supreme Court says lawyers may not obtain personal information from state driver license records to recruit clients for lawsuits. More>>

Court says jury should have final say in minimums

The Supreme Court says a jury should have the final say on facts that can trigger mandatory minimum sentences in criminal trials. More>>

Court won't hear Seattle officer appeal

The Supreme Court won't reconsider a jury's decision that an off-duty Seattle police officer who was cut off in traffic violated a man's rights by detaining him at gunpoint. More>>

Immigration bill could decide 2016, senator says

Republicans' hopes to reclaim the White House in the 2016 elections hinge on whether they support - or sabotage - the immigration overhaul being debated in the Senate, two lawmakers who helped write the proposal warn. More>>

AP source: US, Cuba to resume talks on direct mail

The United States and Cuba will resume talks this week on restarting direct mail service despite a deadlock between Washington and Havana over detainees that has largely stalled most rapprochement efforts, a U.S. official... More>>

Obama, SKorea leader discuss NKorea talks offer

The White House says President Barack Obama and South Korea's President Park Geun-hye (goon-hay) have discussed North Korea's proposal for high-level talks with the U.S. More>>

Current, former officials back secret surveillance

Top officials from the Obama and Bush administrations say the government's newly exposed secret surveillance programs have been essential to disrupting terrorist plots and have not infringed on Americans' civil... More>>

Longtime gov't lawyer to lead Gitmo closure effort

President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run prison at... More>>

Obama takes economic, foreign policy agenda to UK

President Barack Obama is taking a security, foreign policy and economic agenda to Northern Ireland for a meeting with heads of the leading industrial nations. More>>

Turkey unrest goes on despite end to park protest Video included

Riot police cordoned off streets, set up roadblocks and fired tear gas and water cannon to prevent anti-government protesters from converging on Istanbul's central Taksim Square on Sunday, unbowed even as Turkey's... More>>

Czech prime minister says he will resign

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas announced Sunday that he will resign over a spy and bribery scandal involving his government. More>>

IRS supervisor in DC scrutinized tea party cases

An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that languished... More>>

Obama chooses lawyer as Guantanamo closure envoy

President Barack Obama has chosen a high-powered Washington lawyer with extensive experience in all three branches of the government to be the State Department's special envoy for closing down the military-run prison at... More>>

Current, former officials back secret surveillance

Current and former top U.S. officials on Sunday defended the government's collection of phone and Internet data following new revelations about the secret surveillance programs, saying the operations were essential in... More>>

Graham: Without immigration, GOP to fail in 2016

Republicans are "in a demographic death spiral" and will fail in their effort to win the presidency if the party blocks an immigration overhaul, a leading GOP senator said Sunday. More>>

Report: Assaults increase on rangers, park police

Park rangers, wildlife refuge workers and U.S. Park Police experienced more assaults and threats from visitors last year than in 2011, according to a group that represents federal resource workers. More>>

Cheney says his health 'nothing short of miracle'

Former Vice President Dick Cheney says his health is "nothing short of a miracle." More>>

US wants 'credible negotiations' with North Korea

The Obama administration said Sunday it was receptive to North Korea's proposal for high-level talks, but wants "credible negotiations" that will lead to a nuclear-free North. More>>

Kuwait court dissolves parliament; elections ahead

Kuwait's constitutional court forced new parliamentary elections Sunday, dissolving the current chamber on the basis of flaws in the election law, the state news agency reported. The decision may set the stage for a new... More>>

In Uganda, forlorn square is symbol of crackdown

The green grass looks inviting, but few people have the courage to enter the only public square in Uganda's capital. Most sit or stand at the edges, respecting the barricades of scrap metal erected by police who stand... More>>

Shock lingers after Nazi unit leader found in US

The revelation that a former commander of a Nazi SS-led military unit has lived quietly in Minneapolis for the past six decades came as a shock to those who know 94-year-old Michael Karkoc. World War II survivors in both the... More>>

White House: US respects Iran election results

Offering praise for Iranians and reproaching their government, the Obama administration said Saturday it respected the results of a presidential election conducted under restrictive conditions. More>>

