Obama Sets Afghan Rollback

U.S. News

Flood Forces Evacuations in North DakotaA3

Sirens wailed across Minot, N.D. Wednesday as the swollen Souris River overtopped levees five hours ahead of a looming evacuation deadline.

• Video: Flooding to Hit Midwest Again

Business

Transocean Blames BP for SpillA3

Transocean's internal investigation blames decisions by BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil-spill disaster, contrasting with earlier reports from U.S. government agencies.

Politics

Petraeus Hearing to Probe CIA Role A4

Senators plan to press Gen. David Petraeus on how he'd lead the Central Intelligence Agency as its spies are taking on an ever-more-militarized role in the fight against Islamist militants.

Politics

Obama's Tough Balancing ActA4

President Obama's decision to start returning U.S. troops from Afghanistan is a gamble that he can balance demands from the Pentagon that he leave enough boots on the ground to finish the job, and demands from Congress and the American public that he end the war.

Health Industry

Colorado Out of Joint Over Pot ShopsA5

In a backlash against the booming medical-marijuana industry, scores of Colorado cities and counties have banned cannabis shops, citing abuse of medical-marijuana law.

• Video: Cannabis Clubs in Peril
• Photos: Colorado Sees Pot Backlash

Health Industry

FDA Leaves Silicone Implants on Market Despite RisksA5

Women receiving silicone-gel breast implants experience frequent complications including needing additional surgery to fix or replace them, the FDA said.

Travel

Sierra Winter Chills Summer TourismA5

One of the heaviest winter snow seasons in years is putting a chill on the Sierra Nevada's summer tourism, with lingering drifts forcing cancellations and postponements of camping trips, rafting excursions and horseback rides.

Autos

Michigan Leans Anew on Big ThreeA6

Since the crisis that landed GM and Chrysler in bankruptcy, newly profitable U.S. auto makers have been consolidating and expanding assembly operations in their home state.

Politics

Emergency Manager Law Faces ChallengeA6

A Michigan law that broadened the state's power to intervene in financially troubled municipalities and school districts faces a fresh challenge as a left-leaning activist law center filed a lawsuit alleging the statute violates the state constitution.

U.S. News

U.S. WatchA6

Today's U.S. Watch

Politics

Republicans Delay Vote on Limiting U.S. Role in LibyaA7

GOP leaders are being pressed to take tough positions by rank-and-file members, who are frustrated with bills that offer tough words but produce little action.

Asia News

China: U.S. Should Stay Out of DisputesA8

China warned against U.S. involvement in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and accused some of China's neighbors of "playing with fire."

• Map: Disputed Isles

Europe News

Lagarde on Track to Win IMF NodA9

The race to lead the International Monetary Fund is all but over as its executive board interviews the candidates this week, with French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde on track to win final approval.

Europe News

Draghi Appointment May Be Delayed A9

The designation of Italian Mario Draghi as European Central Bank president may be delayed because France and others want reassurance that Italy won't have two seats on the board.

Business

Saudi Thirst for Oil Drives Plans to Go NuclearA10

Rapid population growth, wastefulness and economic development are driving up Saudi Arabia's thirst for energy, reducing the amount of oil available for export and driving the kingdom's interest in nuclear power.

World News

WORLD WATCHA11

WORLD WATCH

Middle East News

Young Brothers Rebel in EgyptA11

In the latest sign of the widening dissent within Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, youth members of the country's most powerful Islamist group announced they will start their own secular political party.

Asia Business

Panel Won't Seek Blame in Nuclear AccidentA13

The scholar leading the probe into Japan's nuclear power plant disaster dismissed criticism that the effort lacks teeth, and he pledged to emphasize fact-finding and prevention rather than laying blame for the accident.

Japan News

Debris Blocks Japan Recovery AimsA13

Japan's central government estimates that nearly 25 million tons of smashed concrete, steel, wood and other detritus from devastated coastal areas must be cleared away and disposed of to make room for rebuilding.

• Rikuzentakata: Ruin and Rebirth
• Panel Won't Seek Blame in Nuclear Accident

Africa News

Global Crisis Roils Southern AfricaA18

Swaziland, a mountainous nation of less than 1.5 million people, ruled by a polygamist who is Africa's last absolute monarch, is nearly broke

Europe News

Russia Blocks Registration of Opposition PartyA18

Russia denied registration of a key opposition political party Wednesday, effectively barring it from upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections that the Kremlin had hinted might be open to some competition.