Abandoning Afghanistan a bad idea

U.S. Marines from the 3rd Battalion 8th Marines Regiment start their patrol in Helmand Province on June 27. STORY HIGHLIGHTSWhite House aide suggested all U.S. troops could be withdrawn from AfghanistanPeter Bergen said the idea would be dangerous and send the wrong messageHe says U.S. has abandoned Afghanistan before and saw the rise of the TalibanBergen: U.S. is seeking agreement that military will...

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Vowing revenge, 15,000 rally in Paris over Kurd killings

PARIS: At least 15,000 Kurds from all over Europe vowed revenge as they rallied Saturday in Paris over the killing of three top Kurdish activists from a separatist group banned in Turkey.The march, which began at the city's Gare de l'Est railway station, was emotionally charged, with demonstrators saying France would be an accomplice in the brazen murders if it did not identify and punish...

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How the holidays gave you the flu

STORY HIGHLIGHTSDavid Zich: This flu season definitely ranks as one of the worst I've seenZich: This outbreak is worse than average due to, more than anything, poor timing He says the holiday period was the perfect storm for the spread of influenzaZich: The peak onset of the flu coincided with a time when our immunity was downEditor's note: David Zich, an internist and emergency physician at Northwestern...

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Haiti quietly marks 3rd anniversary of quake

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti President Michel Martelly urged Haitians to recall the tens of thousands of people who lost their lives in a devastating earthquake three years ago, marking the disaster's anniversary Saturday with a simple ceremony.Martelly also thanked other countries and international organizations for their help after the Jan. 12, 2010 disaster."Haitian people, hand in hand, we remember...

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Poisoned Lottery Winner's Kin Were Suspicious

Urooj Khan had just brought home his $425,000 lottery check when he unexpectedly died the following day. Now, certain members of Khan's family are speaking publicly about the mystery -- and his nephew told ABC News they knew something was not right."He was a healthy guy, you know?" said the nephew, Minhaj Khan. "He worked so hard. He was always going about his business and,...

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Saudi execution: Brutal and illegal?

STORY HIGHLIGHTSSaudi authorities beheaded Rizana Nafeek, a Sri Lankan womanShe was convicted of killing a baby of the family employing her as a housemaidThis was despite Nafeek's claims that the baby died in a choking accidentBecker says her fate "should spotlight the precarious existence of domestic workers"Jo Becker is the Children's Rights Advocacy Director for Human Rights Watch and author of...

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China landslide kills 43, three missing

BEIJING: Three people remain missing after a landslide which killed 43, including seven from a single family, struck a remote village in southwestern China, state media said Saturday.Another two victims were sent to hospital after being rescued from the debris from the landslip on Friday which engulfed 16 homes in the village of Gaopo, the official news agency Xinhua said.It reported that...

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Fonda, Steinem: Let woman head FCC

STORY HIGHLIGHTSJane Fonda, Glora Steinem, Robin Morgan: Obama short on women appointeesThey say women helped him win, he must show he sees them as leaders, not just votersThey say media companies shape attitudes. He should name women to head FCC, FTCWriters: Media is run largely by men. Time to close the gender gap in U.S. media leadershipEditor's note: Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem...

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Budget deficit set to hit $1 trillion for fifth straight year

WASHINGTON The U.S. annual budget deficit is on track to reach $1 trillion for a fifth straight year, though government revenue jumped last month as people paid some taxes early to avoid higher rates in 2013.The Treasury Department said Friday that the federal deficit grew just $260 million in December. But for the first three months of the budget year, the deficit widened to $292 billion.In December,...

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James Holmes Told to 'Rot in Hell' By Victim's Dad

The father of a young woman allegedly slain by James Holmes in the Aurora movie theater massacre yelled "Rot in hell, Holmes" during a court hearing today.The outburst by Steve Hernandez prompted judge William Sylvester to have an off-the-record conference with prosecutors and defense attorneys. Sylvester then reconvened court to address the issue while armed court deputies...

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US will stand by Afghanistan, Panetta tells Karzai

WASHINGTON: The United States sought to assure Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday that it would remain committed to his country even as US officials weigh a major withdrawal of American forces.After an elaborate military ceremony for Karzai outside the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told his "distinguished visitor" that more than 10 years of war had paved the way for...

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Bennett: Obama, wake up to spending

STORY HIGHLIGHTSWilliam Bennett: National debt doesn't look like a priority for President ObamaBennett: Obama more concerned with his legacy rather than our economic well-being He asks why the president is so unwilling to cut the size and scope of governmentBennett: GOP should make it clear that it will fulfill our debt obligations in a responsible way Editor's note: William J. Bennett, a CNN contributor,...

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Student shot at Calif. high school; Suspect held

Updated at 3:44 p.m. ET TAFT, Calif. A student was shot and critically wounded at a rural California high school Thursday and a student suspect was taken into custody, officials said The sheriff of Kern County, Calif., says the 16-year-old student who was shot is in critical but stable condition. Sheriff Donny Youngblood says the shooter is a student who walked into a class at Taft Union High School...

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Biden Hints at Executive Order on Gun Control

Vice President Biden, meeting today with outside groups on gun safety, told reporters he has already started putting together a list of recommendations that he plans to issue next Tuesday.He has suggested the administration would be ready to take executive action on the issue, which would not require votes from Congress. That prospect has raised alarm bells for gun rights advocates.Biden...

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Karzai's U.S. visit a time for tough talk

The last time Presidents Obama and Karzai met was in May in Kabul, when they signed a pact regarding U.S. troop withdrawal.STORY HIGHLIGHTSAfghan President Karzai meeting with President Obama in Washington this weekFelbab-Brown: Afghan politics are corrupt; army not ready for 2014 troop pulloutShe says Taliban, insurgents, splintered army, corrupt officials are all jockeying for powerU.S. needs to...

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Oil prices weaken after US energy report

NEW YORK: Crude oil prices retreated Wednesday after a US oil inventory report pointed to large increases in refined petroleum products.Oil prices for US benchmark West Texas Intermediate settled five cents lower at US$93.10 a barrel.In London, the Brent contract for February finished at US$111.76 a barrel, losing 18 cents from Tuesday.The decline came after a weekly report by the US Energy...

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Biden: Obama may act alone to combat gun violence

Vice President Joe Biden said President Barack Obama is exploring executive orders to help stop mass shootings.STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: White House responds to petition calling for Piers Morgan to be deportedNEW: Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy says "more guns are not the answer" Burlington, Vermont, passed a resolution that could lead to an assault weapons banWal-Mart reversed a decision, saying it now...

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Holmes posed playfully with gun before shootings

CENTENNIAL, Colo. The hearing to determine whether the suspected gunman in last year's Colorado theater shooting ended Wednesday with one last detail from police: James Holmes used a cell phone to take self-portraits the night of the attack, sticking out his tongue, smiling and posing with a Glock pistol The defense decided not to call witnesses to talk about Holmes' mental health. They are expected...

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