Timing of Mexico drug lord’s extradition seen as political

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's abrupt exit to face charges in the U.S. marks the end of an era in which he was Mexico's most notorious drug cartel boss and, for some, the stuff of folk legend. It's also seen by many in Mexico as a delicately timed maneuver aimed at limiting political fallout for President Enrique Pena Nieto, already deeply unpopular in part for his perceived mishandling of Donald Trump's tough rhetoric on Mexico.

Julian Assange stands by offer to go to US after Manning release decision

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stands by his offer to go to the United States now that Chelsea Manning is being released, he told a press conference. Speaking from the Ecuadorian embassy in London via social media, he signalled there would be "many discussions" on his future before Manning leaves prison in May. He welcomed Barack Obama's decision to free the former soldier jailed for handing over classified documents to the anti-secrecy organisation.

Why Manning’s Commutation Likely Won’t Mean Leniency for Snowden

Since then, Snowden has been living in Russia where he was granted political asylum while wanted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges of violating the Espionage Act. Manning, who is currently imprisoned at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, has been incarcerated since her arrest in 2010 for turning over military and diplomatic information to Wikileaks.

Virginia man convicted of 2006 slaying of family is executed

Virginia is set to execute an inmate convicted of killing a family of four in their Richmond home on New Year's Day 2006 A man convicted of killing a family of four, slashing their throats and setting their home ablaze after they left their front door open while preparing for a New Year's Day party in 2006, has been executed in Virginia Renewable energy advocates in Hawaii are pushing a bill to urge the transportation sector to get all its from renewable sources in 2045 Renewable energy advocates in Hawaii are pushing a bill to urge the transportation sector to get all its from renewable sources in 2045 California's health exchange is withdrawing its request to sell unsubsidized insurance policies to people who can't prove they're legally in the United States after learning the decision would fall to... California's health exchange is withdrawing its request to sell unsubsidized ... (more)

Trump to take office with dismal ratings – except on one thing

Donald Trump is poised to take office with the lowest approval ratings of any new president in recent history, but despite a chaotic transition Americans trust the billionaire on one crucial point. Since the real estate developer's White House win in November, companies have lined up to announce new factories or jobs in the United States, including air conditioning manufacturer Carrier, Japan's SoftBank, Ford, Fiat Chrysler and Amazon with a headline-grabbing promise to create 100,000 jobs.

Obama Won’t Close Gitmo but Hasn’t Stopped Releasing Detainees

The White House conceded Tuesday that it wouldn't close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility by the time President Obama leaves office later this week, but it hasn't stopped releasing detainees in the run-up to Inauguration Day. The administration announced it had transferred 10 detainees to Oman, reducing the number still in the facility to 45. Press Secretary Josh Earnest did not rule out the possiblity of more releases in the coming days.

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.

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.

US, Cuban Interior Ministry sign law-enforcement deal

The Obama administration and Cuba's Interior Ministry have agreed to share information on international criminal activity such as terrorism, human trafficking and money laundering despite Republican objections to U.S. law-enforcement cooperation with President Raul Castro's government. The State Department signed the memorandum of understanding Monday with the Cuban Interior Ministry, which is responsible for internal security in Cuba, including crackdowns on political dissidents.

Oman says it accepts 10 Guantanamo Bay detainees

Oman said Monday it accepted 10 detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay ahead of President Barack Obama leaving office, part of his efforts to shrink the facility he promised to close. Oman's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had accepted the prisoners at Obama's request.