At its closest approach, the office building-sized asteroid will be only about 17,200 miles above the surface of our planet. That's far nearer to us than the moon, and even closer than some weather and communications satellites. Some people think this near miss should serve as a wake-up call.

Congress likes to say it doesn't do earmarks anymore. And while that may be true, it's also a fact that targeted provisions are still useful in moving legislation — even critical legislation like the bill that pulled Washington back from the fiscal cliff last month.

Houses of worship are still trying to recover from the damage done by the superstorm last fall. The government has encouraged them to apply for aid, but it's not clear whether they'll qualify. For some, even disaster relief would break down the boundary between "church and state."

The legendary rapper is responsible for some of Latin hip-hop's most danceable music. His lyrics also advocate for the Puerto Rican independence movement.

Robert Kennedy's 50-mile hike in freezing weather — prompted by a joke his brother President John F. Kennedy made — kicked off the nation's walking and hiking craze. To honor the anniversary of the walk, a group of people plan to follow in his footsteps.

A gang rape case in India's capital has attracted international attention. But sexual assaults are a nationwide problem, and authorities are often dismissive of victims, particularly in rural areas. One woman tells her story.

The nominees may seem to reflect our era of infinite playlists, but where the Grammys are concerned, some surprisingly traditional ideas still endure.

The government is considering adopting a national happiness index. But how do you measure happiness?

When she was younger, Myra didn't realize her mom, Bonnie Brown, was "different" than most. Her mother's intellectual disability was only something she realized later when her mother told her, "I know I am not like your friends' mothers, but I'm doing the best I can."

Corporations pay millions to have their products turn up in the hands of famous people. But cellphone makers were not thrilled when a photo showed a smartphone on a table next to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This set off fevered speculation about which brand it was.

In China this weekend, 200 million people are traveling home for the Chinese New Year. For some, this means entire days on standing-room only trains. One gadget being sold to travelers is a padded metal pole. It's to lean your head on, so you don't fall when you doze off.

French forces helped Mali push Islamist militants from that West African nation's north, and now they want to leave and hand over peacekeeping duties to an African force. Somalia, on the continent's east, has been guarded by an East African force since 2007, and is now experiencing a period of calm unprecedented in the past two decades.

Regulators grounded 50 Dreamliners worldwide after batteries overheated on two separate flights last month. Only crew will be on board for Thursday's flight to move one 787 from a Boeing plant in Fort Worth to a plant near Seattle. Engineers will then study the plane and its batteries and look at ways to reduce fire risk.

The 20-acre estate outside Cedar Falls, Iowa, was sold for a winning bid of about $600,000. The property used to be owned by Russell Wasendorf, who was recently sentenced to 50 years in jail for embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars from investors.

The sweeping fire sale is a requirement for multibillion-euro bailouts. And the Chinese, Russian and Arab companies lining up to take advantage of the steep discounts are making Greeks and other Europeans nervous.

The sweeping fire sale is a requirement for multibillion-euro bailouts. And the Chinese, Russian and Arab companies lining up to take advantage of the steep discounts are making Greeks and other Europeans nervous.

A pristine rainforest in Ecuador sits on top of the equivalent of millions of barrels of oil. Ecuador has offered a deal to the rich countries of the world: Pay us billions of dollars, and we'll leave the rainforest untouched.

Regulations to restrict the amount of silica dust that workers can inhale were set decades ago, and workplace safety experts say that limit needs to be cut in half. A proposal for new rules was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for a 90-day review, but almost two years later, it's still under review.

The voting rules for the awards almost always leave room for disappointment or confusion, but if you're willing to market yourself, you too could win a nomination.

Puerto Rico's per capita murder rate is six times that of the U.S. as a whole. And with violence escalating, many residents are fleeing to the mainland. Still others hope to turn their home around.