After Alan Gross release, Obama seeks to resume full diplomatic ties with Cuba

After Alan Gross release, Obama seeks to resume full diplomatic ties with Cuba
Clinton early 2016 front-runner — but 'barely': NBC News/WSJ poll
The risks and opportunities for Jeb Bush
Democrats go searching for a message ahead of 2016
'The Interview' New York premiere canceled after threat
Pakistan mourns as mass funerals begin
U.S., Cuba seek to normalize relations
Cuba releases Alan Gross after 5 years in prison
Pakistan massacre ‘blowback’ from U.S.-backed offensive against Taliban, officials say
Aussie leader: Siege gunman dropped off watch list
U.S., Cuba to restore ties after 50 years of hostility
Florida's Cuban Americans rejoice at U.S. policy overhaul
Texas ex-justice of the peace sentenced to death for revenge murder
Obama signs $1.1 trillion spending bill into law
USOC decides to bid for 2024; city still undecided
Cosby won't be charged in 1974 sex claim
NYC premiere of Rogen film canceled as threats fly

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 07:23 AM PST

President Obama will launch negotiations with Cuba.

Clinton early 2016 front-runner — but 'barely': NBC News/WSJ poll

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 05:36 AM PST

While Hillary Clinton may be the prohibitive favorite to win the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, the margin of American voters who would support her in a general election is razor thin.

The risks and opportunities for Jeb Bush

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 04:14 AM PST

The Internet may be Jeb's best hope of becoming the GOP nominee.

Democrats go searching for a message ahead of 2016

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 02:21 AM PST

Democrats are worried that they've become too focused on specific groups within their coalition and have lost focus on winning over moderate voters who care most about the economy and view government with skepticism.

'The Interview' New York premiere canceled after threat

Posted:

The Interview's planned premiere in New York has been canceled, a Landmark spokesperson said Tuesday. The Sony film was scheduled to screen at Landmark's Sunshine Cinema.

Pakistan mourns as mass funerals begin

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 04:40 AM PST

The nation begins burying the 142 victims, most of them children, of the school attack.

U.S., Cuba seek to normalize relations

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 10:46 AM PST

These moves represent the biggest shift in U.S. policy toward the island in decades.

Cuba releases Alan Gross after 5 years in prison

Posted:

The move comes amidst reports that U.S. will try to normalize relations with Cuba.

Pakistan massacre ‘blowback’ from U.S.-backed offensive against Taliban, officials say

Posted: 16 Dec 2014 03:02 PM PST

The Pakistani Taliban assault on a school — killing 145, including 132 children — appears to be "blowback" from a months-long Pakistani military offensive against the terror group that was encouraged and supported by the U.S. government, Pakistani and U.S. officials said today.

Aussie leader: Siege gunman dropped off watch list

Posted: 16 Dec 2014 10:00 PM PST

SYDNEY (AP) — A gunman responsible for a deadly siege in a Sydney cafe was once on the national security agency's watch list — but was dropped off it years ago for reasons that remain unclear, Australia's prime minister said Wednesday.

U.S., Cuba to restore ties after 50 years of hostility

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 10:42 AM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuba has released American aid worker Alan Gross after five years in prison, a U.S. official said on Wednesday amid reports of a prisoner exchange that heralds a major overhaul of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The U.S. official said Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. CNN reported a prisoner exchange that also included Cuba releasing a U.S. intelligence source and the United States releasing three Cuban intelligence agents. U.S. President Barack Obama was to make a statement at noon on Cuba, the White House said. ...

Florida's Cuban Americans rejoice at U.S. policy overhaul

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 09:43 AM PST

By Zachary Fagenson and David Adams MIAMI (Reuters) - Some Cuban exiles rejoiced at the prospect of easier access to their relatives. Some swelled with guarded optimism over the prospect of thawing relations between the United States and the communist island. And some were simply "ecstatic." News on Wednesday that the United States will restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba and open an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than a half century rippled through the 1.5-million-strong exile community in the United States, many of them lifelong opponents of communist rule. ...

Texas ex-justice of the peace sentenced to death for revenge murder

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 09:04 AM PST

By Lisa Maria Garza DALLAS (Reuters) - A Texas jury on Wednesday sentenced to death a former justice of the peace convicted of murdering a suburban Dallas prosecutor's wife in a revenge plot, with the judge saying he acted like some of the most notorious killers in recent U.S. history. The same jury that convicted Eric Williams, 47, on Dec. 4 of murdering Cynthia McLelland sentenced him to death after deliberating for less than four hours. ...

Obama signs $1.1 trillion spending bill into law

Posted: 16 Dec 2014 06:54 PM PST

A rare bipartisan achievement, the bill will keep the government operating over the next nine months.

USOC decides to bid for 2024; city still undecided

Posted: 16 Dec 2014 05:48 PM PST

The U.S. Olympic Committee will try to land the 2024 Olympics and end a 28-year drought without the Summer Games.

Cosby won't be charged in 1974 sex claim

Posted: 16 Dec 2014 02:46 PM PST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Bill Cosby, who has been the subject of dozens of sex abuse allegations over the past two months, will not be charged in connection with a 1974 sexual molestation claim, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said on Tuesday. The claim, which was recently brought by a California woman Judy Huth, was deemed to have been too old and surpassed the state's statute of limitations. Huth alleges Cosby molested her as a 15-year-old at the Playboy mansion. (Reporting by Eric Kelsey)

NYC premiere of Rogen film canceled as threats fly

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 06:57 AM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — The blow that the hacking attack has dealt Sony is spreading beyond the entertainment corporation itself to theater chains and movie goers alike. And the financial toll is adding up too.