France's Hollande In Strong Parliament Position - Reuters

US family leaves Singapore frustrated with inquest SINGAPORE (AP) — The parents of an American software engineer found dead in his Singapore apartment last year have left the city-state before the end of a coroner's inquest.

Md. police: Off-duty trooper dragged by car DENTON, Md. (AP) — Maryland State Police say a trooper is in critical condition after he was dragged by a car while off duty in Caroline County. Police say the trooper apparently confronted three juveniles in a car in Denton on Wednesday evening when they appeared to be involved in some kind of vandalism. The trooper approached group on foot and while he was speaking to them, police say the driver of the car accelerated and the trooper was somehow dragged.

Obama to address drones, Gitmo in security speech Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 5:35 am, Thursday, May 23, 2013 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Thursday is expected to address some of the thornier aspects of national security policy, including drone strikes, the prison at Guantanamo Bay and the dire threats Americans continue to face — even from fellow citizens. On the eve of the president's speech at the National Defense University, the Obama administration revealed for the first time that a fourth American citizen had been killed in secretive drone strikes abroad. Obama's speech is expected to reaffirm his national security priorities — from homegrown terrorists to killer drones to the enemy combatants held at the military-run detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba — but make no new sweeping policy announcements. Obama will try to refocus an increasingly apathetic public on security issues as his administration grapples with a series of unrelated controversies stemming from the attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, the IRS' targeting of conservative groups and government monitoring of reporters. In a letter Wednesday to congressional leaders, Holder said only one of the U.S. citizens killed in counterterror operations beyond war zones — Anwar al-Awlaki, who had ties to at least three attacks planned or carried out on U.S. soil — was specifically targeted by American forces. For months Congress has urged Obama to release a classified Justice Department legal opinion justifying when U.S. counterterror missions, including drone strikes, can be used to kill American citizens abroad. Human Rights First legal director Dixon Osburn welcomed the White House's pledge for more transparency but remained "deeply concerned that the administration appears to be institutionalizing a problematic targeted killing policy without public debate on whether the rules are lawful or appropriate." Against the backdrop of last month's deadly double-bombing at the Boston Marathon, administration officials said Obama will highlight the persistent threat of homegrown terrorists — militants or extremists who are either American citizens or have lived in the U.S. for years.

3 charged with meth in home near NH courthouse LACONIA, N.H. (AP) — Three people have been arrested in a home directly across the street from a New Hampshire courthouse, charged with possession and intent to make methamphetamine. Authorities said a search warrant turned up other drugs in the house and equipment to make meth.

LUBBOCK, Texas - The driver of a parade float involved in a train wreck that killed four war veterans in West Texas told investigators that the oncoming train appeared to be stationary and that he did not notice anything was wrong until he saw people jumping from the float, according to documents released Wednesday.