Search results for

The end-of-year holidays have traditionally allowed presidents to bypass Congress and push through contested nominees with recess appointments. But with threats that House Republicans will stay in session over the holidays to block nominations, President Obama has tough political decisions to make.

Japan has long been a friendly place for smokers. Despite tens of billions of dollars in cigarette-related health costs and damages, anti-smoking initiatives have always had trouble gaining traction.

An Iraq war veteran who is suspected of killing a park ranger has been found dead in a snowy stream at Washington's Mount Rainier National Park. The park had been closed since Sunday while authorities searched for Benjamin Barnes.

The Queen of Soul is looking for a prince or princess of Puccini in a new competition for opera singers. And she's the one judging.

At Lake Superior State University, college officials have been releasing a list of banished words since 1976. Words that you're not allowed to say this year include "baby bump" and "occupy." It's a list destined to receive some "blowback."

President Obama has been accused of appeasement by both political supporters and foes. Liberals says he's been too willing to compromise. Republicans say he's not doing enough to constrain U.S. enemies in the Middle East, specifically Iran. At a news conference Thursday, Obama said, "Ask Osama bin Laden ... whether I engage in appeasement."

Last weekend, English soccer fans were looking forward to a sporting feast. They ended up taking part in a nationwide communal vigil, focused on an African-born player's fight for life.

Republicans are attacking President Obama and his team for allegedly saying they wanted energy prices to go up. The president scoffs at the charge. But some environmentalists say higher energy prices would be a good thing because they would spur the development of alternative technologies.

Eddie Alterman, an editor for Car and Driver magazine, says he doesn't want to live in a world without stick shift vehicles. "It's a world without guys building treehouses for their kids. It's a world without train sets. It's a world without fun." Alterman has started a movement to save the manual shift.

U.S. archer Khatuna Lorig hopes to return to the Olympics this summer. But she's already helped put archery into The Hunger Games this spring — by training the film's star, Jennifer Lawrence. In the film's kill-or-be-killed competition, Lawrence's character relies on her ability with a bow.