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This was has been the first of Salim Hamdan's trial at Guantanamo Bay. The prosecution has presented Osama bin Laden's driver as an insider in the al-Qaida leader's inner circle. The defense, however, has portrayed Hamdan as a poorly paid employee.

Five months after a new democratically elected government swept into power, Pakistan is facing a deep crisis and widespread criticism that nobody seems to be doing anything about the problems.

It's a good time for U.S. companies that have an international reach. McDonald's, 3M and Amazon – all of which sell products overseas – are doing well this year in spite of the troubled economic situation at home, thanks in part to the depreciated dollar.

Sen. Barack Obama drew a crowd of more than 200,000 people for a speech in Berlin. The Democratic presidential hopeful called on the U.S. and Europe to mend frayed ties and called for efforts at "shared security" in Afghanistan.

Sen. John McCain recently floated the idea of instituting a "Yankee" version of the prime minister's questions period in Britain. During these sessions, the prime minister is bombarded by questions on a range of subjects from members of Parliament. Does the presidential hopeful realize what he might be getting into?

Home foreclosure filings more than doubled in the second quarter of 2008 from a year ago, according to real estate data released Friday by RealtyTrac Inc. Nationwide, 739,714 households — one in every 171 — received at least one foreclosure-related notice from April to June.

In the latest political podcast, NPR Senior Washington Editor Rob Elving and Political Editor Ken Rudin discuss Obama's trip overseas and McCain's focus on domestic issues.

A much-debated merger deal between the nation's only two satellite radio companies — XM and Sirius — is on the verge of completion.

U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes, back from a visit to Myanmar, says rebuilding efforts are under way after May's deadly cyclone. But Holmes says relief and recovery operations still have a long way to go.

Britain's ruling Labour Party has lost a parliamentary seat in Glasgow East, a traditional Labour stronghold in Scotland. The defeat has fueled talk that Prime Minister Gordon Brown could be ousted.

Democratic and Republican bloggers have joined forces to punish members of Congress who voted for a revised government surveillance bill backed by the White House. One independent online group raised roughly $350,000 to spend on anti-FISA TV and radio ads.

Utah's Crandall Canyon mine — site of a deadly August 2007 collapse — was "destined to fail," federal investigators say. The Mine Health and Safety Administration says major engineering deficiencies led to the disaster — and that regulators were not told the mine was unstable.

A group of convicted felons is suing Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, demanding prompt action on pardon requests. Critics say the state takes too long to give applicants a yes or no decision.

Jessica Hardy, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic swim team in two events, has tested positive for a stimulant and could be barred from competing in Beijing. Hardy's lawyer says she denies that she "cheated."

The Bush administration is considering shifting more than $200 million intended for counterterrorism to help Pakistan make improvements to its fleet of F-16 jets. Congressional critics question claims that enhanced F-16s will be useful in the fight against terrorists.

Pressure to send more troops into Afghanistan presents military planners with a logistical challenge. Factor in training and recovery time — and a "surge" in Afghanistan isn't likely until the spring of 2009.

Taliban militants are gaining strength and power around the northern Pakistan city of Peshawar. As the group expands its control, it is having a direct impact on U.S. and NATO military operations in Afghanistan.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's speech in Berlin Thursday dealt with road foreign policy issues. But the address was more to convince American voters of his foreign policy credentials than to impress foreign leaders.

Sen. Barack Obama delivered a speech in Berlin on Wednesday, calling for greater cooperation between Europe and the United States in fighting terrorism. The speech was billed by his campaign as a centerpiece of his trip abroad.

Radovan Karadzic's arrest on war crimes charges was met with a burst of celebration in the streets of Sarajevo, which suffered a brutal siege at the hands of Bosnian Serb militias loyal to Karadzic during the Bosnian war. But many citizens of Sarajevo are bitter that he was able to live on the lam for 13 years.

Both John McCain and Barack Obama support nuclear disarmament of Russia. McCain, however, wants to go one step further, kicking Russia out of the G-8.

