JOE BIDEN

The White House released the State of the Union 2012 official special guest list Tuesday afternoon, and the people who have been invited represent different visions of the American Dream.

Xi is largely an unknown entity to U.S. officials.

The massive online protest last Wednesday, in which Wikipedia and thousands of other Web sites closed down or otherwise protested and helped to kill controversial online piracy legislation, was widely heralded as an unprecedented case of a grassroots uprising overcoming backroom lobbying.

A fast-moving, wind-driven brush fire south of Reno burned several homes on Thursday, and led to the evacuation of 10,000 people. Wind gusts of up to 82 mph continue to push the fire out of control, threatening dozens more homes.

The FBI's outdated definition of rape excluded from federal crime reports cases involving a male victim, oral and anal penetration, and non-forcible sexual assault.

When it comes to the Iowa caucuses, who loses is almost as important as who wins. Iowa doesn't often vote for the eventual nominee, but it does tend to weed out non-viable candidates. Who will be weeded out tonight?

During a tele-town hall hosted by Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition, GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich said he would consider former Alaska governor Sarah Palin as a vice presidential running mate if he won the Republican primaries.

Hashemi is forbidden to leave the country.

The U.S. Mint will not produce one dollar coins stamped with the faces of past U.S. Presidents according to the announcement by the Obama administration.

The U.S. Mint will cut off mass production of presidential $1 coins, making just enough to meet demand for collectors, Vice President Joe Biden announced at a Cabinet meeting.

As U.S. troops prepare for departure from Iraq, President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met at the White House Monday for talks focusing on the future relationship between the two countries.

Playing in a new venue in Maryland, the president was on hand to see Navy win its 10th straight in the historical series, as the Midshipmen rushed for 296 yards and took advantage of three Army turnovers to win 27-21. But the game was closer than many expected, as Navy had to kick two fourth-quarter field goals to hold off the scrappy Black Knights.

Though Navy controlled much of the first half of the game, Army has stormed back, tying the score 14-14 at the half. President Barack Obama was on hand for the coin toss.

Russia and the United States are planning a regular exchange on technical threats that appear to come from computers in each other's territories, a White House spokeswoman said on Friday, even as bilateral ties have come under growing strains.

President Barack Obama needs several factors to break his way to improve his chance for re-election in 2012 -- the most important of which is U.S. job growth.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Barbara Walters that the crackdown in Syria was not his fault.

U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, returned to Damascus on Tuesday after being removed from the country for his own safety in October.

Biden met with Greece President Karolos Papoulias on Monday before beginning talks with new Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos. Biden arrived in Greece after traveling from Turkey. This week is seen as crucial for the struggling Eurozone. Italy's new government unveiled austerity measures that European leaders hope will be the start of a turning point in the struggle to keep the euro intact.

Iraqis are wary on how their country will fare once the Americans leave. The Americans are seen as an occupying force by many, but welcomed by others who believe they act as a buffer amid the country's still-volatile sectarian mix.

At least two dozen people have died in renewed fighting in the northern part of Syria between security forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and members of the Free Syria Army (FSA), amid fears the country is descending into a state of civil war.

The withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq by Dec. 31 will mark the beginning of a historic new phase in relations, Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday in Baghdad.