Villanova still No. 1 in AP Top 25 men’s hoops; UCLA at 2

The Latest on the Electoral College meeting Monday to formally elect Donald Trump the nation’s 45th president : The Latest on the Electoral College meeting Monday to formally elect Donald Trump the nation’s 45th president : U.S. women are increasingly using pot during pregnancy, sometimes for morning sickness. That’s according to an analysis of annual U.S. government drug surveys.

As alliance wavers, U.S. says gave Philippines big annual defense aid boost

The United States provided the Philippines with $127 million in security assistance in the 12 months ended in September, the biggest sum in about 15 years, overlapping with a stream of angry threats from President Rodrigo Duterte to sever their defense alliance. The U.S. embassy in Manila on Friday confirmed its longtime Asian ally had received a 154 percent increase in military assistance from the 2014-2015 period, the biggest sum since American forces returned to the Philippines in 2002.

Sage, Ink: Naughty Rewards

In the waning days of President Barack Obama’s administration, he and his wife, Michelle, hosted a farewell party, the full import of which no one could then grasp. It was late October, Friday the 21st, and the president had spent many of the previous weeks, as he would spend the two subsequent weeks, campaigning for the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton.

New Jersey’s presidential electors set to meet in Trenton

The Electoral College delegation will meet Monday afternoon in Trenton to officially allot the state’s 14 electoral votes to Democrats Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine. Clinton won the state on Election Day over Republican President-elect Donald Trump, who is preparing to take office in January to succeed President Barack Obama.

Ireland accuses Brussels, China’s real-life Big Brother, Microsoft

Dublin has laid out the grounds for its appeal against the European Commission’s demand that it claw back a 13bn of state aid from Apple Ireland has outlined the grounds for its appeal against the European Commission ‘s demand that it claw back €13bn of state aid from Apple, accusing Brussels of interfering with national sovereignty. The Irish finance ministry said the EU’s executive arm had misunderstood both Irish law and the relevant facts of the case, and also that the commission had exceeded its powers.

Editorial: Snapshots from the nation’s press

This image released last Thursday by Aleppo 24 shows residents gathered near green government buses for evacuation from eastern Aleppo, Syria. Allegations that the Russian government tried to influence America’s election are extraordinarily serious – “the political equivalent to 9/11,” according to Michael Morell, the former acting director of the CIA.

‘Full Measure’: Influencing an election new

This week, outgoing President Barack Obama ordered a full review into hacking aimed at influencing this election , and he wants it finished before incoming President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated. This week came reports that the FBI differs with the CIA, which had blamed Russia and concluded the motive was to elect Trump.

Bipartisan Group Of Senators Call For Panel To Investigate Russian Hacking

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer , R, and John McCain speak to the media after meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama about immigration reform in Washington July 11, 2013. REUTERS/Larry Downing A bipartisan group of senators called for the creation of a panel in order to investigate allegations of Russian hacking in U.S. elections, according to a report from Reuters Sunday.

US Secretary of State discusses Yemen war on Saudi trip

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Saudi King Salman and others Sunday to discuss the war in Yemen, a visit to the kingdom that likely will be his last as America’s top diplomat. Kerry’s trip, ahead of the inauguration of Republican President-elect Donald Trump, comes as diplomatic ties between the two longtime allies have been strained by the Iran nuclear deal championed by Democratic President Barack Obama and other issues.

Trump action on health care could cost Planned Parenthood

One of President-elect Donald Trump’s first, and defining, acts next year could come on Republican legislation to cut off taxpayer money from Planned Parenthood. Trump sent mixed signals during the campaign about the 100-year-old organization which provides birth control, abortions and various women’s health services.

Trump takes on First Lady’s ‘no hope’ comment

President-elect Donald Trump said first lady Michelle Obama “must have been talking about the past” when she said there’s no sense of hope after his election. Trump, speaking Saturday at the final rally of his post election “thank you” tour, then resisted escalating the spat further, suggesting “she made that statement not meaning it the way it came out.”

Trump says Michelle Obama’s ‘no hope’ comment about the past

President-elect Donald Trump said first lady Michelle Obama “must have been talking about the past” when she said there’s no sense of hope after his election. Trump, speaking Saturday at the final rally of his postelection “thank you” tour, then resisted escalating the spat further, suggesting “she made that statement not meaning it the way it came out.”

Action needed to guide US regional priorities

In this April 2009 photo, President of the United States Barack Obama speaks with then Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper , and then Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding , at the Summmit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. The US has passed a new law in December 2016 that will form the basis for its foreign policy with the Caribbean.

The Latest: Obama tees off vacation with round of golf

The latest on President Barack Obama’s annual two-week vacation in Hawaii : President Barack Obama enjoyed the first day of his annual holiday vacation in Hawaii playing over four hours of golf under mostly sunny skies at the marine base on the island of Oahu, where he was born. Before leaving the base, the president passed by a giant Christmas tree decorated with colorful ornaments, a tradition on base.

