Democrats try to win support from seniors for overhaul without alienating drug companies

WASHINGTON — For the moment, the health care fight is all about older folks.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says talks with Ford continue, fine line to walk

PLYMOUTH, Mich. — United Auto Workers union president Ron Gettelfinger said Thursday that while the group continues to discuss additional contract modifications with Ford Motor Co. both sides are working to maintain a good relationship.

Aid groups warn of humanitarian crisis, unable to reach those fleeing Yemen’s fighting

SAN’A, Yemen — Tens of thousands of Yemenis displaced by warfare between the government and Shiite rebels are stranded around the war zone with aid agencies unable to reach them because of the intensified fighting, U.N. officials and rights activists said.

Legislation keeps government from closing down, aids cash-strapped Postal Service

WASHINGTON — A House-Senate panel on Thursday approved legislation to keep the government from closing down when the new budget year starts next week and employed a $4 billion bookkeeping maneuver to keep the financially troubled Postal Service afloat.

Mass. governor taps Kennedy friend, former DNC chair Paul Kirk for Kennedy’s seat

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick named former Democratic Party chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. to the late Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat Thursday and said the rushed, temporary appointment was necessary because the issues before Congress were “too important to Massachusetts for us to be one voice short.”

Finance Committee Democrats thwart Republicans attempt to stall work on health care overhaul

WASHINGTON — Senators writing a health care overhaul bill have rejected a Republican amendment that could have put the sweeping measure on hold.

Honduran life returns to semblance of normalcy as deposed leader remains trapped at Embassy

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — If it weren’t for the deposed president holed up in the Brazilian embassy, life would be almost back to normal in Honduras on Thursday.

Taiwan High Court rules that former president should remain in detention during appeal

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s High Court has ruled that former President Chen Shui-bian should remain in detention while appealing a lower court’s life imprisonment sentence on wide-ranging corruption charges.

Democratic aides: Mass. governor to tap Kennedy friend, former DNC chair Paul Kirk for Senate

BOSTON — The governor of Massachusetts has picked former Democratic National Committee chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. to temporarily replace the late Edward M. Kennedy in the U.S. Senate, according to Democratic aides briefed on the decision.

UN adopts resolution aimed at ridding world of nuclear weapons

UNITED NATIONS — With President Barack Obama presiding over a historic session, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a U.S.-sponsored resolution Thursday committing all nations to work for a nuclear weapons-free world.

Democratic aide: Mass. governor to tap Kennedy friend, former DNC chair Paul Kirk for Senate

BOSTON — A Democratic aide says Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will name former party chairman Paul Kirk to temporarily fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat.

Dissecting the facts in Michael Moore’s new film ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’

NEW YORK — Despite the title of his new movie, Michael Moore really hates capitalism. He says it’s a scheme for businesses to profit at the expense of the little guy.

Mass. governor to appoint Kennedy successor; ex-Democratic party chair Kirk has family backing

BOSTON — Former Democratic National Committee chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. was the favored pick Thursday as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick prepared to announce a temporary replacement for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

Democrats, Republicans ready fresh challenges to far-reaching health care overhaul bill

WASHINGTON — Tempers are flaring as the Senate Finance Committee starts its third day of exhaustive deliberations on a sweeping overhaul of the health care system.

Rove says Democrats likely to pass some kind of health care bill, but not in current form

LAS VEGAS — Former White House adviser Karl Rove said he thinks a health care reform bill will likely pass soon because of the numbers of Democrats in Congress, but they probably won’t get the bill they have been pushing for.

UN Security Council with Obama presiding to give political boost to nuclear free world

UNITED NATIONS — With an American president presiding for the first time, the U.N. Security Council is opening a summit-level meeting aimed at boosting long-stalled efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

ALL BUSINESS: Dissecting the facts in Michael Moore’s new film ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’

NEW YORK — Despite the title of his new movie, Michael Moore really hates capitalism. He says it’s a scheme for businesses to profit at the expense of the little guy.

Mass. governor to declare ‘emergency’ so he can immediately appoint interim Kennedy successor

BOSTON — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says he will declare an emergency to allow him to immediately appoint an interim successor to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Mass. Legislature approves bill creating temporary replacement for Kennedy in US Senate

BOSTON — Massachusetts lawmakers fulfilled Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s dying wish Wednesday, granting the governor the power to appoint an interim replacement for him so President Barack Obama can regain a critical 60th U.S. Senate vote he needs to pass a health care overhaul this year.

Obama’s pick of trucking lobbyist to head safety agency that regulates the industry draws fire

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s nomination of a trucking industry lobbyist to head the agency that regulates the industry drew fire Wednesday from senators and safety advocates.

Northern Idaho human rights activist finds noose on front porch of Spokane home

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — The education director of a Human Rights Education Institute in Idaho said someone left a noose on the porch of her home in an apparent threat against the black family.

Watchdog group seeks Justice Department probe into sale of drug store by Ark. Rep. Mike Ross

PRESCOTT, Ark. — A watchdog group asked the Justice Department on Wednesday to look into the 2007 sale of a drug store owned by a congressman who is a key figure in the national health care debate after reports he may have profited excessively from the sale.

Mass. Legislature approves bill creating temporary replacement for Kennedy

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Legislature on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill allowing the governor to replace the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy temporarily, moving a step closer to restoring a critical 60th U.S. Senate vote President Barack Obama needs to pass his health care overhaul this year.

Judge mulling whether Islamic charity’s lawsuit alleging illegal gov’t wiretapping can proceed

SAN FRANCISCO — The Obama administration on Wednesday kept up its fight to toss out a lawsuit alleging illegal wiretapping, arguing that moving forward with the case would jeopardize national security.

University of Illinois president at center of admissions scandal submits letter of resignation

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — University of Illinois President B. Joseph White resigned Wednesday following reports that the school admitted politically connected applicants over more qualified ones at its Urbana-Champaign campus.

House, lacking long-term solutions, votes short-term extension for FAA programs

WASHINGTON — With Congress distracted by health care and disagreeing over transportation policy, the House was forced Wednesday to take emergency steps to keep key air and highway programs going through the end of the year.

Democrats try wooing seniors to health care drive, press AARP to step up its sales pitch

WASHINGTON — The White House and Democrats are laboring to attract skeptical seniors to their drive to reshape the nation’s health care system, leading some to press the behemoth but reluctant AARP to be more aggressive about backing them.

America is armed but gun owners have trouble finding ammunition with sharp demand for bullets

NEW ORLEANS — Bullet-makers are working around the clock, seven days a week, and still can’t keep up with the nation’s demand for ammunition.

Biden reassures seniors: ‘Nobody is going to mess with your benefits’

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Vice President Joe Biden sought to reassure nervous seniors Wednesday that they won’t see cuts in their Medicare benefits if the nation’s health care system is revamped.

Democrats and Republicans spar over health care bill’s effect on seniors

WASHINGTON — Sweeping health care legislation cleared its first hurdles in the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday as Democrats turned back a series of proposed changes by Republicans who attacked it as a threat to Medicare.