The country's interior minister said the attack was aimed at derailing peace talks with the militant group. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the drone strike was "an attack on regional peace by America."

The secretary of state's comments are the sharpest to date from a top Obama aide. He also said, though, that "innocent people are not being abused" and that the intelligence gathered by the National Security Agency has prevented terrorist attacks.

Starting Friday, a family of four will receive $36 less each month in benefits from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

An Indiana legislative committee is expected to vote on a mass transit plan by Dec. 15. The Central Indiana Transit Study Committee heard testimony and had discussion on the issue Thursday morning.

Former Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard argued Tuesday about the importance of keeping campaign money and strategies out of judicial elections.

To the long list of problems plaguing HealthCare.gov, add data security. The enrollment site for the new health insurance exchanges had a security flaw that didn't get patched up when the exchange marketplace went live.

An important step has been taken in the quest to rid Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime of its lethal weapons. Next, an agreement must be finalized on a plan to destroy tons of toxic agents and munitions.

Gas prices are down sharply. Grocery costs haven't budged lately. Meanwhile, the housing recovery is slowing. Amid evidence of continued sluggishness in the economy, the Federal Reserve says it's not ready yet to end its easy-money policy.

The Federal Reserve says it needs more evidence of a sustained recovery before halting or tapering off its bond-buying program.

"I want to apologize to you that the website has not worked as well as it should," the chief of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services tells Americans. She also promises it will be fixed and running smoothly by the end of November. Republicans have their doubts.