Topic: United States

Top galleries, list articles, quizzes

Spurs and Thunder star in NBA’s Western Conference Finals: 10 extra dimensions

The clash of the Spurs and Thunder in the NBA’s Western Conference finals may fly a bit under the national radar when it opens Sunday. Here are 10 factors that make this showdown intriguing.
Major gay marriage cases in federal court and where they stand

Battles over same-sex marriage have been raging in the federal courts for several years. Two could reach the US Supreme Court within a year: one challenging California's ban on gay marriage under Proposition 8, and the other seeking to invalidate the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Here are the cases to follow.
From Willie Horton to windsurfing: Five top political attack ads

Political attacks ads: love 'em or hate 'em, but they’re here to stay, and this election year stands to be a watershed moment in their use. Here's a look at what are considered to be some of the most memorable and effective attack ads utilized over the years.
6 factors that will determine concessions from Iran

Can war with Iran can be avoided? In recent talks with the West in Baghdad, Iran showed some greater flexibility about its nuclear program. But Iran has a history of trickery in the nuclear arena. Whether Tehran will cooperates with Western demands depends on the following six factors.
Could 'fiscal cliff' push US into recession? Five questions answered.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) warned in a report Tuesday that if Congress does not deal with a raft of fiscal measures by Dec. 31, the US could enter another recession. So what is this fiscal cliff and what is Congress doing about it?

All Content

Oil prices will rise, Iran says, if embargo comes

Oil prices will go up if European Union goes through with a total embargo on Iranian crude in July, Iran's economy minister says. IMF has warned oil prices could rise as much as 30 percent if Iran halts exports.
In Gear
Considering a plug-in, electric car? Consider your lifestyle.

Buying a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle is more than just buying a car. It's choosing a lifestyle.
Solar eclipse: How to safely watch this evening's 'ring of fire'

During this evening's 'ring of fire' solar eclipse, what should be a spectacular display will be seen across much of the American West. Here's how to watch it safely.
Lockerbie convict dies, closing dark chapter for Libya

Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was the only person ever convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. He died at home in Tripoli Sunday, nearly three years after his release from Scottish prison.
Pet food recall that won't end? Diamond cat food now risky.

Pet food recall from Diamond Pet Foods has been expanded eight times, triggered an FDA investigation and critique, and now includes cat food. The company's handling of the salmonella crisis may be even worse.
Chen Guangcheng: What's ahead for Chinese dissident now in the US?

Now that Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng has reached the United States, both Beijing and Washington are hoping to put what could have been a tense diplomatic situation behind them.
Obama, G-8: Recovery takes both growth and cutting

Confronting an economic crisis that threatens them all, President Obama and leaders of other world powers on Saturday declared that their governments must both spark growth and cut the debt that has crippled the European continent and put investors worldwide on edge.
Focus
NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?

A war-weary US faces off with wary NATO allies in Chicago about money and support for Afghanistan after US combat troops withdraw in 2014. Don't expect any "Mission Accomplished" speeches.
Focus
NATO summit: Why US, allies don't just call it quits in Afghanistan

Al Qaeda, oil, and Pakistan, a trifecta of troublesome issues, make the US withdrawal from Afghanistan far more complicated than it was in Iraq.
Chen Guangcheng comes to the US, but what about other dissidents?

Chen Guangcheng’s flight to New York Saturday marks a major step in difficult and delicate negotiations between Beijing and Washington. But it also spotlights the difficulty other activists face under a government regime and a system of local authority many view as repressive.
Saving Money
Buying and selling timeshares: eight tips

In the current market, finding and buying a timeshare is easy. Selling one is a different story. Here are four tips for each that could help.
Solar eclipse 2012: All systems go for witnessing rare 'ring of fire' (+video)

A rare annular eclipse, where a ‘ring of fire’ outlines the moon as it crosses the sun, will greet US viewers Sunday evening. Residents of the US West will have a good shot at seeing the full fire ring.
Bomb explodes at school in Italy, killing and wounding students

One student, a teenage girl, was killed in the blast; as many as ten others were wounded. No one has yet claimed responsibility.
Green Economics
Anti-dumping policies can have environmental consequences

Anti-dumping laws don't protect the environment in every industry. In some cases, such restrictions can actually do harm.
Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng heads to US

Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng was hurriedly taken from a hospital and put on a plane for the United States on Saturday, closing a nearly month-long diplomatic tussle that had tested U.S.-China relations.
Horizons
A look at Facebook by the numbers

Facebook is the dominant social network in 11 of 12 key global markets surveyed by Nielsen. 
Modern Parenthood
Jeremiah Wright, white births: Time to talk race with kids

Jeremiah Wright – and the racial controversy he and his foes tend to kick up –  is back in the news in the same week the Census bureau reports white births in the US are no longer a majority. Studies show we don't like to talk race with our kids, but it's about time we do.
Afghanistan security for less? How low can NATO go?

As NATO leaders convene for the weekend summit in Chicago, one pressing issue is whether, and how much, the post-NATO-withdrawal Afghan security forces can be pared down to save money.
Protesters in Chicago call for 'Robin Hood' tax

Nurses and thousands of other marchers demand a 'Robin Hood' tax on financial transactions. More protests are expected ahead of a NATO summit in Chicago.
Why historic SpaceX mission to space station will be so difficult

When SpaceX launches its Falcon 9 rocket Saturday, it will be the beginning of a complex rendezvous with the space station that attempts to test several capabilities in one mission.
Are celebrity judges ruining American Idol and other talent shows?

Killing the Golden Goose? By relying on Jennifer Lopez (American Idol) and Britney Spears (The X Factor), are talent shows putting celebrities ahead of discovering new talent?
6 stories about life with your adult children

In "Slouching Toward Adulthood," Sally Koslow shares what she learned about the differences between the boomer and Facebook generations.
As its banking woes mount, Spain ponders where to go from here

Its banks struggling, Spain has moved closer to needing a bailout. But some argue the takeover of Bankia and other measures could mark the beginning of movement toward greater stability.
China is a lead cyberattacker of US military computers, Pentagon reports

China is especially interested in gleaning how best to defend its own computer networks from cyberattack, says a Pentagon report on cyberwar threats. But China is also improving its offensive abilities.
Decoder Wire
Why Americans Elect failed to find a presidential candidate

After raising millions of dollars to boost a centrist candidate for president, the nonprofit Americans Elect has given up. But there's more involved than just a nation unready for a third party.