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The mortgage giant sought to buy influence in Washington with discounts given to lawmakers and their aides, a new House report concludes. It also says Countrywide may have "skirted the federal bribery statute."

During Libya's uprising last year, hundreds of thousands of foreign workers fled the violence. But now, many are making the trek back across Africa's Sahel region seeking better job opportunities than they can find at home. Marine Olivesi reports from one town in Ghana that has seen thousands make the long trip.

The nation's oldest civil rights organization holds its annual convention in Houston this week. As in any election season, the group is putting energy into voting rights and voter turnout. But this year, the dramatically high rate of unemployment rate among African-Americans is also a key concern.

The safest bet for a box-office draw is not a superhero, action or sci-fi film — it's computer animation. Franchises like Toy Story, Ice Age and Shrek consistently make billions for their studios, Bob Mondello writes — and that's before DVD and toy sales kick in.

Documents suggest Mitt Romney was chief executive at Bain Capital for longer than he has said. That's significant — but only to a point.

The ancient desert town of Timbuktu is under assault in the west African nation of Mali. Islamist forces have taken over much of northern Mali where Timbuktu is located. One group, allied with al-Qaida, has begun systematically destroying Shrines that celebrate ancient Muslim saints. Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher Corinne Dufka talks to Renee Montagne about the destruction.

Steve Inskeep talks to Neil MacFarquhar of the New York Times about the bombing in Damascus on Wednesday that reportedly killed the Syrian defense minister and other officials.

At the annual National Governors Association meeting, health care is a hot agenda item. State leaders are at odds with one another over the Affordable Care Act, and some who oppose the law won't yet say whether they'll use federal funds to expand Medicaid programs.

The stock market hasn't been kind to 401(k) plans in recent years. At an annual economics retreat in Maine, some experts offer up a word of caution: Watch out for fees.

Todd Akin now trails Sen. Claire McCaskill in the U.S. Senate race, and the GOP establishment is pressing the Republican to quit the contest. But one expert says the controversy will help the congressman more than it hurts him.