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Incoming BP CEO: It's time for 'scaleback' in cleanup, but company will still set things right More>>
NY Reps. Weiner, King spar on House floor over handling of bill to aid sick 9/11 responders More>>
Fire official: At least 1 dead in LA explosion; crews search collapsed structure for others More>>
Drug lords, bomb threats and more: young aspiring police officers train, compete at conference More>>
Arizona sheriff forges ahead with aggressive immigration sweeps even after court ruling More>>
Quest for freedom a full-time job for mothers of 3 American hikers jailed for 1 year in Iran More>>
Wildlife officials await test results to confirm captured bears attacked campers More>>
In quiet South Carolina town, another skirmish in immigration battle as councilman seeks ban More>>
Congress scrutinizes Obama's Afghanistan plan
WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday the Obama administration's new surge-and-exit troop strategy in Afghanistan is aimed more at wringing reforms from President Hamid Karzai than mollifying a war-weary American public. Appearing on network news shows a day after President Barack Obama announced his plan to send in 30,000 more U.S. forces, Biden said the principal aim of the new policy is to protect the United States from further terrorist attack while also keeping the Taliban from overrunning the country.
Iran releases 5 British sailors detained at sea
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran freed five British sailors detained last week when their racing yacht drifted accidentally into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf. Britain said it was delighted with Wednesday's release and praised Tehran's handling of the incident. The 60-foot yacht was in the Persian Gulf on its way from Bahrain to Dubai last Wednesday for the start of its first offshore race when it ran into a problem with its propeller, said Andrew Pindar, whose Team Pindar owns the yacht. It drifted into Iranian waters and was seized by the elite Revolutionary Guard's navy
WH gate-crashers went without confirmed invitation
WASHINGTON (AP) - Copies of e-mails between the White House party crashers and a Pentagon official undermine their claims that they were invited to President Barack Obama's first state dinner. Tareq and Michaele Salahi pressed the friendly Pentagon aide for four days to score tickets to the big event. By their own admission in the e-mails, they showed up at the White House gates at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 without an invitation - "to just check in, in case it got approved since we didn't know, and our name was indeed on the list!"
US commander supports Afghan surge timeline
KABUL (AP) - The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday he's "absolutely supportive" of the 18-month timeline for President Barack Obama's troop surge even though Taliban forces may try to wait out the increased U.S. commitment. He said the U.S. and its partners need to convince the Taliban they cannot win. The Afghan government welcomed Obama's announcement that he was sending 30,000 more U.S. troops, but cautioned against setting a deadline for Americans to hand over to Afghan security forces and start withdrawing. Obama said if conditions are right, U.S. troops could begin leaving Afghanistan in 18 months.
Tempers flare as Senate debates health care
WASHINGTON (AP) - A Republican senator asserted Tuesday during a rancorous floor debate that President Barack Obama's health care overhaul will shorten the lives of America's seniors by cutting Medicare. "I have a message for you: You're going to die sooner," said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., an obstetrician-turned-lawmaker.
GM CEO resigns as board demands faster turnaround
DETROIT (AP) - The leader of the new General Motors was done in by an old problem at the nation's largest car maker: Change wasn't happening fast enough. GM's board and CEO Fritz Henderson parted ways Tuesday, the board upset that the automaker's turnaround wasn't moving more swiftly and Henderson frustrated with second-guessing, two people close to the former CEO said.
Google allows publishers to limit free content
LONDON (AP) - Google Inc. is allowing publishers of paid content to limit the number of free news articles accessed by people using its Internet search engine. The concession follows mounting criticism of Google's practices from media publishers - most notably News Corp. chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch - that argue the company is profiting from online news pages.
AP: Little Richard released from hospital
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Little Richard is out of the hospital following hip surgery, promising to perform again. He's recovering at his home near Nashville.
Case closed but Woods scrutiny continues
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woodsdidn't have to say a word to get Florida troopers off his case. The same strategy may be harder to pull off when it comes to the tabloid media probing his private life. The police inquiry into the early morning car crash involving the world's most famous athlete came to a close Tuesday, even though Woods refused to talk to the Florida Highway Patrol. Woods was charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 fine and four points on his driving record.
Lakers overpower Hornets 110-99 with Bynum, Bryant
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Andrew Bynum scored 21 points, Kobe Bryant added 18 on a light night of work and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Hornets 110-99 Tuesday for their seventh straight victory. Ron Artest scored 16 points as the Lakers remained undefeated in six games since the return of Pau Gasol, who had 14 points in Los Angeles' balanced offense.
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