Washington state lights up as marijuana legalized
Pot smokers lit up in Washington state Thursday as recreational marijuana became legal in a historic first for the United States, clouded by the fact that federal law still bans the practice.
With Romney filing, 2012 election spending tops $2 bn
Republican Mitt Romney raised $85.9 million in the final weeks of the White House race, his campaign said Thursday, bringing the total spent on the presidential election to a record $2 billion.
Bieber miffed at Grammys snub, Brubeck gets nod
Justin Bieber's manager has lambasted the Grammys organizers after the Canadian teen sensation failed to garner a single nomination for this year's music awards.
World's biggest, oldest trees are dying: research
Scientists Friday warned of an alarming increase in the death rates of the largest living organisms on the planet, the giant, old trees that harbour and sustain countless birds and wildlife.
Judge calls for "global peace" in Apple-Samsung war
A judge mulling whether to trim or overturn Apple's billion-dollar damages award against Samsung on Thursday called for a ceasefire in the ongoing patent war between the smartphone titans.
Scientists say NASA's budget inadequate for its goals
NASA suffers from a "mismatch" between its goals and the budget it has been given to achieve them, according to a panel that said the US space agency may need a complete overhaul.
US fears more victims from dead 'serial killer'
The FBI is appealing for information about the travels of a suspected serial killer believed to have murdered up to 15 people over more than a decade, after his suicide in jail last weekend.
Clinton renews support of new Syrian opposition group
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed fresh support Wednesday for a new coalition of Syrian opposition groups seeking to counter the Assad regime.
Poll finds growing US support for same-sex marriage
Support is growing in the United States for marriage equality, two polls showed on Wednesday.
US offers aid after deadly Typhoon Bopha
The United States offered disaster relief and sent condolences Wednesday to the Philippines and Palau in the wake of Typhoon Bopha.
US court gives Argentina new break on debt payment
A New York appeals court on Tuesday rejected a motion by hedge funds to force Argentina to make a security deposit as Buenos Aires seeks to overturn an order that it repay $1.3 billion to holders of defaulted bonds.
Deal reached to end major US port strike: LA mayor
Negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to end a week-long strike crippling the key US ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Obama to Republicans: raise taxes on rich or no deal
US President Barack Obama warned Republicans Tuesday there would be no deal on averting a potentially disastrous fiscal crisis without them caving in to his demand to raise tax rates on the rich.
Hollywood sign unveiled after major makeover
The refurbished Hollywood sign was presented in all its freshly painted glory Tuesday after its biggest makeover in 35 years, in time for 90th birthday celebrations next year.
NASA to send new rover to Mars in 2020
NASA plans to send a new rover to Mars in 2020 as it prepares for a manned mission to the Red Planet, the US space agency said Tuesday.
US goes gaga over Britain's royal baby-to-be
News that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, aka Prince William and wife Kate, are having a baby lifted Americans' fascination with the British royal family to new heights on Tuesday.
World's oldest person dies in US, at 116
The world's oldest person, American Besse Cooper, died on Tuesday at the age of 116.
'Strong warning' to Assad over chemical arms: Clinton
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday issued a "strong warning" to the regime of Bashar al-Assad over the potential use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people.
US steps up spying on Iran's nuclear reactor: report
US intelligence agencies have significantly stepped up spying operations on Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor prompted by concerns about the security of weapons-grade plutonium there.
Gender identity struggle figured in Manning's detention
The US military held WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning under strict "suicide watch" partly because his gender identity struggle showed he was mentally "not stable," a witness said Sunday.