Topic: United States

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John Kerry nudges Middle East peace process: Could he be getting somewhere?

Secretary of State John Kerry, in his sixth trip to the Middle East this year, is meeting with Arab League leaders who are behind a renewed version of a 2002 Arab peace initiative with Israel.
Backchannels Microsoft hits out at NSA reports and Obama Justice department

Software giant Microsoft says NSA leak reports have overstated the level of access given to the US government of customers' data, but also complains the Justice Department is acting contrary to the First Amendment.
Federal Reserve chief tells Congress: You're making weak economy worse

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke tells Congress that its tax hikes and spending cuts are creating 'strong headwinds' for economic recovery and could be costing 750,000 new jobs.
Chevron back in Argentina: Will more international investment follow?

Argentina chilled foreign investment by expropriating an oil company from a Spanish firm last year. But US oil giant Chevron just signed a $1.2 billion deal with state-run YPF.
USA Update Heat wave: Northeast faces a few more scorchers. Then, relief!

With the highest above-normal heat in the nation, New York opens more than 400 cooling centers. Some 100,000 Maryland residents may be without water for days. But cooler air is expected Friday.
The world’s 10 most valuable sports teams

This year’s Forbes list of the world's most valuable teams is heavy with two kinds of football and features a new top squad. Can you guess which team, and which sport, nabbed the number one spot?
Global News Blog Lawyer: Edward Snowden could be free to walk Russian streets in days

But even if Russia grants Snowden asylum, his presence still complicates relations with the US.
Backchannels Snowden says data can't leak if he doesn't want it to

The NSA leaker made the claim in an e-mail to former Sen. Gordon Humphrey yesterday. Is it believable?
Strange new dinosaur discovered in Utah

A new, unusual-looking dinosaur, Nasutoceratops, offers evidence of how horned dinosaurs might have evolved in North America.
In Yemen, drones' ill effects linger long after dust settles

Locals in Yemen's Mareb province say they live in constant fear that drones will damage more than their intended targets.
The Manor

A grand Long Island manor – inhabited by members of the same family since 1735 – offers a glimpse into the forgotten history of Northern slavery.
Decoder Wire Liz Cheney run for Wyoming Senate seat: Is she a lock to win? (+video)

Liz Cheney, daughter of the former vice president, is launching a Senate candidacy. But Michael Enzi, a Republican, already occupies the seat she wants.
Chapter & Verse Can authors ever really retire?

Author Alice Munro retires from writing at 82. Other seasoned authors continue their craft.
Terrorism & Security North Korea missiles: Cache of 'obsolete' Cuban weapons seized from North Korean ship (+video)

North Korea missiles: Cuba says the 240 tons of weapons were being sent to North Korea for repairs. Many international observers are dubious.
Along key stretch of US-Mexico border, more kids running drugs

The Tucson sector of the US-Mexico border has seen an alarming rise in the number of juveniles facing drug-smuggling charges. Teens are also carrying harder drugs into the US.
Baby panda twins born at Zoo Atlanta

Panda twins were born at Zoo Atlanta Monday, the first twin pandas born in the United States since 1987. Zookeepers were expecting only one cub and were surprised when the giant panda named Lun Lun gave birth to baby panda twins.
Energy Voices The dirty coal behind Germany's clean energy

Germany's energy portfolio may not be as green as you think, Grealy writes. Coal-fired power plants made up 52 percent of Germany's electricity demand in the first half of 2013, while output from natural gas and wind turbines is falling.
The Monitor's View What Senate filibuster deal tells young democracies like Egypt's

The Senate filibuster deal avoids the severe political backlash of the 'nuclear option' – for now. It recognizes the filibuster's historic role in protecting minority interests, a lesson for newly democratic countries like Egypt.
Backchannels Is it wrong to be interested in Snowden? (+video)

The former NSA contractor is on the run from the US. A supporter says he has thousands of documents that could do grave damage to the US.
Asiana Airlines: Some passengers face long odds for compensation

Because of international regulations, passengers aboard the Asiana Airlines flight that crashed in San Francisco on July 6, 2013 could receive drastically different amounts of monetary compensation from Asiana Airlines — even if they were sitting right next to one another, an attorney says.
In Gear Will smartphone apps cut down on cars on the road?

Startups that help app users find rides with nearby drivers are hoping to cut down on the number of cars on the road, and if traditional taxi companies don't adapt, they'll probably be run out of business, Read says.
Energy Voices Gas prices: why $2 gas isn't happening anytime soon

Gas prices rose 4 percent in the US this week, according to AAA. Despite a boom in North American oil production, gas prices won't be approaching $2 anytime soon.
Pentagon girds for Senate fight over sexual assault bill

A bill to strip commanders of their authority in sexual assault cases has bipartisan support in the Senate. But Pentagon officials say it would make a bad situation worse.
Zetas leader Treviño Morales captured: Big win for Mexico's Peña Nieto (+video)

The capture of Zetas leader Miguel Angel Treviño Morales is an important success for Mexico's eight-month-old Peña Nieto administration, but the previous president may deserve a tip of the hat.
Twinkies: 5 'welcome back' recipes

Celebrate the return of Twinkies with these creations.