Senate GOP leader declines chance to support embattled Nevada senator amid ethics questions

WASHINGTON — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell passed on several opportunities to defend two embattled GOP senators Friday as a new report raised questions about Sen. John Ensign’s efforts to cover up his affair with a campaign aide.

Amid criticism of Democrats, Republicans gamble by not offering their own health care plan

WASHINGTON — Even as Republicans pummel President Barack Obama’s health care proposals, some GOP leaders worry their party is being hurt by a Democratic counterattack: Where is your plan?

Obama uses personal hopes to boost Chicago’s Olympics bid in Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN — President Barack Obama says the United States is “ready and eager” to host the 2016 Olympics in his adoptive hometown of Chicago.

Myanmar court rejects pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi’s appeal of latest house arrest

YANGON, Myanmar — A Myanmar court rejected an appeal Friday by democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her release from house arrest, another reminder that the country’s military junta treads warily when considering concessions to the opposition or improving relations with the West.

Obama hopes to put Chicago’s Olympics bid over the top with personal pitch in Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN — In a quick dash of salesmanship, President Barack Obama is in the Danish capital, putting his personal powers of persuasion on the line to boost Chicago’s Olympics bid.

Myanmar court rejects pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi’s appeal against latest house arrest

YANGON, Myanmar — A court in military-ruled Myanmar turned aside opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s latest bid for freedom Friday, rejecting an appeal against her most recent sentence of house arrest, government sources said.

Hundreds leave Fla. megachurch prominent in religious right to form new congregation

MIAMI — Hundreds of congregants have left a pioneering megachurch in Florida to form their own congregation because they were unhappy with leadership at the church that’s seen as a bedrock of the religious right.

Ohio panel rules against congressional challenger for statements against congresswoman

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Armenian-American congressional challenger made false campaign statements with reckless disregard for the truth when he said an Ohio congresswoman took money from the Turkish government and Turkish government-sponsored interests, the Ohio Elections Commission found Thursday.

Montana files lawsuit seeking freedom from federal gun control on merchandise made in state

HELENA, Mont. — If Montana has its way in a lawsuit filed Thursday, there will be far less federal gun control in the state.

Health overhaul just a step away from Senate floor, Dems ease impact on working-class families

WASHINGTON — Capping months of struggle, Democrats pushed health care legislation atop President Barack Obama’s agenda to the brink of a major Senate advance early Friday after last-minute changes to ease the impact on working-class families. The most far-reaching overhaul in decades aims to protect millions who have unreliable insurance coverage or none at all.

Officials say extra ATF agents in Houston helped disrupt gun trafficking from US to Mexico

HOUSTON — A four-month effort to stop the flow of firearms from the U.S. to Mexican drug cartels has helped law enforcement disrupt various gun trafficking rings and gain a better understanding of how these groups try to avoid detection, officials announced Thursday.

Finance Committee senators agree to let states negotiate health plans for the poor

WASHINGTON — Senators trying to make health care more affordable want to let state governments negotiate basic coverage plans for some lower-income people.

Democrats turn back GOP health bill tax amendments as Sen. aims to finish debate by nightfall

WASHINGTON — Rejecting Republican amendments, Democrats turned back GOP efforts to cast the health care overhaul as a tax hike on the middle class Thursday, as a crucial Senate panel aimed to wrap up debate on the measure by nightfall.

Pelosi hedges on calls for Democratic apology, but cautions against inflammatory rhetoric

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says anyone using harsh rhetoric to raise fears about health care reform should apologize and get on with writing policy, but said there’s no reason to single out a Florida Democrat who said Republicans want sick Americans to “die quickly.”

Obama tells Democratic governors economic turnaround not around corner

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he is committed to helping keep Democrats in governors’ offices across the country and move their states forward, starting with changes to the health care system.

Democrats turn back GOP health bill tax amendments as Baucus aims to finish panl work Thursday

WASHINGTON — Rejecting Republican amendments, Democrats turned back GOP efforts to cast the health care overhaul as a tax hike on the middle class Thursday, as a crucial Senate panel aimed to wrap up debate on the measure by nightfall.

Maine ethics commission approves probe of anti-gay marriage fundraising

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s campaign oversight board overruled a staff recommendation Thursday and authorized an investigation into fundraising by groups supporting the campaign to repeal the state’s gay marriage law in a Nov. 3 referendum.

House Speaker Pelosi says apologies a must for harsh rhetoric, no matter the offending party

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says anyone using harsh rhetoric to raise fears about health care reform should apologize and get on with writing policy, but said there’s no reason to single out a Florida Democrat who said Republicans want sick Americans to “die quickly.”

Baucus says has ‘high hopes’ of finishing work on health bill Thursday; final vote next week

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said Thursday he wanted to complete work on a sweeping health care bill by nightfall, opening the way for Democratic leaders to bring the historic legislation to the floors of both the House and Senate as early as mid-October.

Health care issues: How to pay doctors under Medicare

A look at key issues in the health care debate:

International Monetary Fund says tight credit for consumers, businesses to hinder US recovery

ISTANBUL, Turkey — The U.S economy will be growing again by year end, but tight credit conditions for consumers and businesses will hamper the recovery, the International Monetary Fund said Thursday as it raised its forecast for growth next year to 1.5 percent from 0.8 percent.

Zimbabwe human rights activists sue state for $500 million after terror charges dropped

HARARE, Zimbabwe — A prominent Zimbabwean human rights activist and eight others are suing the government for $500 million after terror charges against them were dropped because they had been beaten and tortured, their lawyer said Thursday.

Israel hires lawyers to try to block attempts to prosecute it abroad over war crimes claims

JERUSALEM — The Israeli government and military have retained high-powered international lawyers and set up a joint task force to fend off attempts by Palestinians and their supporters to try Israeli officials on war crimes charges abroad.

Democrats eye mid-October launch for health care debate in the full House and Senate

WASHINGTON — Historic health care legislation could be on the floor of both houses of Congress as early as mid-October as Democrats work to answer President Barack Obama’s call for greater protections for those who have unreliable insurance or no coverage at all.

Supreme Court looking at gun control by cities, states; could bring changes in legal limits

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court could ignite a vigorous new fight over state and local gun controls across the nation when it rules on a challenge to Chicago’s handgun ban.

Kidnap victim’s dad says Mexico should fight other crime as aggressively as drug trafficking

MEXICO CITY — A former Mexican sports commissioner whose daughter was killed by her abductors criticized the government Wednesday for failing to combat crimes like kidnapping as aggressively as it fights drug trafficking.

SC Gov. Sanford’s lawyers ask court to keep ethics probe findings confidential during inquiry

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lawyers representing South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford in an ethics investigation are asking the state Supreme Court to keep the report out of the hands of a Legislature expected to consider impeaching him.

A look at the health care bill taking shape in the Senate Finance Committee

The Senate Finance Committee pushed ahead Wednesday on a comprehensive health care bill. The panel hopes to finish the legislation by week’s end. It then will be combined with a bill approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee this past summer. Some highlights:

Advocacy groups say FBI guidelines show agency could be spying on innocent Americans

WASHINGTON — Civil liberties and Muslim groups say domestic surveillance guidelines recently revealed by the FBI show the agency could be spying on Americans who are not involved in crime or terrorism.

Peruvian ex-President Fujimori sentenced for bribes, wiretaps to 6 years, fined $9 million

LIMA, Peru — A court imposed a six-year prison sentence Wednesday on disgraced ex-President Alberto Fujimori, who already faced the prospect of spending the rest of his life in a cell after three previous convictions. He also was fined $9 million for authorizing wiretaps and bribes.