USA
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the first European leader to visit President Obama, met with the president Tuesday ahead of an address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday. Brown's visit is meant to strengthen ties with the US in anticipation of a "global new deal" strategy Brown will present at a G-20 economic summit in London next month.
Bernard Madoff's lawyer filed court papers Monday seeking to let Madoff's wife, Ruth, keep a $7 million Manhattan penthouse and $62 million in assets that he and his client claim are "unrelated" to the securities fraud charges against the accused Wall Street broker. While awaiting trial in an alleged $50 billion Ponzi operation, Madoff is confined to the apartment.
Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, President Obama's choice to be US Trade Representative, has agreed to pay an estimated $10,000 in unpaid income taxes related to speaking fees and sports tickets, the Senate Finance Committee reviewing his nomination said Monday.
Dartmouth College named Jim Yong Kim the Ivy League's first Asian-American president Monday. Born in South Korea but raised in Iowa, Dr. Kim is known as a leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS and for his work supporting healthcare for the poor.
The number of people on probation or parole more than tripled to 5.1 million between 1982 and 2007, according to a new report by the Pew Center on the States. The study recommends gearing up community-supervision strategies to reduce recidivism.
Japanese Emperor Akihito may become the first Japanese emperor or prime minister to visit Pearl Harbor, according to the Kyodo News. A tour of the site of Japan's surprise World War II attack on the US Navy base could occur during an unofficial July stopover in Hawaii while en route to Canada.
Democrats have opened up their widest lead since 1984 in the race for voters' party identification, a Harris Poll indicates. They enjoy a 10 percentage-point lead over the GOP, a seven-point jump since 2002.
The US Tennis Association saluted Billie Jean King at an exhibition event – the Billie Jean King Cup – played Monday in New York's Madison Square Garden. The Williams sisters joined King after Serena defeated Venus 6-4, 6-3 in the final. King founded the Women's Tennis Association in 1973.
