Julie Pace

Obamas make rare trip to church while vacationing in Hawaii. President Barack Obama and his family took a break from their Hawaiian vacation to attend Sunday church services, a rare occurrence for a president who prefers to worship in private.

Obamas make rare trip to church while vacationing in Hawaii. President Barack Obama and his family took a break from their Hawaiian vacation to attend Sunday church services, a rare occurrence for a president who prefers to worship in private.

Holbrooke's condition still critical; gets calls from Afghan and Pakistani presidents. President Barack Obama praised an ailing Richard Holbrooke Monday for making America safer, as the veteran diplomat recovered from surgery to repair a tear in the large artery that moves blood from his heart.

South Korea defends compromise with US to salvage stalled free trade agreement. South Korea's top trade official defended a hard-fought compromise with the United States to salvage a stalled free trade agreement, rejecting accusations that his government gave up too much to seal the deal.

South Korea defends compromise with US to salvage stalled free trade agreement. South Korea's top trade official on Sunday defended a hard-fought compromise with the United States to salvage a stalled free trade agreement, rejecting accusations that his government gave up too much to seal the deal.

In Obama's world, priming a recovery competes with pressure to cut spending. In less than three hours, the extraordinary forces tugging at Barack Obama's presidency ? and the Republicans who will soon take more control of Congress ? came into sharp relief: a sky-high jobless rate, an out-of-control deficit and pressure to keep taxes down.

In Obama's world, priming a recovery competes with pressure to cut spending. In less than three hours Friday, the extraordinary forces tugging at Barack Obama's presidency ? and the Republicans who will soon take more control of Congress ? came into sharp relief: a sky-high jobless rate, an out-of-control deficit and pressure to keep taxes down.

Obama says he wants two-year pay freeze for federal employees; Congress must approve plan. President Barack Obama on Monday proposed a two-year freeze of the salaries of some 2 million federal workers, trying to seize the deficit-cutting initiative from Republicans with a sudden, dramatic stroke. Though signaling White House concern over record deficits, the freeze would make only a tiny dent in annual deficits or the nation's $14 trillion debt.

US scrambles to contain diplomatic damage from leaked State Department documents. The Obama administration moved forcefully Monday to contain damage from the release of more than a quarter-million classified diplomatic files, branding the action as an attack on the United States and raising the prospect of legal action against online whistle-blower WikiLeaks.

Obama says US will defend SKorea, seeks diplomatic response to attack from the North. President Barack Obama on Tuesday pledged the United States would stand "shoulder to shoulder" with South Korea after what the White House branded a provocative, outrageous attack by North Korea on its neighbor. Its options limited, the U.S. sought a diplomatic rather a military response to one of the most ominous clashes between the Koreas in decades.

NATO invites Russia to join anti-Iranian missile shield in historic move for alliance. Russia was receptive but stopped short of accepting a historic NATO invitation Saturday to join a missile shield protecting Europe against Iranian attack.

Obama administration review: US intelligence did not connect American to Mumbai attacks. The U.S. intelligence community didn't know that an American whom it had used as an informant was plotting the terrorist attack on Mumbai, according to an Obama administration review of the case.

Pelosi seeks to remain the leader of House Democrats despite huge election losses. Despite widespread complaints about massive losses that will put Democrats in the minority, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she will try to stay on as leader of her party in the House.

The faces of government 2010: Obama and Boehner, a humbled president, triumphant GOP leader. United on almost nothing, Barack Obama and John Boehner are the two faces of America's divided government, the humbled president and the triumphant House leader. Both claim to speak for the people, yet they have had little to say to each other.

US sends investigative team to help Yemenis hunt suspects in attempted package bombing. Teams of U.S. anti-terrorism and security experts headed for Yemen to help search for suspects in the mail bomb plot and to train cargo screeners at the San'a airport.

Obama plays psychiatrist on campaign trail. Diagnosis? Voters angry. Therapy? 'Choose hope.'. According to President Barack Obama, Americans are angry, frustrated, scared, anxious, uncertain, nervous, discouraged and shaken up.

Obama: Nation should praise math and science achievement on footing with sports championships. A device to discourage texting while driving. A self-powered hydroelectric water purification device. A test of whether foam really is the best material to pad the inside of a safety helmet.

Ahead in money, message and zeal, GOP is poised for big wins in Congress and governors' races. Two weeks before Election Day, Democrats fear their grip on the House may be gone, and Republicans are poised to celebrate big gains in the Senate and governors' mansions as well.

Drilling moratorium imposed after BP spill lifted but uncertainties still face Gulf residents. Deep water oil drills quieted by a six-month moratorium will again hum off the Gulf Coast, helping an industry that, despite its dangers, puts needed money in the pockets of thousands along the Gulf Coast. What's less certain is just how soon the jobs on hold because of the six-month ban will come back to a region trying to recover.

Back in business: Government lifts deep water drilling moratorium imposed after Gulf oil spill. The U.S. is back in the deep water oil-drilling business. The question now is when work will resume.