News - Boston.com

German business confidence unexpectedly rebounds

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:31:27 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A closely watched survey shows that German business confidence rebounded this month — an unexpectedly strong showing that sends a hopeful signal for Europe's biggest economy.

Syrian govt to take part in peace conference

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:28:57 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — The Syrian government has agreed to a conference on the country's future proposed by Russia and the United States, Russia's foreign ministry said Friday

Emergency landing closes both Heathrow runways

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:23:54 GMT

LONDON (AP) — London's Heathrow Airport says both of its runways have been closed after a British Airways plane made an emergency landing.

Safe room mandates remain rare in tornado states

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:21:13 GMT

MOORE, Okla. (AP) — After living nearly 20 years in their one-story brick home, Sherry and Larry Wells finally won the lottery — for a state rebate on a home storm shelter, that is. A contractor finished installing the concrete bunker beneath the slab of their garage in early May. About three weeks later, the shelter saved their lives when a tornado that killed 24 people tore through their neighborhood.

Education Department giving Newtown $1.3 million

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:16:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Schools in Newtown, Conn., will receive $1.3 million in federal aid to recover after the shootings that left 26 students and educators dead last year.

Obama addressing Naval Academy graduates 2nd time

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:11:04 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A day after laying out his counterterrorism vision, President Barack Obama is addressing future military leaders who could help carry it out in a speech to U.S. Naval Academy graduates.

Milestones for Guantanamo Bay detention center

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:10:52 GMT

President Barack Obama on Thursday reaffirmed his 2008 campaign promise to close the military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where terror suspects have been held since 2002, and begin the transfer of some prisoners to other countries. A look the facility's history:

Text of President Obama speech on terrorism

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:09:20 GMT

Text of President Barack Obama's speech on the fight against terrorism at the National Defense University, as provided by the White House:

Obama's drone policy at a glance

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:06:52 GMT

President Barack Obama defended the United States' use of drone attacks as an important part of the U.S. counterterrorism policy on Thursday but signed new presidential policy guidelines to spell out for Congress and the public the standards that the U.S. will use before carrying out drone attacks.

Counting US drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:05:59 GMT

President Barack Obama said Thursday that he will engage Congress in exploring a number of options for increased oversight of lethal drone strikes outside of war zones like Afghanistan.

Memorial ceremony set in Maine State House

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:05:24 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage will join Maine military leaders in a Battlefield Cross Memorial Ceremony at the Maine State House.

NH Senate budget panel making spending decisions

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:05:20 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The Senate's budget committee is continuing to work on the chamber's two-year spending plan for New Hampshire with an eye to wrapping up its work early next week.

Mass. bill would honor dream of slain MIT officer

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:04:50 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A bill that would posthumously honor the dream of slain MIT officer Sean Collier to be appointed to the Somerville Police Department is moving quickly through the legislature.

Vt.'s Washington Electric co-op names new manager

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:03:49 GMT

EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's Washington Electric Co-op is getting a new general manager.

Syria govt to take part in peace conference

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:00:18 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's foreign ministry says the Syrian government has agreed to a conference on the country's future proposed by Russia and the United States.

What's a drone? How is US drone policy changing?

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:58:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama defended America's drone attacks as legal, effective and necessary in America's campaign to counter terrorism.

Obama sketches more targeted anti-terror plan

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:55:46 GMT

Out with the global war on terror. In with more narrowly targeted counterterrorism policies that persistently zero in on violent extremists at home and abroad.

Markey, Menino to make campaign announcement

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:47:47 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Ed Markey's campaign says Markey and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino are making a major announcement in the special U.S. Senate election.

IRS replaces official who revealed targeting

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:46:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service official who led the unit that targeted tea party groups and publicly disclosed the activity has been replaced, making her the third top IRS official moved aside since the episode was revealed two weeks ago.

Obama balances threats against Americans' rights

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:41:16 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Forecasting the changing nature of threats against the U.S. for years to come, President Barack Obama says "America is at a crossroads." And so, too, is his presidency's counterterrorism policy, which has long struggled to balance protecting the nation from terror attacks while upholding Americans' rights.

Rangers top Bruins in OT, force Game 5 in Boston

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:31:43 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — During a sluggish first period, a difficult second period, and a tense third period, there were few signs the New York Rangers would be able to hold off the Boston Bruins and extend their season for at least one more game.

2 former sex slaves cancel Japan mayor meeting

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:30:41 GMT

OSAKA, Japan (AP) — Two Korean former sex slaves canceled a planned meeting Friday with an outspoken Japanese mayor who caused an uproar by justifying Japan's wartime practice of forcing tens of thousands of Asian women into prostitution for its military.

Czech police say US suspect in 4 murders arrested

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:30:10 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — Police say an American man suspected of killing a family of four in the Czech Republic has been arrested in the United States.

Hurricane center: Beware of the storm surge

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:24:38 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — During a hurricane, the storm surge poses the greatest threat to life and land, yet many people don't even know what it means.

Turkey passes bill restricting alcohol sales, ads

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:24:12 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's parliament has passed legislation to ban all advertising of alcohol and tighten restrictions on sales in the mainly Muslim but secular country.