The Islamist candidate Mohammed Morsi made the new campaign promises in a news conference, vowing to ensure the full rights of the Christian minority and women if he is elected. He also tried to reassure the pro-democracy youth groups who drove the last year's popular uprising by promising to protect the right to stage peaceful protests and sit-ins.

Overnight, protesters stormed and burned the campaign headquarters of Morsi's challenger Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last prime minister. In Tahrir square, birthplace of the anti-Mubarak uprising, protesters chanted slogans against both Morsi and Shafiq. Similar protests took place in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria and elsewhere in northern Egypt.

Morsi claimed the top spot in the first round of Egypt's landmark election last week, putting him in the June 16-17 runoff vote against Shafiq, also a former air force commander.

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The ad was released Tuesday as Romney was poised to clinch the Republican presidential nomination in the Texas primary. It takes the former Massachusetts governor to task for failing to speak out against real estate mogul Donald Trump, a supporter who has consistently charged that Obama is not a U.S. citizen.

The commercial opens by showing 2008 nominee John McCain brushing aside a woman who raised the citizenship issue at a town hall-style meeting, and asks, "Why won't Mitt Romney do the same?"

A Romney aide is shown telling a TV interviewer that "a candidate can't be responsible for everything a supporter has said."

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The New York-based publisher said Tuesday that Canadian character Jean-Paul Beaubier will marry his beau, Kyle Jinadu, in the pages of "Astonishing X-Men" No. 51. That's due out June 20.

Northstar revealed he was gay in the pages of "Alpha Flight" No. 106 in 1992. He was one of Marvel's first characters to do so.

Since then, numerous comic book heroes and villains have been identified as gay, lesbian or transgender.

Marjorie Liu is writing the series. She says the decision to have the pair marry was fitting, noting that the relationship between Kyle and Northstar has grown in recent years.

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Marvel Entertainment LLC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

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The PFCAuctions house says the vial contains some of Reagan's dried blood residue. The auctioneers say it was used by the laboratory that tested Reagan's blood when he was hospitalized after a 1981 assassination attempt in Washington.

Officials at the Ronald Reagan Foundation in California have told BBC News that the sale is despicable.

Auction house spokeswoman Kylie Whitehead told The Associated Press that the blood is being sold by a man whose late mother took it from the laboratory with permission weeks after the tests were made.

Bidding for the vial had passed the 7,000-pound ($11,000) mark Tuesday.

Reagan required emergency surgery after he was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Washington Hilton Hotel.

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Melissa Bowerman, 41, who had been coaching the Condon/Wheeler track and field team with her 73-year-old husband, Jon Bowerman, was ousted this month in a phone call from the superintendents of the Condon and Fossil school districts.

"There was an investigation done and through that investigation, there were some potential details that arose," Condon superintendent Jan Zarate told the East Oregonian newspaper of Pendleton (http://is.gd/pBVR6a). "We started an investigation that led to us asking her to un-volunteer."

Zarate declined to provide details of the investigation.

Melissa Bowerman, whose late father-in-law invented the waffle-soled running shoe and co-founded Nike with Phil Knight, said attending the Condon High School prom with a boy from the track team was an error in judgment. But she said the pair did not have an inappropriate relationship. She said they danced to a few slow songs but mostly played ping pong and foosball.

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On the second and last day of the international meeting, the demonstrations were notably smaller than weekend protests that drew thousands into the streets.

Outside Boeing Co.'s headquarters, a relatively small crowd of protesters gathered in the street. Some released red and black balloons and confetti or blew bubbles. Others staged a "die-in," lying on the ground as if dead.

An orange barricade blocked off the building's entrances, and dozens of police officers stood guard. A police boat idled in the nearby Chicago River.

Occupy Chicago contends tax breaks for the aircraft manufacturer have deprived the state of millions of dollars. The group also objects to Boeing's role in producing military hardware for the U.S. and its NATO allies.

Illinois leaders see such tax incentives as a way to attract large companies that bring thousands of jobs.

Targeting Boeing Co.'s Chicago office makes symbolic sense: The company is a major defense contractor that makes fighter jets, bombs and missiles.

