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Los Angeles mayor-elect vows to put recession in rear-view mirror
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles Councilman Eric Garcetti declared victory Wednesday in his bid to become the next mayor and vowed to put the city's economic slump "in the rear-view mirror," capping a race shaped by dire fiscal forecasts and questions about the political clout of organized labor.

Obama to lay out rationale for drone strikes in speech
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will lay out the rationale for U.S. drone strikes in a speech on Thursday, a White House official said.

U.S. acknowledges killing four Americans in drone strikes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government formally acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that it had killed four Americans, including militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who died in drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan.

Man linked to Boston bombing suspect killed by FBI in Florida
ORLANDO, Fla./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Chechen immigrant who was being questioned about his possible links to one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects was shot and killed by a federal agent in Florida on Wednesday after he suddenly turned violent, the FBI said.

West may boost Syria rebels if Assad won't talk peace
AMMAN (Reuters) - Washington threatened on Wednesday to increase support for Syria's rebels if President Bashar al-Assad refuses to discuss a political end to a civil war that is spreading across borders.

Chicago board approves largest school closing
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Board of Education voted on Wednesday to close 50 schools - including about 10 percent of all elementary schools - in the largest mass school closing in the nation.

Ford to close Australia auto plants: reports
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co is set to announce it is closing its two Australian auto plants and will cease production in the country by 2016 as it struggles with sliding sales, high costs and a strong Australian dollar, local media reported on Thursday.

Dish on national security PR offensive against SoftBank
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dish Network Corp is ramping up its Washington-centric campaign to thwart Japanese firm SoftBank Corp's bid for Sprint Nextel Corp, hoping to convince lawmakers and government reviewers that it poses national security risks.

European banks stop sending money to North Korea: aid groups
BEIJING (Reuters) - European aid groups said their banks in Europe had stopped sending money to North Korea in the wake of U.S. sanctions on Pyongyang's main foreign exchange bank, leaving them scrambling for a solution short of hand-carrying cash into the impoverished country.

NASA investing in 3-D food printer for astronauts
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - In a scene right out of Star Trek, a Texas company is developing a 3-D food printer for astronauts to create custom meals on the fly.

Apple, former Washington wallflower, now at center of tax fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For years, Apple Inc kept a low profile in Washington as it grew into one of the most valuable companies in the world. Now the iPad maker has taken the lead, perhaps inadvertently, on a top priority for U.S. business: simplifying America's tax code.

Apple, former Washington wallflower, now at center of tax fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For years, Apple Inc kept a low profile in Washington as it grew into one of the most valuable companies in the world. Now the iPad maker has taken the lead, perhaps inadvertently, on a top priority for U.S. business: simplifying America's tax code.

Los Angeles calls upon star French designers for 'Figaro' opera
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Count Almaviva, muscles bulging and resplendent in white, struts like a peacock across the stage belting his baritone at his countess, who sits in a flowing red gown against a sparse backdrop of sleek, modernist lines.

Obama nominee vows to work with Congress to fund transportation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's choice to be transportation secretary promised on Wednesday to work with Congress to figure out how to fund U.S. transportation needs during a time of tight budgets and faced lingering Republican anger over recent air traffic controller furloughs.

Obama threatens to veto Republican student loan plan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House threatened on Wednesday to veto a Republican bill to switch federal student loan interest rates to a market-based system, arguing the plan would create more uncertainty for students and families.

Exclusive: Glencore, Trafigura deals with Iran may have skirted sanctions - U.N
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Metals swap deals with Iran by Switzerland-based commodities giants Glencore Xstrata and Trafigura could have been a way of skirting international sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program, according to a confidential U.N. Panel of Experts report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

British soldier hacked to death in suspected Islamist attack
LONDON (Reuters) - A British soldier was hacked to death by two men shouting Islamic slogans in a south London street on Wednesday, in what the government said appeared to be a terrorist attack.

Accused Fort Hood shooter asks to fire lawyers, represent self
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Accused Fort Hood shooting spree gunman Major Nidal Hasan asked a U.S. military judge on Wednesday for permission to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself at his court martial, a Fort Hood spokesman said.

Army sergeant accused of videotaping female cadets
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Army sergeant at the Military Academy has been accused of videotaping female cadets in the showers a West Point, a defense official said on Wednesday, the latest in a series of sex-related incidents that has rocked the armed forces.

Justice Department tells lawmakers no bank is too big to jail
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Justice Department official insisted on Wednesday that no financial company is too big to jail, in the department's latest effort to backpedal from statements made in March by Attorney General Eric Holder.