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U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Wednesday asked fossil fuel executives at a conference to increase production levels “to stabilize the market and to minimize harm to American families.” Granholm asked them to start “producing right now” during remarks at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference taking place this week in Houston, which attracts energy leaders from around the globe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continued to plead for Western assistance against Russian airstrikes Tuesday — a day after he warned that there could be dire consequences for the rest of the world if it doesn’t support the country’s fight for freedom. “While Russians are to blame for the killings, responsibility is shared by those who for 13 days in their Western offices haven’t been able to approve an obviously necessary decision, who didn’t save our cities from these bombs and missiles — although they can,” Zelensky said. [cut] In an interview with ABC’s David Muir on Monday night, Zelensky said...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has no "ill intentions" towards Ukraine, hours after Russian forces had seized Europe's biggest nuclear power plant. Putin made the comment on the state-controlled Rossiya 24 news channel on Friday in which he called on neighboring countries "to think about how to normalize relations" more than a week after he ordered an invasion that has caused thousands of casualties and sparked a growing refugee crisis.

President Joe Biden pleaded with House Democrats on Thursday to come together and pass his agenda, warning the future of the party was at stake. “I came for the buffet,” Biden joked after he entered the meeting on Capitol Hill on Thursday morning. But the president grew serious as he outlined his updated domestic entitlement agenda of $1.75 trillion. “I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the House and Senate majorities and my presidency will be determined by what happens in the next week,” he said according to reports from inside the meeting. “I need you to help me....

Pierre Kory, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at St. Luke's Aurora Medical Center, delivers passionate testimony during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on "Early Outpatient Treatment: An Essential Part of a COVID-19 Solution, Part II."

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former Arkansas treasurer Martha Shoffner pleaded not guilty Thursday to mail fraud charges alleging that she misspent campaign funds — counts that won't be part of her upcoming bribery and extortion trial. Shoffner, a Democrat, didn't speak during her arraignment in federal court on the new charges, 10 counts of mail fraud. The charges allege that she misspent $9,800 in campaign funds on clothing, cosmetics and other personal items. The judge set a March 31 trial date. Shoffner is scheduled to stand trial Monday on the bribery and extortion charges. In that case, she is...

CHILLIWACK, B.C. — A former British Columbia hang-glider pilot whose passenger fell 300 metres to her death during a flight that was an anniversary gift pleaded guilty Friday to criminal negligence causing death. William Jon Orders was charged in the death of 27-year-old Lenami Godinez-Avila, who plunged from Orders’ hang glider shortly after takeoff during a flight above B.C.’s Fraser Valley on April 28, 2012. Orders was also charged with obstruction of justice over allegations he swallowed a memory card that may have contained video of the incident. It wasn’t immediately clear what would happen to that charge.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A former San Francisco gay rights advocate who was arrested after police said they linked him to an email account that had sent and received images of toddlers engaging in sex acts with men has been convicted of possessing child pornography.

Obama pleads at rally: ‘I’m asking you to keep believing in me’By Olivier Knox | The Ticket – 4 hrs ago Fighting to recapture the magic of his history-making 2008 campaign, President Barack Obama on Saturday laid out his fullest-yet case for reelection, pleading with struggling Americans to "keep believing in me" and hitting out at presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney. "If people ask you what this campaign is about, you tell them 'it's still about hope.' You tell them 'it's still about change,'" he told a cheering mass of supporters at Ohio State University in Columbus, six months and...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A man who confessed to shooting two soldiers outside a military recruiting station in Arkansas struck a plea deal with prosecutors Monday during his trial on murder charges. Abdulhakim Muhammad pleaded guilty to capital murder and attempted capital murder charges. His sentence was not immediately announced. Prosecutors went to trial because they sought the death penalty for Muhammad, who was charged with killing Army Pvt. William Andrew Long and attempted capital murder for wounding Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula in 2009. Arkansas law requires a defendant to be tried if lethal injection is a sentencing option. Prosecutors...