Officials: NSA programs broke plots in 20 nations

Top U.S. intelligence officials said Saturday that information gleaned from two controversial data-collection programs run by the National Security Agency thwarted potential terrorist plots in the U.S. and more than 20 other... More>>

Iran reformists dance in streets for new president

Wild celebrations broke out on Tehran streets that were battlefields four years ago as reformist-backed Hasan Rowhani capped a stunning surge to claim Iran's presidency on Saturday, throwing open the political order... More>>

Religious conservatives asked to back GOP plans

Facing lingering tensions in his party, the chairman of the Republican National Committee urged religious conservatives Saturday to support the GOP's plans to expand. More>>

Obama takes bolder Syria stand as G-8 talks open

After months of caution, President Barack Obama suddenly is positioned more aggressively on Syria than the global leaders he's joining at a summit Monday, now that he has authorized weapons and ammunition shipments to... More>>

AP IMPACT: Snowden's life surrounded by spycraft

In the suburbs edged by woods midway between Baltimore and the nation's capital, residents long joked that the government spy shop next door was so ultra-secretive its initials stood for "No Such Agency." But when Edward... More>>

Obama: Being a good father isn't easy

President Barack Obama says there's no substitute for the love and support that fathers provide. More>>

Web giants get broader surveillance revelations

Facebook and Microsoft Corp. representatives said that after negotiations with national security officials their companies have been given permission to make new but still very limited revelations about government orders to... More>>

Web giants get broader surveillance revelations

Facebook and Microsoft Corp. representatives said Friday night that after negotiations with national security officials their companies have been given permission to make new but still very limited revelations about... More>>

Early vote count in Iran gives Rowhani wide lead

Iran's reformist-backed presidential candidate surged to a wide lead in early vote counting Saturday, a top official said, suggesting a flurry of late support could have swayed a race that once appeared solidly in the... More>>

Less US urgency at G-8 in call for European growth

When leaders of the nation's biggest economies gathered at the presidential retreat of Camp David last year, European elections had rattled the continent with a rejection of austerity measures. President Barack Obama was... More>>

Iranian-Americans and expatriates vote in election

With their passports in tow, Iranian-Americans and expatriates trickled into polling sites across the United States on Friday, joining their countrymen half a world away in voting in Iran's presidential election. More>>

Christie maintains a political balancing act

Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is walking a political tightrope as he charts his future, trying to balance his re-election campaign in a Democratic-leaning state with a potential presidential bid aimed at... More>>

Defense report: Troops in bin Laden raid revealed

U.S. special operations forces who participated in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden were in uniform and wearing nametags during a CIA award ceremony attended by the writer of the film "Zero Dark Thirty," a Pentagon... More>>

USDA: Modified wheat appears to be isolated

The Agriculture Department says it has no indications that genetically modified wheat found in Oregon last month has spread beyond the field in which it was found. More>>

Obama honors first time WNBA champ Indiana Fever

President Barack Obama honored the WNBA champion Indiana Fever on Friday, calling the players role models for young athletes - even those on his daughter Sasha's basketball team. More>>

Obama taps finance director as envoy to Denmark

Handing plum European posts to key campaign boosters, President Barack Obama on Friday nominated his former finance director to be U.S. ambassador to Denmark and tapped two major fundraisers for postings in Spain and Germany. More>>

Jeb Bush: Immigrants 'more fertile,' fuel economy

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told religious conservatives Friday that the future of the nation's economy depends upon immigrants in part because they "are more fertile" and create more businesses than native-born... More>>

House revises abortion bill after rape controversy

House Republicans have modified a tough anti-abortion bill to include exceptions for rape and incest after the GOP sponsor of the legislation raised a firestorm by declaring that very few rapes result in pregnancies. More>>

Hezbollah says it will keep fighting in Syria

Hezbollah's leader vowed Friday that his militants would keep fighting in Syria "wherever needed" after the U.S. agreed to arm the rebels in the civil war, setting up a proxy fight between Iran and the West that... More>>

Newtown marks 6 months since school massacre Video included

The town where 20 children and six educators were massacred in December went silent for a moment Friday, six months later, at a remembrance event that doubled as a call to action on weapons control, with the reading of names... More>>

