USATalks.org

Direct peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians will start Thursday as President Barack Obama urged both sides to come up with a peaceful solution to the long-running Mideast conflict.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is set to appear before a panel investigating the financial crisis to give his take on the meltdown and his views on potential systemwide risks posed by large financial institutions.

After a day and evening in White House talks with President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sit down together Thursday for the first of what American officials hope will be a series of meetings that lead to a peace agreement between the two nations.

James A. Traficant, a former Democratic congressman who served time in prison, will run again for a House seat as an independent.

A judge who overturned the six-month moratorium on deepwater oil drilling has rejected the government’s bid to have the challenge thrown out.

Relations are, at best, awkward between President Obama and George W. Bush.

Arne Duncan’s bus tour from New York to Maine is billed as a way to honor teachers.

Advocacy groups and election officials fear that the high rate of foreclosures will confuse many about their eligibility to vote.

The decline in 2009, to about 11.1 million, was the first clear drop in two decades, according to a report based on census data.

The Pakistani Taliban, an Al Qaeda-linked group, is accused of playing a role in the failed Times Square bombing and an attack on a C.I.A. base in Afghanistan.

Sarah Palin reveled in the primary upset of Senator Lisa Murkowski, but tensions began well before.

The Israeli prime minister believes that only someone like himself, with his hawkish credentials, has the will and support to produce lasting peace with the Palestinians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority appeared together with President Obama.

Senator Barbara Boxer and her opponent, Carly Fiorina, met Wednesday night in a heated forum focused on jobs.

Without federal help, Lehman was not able to wind down operations in an orderly manner, which aggravated the global crisis, the former chief executive said.

Joe Miller, a challenger backed by Tea Party activists, won the Republican primary.

The F.C.C.’s decision to seek more comments on preserving an open and competitive Internet precludes any agency action before the midterm elections.

The group examining the causes of the financial crisis hopes to produce a report by Dec. 15 that will influence future policies, but squabbles and turnover are hampering its efforts.

The estate of Lehman Brothers Holdings has subpoenaed records from big hedge funds and Goldman Sachs as it seeks to recover money lost in Lehman’s collapse.

In a major upset, Sen. Lisa Murkowski has conceded her GOP Senate primary race to Tea Party Express favorite Joe Miller, who had the backing of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.