From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. The new US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan told attendees at a Senate hearing today that while Pakistan faces an extremely difficult situation, the Muslim nation of 175 million people is not in danger
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. President Obama today pledged to work with the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan to combat extremists. Speaking after a meeting at the White House with the leaders of the two countries, Mr. Obama also s
With the announced retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter, President Baraka Obama will become the first elected Democrat to fill a vacancy on the high court in 15 years. Speaking at the White House today following Souter's announcement tha
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Craig Windham. The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the US has risen to more than 175 in 26 states. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most of the cases in this country have been mild co
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. President Obama today pledged to work with the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan to combat extremists. Speaking after a meeting at the White House with the leaders of the two countries, Mr. Obama also s
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. The nation's unemployment rate rose to 8.9% in April, that's the highest level in almost 26 years, but the job losses slowed last month, President Obama said the number was somewhat encouraging but still
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Craig Windham. Cooler, moist weather conditions have been helping hundreds of firefighters working to contain a stubborn wildfire in the hills above Santa Barbara, California. The blaze is now about 30% contained. An
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Craig Windham. Tens of thousands of civilians in Pakistan's Swat Valley took advantage of a temporary lifting of a curfew there to flee the fighting in the region today as the Pakistani army steps up its offensive to
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. Officials say a soldier opened fire on fellow soldiers at a US military base near Baghdad today, killing five of them before being taken into custody. There are conflicting reports on whether there were a
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. The new US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan told attendees at a Senate hearing today that while Pakistan faces an extremely difficult situation, the Muslim nation of 175 million people is not in danger
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. Chrysler wants to get rid of nearly 800 of its dealers. The company is asking a bankruptcy judge to approve the move next month. NPRs Frank Langfitt has more. To bring its distribution network in line wit
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. General Motors has become the latest domestic automaker to sharply slash its dealer network. GM said today it has told more than a thousand of its dealer franchises they will be terminated by late next ye
Chrysler has been forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after the struggling US automaker failed to reach an agreement with its creditors. David Cole is the head of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He says Chrysler hopes
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke expects the US downturn will end later this year with the economy beginning to grow again. Those comments came today in testimony before Congress. NPR's Tom Gjelten r
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Crag Windham. Health officials in the United States and abroad say the expanding swine flu outbreak still appears generally mild, but infections are widespread enough that some may expect the outbreak will soon be de
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Craig Windham. President Obama's commencement address at Notre Dame University today was punctuated by the shouts of some hecklers who strongly disagreed with his support for abortion rights. And since this is Notre D
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Craig Windham. President Obama has nominated Republican governor Jon Huntsman of Utah to be the next US ambassador to China. Huntsman has a strong background in Asia, including a stint as ambassador to Singapore. He
The nation's top military officer says his goal is to turn things around in Afghanistan within the next 12 to 24 months, though Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says he expects violence will increase in the short term. NPR
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer. President Obama announced new emission standards for cars and light trucks today which he says puts the country on a path towards a cleaner environment. The plan would require US passenger vehicles and li
A parked car detonated on a crowded street in Bagdad today, killing at least 35 people and wounding more than 70 others. NPRs JJ Sutherland reports from the Iraqi capital. It was just after sunset when families were out in the street, having dinner