WASHINGTON (AP) -- A former top executive of American International Group Inc. acknowledged this week that his division more than tripled the amount of risky investments it insured in the three years leading up to the 2008 financial meltdown.

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- A top counterterrorism official this week defended the government's right to target U.S. citizens perceived as terror threats for capture or killing, citing the example of the renegade al-Qaida-linked cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A key House panel voted Wednesday to cut off almost $4 billion in aid to the government of Afghanistan pending an investigation into charges that Afghan officials are blocking corruption probes and huge amounts of foreign aid is being stolen.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration won't "kick the can down the road" when it comes to fixing the nation's broken immigration policies.

WASHINGTON — For the third time in as many weeks, Republicans in the Senate have successfully filibustered a bill to continue providing unemployment checks to millions of people.

NEW ORLEANS — BP's massive oil spill became the largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday based on the highest of the federal government's estimates, an ominous record that underscores the oil giant's dire need to halt the gusher.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A Harvard scholar and the police sergeant who arrested him last July after a confrontation outside his home both missed opportunities to "ratchet down" the situation and end things more calmly, according to a review of the case released Wednesday.

ATLANTA (AP) -- A rift in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's board of directors was caused by manipulative workers and board members at the civil rights organization, the group's compliance officer testified Monday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elena Kagan declined an invitation to criticize the current Supreme Court on Wednesday, testifying at the third day of confirmation hearings, "I'm sure everyone up there is acting in good faith."

WASHINGTON — Top Democratic House and Senate negotiators who worked out a deal on a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations regrouped Tuesday to eliminate a $19 billion fee on banks that had threatened to derail the legislation.