US & World

'Sopranos' star Gandolfini dead; son called for help

ROME, Italy - James Gandolfini’s teenage son called for help after discovering his father collapsed in a bathroom, according to the manager of the Italian hotel where the “The Sopranos” star was staying. The Emmy-winning actor was later pronounced dead aged 51.

US nuke-reduction goal just the start of slow process

President Obama says he wants to reduce the number of deployed U.S. nuclear weapons by a third, but even if the Russians agree to do the same, it could be a decade or longer before the warheads under discussion are actually destroyed.

All-white town spurns Mandela's 'Rainbow Nation'

An all-white enclave less than an hour from South Africa’s capital is fighting to hold on to a segregated life reminiscent of the country before Nelson Mandela toppled the apartheid regime.

CSN: Blackhawks beat Bruins in OT to tie Stanley Cup Final series

CSN: Brent Seabrook scored the winner in overtime and the Blackhawks defeated the Bruins in a 6-5 thriller to tie the Stanley Cup Final 2-2.

Plot to build 'Hiroshima light switch' weapon foiled: Feds

Two upstate New York men, one of them said to be a member of the Ku Klux Klan, plotted to build a truck-mounted, industrial-strength X-ray weapon to kill “enemies of Israel” by poisoning them with radiation, federal authorities said Wednesday.

Egypt's Coptic Christians say they are 'no longer safe'

CAIRO – Thousands of Egypt’s Coptic Christians are fleeing to Europe, the United States and elsewhere rather than face mounting discrimination at home.

Border deal reached, smoothing path to immigration overhaul

A bipartisan group of senators are expected to announce they have reached an agreement to strengthen border security in the Senate's immigration bill, a breakthrough that could pave the way for a significant number of GOP senators to support the comprehensive legislation.

This is your brain on happy: Machine can read your emotions

Researchers have figured out how to read your mind and tell whether you are feeling sad, angry or disgusted – all by looking at a brain scan. The experiment showed people have remarkably similar brain activity when experiencing the same emotions.

Disappearing duchess: What Kate's 'maternity leave' means

Officially, the Duchess of Cambridge is off the grid, trying to spend the final weeks of her pregnancy out of a limelight that has followed her around-the-clock. Unofficially, she has gone on leave, one that may stretch through the rest of the year – and possibly longer.

Millions of trafficking victims go unidentified: Kerry

Men's Wearhouse icon won't like the way he looks -- he's out!

Men's Wearhouse has fired George Zimmer, its bearded executive chairman famous for his TV ad line: "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it."

FBI raids target 'violent' gambling ring

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Naval Academy files rape charges against 3 midshipmen

Three male Naval Academy midshipmen have been charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a female midshipman last year and with making a false official statement.

Explore a billion-pixel view from Mars rover

Fans of extraterrestrial anomalies will have a field day with the billion-pixel view of the Curiosity rover's surroundings at a place called Rocknest on Mars.

Soprano paved the way for today's antiheroes

Gandolfini's appealing portrayal of a gritty, unappealing guy ushered in the era of the modern TV antihero.

HPV infections fell by half in teen girls after vaccine, study shows

Infections with the human papillomavirus tied to cervical cancer fell by more than half in U.S. teen girls after the HPV vaccine was introduced in 2006, despite high-profile controversy -- and low rates of uptake, a new study shows.

FBI boss: Drones used for surveillance on U.S. soil

FBI director Robert Mueller said Wednesday that the nation's top law enforcement bureau uses drones to conduct surveillance on U.S. soil, though only on a "very, very minimal basis."

NC gov signs law aimed at restarting executions

Gone without a trace: 6 missing people

The enduring mystery of where Jimmy Hoffa has illustrated the continuing fascination with famous disappearances. Here are six more figures who vanished without a trace.

Assange: WikiLeaks helping Snowden gain asylum

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday said members of his anti-secrecy website have been in contact with lawyers of alleged National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden and are helping him seek asylum in Iceland.