White House meets with Clinton, Trump teams to discuss transition

Top White House officials met on Thursday with Democratic and Republican presidential campaign representatives to discuss preparations for transferring power to whomever wins the Nov. 8 election, a White House spokeswoman said. The meeting was led by Denis McDonough, President Barack Obama's chief of staff, and included Ken Salazar, the former Interior Secretary who is leading the transition team for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is the transition chair for Republican candidate Donald Trump, the White House said.

Whata s on Hillary Clintona s to-do list before Election Day?

WASHINGTON >> Hillary Clinton will celebrate Labor Day with an edge over rival Donald Trump in any number of the most competitive states, even as she struggles with the challenge of sealing the deal with large groups of voters who consider her dishonest and untrustworthy. Clinton's experience as secretary of state and her handle on domestic policy make her the favorite in three presidential debates beginning later this month.

Colombiaa s president rushing plebiscite on deal with rebels

Colombia's president is moving fast to hold a plebiscite on a landmark peace deal reached with leftist rebels, presenting to congress Thursday the full text of the accord that he says will end a half-century of bloody combat. "Today is the beginning of the end to the suffering, pain and tragedy of war," President Juan Manuel Santos said Wednesday night in a televised address after the deal was announced in Havana, where talks went on for four years.

Prices up, choices down on Illinois health insurance market

CHICAGO – Higher prices and fewer choices on the Illinois marketplace under President Barack Obama's health insurance law will make choosing a plan for 2017 a potentially frustrating experience for families who buy their own coverage, according to information released Wednesday by the Illinois Department of Insurance. Statewide, an average price increase of 43 percent is ahead for a popular type of middle-tier coverage used as a benchmark under the health law, the department said.

The Donald brings UK independence leader Nigel Farage to…

The Donald brings UK independence leader Nigel Farage to Mississippi rally and British pol says he wouldn't vote for Hillary 'if you paid me' Farage draws boos from Mississippi crowd when he mentions Barack Obama's name, says he 'talked down to us he treated us as if we were nothing' Back to School: 'Before the vote I said that Britain would leave the EU, sometimes referred to as European Union ...' Republican Donald Trump brought UK Independence Party Nigel Farage to a lively Mississippi rally - and after the mogul schooled a quiet crowd on European politics, Farage followed Trump's lead by bashing President Obama and Hillary Clinton.

A former adviser to Nigel Farage said the outgoing Ukip leader is not endorsing Donald Trump

Nigel Farage has hailed Donald Trump a force for change who can mobilise a "people's army" to take on the political establishment, as he prepares to deliver a speech at a rally for the Republican presidential candidate. The outgoing Ukip leader has jetted over to the United States where he will speak about Brexit to thousands of Republican supporters in Mississippi.

As Trump tries minority outreach, many blacks unconvinced

Black Republicans cheer Donald Trump for a newfound outreach to African-Americans, but say the GOP presidential nominee must take his message beyond arenas filled with white supporters and venture into the inner cities. Many rank-and-file black voters, meanwhile, dismiss the overtures as another racially charged pitch from a campaign aimed exclusively at whites, from Trump's emphasis on "law and order" to his withering critiques of President Barack Obama, the nation's first black chief executive.

Maine land from Burt’s Bees founder is new national monument

President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared a new national monument in Maine on 87,000 acres donated by the founder of Burt's Bees, fulfilling conservationist Roxanne Quimby's goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The announcement of the Katahdin Woods and Waters monument came a day after media reports that the foundation created by Quimby had transferred the land to federal ownership.

Blacks question Trump outreach delivered to white audiences

Black Republicans cheer Donald Trump for a newfound outreach to African-Americans, but say the GOP presidential nominee must take his message beyond arenas filled with white supporters and venture into the inner cities. Many rank-and-file black voters, meanwhile, dismiss the overtures as another racially charged pitch from a campaign aimed exclusively at whites, from Trump's emphasis on "law and order" to his withering critiques of President Barack Obama, the nation's first black chief executive.

Trumpa s evolving immigration plan compared to Clinton, Obama

Donald Trump's new line on immigration - "fair, but firm" - is leaving both Republicans and Democrats with the same question: Is the famously hard-line GOP nominee softening his approach? Trump even suggested Tuesday that he is open to "softening" laws dealing with immigrants. His campaign insists he's not.

For the Record: Slowest-moving scandal ever

Trump can squeeze in two or three new scandals a week, but HIllary's damn email thing has lasted longer than 31 presidential administrations. For the Record: Slowest-moving scandal ever Trump can squeeze in two or three new scandals a week, but HIllary's damn email thing has lasted longer than 31 presidential administrations.

Can Clinton save health overhaul from its mounting problems?

With the hourglass running out for his administration, President Barack Obama's health care law is struggling in many parts of the country. Double-digit premium increases and exits by big-name insurers have caused some to wonder whether "Obamacare" will go down as a failed experiment.

President Obama tours flood-damaged areas in south Louisiana

During his visit to south Louisiana, President Barack Obama promised that the victims of the historic flooding will not be forgotten. The first stop on his three-hour trip to the Capitol region was to the Castle Place subdivision in Zachary.

Trump floats Obama-like deportation plan, and his fans don’t…

WASHINGTON _ Donald Trump is backing away from his call for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, and even some of his rally-going supporters say they're fine with it. If he wins the November election, the Republican presidential nominee said Monday, he would do "the same thing" as President Barack Obama in prioritizing the removal of criminals residing in the U.S. illegally, but " perhaps with a lot more energy."

Mark Lowen: What will US vice-president find in Turkey?

Turkey's biggest cities have witnessed a spate of deadly bombings and a bloody attempted coup this year. As US Vice-President Joe Biden arrives in the Turkish capital, Ankara, how do relations between the two countries stand? When Barack Obama chose Turkey as the first Muslim country he visited as President, in 2009, the praise here was gushing.

Obama visits flood-damaged Louisiana in show of support

President Barack Obama arrived Tuesday in flood-ravaged southern Louisiana for a visit aimed at promising support to thousands of beleaguered flood victims and stemming campaign-season criticism that he's been slow to respond to their plight. Obama was met at the Baton Rouge airport by a bipartisan group of officials, including Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and Lt.

Lawyer tells court Blagojevich to appeal prison sentence

Rod Blagojevich's lawyer has notified a federal court that the imprisoned former Illinois governor plans to appeal his 14-year sentence for corruption imposed at a resentencing earlier this month. Leonard Goodman filed the brief notice with U.S. District Court in Chicago Tuesday informing sentencing Judge James Zagel that the 59-year-old Democrat will appeal to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.