Topic: The Associated Press

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Briefing
IRS 101: Seven questions about the tea party scandal

The Internal Revenue Service is under the microscope now, as revelations have emerged that the agency wrongly targeted conservative groups seeking nonprofit status. Here’s an accounting of what has happened, along with the ramifications.
10 weird criminal sentences

Check out these 10 court cases where judges have done more than sentence the guilty to a fine or jail time.
Senate freshmen: What the 14 new members bring to Capitol Hill

A freshman Senate class was sworn in Jan. 3, bringing diverse skills and experience – not to mention agendas – to the legislative body. Whether the 14 newest senators help break partisan gridlock, or refuse to work across the aisle, will be the test for the 113th Congress.Twelve were elected on Nov. 6, including three Republicans, eight Democrats, and an independent. In addition, a Republican and a Democrat were appointed to vacant seats after the election. Here is a look at the 14 and what they bring to the Senate:
Briefing
US gun industry by the numbers

As the debate over gun control rages on, the firearms industry in the United States is thriving. Here are seven key figures.
Can Republicans increase their ranks of governors? Four races to watch.

With only 11 races for governor this year, there’s no big sea change to anticipate. With Republicans hoping to add to the 29 states under their banner, the four races to watch are in Washington, New Hampshire, Montana, and North Carolina.

All Content

Tony Hayward to step down; BP CEO will take job in Russia

Tony Hayward, the embattled BP CEO, will reportedly step down in October. Tony Hayward will take a job with BP's joint venture in Russia.
US soldiers kidnapped by Taliban in Afghanistan: Are they both still alive?

Conflicting reports have emerged over whether one of the two soldiers kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan on Friday was killed in an ambush. The US is offering $20,000 for information leading to their safe return.
Chelsea Clinton gawkers will get arrested say NY cops

Chelsea Clinton will get married next weekend. Wedding crashers will want to think twice. Arrests will be made if you are caught snooping on Chelsea Clinton, vow cops.
Charles Rangel ethics mess: another thing Democrats don't need before election

Rep. Charles Rangel of New York says he won't resign his seat or drop out of his reelection race. A House trial on ethics violations may remind voters that Democrats haven't ended the 'culture of corruption' in Washington.
Tropical depression races toward BP's leaky well

Tropical depression racing toward the Gulf of Mexico Thursday increased pressure on BP and the US government to decide whether to evacuate dozens of ships at the site of the ruptured oil well.
Giant jellyfish stings beachgoers in NH

Giant jellyfish stung 150 peope at a state park in Rye on Wednesday, including nine children who were treated at a local hospital, authorities said.
Shirley Sherrod says she'd love to talk race with Obama

Shirley Sherrod said Thursday she wants to discuss racial issues with President Obama, who's "not someone who has experienced some of the things I've experienced in life."
Oil spill BP clean-up to stop due to churning tropical rainstorm

Oil spill BP clean-up continues, but dozens of ships prepared Thursday to evacuate as a tropical rainstorm brewing in the Caribbean brought the deep-sea effort to plug BP's ruptured oil well to a near standstill.
Nicolae Ceausescu, former Romanian dictator, and wife exhumed

Nicolae Ceausescu ruled Romania for 25 years with an iron fist before being ousted and executed during the 1989 anti-communist revolt in which more than 1,000 people were killed.
Kyrgyzstan ex-president's brother arrested - with wig and fake mustache

Police say they found the brother of ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev with a pistol and ammunition, a wig, and a false mustache and beard. He was arrested for having a role in the Kyrgyzstan violence last month.
China oil spill spreads but not as big as BP oil spill in Gulf

China officially doubled the size of the oil spill caused by an explosion last week at the port city of Dalian. The China oil spill is now 165 square miles, but still just a fraction of the size of the BP oil spill in Gulf.
Iraq war emboldened Osama bin Laden and radicalized Muslims: former MI5 chief

Britain's former MI5 chief delivered a strong critique Tuesday of the reasons for entering the Iraq war. Her testimony before the Chilcot Inquiry panel contradicts that of former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Deadly cold snap hits Argentina, Uruguay, Chile

Record cold temperatures hit several South American nations, including Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, and Uruguay, leaving more than two dozen people dead.
Tour de France Stage 16: Lance Armstrong attacks, just misses win

In Stage 16 of the Tour de France today, Lance Armstrong attacked on the final climb – dusting the two men vying for the overall win, Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, by nearly seven minutes.
United States Department of Agriculture worker quits over racism charge

United States Department of Agriculture worker Shirley Sherrod says that the White House has forced her out of a job over a manufactured racial controversy.
Alvin Greene, South Carolina Senate candidate, fuzzy on some facts

Alvin Greene, in a weekend speech, made statements that didn't always match up to the facts according to an Associated Press analysis.
David Cameron to meet with US senators over Lockerbie bombing

David Cameron is slated to meet today with four US senators regarding reports that oil giant BP had a hand in the release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people.
Slender loris status upgraded from 'extinct' to 'almost extinct'

Slender loris extinction was widely believed before the rare primate was photographed in central Sri Lanka late last year.
Caravaggio painting of man being barbecued possibly found in Rome

Caravaggio scholars are working to authenticate a painting of St. Lawrence's martyrdom, which has features typical of Caravaggio's style, the Vatican newspaper has reported. Caravaggio or not, the painting is quite good, say art historians.
Iraq suicide attacks target Sunni Awakening militias; dozens killed

The Iraq suicide attacks Sunday highlight the key security role of the Sunni Awakening councils, many of whom are former insurgents who helped turn the tide against Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Mona Lisa examination reveals layers of paint for dreamy quality

Mona LIsa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci early in the 16th century. French researchers have recently learned he used a lot of paint.
Maryland earthquake shakes up nation's capital

Maryland earthquake, measuring 3.6 magnitude, was centered just outside Washington, D.C. just after 5 AM ET Friday.
Tehran blames US, UK for deadly Iran mosque bombing

Sunni militant group Jundallah claimed responsibility for the Iran mosque bombing that killed at least 27 people Thursday. Tehran blames the US and UK for a hand in the deadly suicide attacks.
Pakistani Taliban release Faisal Shahzad's martyrdom tape [video]

Airing Faisal Shahzad's martyrdom video may be an attempt to boost the standing of the Pakistani Taliban by showing off its ability to attack inside the US.
Taliban attacks kill 8 US soldiers within 24 hours

Taliban attacks on Tuesday night and Wednesday killed at least eight US soldiers, highlighting the militant group's intensifying insurgency campaign.