The Manchurian Candidate  —  When Barack Obama posted Jon Huntsman to Beijing, it looked like a crafty way to sideline a 2012 rival.  Don't bet on it.  —  The Huntsmans' new home in the posh D.C. neighborhood of Kalorama is the prototype of pricey Washington real estate: a tall, boxy structure defined by red brick and right angles.

NJ Gov. Chris Christie explains why he and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno were out of state during the blizzard  —  During a news conference in Monmouth County, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie explains why he and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno were both out of the state at the same time while NJ was rocked by a blizzard.

Jetliner prompts U.S. Capitol evacuation  —  Police ordered a full evacuation of the Capitol and House and Senate office buildings and scrambled fighter jets for a brief period on New Year's Day after an incoming airliner flew into restricted airspace surrounding the complex …

Roberts Seeks More Judicial Confirmations  —  WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. called on President Obama and the Senate on Friday to solve what he called “the persistent problem of judicial vacancies.”  —  The plea, in the chief justice's annual year-end report on the federal judiciary …

California Republican touts legislation banning public pension bailouts  —  The country's public pension system is grossly underfunded and needs an overhaul, Rep. Devin Nunes said this week.  —  The California Republican is promoting legislation designed to gauge the extent of the problem …

New health-care rules to take effect  —  The new year will bring important changes to U.S. health-insurance rules, as new provisions related to last year's massive health-care overhaul take effect.  —  The new rules are designed to help those caught in Medicare's “doughnut hole,” …

Boomers Hit New Self-Absorption Milestone: Age 65  —  In keeping with a generation's fascination with itself, the time has come to note the passing of another milestone: On New Year's Day, the oldest members of the Baby Boom Generation will turn 65, the age once linked to retirement …

‘A big f—  deal,’ ‘man up,’ tickles and more: The top 10 political quotes of 2010  —  Vice President Joe Biden's use of profanity, a New York congressman's admission of groping and a denial of witchcraft were among the top 10 political quotes of 2010.  —  The healthcare reform debate …

Manhattan Status Symbols: Washers and Dryers  —  THE final noisemaker has squealed and the last dinner guest has straggled home, so the holiday extravaganza that is Christmas and New Year's — spread out over two long weekends and punctuated by a blizzard — is over.

Violence as Pakistan strikes over blasphemy law  —  KARACHI, Pakistan (AFP) - Violence flared Friday as police and protesters clashed during a mass protest strike that closed businesses across Pakistan over a bid to end the death penalty for blasphemy.  —  Police said protesters near the home …

Ex-Senator Is Now the Only Black Hopeful in a Chicago Race  —  CHICAGO — Danny K. Davis, a longtime United States representative, has dropped out of the race to become Chicago's mayor, creating the situation that black leaders here had for months been clamoring for: a campaign that includes only one major African-American candidate.

Political Battle on Illegal Immigration Shifts to States  —  Legislative leaders in at least half a dozen states say they will propose bills similar to a controversial law to fight illegal immigration that was adopted by Arizona last spring, even though a federal court has suspended central provisions of that statute.

Interior ministry: Suicide bomber behind Egypt church blast  —  (CNN) — Evidence indicates that a suicide bomber caused the explosion outside a church in Egypt on Saturday that killed at least 21 people, the country's interior ministry said.  —  Authorities believe the bomber was killed in the blast …