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THE PLAYERS

An alliance formed in 1949 to deter Soviet aggression. The central principle is that an attack in Europe or North America against any member is an attack against all. The alliance has grown to 28 member nations, ranging from the United States, Britain, France and Germany to former Soviet bloc countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Albania and Croatia are the newest members

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AFGHANISTAN

The summit will affirm the shift in NATO's military mission in Afghanistan from a combat role to an advisory role next year, and on plans to help underwrite the Afghan military after the NATO-led military mission ends two years from now. NATO is pledging to maintain a multinational combat force in Afghanistan until sometime in 2014, with a firm deadline to end the mission by 2015. NATO nations, along with others such as Australia that participate in the NATO-led mission, have planned a gradual withdrawal of combat forces ahead of that deadline.

The election of Socialist President Francois Hollande in France complicates that agenda. Hollande campaigned on a promise to pull French troops out of Afghanistan by the end of this year — two years early.

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The Arizona Daily Sun reports (http://bit.ly/JrL3zQ ) 63-year-old Jerry Nabours was elected mayor Tuesday night.

The retired attorney beat City Councilman Al White by 320 votes in the vote-by-mail election.

With more than 10,000 votes cast, turnout was about 39 percent.

Nabours says his victory is a validation of his conservative fiscal vision for Flagstaff. He has criticized White's policies as a waste of taxpayer money as well as the city's public-private partnerships.

Nabours is suing Flagstaff over an ordinance that requires property owners to pay for repairs of city-owned sidewalks. He initiated the suit in 2009 after receiving a $5,000 bill for a sidewalk in front of an apartment building he co-owns.

The case is awaiting review in the Arizona Supreme Court.

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Information from: Arizona Daily Sun, http://www.azdailysun.com/

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The Swedish Academy said it recognized the 80-year-old poet "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality."

In 1990, Transtromer suffered a stroke, which left him half-paralyzed and unable to speak, but he continued to write and published a collection of poems -- "The Great Enigma" -- in 2004.

Transtromer has been a perennial favorite for the 10 million kronor ($1.5 million) award, and in recent years Swedish journalists have waited outside his apartment in Stockholm on the day the literature prize was announced.

Transtromer's most famous works include the 1966 "Windows and Stones," in which he depicts themes from his many travels and "Baltics" from 1974.

His works have been translated into more than 50 languages and influenced poets around the globe, particularly in North America.

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Apple announced his death without giving a specific cause.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," the company said in a brief statement.

"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve"

Jobs had battled cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January -- his third since his health problems began -- before resigning as CEO six weeks ago. Jobs became Apple's chairman and handed the CEO job over to his hand-picked successor, Tim Cook.

The news Apple fans and shareholders had been dreading came the day after Apple unveiled its latest version of the iPhone, just one in a procession of devices that shaped technology and society while Jobs was running the company.

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The ratings firm cut Italy's long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings to "A/A-1" from "A+/A-1+." The rating is still five steps above junk status.

The ratings agency has a negative outlook on Italy's ratings and listed Italy's political issues and heavy debt load as the main factors contributing to the downgrade. It anticipates that political differences will likely limit Italy's ability to respond decisively to its debt crisis.

"What we view as the Italian government's tentative policy response to recent market pressures suggests continuing future political uncertainty about the means of addressing Italy's economic challenges," S&P managing director David T. Beers wrote in a research note outlining the credit rating downgrade.

Last week, Italy's Parliament gave final approval to Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government's austerity measures, a combination of higher taxes, pension reform and spending cuts. The planned cuts and taxes sparked street protests in Rome similar to those in other European countries trying to come to grips with the economic crisis.

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-- Drama Series: "Mad Men," AMC.

-- Actress, Drama Series: Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife," CBS.

-- Actor, Drama Series: Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights," DirecTV/NBC.

-- Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones," HBO.

-- Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Margo Martindale, "Justified," FX.

-- Writing, Drama Series: Jason Katims, "Friday Night Lights," NBC.

-- Directing, Drama Series: Martin Scorsese, "Boardwalk Empire," HBO.

-- Comedy Series: "Modern Family," ABC.

-- Actor, Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory," CBS.

-- Actress, Comedy Series: Melissa McCarthy, "Mike & Molly," CBS.

-- Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Julie Bowen, "Modern Family," ABC.

-- Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Ty Burrell, "Modern Family," ABC.

-- Writing, Comedy Series: Steven Levitan and Jeffrey Richman, "Modern Family," ABC.

