French President Nicolas Sarkozy says the leaders of Syria and Lebanon have agreed to re-establish normal diplomatic relations for the first time in years. Sarkozy made the announcement, speaking through a translator after a meeting in Paris. (D'abo
The White House, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve have announced steps aimed at shoring up confidence in the nation's two largest mortgage finance companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The administration is asking Congress to approve
Congressional leaders say the Bush administration's plan to shore up mortgage backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be on the president's desk as soon as next week. Lawmakers are reacting favorably to the proposal. NPR's Brian Naylor has more. Th
President Bush briefed reporters this morning on the economy. The president said the economy is strong and growing and that the administration's actions will keep the mortgage industry stable. NPR's Larry Abramson has more. The Treasury and Federal
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama cancelled a planned appearance in North Carolina today when his plane had mechanical problems. But speaking in St. Louis where the plane landed, he outlined proposals for revitalizing the sagging US econo
Leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations meeting in Japan have endorsed a goal to cut worldwide emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases in half by the year 2050. But there is no legally-binding document. G8 leaders say the agreeme
A US airstrike in eastern Afghanistan this morning was aimed at a gathering of insurgents. But local officials claimed that at least 27 civilians were killed. The victims, who were said to be walking to a wedding, included the bride and other women
An influential figure in the conservative movement has died. Former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms died early today from natural causes at a convalescent center. He was 86. NPR's David Folkenflik reports. Jesse Helms became so popular from his T
After being held in the jungles of Colombia by rebel forces, in some cases, for years, a group of hostages is (are) now freed today. Colombias Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos announced, speaking through an interpreter at a news conference in Bog
New vehicle sales in the US dropped 18% in June, just the latest in a string of bad sales months for the auto industry. From Michigan Radio, Dustin Dwyer reports. The only major automaker that managed to show any improvement in June was Honda. It ha
President Bush today signed a 162-billion-dollar war funding bill. The president thanking both sides of the aisle in Congress for giving him a measure to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for another year. Speaking at the Oval Office signing
Israel reacted with caution today to news Iran tested several missiles during military exercises including larger long-range rockets Iran says are capable of reaching the Jewish state from Jerusalem. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports. In Jerusalem, Isra
Serbias president says his forces have arrested a man long-sought by a UN war crimes tribunal. NPRs Michele Kelemen reports. According to a statement by President Boris Tadics office, Serbian security officials arrested former Bosnian Serb leader Ra
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama held what was called a working lunch with Afghanistans President Hamid Karzai in Kabul today. Obama says Afghanistan has not gotten enough attention because of what he called the distraction posed by th
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met with US military commanders in eastern Afghanistan today, an area of escalating hostilities that he has said is not getting enough attention from the Bush administration. Obama made a stop en route
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's planned trip to the Middle East drew faint praise today from his Re:publican rival John McCain. Sarah Hulett of Michigan Radio reports. Senator McCain told an audience at a General Motors facility in
The Food and Drug Administration has lifted its warning on eating fresh tomatoes. Officials say the salmonella outbreak is still ongoing, but varieties of tomatoes on the market now have been given the all-clear. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports. FDA of
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke told members of the House Financial Services Committee today that inflation is too high and remains a top priority of the Federal Reserve. The Fed Chairman also acknowledged Americans are hurting whether o
Campaigning in Fargo, North Dakota today, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said if elected, he still plans to bring troops home from Iraq. However, the presumptive Democratic nominee also said that depending on what he learns from an upc
One of the nation's largest independent mortgage lenders has been taken over by the federal government after determination the California-based thrift was unsound. The decision by the Office of Thrift Supervision comes after efforts by IndyMac to ra