Nation & World
N.J. beach replenishment seen as crucial for wildlife habitat, migrating birds
HACKENSACK, N.J. — Sand-filled dump trucks — up to 50 a day — rolled onto beaches along the Delaware Bay recently in a feverish attempt to restore shorelines that had been washed away by Superstorm Sandy.
Anti-abortion group sees Virginia as template for 2014
A leading anti-abortion group plans to use Virginia's 2013 statewide races as a strategic proving ground ahead of next year's midterm elections, raising the stakes in a gubernatorial contest marked by heated debate over social issues.
Jailing of Afghan women for 'moral' crimes is increasing, group says
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The number of women and girls jailed by Afghan authorities for "moral crimes" has risen by 50 percent in the last 18 months, an alarming statistic that reflects the Afghan government's need to step up efforts to protect women's rights, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.
Obama pledges urgent aid to Oklahoma town
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama pledged urgent government help for Oklahoma Tuesday in the wake of "one of the most destructive" storms in the nation's history.
AP Sources: Obama OK punting gay immigration idea
WASHINGTON — Two people familiar with the Senate immigration deliberations say the White House has suggested to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy that it would be best to put off a controversy over gay marriage until a bill goes before the full Senate.
Former IRS chief: Can't say how targeting happened
WASHINGTON — The man who led the Internal Revenue Service when it was giving extra scrutiny to tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status told Congress on Tuesday that he knew little about what was happening while he was still commissioner.
New rice contamination reported in China
BEIJING — Authorities are investigating rice mills in southern China following tests that found almost half of the staple grain in one of the country's largest cities was contaminated with a toxic metal.
Israeli peace negotiator: Stalemate bad for Israel
JERUSALEM — Israel's chief peace negotiator said Tuesday that the current stalemate with the Palestinians is harmful for Israel, days before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to arrive in Israel for his latest push to restart long-dormant talks.
Death in Zimbabwe results in unusual U.S. charge
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The facts laid out by prosecutors are plain: In 2008, a U.S. government employee on assignment in Zimbabwe drove through the capital of Harare in his government-issued Toyota Land Cruiser and struck and killed a 34-year-old Zimbabwe man.
S. African court acquits brother of Oscar Pistorius
JOHANNESBURG — One Pistorius brother is free of charges — acquitted Tuesday of culpable homicide in the death of a woman in a road accident. The famous younger brother, Olympian double-amputee Oscar Pistorius, still must face his day in court for shooting and killing his girlfriend.
Myanmar Muslims jailed for killing Buddhist monk
MEIKHTILA, Myanmar — A Myanmar court sentenced seven Muslims to prison Tuesday — one of them to a life term — in the killing of a Buddhist monk amid deadly sectarian violence that was overwhelmingly directed against minority Muslims but has not led to any criminal trials against members of the country's Buddhist majority.
UPDATE: Serach for tornado survivors nearly complete
MOORE, Okla. — Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children, and those numbers were expected to climb.
Utah man, brother suspected in woman's disappearance
Both men later killed themselves; Susan Powell has never been found
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — The lawyer for the family of a missing Utah woman said Tuesday there’s an ongoing federal investigation into Susan Powell’s disappearance.
Monster python killed by snake handler in Florida
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A record-setting Burmese python was killed with a knife in a rural section of southern Miami-Dade County, after it wrapped itself around the leg of the man trying to capture it.
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