Officials eye North Korea as origin of cyber attack that showed US agencies unevenly prepared

WASHINGTON — U.S. authorities on Wednesday eyed North Korea as the origin of the widespread cyber attack that overwhelmed government Web sites in the United States and South Korea, although they warned it would be difficult to definitively identify the attackers quickly.

House ponders more food stamp money while Senate approves increases for financial regulators

WASHINGTON — The House took up a bill on Wednesday that funds a 14 percent increase for food stamps as more people become eligible for the program because of rising unemployment.

White House threatens to veto bill expanding congressional notification of covert activities

WASHINGTON — The White House is threatening to veto a bill that would require the president to dramatically increase the number of lawmakers who must be notified about covert CIA activities.

Partisan differences plague health care bill in Senate, raise doubts about timetable

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats edged away Wednesday from their goal of passing ambitious health care legislation by early August amid heightening partisan controversy over tax increases and a proposed new government role in providing insurance to consumers.

Obama, G-8 leaders agree on 2-degree Celsius target on global warming

L’AQUILA, Italy — President Barack Obama joined other leaders of the industrialized world Wednesday in backing new targets for battling global warming. But the wealthy nations were unable to persuade leaders of developing countries to commit to reductions of their own, and their cooperation is critical to avoiding the worst effects of climate change.

G8 says goal is to limit increase in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius

L’AQUILA, Italy — President Barack Obama and other leaders at the Group of Eight summit have struck a new agreement on fighting global warming.

G-8 leaders focus on need for stimulus, say “significant risks” remain for world economy

L’AQUILA, Italy — World leaders agreed Wednesday that the global economy remains too shaky to begin rolling back massive stimulus measures right now. They also set a key goal in the fight against global warming, saying temperatures shouldn’t increase more than 2 degrees Celsius.

Draft: G-8 leaders to push for a balanced and ambitious conclusion to the Doha round

L’AQUILA, Rome — World leaders will call for a “balanced, comprehensive and ambitious conclusion” to the Doha round of trade talks as they pledge to help developing countries through the economic crisis.

White House, hospitals reach deal to help pay for Obama’s overhaul of health care

WASHINGTON — The nation’s hospitals will give up $155 billion in future Medicare and Medicaid payments to help defray the cost of President Barack Obama’s health care plan, a concession the White House hopes will boost an overhaul effort that’s hit a roadblock in Congress.

International cyber attack broader than suspected; White House, Pentagon among targets

WASHINGTON — The powerful attack that overwhelmed computers at U.S. and South Korean government agencies for days was even broader than initially realized, also targeting the White House, the Pentagon and the New York Stock Exchange.

Democratic Party strategist working on campaign of Afghan President Karzai’s rival

KABUL — A Democratic Party strategist who helped Bill Clinton get into the White House is now assisting a former Afghan finance minister in his campaign to unseat President Hamid Karzai in upcoming elections.

Biden announces White House deal with hospitals to help pay for Obama’s health care overhaul

WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden has announced a White House deal with the hospitals to help pay for President Barack Obama’s overhaul of health care.

G8 working on goal of limiting global temperature rise, White House stance unclear

L’AQUILA, Italy — The Group of Eight industrialized economies and other nations were working Wednesday to commit to a goal of keeping the world’s average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in a bid to contain global warming.

Draft: G-8 leaders says economic situation remains uncertain, stimulus still needed

L’AQUILA, Italy — Group of Eight leaders are emphasizing the need to press on with government measures to stimulate the economy — while also studying ways to wind up those strategies.

G-8 leaders look for climate change agreement, seek to coordinate stimulus exit strategies

Texas warehouse is current home to archives of George W. Bush’s 2 presidential terms

LEWISVILLE, Texas — Spread upon a table are a sampling of gifts to former President George W. Bush: a purse made of vines from the Thai queen, a Texas Rangers jersey autographed by pitcher Nolan Ryan and a framed mosaic of St. Peter’s Basilica from the pope.

G8 Summit 2009 Day-I Roundup

ROME — President Barack Obama joined fellow world leaders Wednesday for three days of intense talks on threats to global security and stability at a G-8 summit where climate change, the continuing global economy crisis and world hunger got top billing.

White House: Too soon for nations to end economic stimulus efforts

L’AQUILA, Italy — The White House says it’s not quite time for industrialized nations to pull the plug on economic stimulus efforts.

Complex issues swamp lawmakers as White House seeks to regain momentum on health care

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is struggling to show progress in a race against the clock to revamp the nation’s health care system this year.

Traffic congestion dips in many metros as Americans alter driving habits in economic downturn

WASHINGTON — Drivers are spending less time stuck in rush-hour traffic for a second straight year, the first-ever two-year decline in congestion as high gas prices and the economic downturn force many Americans to change how they commute.

Obama confers with world leaders on economy, climate, trade, more in Italy

ROME — President Barack Obama is embarking on three days of multinational talks about climate change, the global economy and world hunger in the second and most policy-laden stop of his three-nation, weeklong trip.

In Italy, Obama confers with world leaders on economy, climate, trade, more

L’AQUILA, Italy — President Barack Obama joined fellow world leaders in Italy Wednesday for talks on threats to global security and stability at a summit where climate change, a continuing global economic crisis, nuclear proliferation and world hunger took top billing.

In Senate, effort to craft bipartisan health care bill suffers a setback over proposed tax

WASHINGTON — Attempts to draft bipartisan health care legislation in the Senate have suffered a significant setback, with Democratic leaders objecting to a proposed tax on high-cost health benefits.

Michael Jackson _ White House guest now in the culture wars

NEW YORK — Michael Jackson was once so safe that presidents from both parties welcomed him to the White House. In death, after a scandal-filled decline, he is the latest target in the cultural war.

White House and Democratic leaders seek momentum for health care overhaul

WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic leaders rebelled Tuesday against a proposed tax on health insurance benefits, raising fresh doubts about the prospects for bipartisan legislation on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

Summit bottom line: Obama takes away arms deal, hopes he’s started thawing relations

MOSCOW — For two days, President Barack Obama pressed the reset button with Russia.

Lawmaker says polling shows strong public opposition to tax on health benefits

WASHINGTON — A key lawmaker says senators at work on health care legislation are having second thoughts about imposing a tax on high-end insurance coverage that workers receive on the job.

Obama asks Russian partnership with US but sees no ‘meeting of minds’ on thorny disagreements

MOSCOW — Working to turn Russia from antagonist to ally, President Barack Obama asked the Russian people Tuesday to “forge a lasting partnership” with the U.S., but he acknowledged after talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that on divisive issues there won’t be “a meeting of the minds anytime soon.”

President Obama’s speech on US-Russia relations

Text of President Barack Obama’s speech Tuesday at the New Economic School graduation in Moscow, as provided by the White House:

Honduras protesters vow to escalate fight as Zelaya goes to Washington for talks with Clinton

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Diplomatic efforts to restore Manuel Zelaya to Honduras’ presidency shifted back to Washington on Tuesday, as supporters of the ousted leader threatened to escalate protests across the poor Central American nation.