US: South China Sea tribunal ruling presents choice for Asia

An international tribunal ruling next week on a challenge to China's expansive claims in the South China Sea could determine whether the region is ruled by law or "raw calculations of power," US officials said Thursday. But the officials testifying at a congressional hearing declined to say whether any move by China to militarize more disputed land features would prompt a US military response.

U.S. gives tentative OK to flights to Cuba from 10 US cities

A “quinceanera” poses during a March 14 photo session in front of a cathedral as tourists line up to enter the building in Havana. Scheduled commercial airline service to Havana from 10 American cities won tentative government approval Thursday, advancing President Barack Obama's effort to normalize relations with Cuba.

Brash Trump courts, jabs, anxious Republicans

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, talks with reporters after a meeting Thursday with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and the Senate Republican Conference at the National Republican Senatorial Committee headquarters in Washington. WASHINGTON – A defiant Donald Trump made it clear he won't change his brash tone or message as he courted anxious Republican lawmakers Thursday, blaming the media for stumbles that continue to alarm GOP leaders and energize Democrats with voting less than 3 months away.

The Latest: Christie to campaign with Trump in Florida

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will be joining Donald Trump on the campaign trail Friday - the latest prospective running mate Trump is bringing on tour. Christie, who won 51 percent of the Hispanic vote when he ran for re-election in 2013, will be along for the ride.

Sen. Scott proposes revoking Hillary Clintona s security clearance

House Benghazi Committee Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., center, whose investigation led to the revelation of Hillary Clinton's private email server while secretary of state, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, July 7, 2016, to question FBI Director James Comey, who was to testify before the House Oversight Committee to explain his agency's recommendation to not prosecute Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her private email setup as secretary of state.

Donald Trump Clashes With Arizona GOP Senator in Closed-Door Meeting

The spat, first reported by the Washington Post, began when Trump remarked that Flake had been critical of him in the past. "Yes, I'm the other senator from Arizona - the one that wasn't captured - and I want to talk to you about statements like that," Flake told Trump in the closed-door meeting, the senator confirmed to ABC News.

Kirk was only Republican to oppose restricting sanctuary cities

Illinois' U.S. Senator Mark Kirk was the only Republican to vote "No" on Louisiana Senator David Vitter' s proposal known as "Kate's Law," earlier this week. Illinois' other Senator Dick Durbin also voted "No," effectively blocking the bill the 60 votes needed for the bill move forward.

FBI Director Comey rejects GOP attacks on his Clinton email decision

FBI Director James Comey defended his recommendation against pursuing criminal charges for Hillary Clintonover her use of private e-mail whilesecretary of state, testifying before Congress as he faced an onslaught of criticism from Republicans. "The appropriate resolution of this case was not to bring a criminal prosecution," Comey told the House Oversight Committee Thursday at a hastily called hearing in Washington.

LISTEN: 7 Exchanges That Explain FBI Director’s Decision On The Clinton Case

FBI Director James Comey testifies during a hearing before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Thursday. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption For more than four hours, FBI Director James Comey answered questions from the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Liberal groups warn Trump could steal trade issue

A coalition of liberal activist groups urged House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Thursday to publicly oppose any vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the controversial 12-nation trade deal, during a post-election "lame duck'" congressional session. The activists, including MoveOn.org, warned that if the Democratic leadership didn't fight the deal, they risked conceding the trade issue to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who also opposes the trade pact.

Eugenics bill passes House Updated at

A bill passed by the the U.S. House this week would help victims of forced sterilization programs from being hurt again should they receive compensation from state governments for the wrongs done to them, said U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, who introduced the legislation last year. "This helps address something that is really a horrible part of our history in North Carolina and a lot of other states," McHenry said.

Trump meets with more than 200 House Republicans

Donald Trump is meeting with more than 200 House Republicans Thursday as he seeks to unite the party at a time when his campaign is again clouded by controversy. The meeting offers the presumptive Republican nominee an opportunity to reassure nervous members of the party who worry that his freewheeling style -- on display Wednesday night during a speech in Cincinnati in which he reignited a controversy over a tweet some have said is anti-Semitic -- may turn off voters.

Your Complete Guide To The Possible Anti-Trump Rebellion At The RNC

The battle to control the Republican National Convention in Cleveland - and the fate of the party - has reached a turning point. While the "Stop Trump" movement has unleashed a barrage of cross-country phone calls and emails to seek support for its proposals, a group of longtime Republican rule-makers, some working with the Donald Trump campaign, has quickly coalesced to try to block them.

Team Clinton thankful for Trump

Hillary Rodham Clinton Trump campaign gains complicated by internal struggles Criminal sentencing bill tests McConnell-Grassley relationship Trump, Clinton struggle to take advantage of other's failures MORE 's campaign has something to be thankful for in the wake of the FBI's scathing criticism of her personal email setup: She's running against Donald Trump Trump campaign gains complicated by internal struggles Criminal sentencing bill tests McConnell-Grassley relationship Trump, Clinton struggle to take advantage of other's failures MORE While Clinton dodged criminal charges, FBI Director James Comey criticized her for recklessness and seemingly tore holes in arguments the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee made about not sending any classified information over the private email server.

Majority of GOP senators to attend Trump convention

A majority of Senate Republicans will be attending the party's national convention in Cleveland this month, despite the reservations that many of them have about Donald Trump Trump campaign gains complicated by internal struggles Criminal sentencing bill tests McConnell-Grassley relationship Trump, Clinton struggle to take advantage of other's failures MORE A survey by The Hill found that 32 Senate Republicans plan to attend the convention in Cleveland later this month, while 15 will skip it. Five Republican senators said they had not yet decided, and two did not respond.

Criminal sentencing bill tests McConnell-Grassley relationship

Chuck Grassley Criminal sentencing bill tests McConnell-Grassley relationship Majority of GOP senators to attend Trump convention The Trail 2016: It ain't over till it's over MORE Mitch McConnell Criminal sentencing bill tests McConnell-Grassley relationship Majority of GOP senators to attend Trump convention Five panels to grill FBI on Clinton MORE in a big way this Congress, having implemented the leadership's strategy of blocking President Obama's judicial picks. Polls suggest the Supreme Court fight has taken a toll on Grassley, who may be in for the toughest reelection fight of his career.