House passes sweeping $638 billion defense bill

The House overwhelmingly passed a sweeping, $638 billion defense bill on Friday that imposes new punishments on members of the armed services found guilty of rape or sexual assault as outrage over the crisis in the military... More>>

Ideas for keeping your data safe from spying

Phone call logs, credit card records, emails, Skype chats, Facebook message, and more: The precise nature of the NSA's sweeping surveillance apparatus has yet to be confirmed. More>>

Obama steps up military aid to Syrian rebels

President Barack Obama's authorization of military aid to the Syrian rebels "dramatically" increases U.S. support for the opposition, the White House said Friday, while acknowledging that it will take time for the... More>>

Newtown marks 6 months since school massacre Video included

Newtown held a moment of silence Friday for the victims of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School at a remembrance event that doubled as a call to action on gun control, with the reading of names of thousands of... More>>

Obama on fatherhood: 'It's the best job I've got'

President Barack Obama says being a father is the best job he's got. More>>

APNewsBreak: NSA leaker Snowden not welcome in UK

The British government has warned airlines around the world not to allow Edward Snowden, who leaked information on top-secret U.S. government surveillance programs, to fly to the United Kingdom. More>>

7 accused in high level Czech scandal

A multi-pronged scandal involving the prime minister's top aide, his estranged wife, military spy chiefs, former ruling party lawmakers and kilograms of gold raised unanswered questions Friday about the troubled... More>>

Obama to take advantage of advances in wireless

The White House says President Barack Obama is taking advantage of advances in the wireless industry to help create jobs. More>>

AG: leaker will be held accountable

Attorney General Eric Holder says national security has been damaged as a result of leaks about a pair of government surveillance programs and that the U.S. will punish the person who is responsible. More>>

Mangled facts, secrecy brew confusion about NSA

Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers. More>>

Supreme Court archive has about 14K hours of audio

Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell's Tidewater Virginia drawl could make the word "court" sound as if it had two syllables. And Justice Clarence Thomas, though he doesn't talk much, speaks in a deep baritone. More>>

Bank of England deputy governor to step down

The Bank of England says its deputy governor Paul Tucker will step down later this year after more than 30 years with the central bank. More>>

Arizona Legislature passes Medicaid expansion

The Arizona Legislature embraced a signature component of President Barack Obama's health care law Thursday after a drawn out battle that divided the state's Republican leadership and saw GOP Gov. Jan Brewer work... More>>

Iran's polls open in presidential vote

In the end, Iran's presidential election may be defined by who doesn't vote. More>>

Iran's polls open in presidential vote

In the end, Iran's presidential election may be defined by who doesn't vote. More>>

Hillary Clinton turning toward nonprofit world

As she considers another White House bid, Hillary Rodham Clinton intends to work in the nonprofit world on issues like improving early childhood education, promoting the rights of women and girls, and finding ways to improve... More>>

Obama to step up military support of Syrian rebels

President Barack Obama has authorized sending weapons to Syrian rebels for the first time, U.S. officials said Thursday, after the White House disclosed that the United States has conclusive evidence President Bashar... More>>

UN says nearly 93,000 killed in Syrian civil war

Syrians are being killed at an average rate of 5,000 per month, the U.N. said Thursday as it raised the overall death toll in the civil war to nearly 93,000, with civilians bearing the brunt of the attacks. More>>

House OKs 2-year sentence for military sex assault

Angered by the epidemic of sexual assault in the military, the House on Thursday endorsed a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for a member of the armed services convicted of rape or sexual assault in a... More>>

Lawmakers: Terrorists change tactics after leaks

Two senior Republican lawmakers said Thursday that terrorists are already changing their behavior after leaks about classified U.S. data gathering programs, but they offered no details. More>>

Mary Wilson sings in ceremony feting Rep. Dingell

A Capitol ceremony honoring Rep. John Dingell for becoming Congress's longest-serving member in history featured the expected, such as praise and jokes from Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner. It... More>>

Rand Paul's NSA rebukes could help or hurt in 2016

Of the handful of tea party-backed Republicans eyeing a 2016 presidential bid, Sen. Rand Paul is emerging as the most forceful in pushing libertarian principles, especially on anti-terrorism issues. More>>

