Taiwan ex-president's prison term extended

TAIPEI: Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian, jailed for corruption in 2009, has had his prison term extended by 18 months to 20 years due to a further bribery conviction.Chen, 62, was already serving an 18 1/2-year term for corruption and money-laundering convictions relating to his 2000-2008 presidency -- charges he says stem from a vendetta by the current Beijing-friendly government.The...

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Obama administration to high court: End marriage law

Edith Windsor (shown with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., in December), is at the center of the upcoming Supreme Court case.STORY HIGHLIGHTSThe Justice Department files first in a series of legal briefs involving two big casesSupreme Court will hear arguments next month on Defense of Marriage Act Lawyers for House GOP say they should be able to defend the marriage law in courtU.S. still deciding...

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Pentagon grounds F-35 fleet after engine crack found

Updated 9:03 PM ET WASHINGTON The Pentagon on Friday grounded its fleet of F-35 fighter jets after discovering a cracked engine blade in one plane. The problem was discovered during what the Pentagon called a routine inspection at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., of an F-35A, the Air Force version of the sleek new plane. The Navy and the Marine Corps are buying other versions of the F-35, which...

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Cyberattacks Bring Attention to Security Reform

Recent accusations of a large-scale cyber crime effort by the Chinese government left many wondering what immediate steps the president and Congress are taking to prevent these attacks from happening again.On Wednesday, the White House released the administration's Strategy on Mitigating the Theft of U.S. Trade Secrets as a follow-up to the president's executive order. The strategy...

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Obama a marker on post-racial path

Donna Brazile says Black History Month is a time to note crossroads the nation has faced. STORY HIGHLIGHTSDonna Brazile: Black History Month themed crossroads, "tied to two pivotal U.S. eventsEmancipation Proclamation, March on Washington were crossroads, she saysShe says crossroad decisions are threaded along U.S. road to post-racial societyBrazile: We're not there yet, but re-election of Obama a...

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Man charged with outraging modesty of girl

SINGAPORE: A man has been charged with outraging the modesty of a 16-year-old girl. Toh Boon Cheong, 52, is accused of rubbing his groin area against the girl's hip on board the MRT train travelling from Choa Chu Kang station to Bukit Gombak station.The alleged incident occurred on 15 January, at about 6:50am.If convicted, Toh faces up to two years' jail and caning.- CNA/ck !-- Zone...

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Rapper among dead in Las Vegas shooting, crash

STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Kenneth Cherry Jr., a rapper known as Kenny Clutch, was killed, his lawyer saysGunfire and a fiery crash kill 3 in the heart of Las Vegas StripCasino visitor describes seeing "fireball" from Caesars PalacePolice are looking for a black Range Rover Sport with large black rimsLas Vegas (CNN) -- A shooting and a fiery crash left three people dead in the neon heart of the Las Vegas...

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Japan identifies some Boeing 787 problems

TOKYO Japanese investigators have identified the causes of fuel leaks and other problems with Boeing's 787 but are still investigating the more serious battery problem that forced an emergency landing in January and the worldwide grounding of the jets. The Transport Ministry on Friday released the results of its investigation into problems that occurred with 787 Dreamliner jets in January. It...

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Arias Challenged On Pedophilia Claim

Accused murderer Jodi Arias was challenged today by phone records, text message records, and her own diary entries that appeared to contradict her claim that she caught her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, looking at pictures of naked boys.Arias had said during her testimony that one afternoon in January 2008, she walked in on Alexander masturbating to pictures of naked boys....

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How secure is the papal election?

The Conclave of Cardinals that will elect a new pope will meet in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. STORY HIGHLIGHTSBruce Schneier: Rules for picking a new pope are very detailedHe says elaborate precautions are taken to prevent election fraudEvery step of the election process is observed by people who know each otherSchneier: Vatican's procedures, centuries in the making, are very secureEditor's...

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