Hostage, 2 pirates killed in French rescue operation  —  (CNN) — A French hostage and two pirates died Friday in a rescue operation off Somalia, the French president's office in Paris said Friday.  —  Four hostages, including a child, were freed from the hijacked yacht after almost a week of captivity, Nicolas Sarkozy's office said.

China's excess males, sex selective abortion, and one child policy: analysis of data from 2005 national intercensus survey  —  Wei Xing Zhu, professor1, Li Lu, professor and head of department2, Therese Hesketh, senior lecturer3  —  1 College of Law, Political Science and Public Administration …

Volcker Assumes Smaller-Than-Expected Role With Obama  —  WASHINGTON — As an early supporter of Barack Obama, Paul Volcker gave the young presidential candidate gravitas and advice.  He frequently sat by Mr. Obama's side at key economic events, and started carrying a cellphone for the first time …

Obama Team Mulls Aims Of Somali Extremists  —  Seeing Potential Terror Threat, Officials Debate Their Options  —  Senior Obama administration officials are debating how to address a potential terrorist threat to U.S. interests from a Somali extremist group, with some in the military advocating strikes against its training camps.

Obama to Appeal Detainee Ruling  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Friday that it would appeal a district court ruling that granted some military prisoners in Afghanistan the right to file lawsuits seeking their release.  The decision signaled that the administration was not backing …

Showdown Seen Between Banks and Regulators  —  WASHINGTON — As the Obama administration completes its examinations of the nation's largest banks, industry executives are bracing for fights with the government over repayment of bailout money and forced sales of bad mortgages.

Washington Churches Eye a Prize, the Obamas  —  WASHINGTON — The invitations have come in neatly typed letters, whispered entreaties and please-join-us blogs.  They have come from predominantly white churches and predominantly black churches, venerable churches with distinguished lineages and smaller …

From Pennsylvania Ave. to the Lone Star State  —  After 8 Years in White House, Bushes Easily Adapt to a Simpler Life  —  DALLAS — The new couple at 10141 Daria Place accepted an invitation to a neighborhood dinner party last month.  The guest list totaled eight.  The main dish was chicken potpie.

AARP Responds To Progressive Bloggers' Advertising Complaints  —  There's been a recent debate in the blogosphere about who - or more importantly, who's not - advertising on various political blogs.  AARP is a non-partisan organization that strongly supports all reaches of the online community …

Democrat in NY-20 now leads by 35  —  Republican Jim Tedisco has cut Democrat Scott Murphy's lead slightly, to 35, in the special election for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's (D-N.Y.) former House seat, as absentee votes continue to be counted.  —  Murphy took the lead Friday morning after more than 1,400 …