Russia takes parting shots at Obama, looks forward to Trump

Russia's top diplomat on Tuesday said Moscow was looking forward to cooperating with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump in the war on terrorism and bringing peace to Syria, and took a shot at the Obama administration for what he called "double standards." "If we hear that in the foreign policy of Donald Trump the main thing will be the fight against terrorism, then we, of course, can only welcome that, since that is exactly the thing that has been lacking with our American partners," Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, told a nationally televised press conference.

Pence’s hometown band rushes to prep for inaugural parade

It's a rainy Tuesday in January, and the Columbus North High School marching band has just eight days and three practices until they march in the parade after the inauguration of Donald Trump and Mike Pence on Jan. 20. The region is under a thunderstorm watch during this particular 7 p.m. practice, but 150 marching band members aren't paying attention to the weather. They're playing instruments in various parts of the high school - the alma mater of Vice President-elect Mike Pence - about an hour south of Indianapolis learning music they started rehearsing that night.

Donald Trump, in flap with civil rights icon, meets with MLKa s son

Martin Luther King III, son of Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to members of the media following a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, Monday. NEW YORK >> Days before taking office, President-elect Donald Trump attempted to navigate the fallout of his flap with a civil rights leader and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while also losing a member of his incoming administration to accusations of plagiarism.

China’s Xi takes spotlight at Davos as US makes transition

President Xi Jinping leads a Chinese delegation of over 100 officials and scores of business executives attending the World Economic Forum, embodying a tectonic shift at an event that started nearly a half-century ago among Europeans and Americans. Xi's opening plenary address Tuesday to political and business leaders is shaping up as perhaps the highlight both of this year's WEF and Xi's one-country European visit to ultra-stable and chronically neutral Switzerland.

Chinaa s Xi takes spotlight at Davos as US makes transition

President Xi Jinping leads a Chinese delegation of over 100 officials and scores of business executives attending the World Economic Forum, embodying a tectonic shift at an event that started nearly a half-century ago among Europeans and Americans. Xi's opening plenary address Tuesday to political and business leaders is shaping up as perhaps the highlight both of this year's WEF and Xi's one-country European visit to ultra-stable and chronically neutral Switzerland.

Trump meets with MLK’s son amid flap with Lewis

Days before taking office, President-elect Donald Trump attempted to navigate the fallout of his flap with a civil rights leader and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while also losing a member of his incoming administration to accusations of plagiarism. Trump on Monday met with one of King's sons on the holiday marking the life of the slain American icon just days after the president-elect attacked Rep. John Lewis on Twitter.

Revelers, rally-goers to clog DC for inauguration

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to clog the nation's capital for Donald Trump's inauguration and a major demonstration the day after, but how many will actually arrive to party or protest is an open question. Officials estimate that 800,000 to 900,000 people will be present Friday for the inauguration, a celebration that takes over the city, closing roads, taxing the city's Metro transit system and making getting around difficult.

The Obamas donate White House swingset to Washing D.C. shelter

President Barack Obama greets youngsters at Sasha and Malia's former White House playground which was donated to the Jobs Have Priority Family Shelter. From now on, children at a family shelter in southeast Washington, D.C., may get a kick out of the fact that they are swinging and sliding where two of the country's most famous children once played.

The United States finally has the president it so deserves

Byline picture of Literary Editor Rosemary Goring whose historical novel 'After Flodden' is about to be published. Pictures Kirsty Anderson Herald & Times ON holiday in South Carolina a few days before the United States presidential election last November, my sister met anxious middle-class Americans who feared what lay ahead.

Donald Trump ‘expected to visit Scotland when he comes to the UK’

Whitehall insiders expect Donald Trump to visit Scotland if the controversial tycoon turned President-Elect of the United States comes to the UK later this year. Sources said that Mr Trump, whose mother came from outside Stornoway, was expected to spend time north of the Border.

Obama to grant hundreds more drug commutations

Justice Department officials have completed their review of more than 16,000 clemency petitions filed by federal prisoners over the past two years and sent their last recommendations to President Barack Obama, who is set to grant hundreds more commutations to nonviolent drug offenders during his final days in office.   "Everyone has killed themselves here to get the final recommendations to the president," Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates said in an interview.

At Least 31 Democratic Congress Members Plan to Skip the Inauguration

At least 31 Democratic members of Congress have announced they will skip Donald Trump's Friday inauguration. While some made their decision in previous weeks, several more have now come forward, citing the president-elect's perceived insult of Rep. John Lewis as the final straw.

Trump, amid flap with Lewis, meets with MLK III

Days before taking office, President-elect Donald Trump attempted to navigate the fallout of his flap with a civil rights leader and colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while also losing a member of his incoming administration to accusations of plagiarism. Trump on Monday met with one of King's sons on the holiday marking the life of the slain American icon just days after the president-elect attacked Rep. John Lewis on Twitter.

White House in transition

Donald Trump is threatening German automakers with a hefty import tax if they plan to sell cars in the U.S. that are built in other countries, repeating a claim that has shaken the global automotive industry. The German newspaper Bild quoted Trump as saying: "If you want to build cars in the world, then I wish you all the best.

At Least 33 Democratic Congress Members Plan to Skip the Inauguration

The ... The National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Public Lands Council released the following statements today in support of the confirmation of Congressman Ryan Zinke -- Aaron Rodgers' father confirms that the family hasn't spoken to the NFL quarterback for a couple years but says they are "hoping for the best." In a New York Time... -- At least 33 Democratic members of Congress have announced they will skip Donald Trump's Friday inauguration.