Americans hoping for lower borrowing costs for homes, credit cards and cars may be disappointed after this week’s Federal Reserve meeting.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has met with officials in Japan to reaffirm the importance of their alliance and Washington's commitment to regional security as threats rise from China and North Korea.

North Korea says it has tested exploding drones designed to hit targets and leader Kim Jong Un called for accelerating their mass production.

Some of the Donald Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol nearly four years ago are celebrating the president-elect's electoral victory.

Vice President Kamala Harris is urging Republican voters to put “country first” and abandon former President Donald Trump.

America’s oldest flour company opened in 1790, when George Washington was president.

July 4 is always a fine time to double-check how much you know about how the U.S. government works.

Dozens of bottles of centuries-old, impeccably preserved cherries and berries from the cellar of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate in northern Virginia have been discovered during an archaeological dig.

The National Park Service and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) are collaborating on a project to transcribe the pension records of more than 80,000 of America’s first veterans and their widows.

Republicans are welcoming a police crackdown that cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University and led to the arrests of 33 protesters.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says it expects the federal government will be awash in debt over the next 30 years.

“Duty, Honor, Country” has been the motto of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for 126 years.

George Washington was uneasy about the idea of commemorating his life.

The Congressional Budget Office says it expects the federal budget deficit to drop by $188 billion this fiscal year to $1.5 trillion.

The Congressional Budget Office says it expects inflation to nearly hit the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate in 2024, as overall growth is expected to slow and unemployment is expected to rise into 2025, according to updated economic projections for the next two years.

The 2024 presidential election is drawing a robust field of independent, third party and long shot candidates.

The Onondaga Nation has protested for centuries that illegal land grabs shrunk their territory from a 2.5 million acre expanse in upstate New York to a relatively paltry patch of land south of Syracuse.

The rapid depreciation of the Argentine currency and one of the world’s highest inflation rates has made it difficult for Argentines to make ends meet.

The American flag will be flown throughout the country on July 4, but it wasn't always a revered and debated symbol.

A Navy investigation triggered by a series of suicides is recommending widespread improvements in housing, food, parking and internet for sailors, as well as changes to mental health and other personnel programs.

A new AP-NORC poll shows that personal finances are a major source of stress for about half of the lower income households in the U.S.

Three suicides by sailors assigned to a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier were not connected, but the poor quality of life onboard was a “contributing factor” in one of the deaths.

Shares are mostly higher in Asia despite new data showing Asian factory activity slowed this month as virus outbreaks disrupted shipping at some Chinese ports.

Asian shares are mixed after China reported a big jump in factory gate prices at a time when inflation is a top investor concern.

Here are some fun facts about 10 U.S. presidents.

From 1789 to 1817, there were seven presidential inaugurations that took place indoors, out of the winter elements. (AP Photo, File) (AP1789)Originally, Inauguration Day was held March 4. It wasn’t until 1921 when Warren G. Harding became the first president-elect to ride to his inauguration ceremony in an automobile. After the ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933, Inauguration Day was changed to January 20 starting in 1937. That record was set in 1909, when 9.8 inches of snow was recorded as President Taft was sworn into office.

The inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)Things have changed quite a bit since the first presidential inauguration in 1789. Illustration of American general and politician George Washington (1732 - 1799) receiving the news of his election as the first American president, 1789. While emphasizing the public good, Washington addressed the need for a strong Constitution and Bill of Rights. He also said he would be declining pay beyond what the public good thought was required.

In Phoenix, the Suns and Toronto Raptors stood in a circle and linked arms for the American and Canadian anthems. Wednesday's events came one day after the decision to not to bring charges against the officer who shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year was announced. The NBA had a rule for decades that players and coaches must stand for the national anthem. That resulted in a turnover, as did the ensuing Detroit possession when Blake Griffin held the ball and players took a knee again. The Bucks said after the game they held the ball for 7 seconds to reflect the seven times Blake was shot.

The IIHF also said two members of Sweden’s team staff tested positive. The team said those who tested positive have been isolated and others in the program have been placed in quarantine. The network did not say if Michaels had tested positive or had been in contact with someone who had tested positive. The Huskies said in a statement that no one from their program was in close contact with the individual who tested positive at Seton Hall. Ferentz is the 23rd FBS coach to reveal publicly that he tested positive for the virus.

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON – The Latest on the presidential campaign (all times local):8 p.m.Joe Biden is letting loose against President Donald Trump in the final days of the presidential campaign. Noting Trump has called himself a “perfect physical specimen,” Biden, a devout Catholic, jokingly made the sign of the cross. The former president spoke Saturday at a drive-in rally at his first joint campaign event with Joe Biden. ___12:20 p.m.President Donald Trump says the nation is at a crossroads as Election Day approaches. But the Biden campaign is looking to capitalize on the favorable political environment in the state as the coronavirus pandemic drags down President Donald Trump in typically GOP-leaning states.