Putin rebuffs Obama's warning on Ukraine
After an hour-long phone call, Putin says Russia and the U.S. are still far apart.
Religious conservatives facing off at conference
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — The early auditions for the Republican Party's next presidential contest are in full swing at the nation's largest annual gathering of conservative activists, where some of the GOP's most prominent religious conservatives are facing off.
Opening statements to begin in general's sex trial
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — With the Pentagon under increased scrutiny over revelations of rampant rape and sexual misconduct within the ranks, opening statements were set to begin Friday in a rare court-martial of an Army general — believed to be the most senior member of the U.S. military to face trial on sex assault charges.
International court convicts Congo rebel leader
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court on Friday convicted a rebel leader of charges including murder and pillage over a deadly attack on a village in eastern Congo, but acquitted him of rape, sexual slavery and using child soldiers.
Half of millennials more likely to lean Democratic
WASHINGTON (AP) — Young adults like to think of themselves as independent, but when it comes to politics, they're more likely than not to lean to the left.
AP PHOTOS: Women brick-makers in debt in Pakistan
MANDRA, Pakistan (AP) — Amna Bhatti has spent half a century shaping mud into bricks in a huge kiln south of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. She started by paying off her parents' debt and now she's on to her late husband's. She'll probably spend the rest of her life here.
Darren Sharper returns to court seeking release
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Darren Sharper will return to court on Friday where his attorneys will argue that the former NFL All-Pro safety should be released from a Los Angeles jail.
As US states allow pot sales, Dutch reverse course
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands (AP) — A young man at a bus stop hisses at a passer-by: "What you looking for ... marijuana?" It's a scene of street peddling that the Netherlands hoped to stamp out in the 1970s when it launched a policy of tolerating "coffee shops" where people could buy and smoke pot freely.
AP Exclusive: Man said to create bitcoin denies it
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto said Thursday that he is not the creator of bitcoin, adding further mystery to the story of how the world's most popular digital currency came to be.
Here comes El Nino; good news for US weather woes
WASHINGTON (AP) — Relief may be on the way for a weather-weary United States with the predicted warming of the central Pacific Ocean brewing this year that will likely change weather worldwide. But it won't be for the better everywhere.
Pistorius: former girlfriend testifies on gunplay
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A former girlfriend of Oscar Pistorius testified Friday at the double-amputee runner's murder trial that he always carried a firearm and that their relationship ended when he cheated on her with Reeva Steenkamp, the woman he fatally shot last year.
Senate blocks change to military sex assault cases
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bowing to the Pentagon, the Senate agreed after impassioned debate Thursday to leave the authority to prosecute rapes and other serious crimes with military commanders in a struggle that highlighted the growing role of women in Congress.
Crimea to vote to split from Ukraine, join Russia
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine lurched toward breakup Thursday as lawmakers in Crimea unanimously declared they wanted to join Russia and would put the decision to voters in 10 days. President Barack Obama condemned the move and the West answered with the first real sanctions against Russia.
Ukraine oligarchs get key posts in bid for unity
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — In a surprising move after Russia flexed its military might in the Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine's new leadership has reached out to oligarchs for help — appointing them as governors in eastern regions where loyalties to Moscow are strong.
Pistorius: former girlfriend testifies
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — A former girlfriend of Oscar Pistorius has testified at the double-amputee runner's murder trial that their relationship ended when he cheated on her with Reeva Steenkamp, the woman he fatally shot last year.
Recruit describes being quizzed by bin Laden
American testifies about safe house encounter with terror leader in spring of 2001.
Sports medicine pioneer Frank Jobe dies at 88
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dr. Frank Jobe, a pioneering orthopedic surgeon who was the first to perform an elbow procedure that became known as Tommy John surgery and saved the careers of countless major league pitchers, died Thursday. He was 88.
Man revealed in report as bitcoin creator denies story
A reclusive Japanese American man thought to be the father of Bitcoin emerged from his Southern California home and denied any involvement with the digital currency, before leading reporters on a car chase leading to the headquarters of the Associated Press. Satoshi Nakamoto, a name known to legions of bitcoin traders, practitioners and boosters around the world, appeared to lose his anonymity on Thursday after Newsweek published a story that said Nakamoto lived in Temple City, California, just east of Los Angeles, and included a photograph. In the afternoon, Nakamoto stepped outside and told reporters he had nothing to do with bitcoin but was looking for someone who understood Japanese, to buy him a free lunch. According to a Los Angeles Times reporter, who followed his car, Nakamoto was driven to the Associated Press offices in downtown Los Angeles, where he again denied any involvement with bitcoin.
Why the SAT had to change
Earlier this week, high school students were given a surprise gift — the dreaded essay portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test would be going optional in spring 2016.
Despite the name calling, Putin is not crazy
The Russian president may be calculating, sources say, even miscalculating.
