JAKARTA, Indonesia – An Islamic militant jailed for the Bali bombings that killed 202 people was released from prison Thursday as part of Indonesia’s independence day celebrations, and 11 others linked to the blasts had their sentences reduced. It is an Indonesian tradition to cut jail terms on holidays, but …

NEW YORK – During nearly every stop of her six-city “listening tour” this summer, Katie Couric said viewers told her they wanted the network evening news to be an hour instead of just 30 minutes. Couric, who becomes anchorwoman of the “CBS Evening News” on Sept. 5, told The Associated …

DURHAM, N.C. – The chairman of the Durham County Republican Party said Wednesday he will mount a write-in campaign challenge against the district attorney prosecuting three Duke University lacrosse players charged with rape. Steve Monks, a lawyer in private practice, had the required 100 signatures to qualify as an unaffiliated …

FORT PAYNE, Ala. – A Valley Head man was arrested for walking naked along a highway while waving an American flag. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrested Gerald Lynn Kelley, 52, and charged him with public lewdness in connection with the incident, the Fort Payne Times-Journal reported Tuesday. DeKalb Deputy …

WASHINGTON – The Marine who led an Iraq mission in which up to 24 civilians were killed is “an outstanding squad leader and undoubtedly” deserves a medal for his actions, his commander said in a memo weeks later. Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich is among troops under investigation for allegations …

NEW ORLEANS – As residents work to rebuild their lives and homes a year after Hurricane Katrina, actor Brad Pitt says he and girlfriend Angelina Jolie will be frequent visitors to the city observing the progress. The couple was in New Orleans on Thursday, though only Pitt appeared at an …

NEW YORK – Investors will keep a sharp eye on inflation data next week with Wall Street anxious for any indication of whether the Federal Reserve will remain paused at its September meeting or resume hiking rates. Aside from macroeconomic themes, earnings season winds down with several major retailers set …

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Iran has postponed its talks with the European Union on a package of incentives designed to defuse the standoff over Tehran’s atomic program by a day, the EU said Wednesday. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who had been scheduled to meet Wednesday with Iran’s top nuclear …

WASHINGTON – The fundraising organization that helped vault former Rep. Tom DeLay to Republican leadership ranks in the House and distributed election money to numerous Republicans has been fined for campaign finance violations and is shutting down. Under an agreement with the Federal Election Commission, Americans for a Republican Majority‘s …

WASHINGTON – Grateful that a Senate holdout no longer opposed his nomination, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton said Sunday the turnabout represented “a fairly dramatic change in the political dynamic.” “I think the main thing is allowing the nomination to come to a vote on the floor of the Senate, and …