Call it the "Rodney Dangerfield Recovery." It gets no respect from any quarter.

Republicans pound away at its weakness, Democrats lament it, the media chronicles its troubles, investors fret about it, and many average citizens question whether it even exists.

Polls show many people believe the economy is still in ...

John A. Boehner could walk down most American streets without turning a head.

But the perpetually tanned, chain-smoking Ohioan might be the next House speaker and a huge force in national politics, trying to manage an increasingly libertarian-leaning Republican caucus while leading the opposition to President Obama's policies.

For those ...

Two key Senate Republicans said Sunday that their party must do more to earn voters' trust in the midst of growing public discontent with Democrats or risk being viewed as merely the "lesser of two evils" in November's midterm elections.

But the Democrats' national leader said his party has nothing ...

NEW YORK | American Muslims are boosting security at mosques, seeking help from leaders of other faiths and airing ads underscoring their loyalty to the United States — all ahead of a 9/11 anniversary they fear could bring more trouble for their communities.

Their goal is not only to protect ...

An Arizona court has ruled that an order of protection against Minuteman co-founder Chris Simcox sought by his estranged wife as part of a messy divorce case be continued "in full force," saying evidence shows that he committed an act of violence.

The petition, sought by Alena Simcox, alleges that ...

BAGHDAD (AP) — Days after the United States officially ended combat operations and touted Iraq's ability to defend itself, American troops found themselves battling heavily armed militants assaulting an Iraqi military headquarters in the center of Baghdad on Sunday. The fighting killed 12 people and wounded dozens.

It was the first exchange of ...

KABUL, Afghanistan | The Taliban vowed Sunday to attack polling places in Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, warning Afghans not to participate in what it called a sham vote.

Meanwhile, two coalition troops, one British and one from the Republic of Georgia, were killed in fighting in the turbulent south, while ...

RAMALLAH, West Bank | Just days after Mideast peace talks began in Washington, the first major crisis already is looming: Israel hinted Sunday it will ease restrictions on building in West Bank settlements, while the Palestinian president warned he'll quit the talks if Israel resumes construction.

Israel's 10-month-old slowdown on ...

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Japan's ship of state has sailed into the perfect storm.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan's leadership battle set for Sept. 15 will only contribute to the miasma. Whether Prime Minister Naoto Kan hangs on or challenger Ichiro Ozawa ousts him, neither has demonstrated a talent for attacking the ...

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Mission accomplished. Two words. A phrase that haunted one president is now the calling card of success for another.

While President Obama technically claimed no victory in his national Oval Office address last week, the subtext was clear — in this election-charged season, your president has delivered on a ...

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican raised the possibility Sunday of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to save the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery.

In its first public statement on the case, which has attracted worldwide attention, the Vatican decried stoning as a particularly ...

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — Motivated by the deaths of two friends in war-zone explosions, 1st Lt. Timothy Dwyer decided to become a bomb hunter.

By joining an explosive ordnance disposal unit, Lt. Dwyer put himself at a high risk not just of being killed, but of falling victim to ...

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — Motivated by the deaths of two friends in war-zone explosions, 1st Lt. Timothy Dwyer decided to become a bomb hunter.

By joining an explosive ordnance disposal unit, Lt. Dwyer put himself at a high risk not just of being killed, but of falling victim to ...

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he has regrets over his role in the Iraq war, but he stopped short of saying what he would have done differently and offered no apology.

"You would be inhuman if you didn't regret the death of so many extraordinary, brave and committed ...

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Survivors who swam to safety after their overcrowded boat capsized over the weekend said nearby fishermen refused to help drowning passengers in the dark of night, instead looting the goods aboard the burning vessel and beating people with oars.

At least 200 people are feared dead in the ...

GUATEMALA CITY — Torrential rains from a tropical depression caused landslides that have killed at least 38 people in Guatemala — some of them rescuers trying to save people already buried under a wall of mud.

In the village of Nahuala, about 200 rescue workers searched through mud and rocks for ...

MIAMI (AP) — The father of Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio has died after a long illness. He was 83.

Mr. Rubio's campaign announced Saturday night that Mario Rubio died at Baptist Hospital in Miami after suffering from emphysema and lung cancer.

The campaign announcement said Mario Rubio was surrounded ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, could walk down most American streets without turning a head.

But the perpetually tanned, chain-smoking Mr. Boehner might be the next House speaker and a huge force in national politics, trying to manage an increasingly libertarian-leaning Republican caucus while leading the ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking ways to spur economic growth ahead of the November elections, President Obama will ask Congress to increase and permanently extend research and development tax credits for businesses, a White House official said Sunday.

Mr. Obama will outline the $100 billion proposal during a speech on the ...

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan's largest bank remained solvent Sunday after a nearly weeklong run on the troubled institution, according to the governor of the nation's central bank, which is being criticized for looking the other way at the bank's mismanagement problems for too long.

Nervous depositors continued to make withdrawals, but Central Bank Governor Abdul Qadir ...