Obama meets with relatives of Newtown victims

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met Thursday with relatives of the victims of the Connecticut school shooting, who were visiting Washington on the eve of the six-month anniversary of the tragedy to push... More>>

White House: Syria chemical weapons kill up to 150

The Obama administration estimates that 100 to 150 people have died from chemical weapons attacks in Syria. More>>

Mangled facts, secrecy brew confusion about NSA

Wondering what the U.S. government might know about your phone calls and online life? And whether all of this really helps find terrorists? Good luck finding solid answers. More>>

Senators look for consensus border amendment

Key Senate Republicans are working to develop a compromise on border security that would satisfy GOP demands for stronger enforcement language in a far-reaching immigration bill without costing Democratic support, lawmakers... More>>

FBI director gets another House grilling

FBI Director Robert Mueller is leaving the law enforcement agency that he has run every day since the week before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the same way that he entered it: being grilled about how the FBI is... More>>

Court says isolated human genes cannot be patented

The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously threw out attempts to patent human genes, siding with advocates who say the multibillion-dollar biotechnology industry should not have exclusive control over genetic information... More>>

Unpaid internships in jeopardy after court ruling

Unpaid internships have long been a path of opportunity for students and recent grads looking to get a foot in the door in the entertainment, publishing and other prominent industries, even if it takes a generous subsidy... More>>

New anti-demonstration rule at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has come up with a new regulation banning demonstrations on its grounds, two days after a broader anti-demonstration law was declared unconstitutional. More>>

Debate over social issues emerges

A fresh debate has erupted within the GOP over social issues. More>>

Coverage may be unaffordable for low-wage workers

It's called the Affordable Care Act, but President Barack Obama's health care law may turn out to be unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and hotels. More>>

Correction: Military Sexual Assault story

In a story June 12, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was the only Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee who supported a measure to remove commanders from decision-making on... More>>

DC circuit reviewing judge's alleged misconduct

A council of federal judges in Washington will look into a misconduct complaint against a conservative judge who is alleged to have made racially discriminatory comments. More>>

US whites falling to minority in under-5 age group

In a first, America's racial and ethnic minorities now make up about half of the under-5 age group, reflecting sweeping changes by race and class among young people. Due to an aging population, non-Hispanic whites last... More>>

Senate leader won't weaken gun background checks

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he won't accept watered-down background checks as the price for pushing gun control legislation through the Senate. More>>

Gov't: LNG export decisions due by end of year

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz says he will move "expeditiously" to review about 20 applications to export liquefied natural gas and will make decisions by the end of the year. More>>

Rural America posts first-ever loss in population

Living in a rural Nevada town, Moe Royels recalls a more bustling time years ago when retirees poured in to enjoy the warm desert climate, nearby casinos and quiet community. But soon boom turned to bust, and years after the... More>>

Launch of US-EU trade talks may be hitting snag

One of the big goals of President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Europe may be in jeopardy, with French objections threatening to hold up the launch of negotiations on a sweeping U.S.-European Union free trade pact. More>>

Utah home to NSA's new mega-warehouse for data

The nation's new billion-dollar epicenter for fighting global cyberthreats sits just south of Salt Lake City, tucked away on a National Guard base at the foot of snow-capped mountains. The long, squat buildings span 1.5... More>>

White House lawyer replacing retiring CIA deputy

CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell is stepping down and being replaced by White House lawyer Avril Haines, who will be the first woman to hold the post. More>>

NSA head says spy programs thwarted terror attacks

Once-secret surveillance programs were crucial in enabling the U.S. government to thwart dozens of terrorist attacks, says the director of the National Security Agency in a forceful defense of spy operations that have... More>>

NSA leaker mysterious despite hours of interviews

The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself. More>>

2 officers injured in Obama motorcade in Florida

Two Miami police officers were injured Wednesday while participating in President Barack Obama's motorcade in Florida, police said. Neither of the injuries was life-threatening. More>>

NSA leaker mysterious despite hours of interviews

The man who told the world about the U.S. government's gigantic data grab also talks a lot about himself. More>>

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