Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be sworn in as governor July 26, the date Palin steps down

Senior officials have said that any reaction by the Obama administration was likely to be muted to avoid giving attention to Pyongyang or antagonize it.

Former President George W. Bush surprised city leaders in Woodward -- population 12,000 -- by accepting their invitation to speak at festivities celebrating the $25 million renovation of a local park.

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama returned from Camp David in time to host the Independence Day celebration. 

Former U.S. lawmaker Cynthia McKinney is due to appear in an Israeli court Sunday after she and 20 other activists were taken into custody this week when their relief boat was seized by an Israeli naval ship.

Biden arrived in Iraq on Thursday to visit troops for the July 4 holiday and to also urge Iraq's political, ethnic and sectarian factions to make more progress on divisive issues.

Colin Powell, who broke ranks with the Republican Party last year to endorse Barack Obama, is now concerned that the president's agenda is increasing the size of government and the federal debt to alarming levels.

President Obama is onto his next foreign mission: rebuilding relations with Russia, proving to global leaders that America is serious about climate change, and outlining his vision for Africa, his father's birthplace.

The seating of Minnesota Sen. Al Franken will give Democrats the filibuster-proof 60-40 majority in the Senate, but only on paper.

Sarah Palin, 45, will have a variety of platforms to pursue her goals, from writing books to hitting the speaker's circuit to working with the Republican Party to get candidates elected.