SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Recent satellite images show North Korea is digging a new underground tunnel in what appears to be preparation for a third nuclear test, according to South Korean intelligence officials. The excavation at North Korea’s northeast Punggye-ri site, where nuclear tests were conducted in 2006 and 2009, is in its final […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s been so warm in the United States this year, especially in March, that national records weren’t just broken, they were deep-fried. Temperatures in the lower 48 states were 8.6 degrees above normal for March and 6 degrees higher than average for the first three months of the year, according to calculations […]

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Mitt Romney faces a daunting to- do list as he transitions into the role of likely Republican presidential nominee. Among the tasks: Raise as much money as possible for the general election campaign against President Barack Obama. Hire more people and send them to the most critical states in the […]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy said today it has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf region amid rising tensions with Iran over its nuclear program. The deployment of the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise along the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group marks only the fourth time in the past decade […]

TEHRAN, Iran Iran’s nuclear chief signaled Tehran’s envoys may bring a compromise offer to the talks this week with world powers: Promising to eventually stop producing its most highly enriched uranium, while not totally abandoning its ability to make nuclear fuel. The proposal outlined late Sunday seeks to directly address one of the potential main […]

KILIS, Turkey — Syrian forces fired across the border today into a refugee camp in Turkey, wounding at least five people as a U.N.-brokered plan to end more than a year of violence this week all but collapsed, authorities said. Syrian activists said two people were killed, but the reports could not be immediately confirmed. The […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Nighttime Maine Turnpike users will encounter intermittent 25-minute traffic stops southbound at mile 94 in Litchfield this week. The turnpike authority says the stops today through Thursday evenings will start at 10 p.m. and end at 5 a.m., weather permitting. Multiple traffic stops will be needed to accommodate repairs to a bridge […]

AUGUSTA ( AP) — A bill Maine allowing courts to order the forfeiture of retirement benefits for a state employee convicted of a crime has been signed into law by Gov. Paul LePage. The bill, which was signed Friday, brings Maine in line with more than 15 other states that have pension forfeiture laws on […]

WATERVILLE ( AP) — Police in Waterville are looking for suspects in the stabbing of a man following a fight in the central Maine city. Police say 26-year-old Michael Reed of Waterville suffered two stab wounds to his back and was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville. His injuries are classified as […]