-- Directing, Comedy Series: Michael Spiller, "Modern Family," ABC.

-- Miniseries or Movie: "Downton Abbey (Masterpiece)," PBS.

-- Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce," HBO.

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Ahmadinejad announced the upcoming release on NBC's "Today" show in an interview aired early Tuesday, saying it would be a humanitarian gesture.

The development comes after their defense attorney said an Iranian court set bail of $500,000 each for Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, arrested more than two years ago. The move clears the way for their release a year after a similar bail-for-freedom arrangement for Sarah Shourd, the third member of the group.

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Funny and inquisitive, canny and cutting. In "Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy," the former first lady was not yet the jet setting celebrity of the late 1960s or the literary editor of the 1970s and '80s. But she was also nothing like the soft-spoken fashion icon of the three previous years. She was in her mid-30s, recently widowed, but dry-eyed and determined to set down her thoughts for history.

Kennedy met with historian and former White House aide Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. in her 18th century Washington house in the spring and early summer of 1964. At home and at ease, as if receiving a guest for afternoon tea, she chatted about her husband and their time in the White House. The young Kennedy children, Caroline and John Jr., occasionally pop in. On the accompanying audio discs, you can hear the shake of ice inside a drinking glass. The tapes were to be sealed for decades and were among the last documents of her private thoughts. She never wrote a memoir and became a legend in part because of what we didn't know.

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Ratner called the 50-year-old entertainer "a comedic genius; one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever." Mischer called Murphy "a truly groundbreaking performer" whose "quick wit and charisma will serve him very well as Oscar host."

This will be Murphy's first time hosting the Academy Awards. He was nominated for an Oscar in 2006 for his supporting role in "Dreamgirls."

Murphy said in a statement Tuesday that he is "enormously honored" to join the ranks of past Academy Awards hosts such as Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg.

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The reports say the government would seek billions of dollars in losses in compensation. The reports cited people that were not identified.

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal say the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, could file a lawsuit within days.

The reports say securities that were backed by subprime and other risky loans but were deemed safe investments by ratings agencies are the ones at issue in this case.

The Times says the FHFA would not seek recovery of the total amount of the loans because some still have value.

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Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Craig Fugate tells CBS's "The Early Show" a drawdown in assistance funds will have no negative impact on the agency's efforts to help stricken Eastern Seaboard states.

Fugate says "we're going to do what we're supposed to do." He says FEMA "will work with the White House on funds needed to recover from this and other disasters." The agency has less than $800 million left in its disaster coffers.

Fugate says FEMA's current focus is on Hurricane Irene recovery efforts and says it must also gird for any new disasters.

"We don't know what's coming down the line," he says.

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He says his administration's improved emergency readiness was evident over the weekend in reaction to Hurricane Irene.

Katrina struck six years ago Monday and became a symbol for government failure. Obama, in a statement, says his administration has improved emergency response to be "more resilient after disaster strikes."

He said Americans should continue efforts to make sure that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast recover.

Obama maintained a high profile in advance of Hurricane Irene, warning residents along the Eastern Seaboard to be vigilant.

He said emergency responders will address the needs of communities hit by Irene "as quickly and effectively" as possible.

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Buffett said Thursday he had called Moynihan to ask about investing because he considered Bank of America to be a strong company with good leadership.

The bank has struggled under the weight of toxic mortgages from its 2008 purchase of Countrywide Financial Corp. In recent weeks, CEO Brian Moynihan has insisted the bank doesn't need to raise capital.

Moynihan says the company still has the capital and liquidity it needs. But he also said he realizes that an investment from Buffett represents a strong endorsement.

Bank of America Corp. is up $1.69 to $8.68 at the opening bell.

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Meanwhile, officials from North Carolina to New England are looking at what they need to do prepare for the first major hurricane to hit the East Coast in seven years.

As of 8 a.m. EDT Thursday, the Category 3 hurricane was centered about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east-northeast of Nassau in the Bahamas. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the central and northwestern Bahamas.

Also Thursday, a hurricane watch was issued for the coast of North Carolina along with a tropical storm watch for South Carolina.

And in Virginia, the U.S. Navy's Second Fleet has started moving ships away from Norfolk Naval Station to keeps them safe from the approaching storm.

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