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

Air France tragedy: Time to require black boxes that float? (They exist)
Brace yourself: Interest rates likely to climb higher

Higher US rates signal an economy on the mend, but they could also extend the housing slump and add to the federal debt.
Pakistan's war refugees losing patience

Some say they don't mind being uprooted for now – if the Taliban are ousted for good. The Army says it should clear militants from major towns within days, though rooting them out from rural areas may take months.
Pakistan closes in on Swat Valley victory over Taliban

Government officials say the month-long military offensive is within days of accomplishing its goal. Next up: a second offensive in South Waziristan.
RNC slams Obama for romantic date with Michelle in New York
Egyptian reform activists wary of Obama's visit to Cairo

Many see his decision to deliver a major speech in Egypt as a nod of tacit support for the regime's authoritarian rule.
Can government be trusted to steer a GM bankruptcy?

The Obama team is helping to push the automaker's debt holders, unions, and executives toward tough choices, but the risks of intervention are many.
North Korea's next move: long-range missile tests?

Satellite photos show activity at a testing site, say US officials. A successful launch would signal progress toward a nuclear weapons arsenal.
A military answer to North Korea? Not likely.

Defense Secretary Gates, off to Singapore for a regional security summit, says US sees no 'crisis' in Pyongyang's 'very provocative' display of force this week.
California court to rule on same-sex marriage ban

Voters approved Proposition 8 last year, which made gay marriages illegal. The court decides Tuesday if the measure was unconstitutional.
The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday

Foreign correspondent Neil MacFarquhar serves up a memoir that is part-journalistic account, part-foreign-policy primer on the Middle East.
Alleged terror plot disrupted by New York officials, FBI

Four men planned attacks against Jewish and military targets, according to authorities.
Sri Lanka reveals evidence of rebel leader's death

President declares formal end to 26-year civil war and calls for unity.
Napolitano turns food critic to duck Supreme Court question
First Kuwaiti women win Parliament seats, but political deadlock may persist

The vote may do little to end volatility in Kuwait, which has seen three elections in three years.
A flu pandemic? Not yet, says WHO.
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers admit defeat

The militant group's chief of international relations announced Sunday that the war had reached its "bitter end."
Obama reaches across political divide for envoy to China

Governor Jon Huntsman of Utah is a Republican moderate and China expert seen as a possible presidential candidate.
Cash-strapped jails begin charging inmates for snacks – even room and board

Shades of Charles Dickens, critics say the controversial measures create debtors prisons
Burma opposition leader Suu Kyi faces trial after visit by uninvited American

The military junta accuses her of violating her house arrest after a Vietnam vet swam across a lake to her home.
Sri Lanka accused of shelling civilians

At least 378 died in an overnight bombardment, a government doctor said. The military denies the attack.
Pakistanis flee Swat Valley as military strikes Taliban

As Army bombs the area, militants are digging in and preparing for ground battle.
Report: Bush lawyers will not face charges for approving torture

A draft report of a Justice Department inquiry recommends the officials face professional sanctions, but no criminal charges.
Five things the bank stress tests will and will not do

The tests will be the first clear look at which banks are doing better than others, for example, but they won't be the last word.
Trapped in TARP? Banks eager to exit the US bailout program find it's not so easy.

A hasty exodus could weaken the wobbly banking system, US officials say. They're poised to raise the bar for those wanting out of the Treasury-runprogram.