Topic: The Associated Press

Top galleries, list articles, quizzes

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

Haiti earthquake: Is the term 'looting' racist? Past Kanye West comments fuel debate

Old comments by rapper Kanye West about Hurricane Katrina are being dredged up in a debate on how race plays into the coverage of natural disasters, including the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti last week.
FBI got 2,000 phone records with fake terrorism emergencies: report

The FBI illegally collected 2,000 phone records between 2002 and 2006 invoking nonexistent terrorism emergencies, according to a report in The Washington Post.
What's behind latest Taliban attack on Kabul?

The latest Taliban attack on Kabul comes amid new Afghanistan government efforts to lure militants away from the insurgency.
In Haiti, signs that foreign aid flow is strengthening

As Haiti earthquake relief efforts continued, President Barack Obama joined with predecessors George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to appeal for donations and sent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to the Caribbean nation.
Haiti earthquake: NFL, NBA show solidarity

To promote Haiti earthquake relief efforts, CBS and FOX will air a 30-second NFL public-service announcement during the AFC and NFC divisional playoff games this weekend.
Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission: Top bankers contrite, sort of

At the first hearing of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission on Wednesday, top Wall Street executives acknowledge banks' role in the 2008 financial crisis but defend fat paychecks for employees.
7.0 earthquake rocks Haiti

Relief agencies have put out calls for donations, and are preparing teams to go to Haiti in the wake of Tuesday's quake. A hospital, the National Palace, and other buildings in Haiti's capital were damaged in the biggest earthquake to hit the island in 200 years.
Mexico captures 'El Teo,' top drug trafficker in Tijuana

The capture of alleged Tijuana drug trafficker Teodoro “El Teo” Garcia Simental marks the third high-profile take-down of a Mexican drug trafficker in less than a month. He is considered among the most vicious traffickers in the country.
South Carolina takes aim at lynching law because it hurt blacks

The law originally was designed to stop the Jim Crow-era lynching of black men. But in recent years, South Carolina's lynching law mainly had targeted African-American gang members.
Terrorist attack averted in Iraq, says Iraqi general

Iraqi security forces say they seized 25 suspects and 880 pounds of explosives – enough for about 10 car bombs – in a citywide crackdown Tuesday. A military spokesman said a terrorist attack was planned for today.
Miep Gies, Anne Frank's protector, champion of tolerance.

Miep Gies, the office secretary who defied Nazi occupiers to hide Anne Frank and her family for two years, and who saved the teenager’s diary, died Tuesday. After the Anne Frank's diary was published, Gies tirelessly promoted tolerance.
Earth's growing nitrogen threat

It helps feed a hungry world, but it's worse than CO2.
Mark McGwire steroids confession: Will it be enough?

The long-suspected Mark McGwire steroids confession came Monday in an attempt to clear the air before he becomes the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach next season. The confession seemed cathartic for the introverted former slugger, but questions remain.
Sarah Palin signs with Fox after being attacked on '60 Minutes'

One day after she was criticized in a story on CBS’s '60 Minutes,' former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has signed on to be a commentator on the Fox News Channel.
Egypt says Jewish slaves didn't build pyramids

Egyptian archeologists presented new evidence Monday that the people who worked on the Great Pyramids of Giza were not Jewish slaves, but paid laborers. Newly discovered tombs show construction workers were honored by being buried near the pyramids.
Israel shrugs off Mitchell's loan threat

Israel's finance minister, Yuval Steinitz, said on Sunday that Israel could do without loan guarantees after US envoy George Mitchell told PBS last week that the US could consider withholding the guarantees if Israel doesn't stop settlement construction.
African Cup of Nations: Togo soccer team leaves tournament after deadly ambush

Togo's team withdrew from the continentwide tournament on Sunday, two days after suspected separatists in the host country Angola's northern Cabinda region sprayed gunfire into the Togo team's bus killing three and wounding several others.
FBI arrests two possible accomplices to Zazi terror plot

After months of watching two men who went to high school with accused terrorist Najibullah Zazi, the FBI arrested both men Friday in New York.
ABB shooting: Economy may play role in workplace violence

Timothy Hendron killed four coworkers and himself in the ABB shooting in St. Louis Thursday. He was involved in a lawsuit against the company regarding a dispute over retirement benefits.
How Bob Barker joined Sea Shepherd Paul Watson and the whale wars

Bob Barker was among the early Hollywood converts to the animal rights movement. When Paul Watson told him that for $5 million he could end Japanese whaling, Barker responded 'Let's get it on.'
Argentina's 'Elvis' Sandro has left the casa

The 'Elvis' of Argentina, singer and movie icon Sandro (Roberto Sanchez), died Monday. Tens of thousands turned out in Buenos Aires to remember the Latin American star credited with cracking the US pop music scene.
Full-body scan or not? Europe divided on airport security steps

Belgium, Spain are skeptical that there's a need for more full-body airport scanning machines. France and Germany are uncommitted as European Union members meet today to discuss airport security measures.
Yemen says plane bomber met with radical cleric, resists US military presence

As the US focuses more on Yemen after the foiled Christmas Day attack by suspected plane bomber Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, Yemeni officials are resisting any suggestion of bringing US military forces into the country.
Jordanian double agent: Wife says he saw US as adversary

Defne Bayrak, the Turkish wife of suspected Jordanian double agent Balawi, says she was shocked at the news of his suicide attack. She also said that while in Jordan, he wrote articles for jihad websites.
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 01/06