Arizonaa s Electoral College voters urged not to back Trump

Arizona’s 11 Electoral College voters have each been inundated with tens of thousands of emails, hundreds of letters and untold numbers of phone calls urging them not to cast their ballots for president-elect Donald Trump. They say the anti-Trump effort is a waste of time, and that’s a generous description of their reaction.

I am very proud of the work I’ve done as president – Obama

Outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama has given himself a pass mark, telling Americans that he has done well in office as president in the last eight years. Obama, who made the remarks in his final press conference of the year, justified his actions on issues ranging from the economy to Syria, and from the Russia hacking scandal to the passage of Obamacare.

Obama says Putin knew about hacks: President urges Trump to take…

President Barack Obama put Russia’s Vladimir Putin on notice Friday that the U.S. could use offensive cyber muscle to retaliate for interference in the U.S. presidential election, his strongest suggestion to date that Putin had been well aware of campaign email hacking. Caught in the middle of a post-election controversy over Russian hacking, Obama strongly defended his administration’s response, including his refusal before the voting to ascribe motive to the meddling or to discuss now what effect it might have had.

Monday’s letters: Focus on fixing cyber security

Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta is the kind of behavior that the United States needs to address, but the hype about it is poorly focused. First, the hacking effort was likely expected by cyber security folks, but apparently not sufficiently by the DNC and Podesta to take even modest precautions: Shame on the DNC and Podesta.

Obama, rapping Putin, says US could strike back on cyber

President Barack Obama put Russia’s Vladimir Putin on notice Friday that the U.S. could use offensive cyber muscle to retaliate for interference in the U.S. presidential election, his strongest suggestion to date that Putin had been well aware of campaign email hacking. Caught in the middle of a post-election controversy over Russian hacking, Obama strongly defended his administration’s response, including his refusal before the voting to ascribe motive to the meddling or to discuss now what effect it might have had.

Top Trump aide forming group to back White House agenda

One of President-elect Donald Trump’s top campaign advisers is moving forward with plans to form a nonprofit group that will support the Republican’s agenda in the White House. The group is being formed with the backing of Trump and his family, according to two people with knowledge of the plans.

FLOTUS: White House Needs ‘Grown-Up’ in Times of Crisis

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive for a reception to honor recipients of the 2016 Kennedy Center Honors in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. Michelle Obama says the White House needs a “grown-up” and the nation will come to appreciate President Barack Obama.

Obama, rapping Putin, says US could strike back on cyber

President Barack Obama suggested strongly on Friday that Russia’s Vladimir Putin knew about the email hackings that roiled the U.S. presidential race, and he urged his successor, Republican Donald Trump, to back a bipartisan investigation into the matter. “Not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin,” Obama said in his year-end news conference.

Obama signs massive water bill that could impact Delta

President Barack Obama on Friday quietly signed and bequeathed to President-elect Donald Trump a massive infrastructure bill designed to control floods, fund dams and deliver more water to farmers in California’s Central Valley. While attempting to mollify critics’ concerns over potential harm to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Obama signed the $12 billion bill in a distinctly low-key act.

Everything you need to know about Trump’s inauguration

The countdown clock on the White House transition is winding down as specifics about Donald Trump’s inauguration are being finalized. The Trump team announced that it’s going to stick with the campaign slogan that helped get the real estate developer elected, saying that “Make America Great Again” will be the inaugural theme.

Hope, Trump upstage ‘La La Land’s’ moment in the sun

Chart shows films with most Golden Globe nominates in 2017; 2c x 3 inches; 96.3 mm x 76 mm; By JOCELYN NOVECK Associated Press Donald Trump was not in attendance at the Golden Globes, but he was there in spirit – or more precisely, as the target of a slew of political barbs. By JOCELYN NOVECK Associated Press Donald Trump was not in attendance at the Golden Globes, but he was there in spirit – or more precisely, as the target of a slew of political barbs, not to mention an… Actress Meryl Streep earned a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes Sunday and in accepting, turned the spotlight away from herself.

Trump administration orders EPA contract and media blackout

The Trump administration has instituted a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency and barred staff from awarding any new contracts or grants, part of a broader communications clampdown within the executive branch. The prohibitions came to light Tuesday as the agency moved to delay implementation of at least 30 environmental rules finalized in the closing months of President Barack Obama’s term, a potential first step to seeking to kill the regulations.

Trump to meet with Republic of Congo president on Tuesday: Sassou spokesman

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou plans to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing political turmoil crisis in Libya and other African issues, Sassou’s spokesman said on Monday. Sassou’s spokesman Thierry Moungalla, in a post on Twitter, noted that the two men were meeting to discuss ways to the end the Libyan crisis as well other broader issues affecting the continent, according to a statement attached to the tweet.

Trump to meet with Republic of Congo president on Tuesday: Sassou spokesman

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou plans to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing political turmoil crisis in Libya and other African issues, Sassou’s spokesman said on Monday. Sassou’s spokesman Thierry Moungalla, in a post on Twitter, noted that the two men were meeting to discuss ways to the end the Libyan crisis as well other broader issues affecting the continent, according to a statement attached to the tweet.