Clinton says agreement with Russia near on nukes
MOSCOW (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that American and Russian negotiators are "on the brink" of agreement on a nuclear arms reduction treaty....

Democrats push toward Sunday vote on health care
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Slowly but steadily, support is building behind President Barack Obama's health care legislation in the House, the result of intense lobbying and politically targeted changes aimed at reassuring waverers and winning over critics....

Abortion foes plan 'no' vote on health overhaul
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, the leader of a dozen anti-abortion Democrats, says his group remains committed to opposing the health care overhaul the House is likely to vote on this weekend....

Diplomats urge resumption of Mideast talks
MOSCOW (AP) -- Top international diplomats on Friday called on Israel and the Palestinians to return to peace negotiations with a goal of reaching a final settlement that would create an independent Palestinian state within 24 months. They reiterated their condemnation of Israel's latest move to add Jewish housing in disputed east Jerusalem but did not escalate criticism of the Jewish state....

Health care bill extends wage tax to investments
WASHINGTON (AP) -- High-income families would be hit with a tax increase on wages and a new levy on investments under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul bill....

PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama in immigration dance
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama promised to make overhauling the immigration system a top priority in his first year as president. He's now in Year Two, and the odds that he'll get to sign a bill before the November midterm elections appear long....

Obama to Dems: Our fates are tied to health bill
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In seeking enough votes to overhaul the nation's health care system, President Barack Obama is telling nervous Democratic lawmakers that their political fates are linked to the bill's passage, discouraging the notion that they can save themselves by opposing it, House members say....

Obama assures Indonesians he will visit this year
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has assured the people of Indonesia that he is looking forward to visiting his former home once the health care debate is resolved....

New Dem lawmakers feeling heat on health care
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Freshman Rep. Steve Driehaus is getting it from all sides on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul....

Student aid linked to health care gets a trim
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional Democrats on Thursday trimmed their original student loan plans, reduced spending for community colleges, and eliminated early childhood money from a broad rewrite of a college aid bill piggybacked on to fast-track health care legislation....