New dinosaur species found in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG - A newly discovered dinosaur species that roamed the Earth about 200 million years ago may help explain how the creatures evolved into the largest animals on land, scientists in South Africa said Wednesday.

Report: Gitmo closing bungled

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, military prison by Jan. 22 was followed by a series of mistakes and missteps by his administration that will delay the prison's closure for months, according to a report from a policy organization with close ties to the White House.

Obama said to push for other war options

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing instead for revisions to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, a senior administration official said Wednesday.

Bishops shaping health 'reform'

WASHINGTON - The call came in from Rome, just as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her top lieutenants were scrambling to round up scarce votes to pass their sweeping health overhaul. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, was on the line for Pelosi, calling to discuss adding strict abortion restrictions to the House bill. It was just one element of an intensive lobbying effort orchestrated by the nation's Catholic bishops, who have emerged as a formidable force in the health care negotiations.

Investigation into missed warning signs intensifies

WASHINGTON - As the nation mourned the 13 people shot dead last week at Fort Hood, Texas, finger-pointing in Washington intensified Tuesday about whether officials at several agencies had failed to coordinate as they tracked the suspect's activities or to react to warning signs in the months before the attack.

Iran accuses 3 detained Americans of espionage

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran accused three detained Americans of spying Monday, signaling Tehran intends to put them on trial. It drew a sharp U.S. response that the charges are baseless because the hikers strayed across the border from Iraq.

Abortion dispute may derail health reform

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - America's 40-year argument over abortion has moved to the center of its 100-year debate over health care reform.

The House health care reform package, which passed 220-215 on Saturday, includes tough regulations on insurance coverage for abortions - restrictions added at the last minute to attract enough votes for the measure.