Merkel presses GM for Opel plan

BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pressing General Motors Co. to come up with a "reliable concept" for the future of its subsidiary Opel.

Navajo Code Talkers to be in NYC Veterans parade

NEW YORK — The famed Navajo Code Talkers, the elite Marine unit whose unbreakable code stymied the Japanese in World War II, fear their legacy will die with them.

FBI reassessing past look at Fort Hood suspect

WASHINGTON — Nearly a year before Maj. Nidal Hasan allegedly went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, terrorism investigators conducted an "assessment" of him before deciding he did not pose a threat.

Sources: Obama near decision on Afghanistan troops

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is nearing a decision to add tens of thousands more forces to Afghanistan, though probably not quite the 40,000 sought by his top general there.

Japan plans additional $5 billion for Afghanistan

TOKYO — Japan on Tuesday announced $5 billion in fresh aid to Afghanistan even as it plans to bring home refueling ships supporting U.S.-led forces there. The pledge comes just days before President Barack Obama arrives in Tokyo for talks that are sure to focus on the countries' military alliance.

Navies of 2 Koreas exchange fire

SEOUL, South Korea — The two Koreas briefly exchanged naval fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, with a North Korean ship suffering heavy damage before retreating, South Korean military officials said.

Gulf Coast residents stay put ahead of Ida

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Weather-hardened Gulf Coast residents refused to retreat from a steadily weakening rare late-season tropical storm that crept toward shore Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, stiff winds and some flooding.

Loaded gun found in Texas juvenile lockup

HOUSTON — Texas authorities are trying to figure out how a 16-year-old may have gotten a loaded handgun past officers at a juvenile detention center in Houston.

Officials: Man kills 3, self in rural Texas home

CLEVELAND, Texas — Authorities called several times to check on a family's well-being in a rural Texas home eventually found the bodies of four people.

D.C. sniper mastermind set to be executed Tuesday

RICHMOND, Va. — Unless Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine steps in, sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad will be executed Tuesday for the attacks that terrorized the nation's capital region for three weeks in 2002.