· White House Defends Obama Budget
As administration prepares to release blueprint, ranking official already defends it from Republican attack
· Music Industry Pays Tribute to Whitney Houston
Houston's death comes on the eve of Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, where she had gathered with hundreds of artists for Sunday's program
· Fans Mourn Singer Whitney Houston
Grammy winner died Saturday at the age of 48
· Singer Whitney Houston Dead at 48
The cause of her death is unknown
· Romney Wins Maine Caucuses, Tops CPAC Straw Vote
Republican presidential contenders face primaries later this month in Arizona and Michigan
· White House: US Deficit To Rise, Then Fall
President Obama will unveil his budget plan Monday
· Russia Calls for Suspension of Adoptions to US Parents
Foreign Ministry cited what it described as series of crimes committed against adoptive children from Russia by US parent
· US Lawmakers Approve Pentagon Request to Improve Bunker-Buster Bomb
Massive bomb is designed to penetrate deeply-buried enemy facilities
· CIA Website Briefly Knocked Offline, Hackers Claim Credit
Anonymous-linked hackers also claim to have attacked sites associated with Mexico's mining ministry, state of Alabama
· US Defense Focus on Asia Forces New Thinking in Europe
President's new defense strategy calls for removing two of four US Army combat brigades based in Europe
· Obama Urges Congress to Pass Payroll Tax Cut
US president says allowing tax increase would represent self-inflicted wounds to economic recovery
· Obama, Chinese Vice President to Meet at White House
Talks come amid major challenges in US-China relationship
· Obama Offers Birth Control Compromise
US president tries to appease both Roman Catholics and women’s groups
· US Trade Deficit Grows
Trade gap with China hit a record-high of nearly $296 billion
· Republican Presidential Contenders Woo Conservatives
Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich appear at annual Conservative Political Action Conference
· US Officials Outline Broad Agenda for Xi Jinping Visit
Week will highlight cooperative, competitive relationship, while dealing with key differences over trade and human rights
· Deal Reached in Massive US Foreclosure Case
Obama says $25 billion deal with banks is 'major step' toward reviving troubled housing market, turns page on era of 'recklessness'
· Milky Way Black Hole Consumes Asteroids Daily
Stripping them away from their parent stars, it has devoured trillions of asteroids during its 10-billion-year life span
· American Helps Return Trafficked Nepalese Children to Their Families
Next Generation Nepal reunites 300 kids with their relatives
· Possible Guantanamo Detainee Transfer Questioned
Congressional report says US cannot ensure that former detainees at military prison will not become involved in insurgent activities
· Unexpected Santorum Wins Upend US Republican Presidential Race
Romney's front-runner status in question as former Massachusetts governor campaigns in 'Super State' Georgia
· After 100 Years, Girl Scouts Still Thrive in US
50 million American women were members of Girl Scouts, an organization that began 100 years ago in US
· Egyptian Charges Against US Groups Deepen Rift with Washington
Americans accused of helping specific political parties and candidates in Egypt's political transition
· Biden Meets Chinese Human Rights Activists
US vice president has met with activists about what White House calls a 'deterioration' in China’s human rights situation
· Human Rights Activist Describes White House Meeting on China
Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, calls roughly 45 minute meeting with VP Biden a 'candid and productive exchange'
· US Approves First New Nuclear Plants in Decades
Energy producer Southern Company to build two new reactors at its Vogtle plant in Georgia
· US Defends Progress in Afghanistan
Officials make remarks after a US officer publicly countered U.S. assertions of success
· Biden, Xi Discuss Upcoming US Visit
Widely regarded as China's next president in 2013, Xi and Obama likely to discuss trade, security issues, Iran, Syria
· Obama Hosts Top Teenage Scientists
At White House Science Fair president announces new steps to boost country’s output of leading scientists
· Obama Campaign Returning Funds Linked to Mexican Fugitive
Donations of about $200,000 made by Chicago brothers of casino owner wanted for fraud, drug charges to be given back