UN says ‘no winners’ yet in Afghan poll; Karzai still on course for victory
KABUL — Afghanistan’s presidential election remained undecided Saturday, as election officials released just a sliver of new results, with the incumbent Hamid Karzai still on course for victory.
Government succeeded in avoiding a financial catastrophe, but there’s little glory for Obama
WASHINGTON — Halting the financial sector’s death plunge is arguably the government’s most measurable achievement this year. Yet as President Barack Obama observes the one-year anniversary of Lehman Brothers’ collapse, his administration’s increasingly sunny assessment of Wall Street’s rebound faces a hard sell.
Anti-slavery senator’s death in 1859 duel with pro-slavery judge prefaced Civil War carnage
WASHINGTON — Nearly two years before the first shots were fired in the Civil War, simmering hostilities over slavery erupted on a “field of honor” in California, where a pro-slavery judge mortally wounded an anti-slavery senator in a duel.
Obama says he’ll be blamed if health plan doesn’t work, so he’s every reason to get it right
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he’ll be held responsible for any problems once a health care overhaul becomes law, so he has every reason to get it right.
Thousands pack downtown DC to protest government spending, gather for march to US Capitol
WASHINGTON — Thousands of fiscal conservatives have packed streets in the nation’s capital to protest what they consider the federal government’s out-of-control spending.
Fiscal conservatives plan to gather in Washington to protest government spending
WASHINGTON — Thousands of fiscal conservatives have packed streets in the nation’s capital to protest what they consider the federal government’s out-of-control spending.
2 US troops among 50 killed in spate of Afghan violence; 20 civilians killed by roadside bombs
KABUL — Nearly 50 Afghan civilians, security forces and militants were killed in a spate of attacks around the war-torn country, including an overnight military raid targeting insurgents in the increasingly violent north, officials said Saturday. A roadside bomb killed two U.S. troops in the east.
New US trade penalties on Chinese tires infuriates Beijing, could sour ties between nations
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s decision to impose trade penalties on Chinese tires has infuriated Beijing at a time when the U.S. badly needs Chinese help on climate change, nuclear standoffs with Iran and North Korea and the global economy.
UN says ‘no winners’ yet in Afghan presidential vote as commission exams fraud complaints
KABUL — There’s still no preliminary winner in Afghanistan’s presidential vote.
Honduras’ interim president says US has revoked his visa in response to June 28 coup
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras’ interim president says the United States has taken away his diplomatic and tourist visas to protest the June 28 coup.
48 civilians, security forces, insurgents killed in rash of attacks in war-torn Afghanistan
KABUL — Some 48 Afghan civilians, security forces and militants were killed in a spate of attacks around the war-torn country, including an overnight military raid targeting insurgents in the increasingly violent north, officials said Saturday.
UN says ‘no winners’ yet as Afghanistan prepares to release full preliminary vote results
KABUL — The U.N. mission in Afghanistan warned Saturday there are “no winners” yet in the country’s presidential election, as the Afghan election commission prepared to release full results for the first time.
Cuba says ‘Commander of the Revolution’ Juan Almeida Bosque dead of heart attack at 82
HAVANA — Juan Almeida Bosque, a comrade-in-arms of Fidel Castro since the start of his guerrilla struggle more than a half-century ago, has died of a heart attack. The 82-year-old was one of several Cuban vice presidents and had been among only three surviving rebel leaders who still bore the honorary title “Commander of the Revolution.”
Iranian FM says talks with world powers over Iran’s nuclear program are a ‘possibility’
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran is not ruling out talks about its nuclear program with world powers but conditions for that have to be right, the country’s top diplomat said Saturday, in a statement that appeared to soften Tehran’s persistent refusal to discuss the controversial issue.
Obama cites new data in making case for health care overhaul, pushes plan at Minneapolis rally
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, citing new government data showing that nearly half of all Americans live without health insurance in a 10-year period, says the situation will only worsen without the overhaul legislation he wants Congress to send him.
45 civilians, security forces, insurgents killed in rash of attacks in war-torn Afghanistan
KABUL — Forty-five Afghan civilians, security forces and militants were killed in a spate of attacks around the war-torn country, including an overnight military raid targeting insurgents in the increasingly violent north, officials said Saturday.
Obama travels to Minneapolis on Saturday for rally by supporters of health care overhaul
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is traveling to Minneapolis for a rally on health care reform.
Report: British special forces are giving counter-terrorism training to Libyan infantry
LONDON — Some of Britain’s most elite soldiers have been training Libyan forces in counterterrorism and surveillance for the past six months, a U.K. newspaper said Saturday.
Obama imposes tariffs on Chinese tires; Beijing calls move ‘protectionism’
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has imposed new punitive tariffs on all car and light truck tires coming into the U.S. from China, a move Beijing condemned Saturday as protectionism and a violation of the guidelines of global trade.
US and partner nations accept Iran’s offer to talk; Tehran says nuclear issue not on the table
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it and five partner nations have accepted Iran’s offer to hold talks, and a top Iranian official said Saturday it was possible the discussions could include Tehran’s nuclear program.
SKorea not opposed to dialogue between US and NKorea on resuming disarmament talks
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea would not oppose the United States holding direct talks with North Korea to persuade the communist regime to rejoin stalled international nuclear disarmament negotiations, the Foreign Ministry said Saturday.
Space shuttle Discovery detours to California, astronauts prepare for homecoming in Houston
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — After diverting to California, astronauts from space shuttle Discovery prepared to reunite with their families and NASA managers in Texas on Saturday.
Voices in the health care debate
Voices in the health care debate:
“You can’t cut deals to change provisions if you’re not going to vote for the bill in committee and you’re not going to vote for the bill on the floor.” — Alex Vachon, health care analyst and former Republican Senate aide, referring to a lack of GOP participation in crafting overhaul legislation.
Questions and answers about the US role and future in the Afghanistan war
WASHINGTON — Eight years past the terror attacks that led to the war in Afghanistan, the connection between that country and al-Qaida has dimmed in memory, terror leader Osama bin Laden remains at large and the fighting grinds on.
With Obama on board, push to overhaul health care faces crucial tests in Congress
WASHINGTON — The fierce national debate over health care is entering a new phase, with advocates on all sides focused on a handful of legislative bottlenecks that will determine the ultimate overhaul of the $2.5 trillion medical care system.
Calif. lawmakers approve inmate reduction but fail to agree on major overhaul of water system
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers ended a legislative year dominated by an unprecedented fiscal crisis without an agreement on their top policy priority — an ambitious upgrade of the state’s water delivery and storage system.
Despite prolonged quiet, Lebanese and Israelis fear renewed fighting
BEIRUT — Despite one of the quietest periods in decades along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, people on both sides of the border seem to fear that another eruption of violence is only a matter of time.
AP Interview: Russian envoy to Afghanistan advises NATO: more troops will hurt war on Taliban
KABUL — Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan has some advice for top NATO commanders fighting the Taliban based on the Soviet Union’s bitter experience battling Islamist insurgents here in the 1980s: Don’t bring more troops.
Chavez: Venezuela expecting delivery of rockets from Russia after signing military agreements
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has signed military agreements with Russia and is soon expecting the arrival of some “little rockets.”
Guatemala arrests 9, including 5 police, in killing of lawyer who accused president
GUATEMALA CITY — Authorities in Guatemala arrested nine suspects Friday, including five police officers, in the killing of a prominent lawyer who accused President Alvaro Colom of involvement in his death in a posthumously released video.
