New plant tests US appetite for seawater desalination
By ELLIOT SPAGAT There’s far more riding on the Americas’ largest seawater desalination plant than the 50 million gallons of drinking water it will produce for the San Diego area…
Business
House GOP, eager to mend wounds, elects Ryan as new speaker
By ALAN FRAM Splintered House Republicans elected Rep. Paul Ryan to be the chamber’s 54th speaker on Thursday, turning to the youthful but battle-tested Wisconsin lawmaker to mend the party’s…
The House’s big day: Budget deal vote, GOP nominating Ryan
By ALAN FRAM The House was poised Wednesday to approve a bipartisan pact charting a two-year budget truce and Republicans were set to nominate Rep. Paul Ryan as the new…
Former House Speaker Hastert pleads guilty to lying to FBI
Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to the FBI in a hush-money scheme, agreeing to a deal with federal prosecutors that recommends he serve no more than six months…
China summons US ambassador to protest ship near reef
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN and ROBERT BURNS China summoned the American ambassador to protest the U.S. Navy’s sailing of a warship close to one of China’s artificial islands in the South…
GfK Poll: Use default, shutdown threats to cut spending
By ALAN FRAM and EMILY SWANSON A divided public thinks it’s worth shutting the government or halting its ability to borrow to pay bills unless President Barack Obama consents to…
Speaker Boehner pushes for budget deal before leaving House
By ANDREW TAYLOR and ERICA WERNER Speaker John Boehner is trying to make one last deal as he heads for the exits, pushing to finalize a far-reaching, two-year budget agreement…
United Auto Workers, General Motors reach contract agreement
By DEE-ANN DURBIN The United Auto Workers union and General Motors Co. have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract, avoiding a strike for now. The UAW said…