The presidential hopeful addressed an expansive crowd Thursday near the site where the Berlin Wall once stood, calling on the U.S. and Europe to build new bridges of partnership. "The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand," Obama said, alluding to often strained relations between Europe and the U.S. under President Bush.

After posting an $8.7 billion loss for the second quarter on Thursday, Ford announces plans to switch manufacturing operations at three North American plants from trucks to small cars. The auto industry has seen a dramatic decline in truck and SUV sales in recent months as consumers react to high gas prices.

Coke is a big business all around the world. But in Africa, the soda is so pervasive that it acts like a key indicator of political stability. In other words, if you can't get a Coke somewhere, you might want to get out of the country — fast. We examine this unusual political indicator.

A special election Thursday in Scotland will be a crucial test for U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The parliamentary seat of Glasgow East is in a traditional stronghold of the ruling Labour Party. But polls are forecasting a defeat for Labour, which could force the unpopular Brown to step down.

Barack Obama is in Germany, where he will meet German leader Angela Merkel. The likely Democratic presidential nominee will also give the only public speech of his weeklong foreign tour, at a Berlin park. On Friday, he'll visit France. Journalists Stefan Kornelius in Germany and Jean Lesieur in France talk about Obama's expected reception in Europe.

Even in the midst of the worst housing slump in decades, some people are out there getting mortgages and buying homes. But they're paying more for mortgages these days, and borrowers with shaky credit won't find it easy to get a loan.

Congress has put the far-reaching housing bill on a fast track to the president. The House passed the measure Wednesday, and it goes to the Senate this week. It would help homeowners facing foreclosure, and put in place a rescue plan for troubled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

A legendary French winery is purchasing a famous winemaker in California. The deal comes decades after the same California winery beat French wines in a blind taste test. Vic Motto, a wine industry investment banker, says it's "a very important merger of two great wine estates."

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has joined forces with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to fight tobacco use in developing countries. Gates donated $125 million to a tobacco-control initiative that Bloomberg launched in 2002.

Just a few years ago in Spain, bullfighting appeared to be on its way out. Many people, especially younger Spaniards, were telling pollsters that they just weren't interested. But the sport is regaining cachet — largely thanks to a new breed of bullfighters.

As the Olympics approach, a poll finds the vast majority of Chinese are satisfied with their country's direction. The Pew Research Center conducted face-to-face interviews with more than 3,000 Chinese. But China's stunning economic growth is also raising concerns about rising prices and the income gap.

The first Guantanamo Bay war crimes trial has started. A military jury viewed a video of the defendant Salim Hamdan, Osama bin Laden's former driver, kneeling before a masked U.S. soldier, denying that he worked for al-Qaida. The videotape was recorded in Afghanistan shortly after Hamdan's capture in November 2001.

The Bush administration is now talking to governments it once shunned. The secretary of state met with the North Korean foreign minister this week; the undersecretary participated in talks with Iran's nuclear negotiator last weekend. The new approach has angered critics, but it doesn't extend to all "problem countries."

After 15 years, Congress is reconsidering its "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military. Figures show about 12,000 service members have been discharged because of their sexual orientation. And recent polls show 75 percent of Americans think people who are openly gay should be allowed to serve.

For years, the chief punishment for immigrants caught working illegally in the United States was deportation. Now they can face criminal charges such as identity theft, which can bring a hefty prison sentence. Immigrant rights groups and some members of Congress are challenging the practice.

After he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Jeff Rubin of Philadelphia went bankrupt paying for his medical bills. Would that happen in England? Both the U.S. and the U.K. ration health care. A look at patient experiences on either side of the Atlantic.

Where do you look among federal agencies for smart thinking about renewable energy and alternative fuels? The U.S. Postal Service. Every 1-cent increase in the price of gasoline costs it an extra $8 million. That brings a keen motivation to innovate.

Barack Obama has met with top Israeli and Palestinian officials. His basic message has been that he is a friend of Israel who is committed to the special relationship between the two countries. He also said he would use "big sticks and big carrots" with Iran.