Security

Democrats toughen stance on trimming benefits

By ANDREW TAYLORAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's re-election has stiffened Democrats' spine against cutting popular benefit programs such as Medicare and Social Security. Their new resolve could become as big a hurdle to a deal that would skirt crippling tax

In bold move, France welcomes Syria ambassador

By ELAINE GANLEYAssociated Press PARIS (AP) - France on Saturday welcomed a member of the Syrian opposition as the country's ambassador, a bold bid to confer legitimacy on the week-old opposition coalition and encourage other Western nations to follow suit. The new envoy, Mounzir Makhous,

Obama turns to foreign policy with Asia trip

By JIM KUHNHENNAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - In his first trip abroad since the summer heat of the re-election campaign, President Barack Obama will seek to reinforce American influence in Southeast Asia in spite of the large shadow cast by China. He will become the first U.S. president to

Clinton says Congress committed to budget deal

By ROD McGUIRKAssociated Press SINGAPORE (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reiterated Saturday that she is "out of politics" and assured a Singaporean audience that Congress is committed to avoiding year-end "fiscal cliff" tax increases and spending cuts that could plunge