Justice Ministry spokeswoman Katharina Jahntz on Saturday confirmed a report in Der Spiegel that a German observer would attend the trial to ensure that no evidence provided by Germany would be used to apply the death penalty.

Citing progress on a trip that took him from Tokyo to Seoul, President Obama noted that "Asia is a region where we now buy more goods and do more trade with than any other place in the world -- commerce

Saturday's vote will determine whether debate can go forward on Majority Leader Harry Reid's 2,074-page bill to dramatically remake the U.S. health care system over the next decade.

NATO secretary general is expected to announce new troops shortly after Obama unveils his plan, officials say.

Republicans are using this week's recommendations for fewer Pap smears and mammograms to make their case that the health care overhaul amounts to government-rationed health care.

The Army has reversed its position and will open Sarah Palin's appearance on the base to media.

Sen. Carl Levin says there may be additional e-mails that oculd have tipped off officials to the Fort Hood shooter before he went on his deadly rampage.

A billboard at a suburban Denver used car dealership depicts a cartoonish President Obama wearing a turban.

The news is the latest blow to a scandal-plagued group whose public image has taken a beating in recent weeks after some of its employees were caught on video trying to help a couple posing as a prostitute and pimp

Prosecutors intend to drop charges against one Blackwater security guard involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting which killed 17 Iraqis.

According to court filings, a retired State Department worker and his wife are prepared to plead guilty of spying for Cuba.

President Obama's political arm, Organizing for America, has sent a fundraising e-mail seeking to raise $500,000 in the next week to stop a "dangerous" Palin from derailing the Democrats' effort to overhaul health care.

More Americans continue to oppose health care reform legislation than support it, and half favor banning the use of federal funds for abortions.

Nearly equal numbers of Americans are more afraid of the side effects from the H1N1 flu vaccine as are afraid of getting the virus itself, as concern over the vaccine's safety may prevent many at-risk Americans from getting vaccinated.

Americans are divided on whether the murders in Fort Hood, Tex., were an "act of terrorism" or a "killing spree" -- but nearly half say political correctness fellow soldiers of gunman Nidal Malik Hasan silent before the attack.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri is seeking to pass a resolution that would officially make the day before Thanksgiving "Complaint Free Wednesday."

Democratic leaders and the White House are pressing Sens. Landrieu of Louisiana and Lincoln of Arkansas to vote Saturday to move the reform bill to floor debate

Overall, 28 states added jobs in October. That's up from only seven in September and eight in August. It's also the largest number to record increases since 33 states did so in February 2008, according to the Economic Policy Institute,

The U.S. Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished a Democratic senator for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama.

South Carolina lawmakers plan to formally consider the possible impeachment of Gov. Mark Sanford for the first time next week.