The defunct political advocacy group ACORN has pleaded guilty to one count of an election law violation in Las Vegas, Nevada. ACORN attorney Lisa Rasmussen told Fox News that a plea agreement was worked out with the state attorney general. The violation was for unlawfully providing compensation for registering voters based on the total number of people registered. Sentencing for the organization is set for Aug. 10, and the potential fine is a maximum of $5,000. ACORN itself was named as a criminal defendant in the case for allegedly running an illegal voter registration scheme called "21," or "Blackjack," which...

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - It took less than an hour inside a sombre military courtroom Monday for Canadian Omar Khadr to plead guilty to murdering an American soldier and end a war crimes case that has dragged on for eight years. The Toronto-born detainee told military judge Army Col. Patrick Parrish that he understood the charges, his confession, and the conditions of a plea agreement. In addition to pleading guilty to throwing a grenade when he was 15 that fatally wounded Sgt. First Class Christopher Speer, Khadr is convicted of attempted murder, spying, conspiracy and providing material support to terrorism.

A city cab driver who the feds claim plotted with a self-confessed al-Qaeda terrorist to unleash an attack on the subway system pleaded guilty today to terrorism charges -- then went on a rant against "Zionist Jews" for trying to destroy this country. Zarein Ahmedzay appeared in Brooklyn federal court and told a judge that he received orders from al-Qaeda leaders to carry out the botched plot last September to bomb several Manhattan subway lines. "Your honor, I strongly urge the American people to stop supporting the war against Islam. It would be in their interest," warned Ahmedzay. "I am...

Mrs Clinton said on the eve of the first strategic dialogue between the two nations that while she would not prejudge the outcome of any discussions, the US would "go deep into" all issues raised by Pakistan during the talks. "I am sure that that's going to be raised and we're going to be considering it," she told Pakistan's Express television channel yesterday when asked how the US would respond to a Pakistani request for help in establishing a domestic nuclear power industry. But she added that the landmark US civilian nuclear power deal with India was "the result of...

A Forest Hills man has pleaded no contest to several charges in connection with his work with the voter registration group ACORN. Eric Jones, 20, was a canvasser for ACORN in 2007 and in the course of his work, he submitted 30 voter registration applications from individuals who did not exist, according to Mike Manko, spokesman for the Allegheny County District Attorney's office. Mr. Jones was one of seven people charged last year with forgery and other violations. The district attorney's office said they delivered forged registrations during the 2008 election.

Battling anger and indifference on the part of California voters, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger implored them Sunday not to make the state "the poster child for dysfunction" by defeating a host of measures on Tuesday's ballot that seek to restructure the state's bleak finances. The governor's visits to three African American churches in Los Angeles came as proponents and opponents of the ballot measures marshaled the last of the millions of dollars they have collected for the special election. Schwarzenegger said Sunday he had been told that about 25% of voters are expected to show up, ... Schwarzenegger, accompanied by Assembly...

Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- Bob Schindler understands the pain of a father who saw his daughter change from a woman full of life to a seemingly lifeless person plagued by the effects of a severe medical condition. Although it may seem hopeless, Schindler urged the father of Eluana Englaro not to give up on his daughter's recovery.

DETROIT – A former federal official accused of accepting bribes to release illegal immigrants pleaded guilty Tuesday to corruption charges. Roy M. Bailey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States and failing to report a felony. Under the plea agreement, Bailey faces up to 37 months in prison and a $75,000 fine when he is sentenced Nov. 21.

DETROIT - Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded for forgiveness from his family and his constituents Wednesday in an emotional televised speech, his delayed response to recently revealed racy text messages that contradict his sworn testimony that he did not have a physical relationship with a key aide. "I truly apologize to you," Kilpatrick said, turning to his wife, Carlita, who sat by his side, holding his hand, at their family church. Kilpatrick did not publicly specify, however, what he was apologizing for, saying legal matters prevented him from doing so. A prosecutor is investigating whether the mayor and chief of staff...

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States has again been informed by Iran that it has no knowledge of a missing former FBI agent who vanished during a visit to the Islamic republic three months ago, the US State Department said Friday. The department described Tehran's second response to a request for information about Robert Levinson's whereabouts as not "very credible" and "unfortunate," saying Washington would continue to push for information. Levinson vanished on March 8 in the area of Kish Island in Iran during what US officials say was a private visit. Tom Casey, a US State Department spokesman, said...