The American's guide to the royal wedding

Called the most sought-after invitation of the year (or 21st century), the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday boasts a guest list of 1,900 for the ceremony.
And you're not one of them.
But you can still play along. If you're an American, check out this cheat sheet to the British royal wedding's festivities and customs. Grab a "fascinator," grab a pint and cheerio!

Obama selects Panetta for defense secretary, Petraeus for CIA

In the most extensive reshaping of the Obama administration's national security team to date, the president will name Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta as his nominee to succeed Robert Gates as defense secretary, top U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Witnesses say fighting rages near Misrata, shelling along port

Shells detonated near a refugee camp in the port area, where thousands of migrants have been housed while they await ships to carry them to safety. Witnesses said three people were killed and several were wounded.
The attacks by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi underscored the falsity of government officials' claims that they had suspended military operations in the city.

Alaska police officer accused of being illegal immigrant

A veteran police officer in Alaska was behind bars Monday after authorities accused him of passport fraud, using a fake identity and being an illegal immigrant.

Sen. Ensign says he will resign on May 3

Ensign has admitted to having an affair with Cindy Hampton, a campaign aide and the wife of Ensign's former chief of staff, Doug Hampton. Investigators are looking into efforts by Ensign to assist the Hampton family by providing a nearly $100,000 payment to them, arranging lobbying work for Doug Hampton, and possibly meeting with Doug Hampton on a lobbying matter in violation of Senate rules

Officials: Plane carrying first lady got too close to military C-17

The planes were three miles apart, when they are supposed to be five miles apart, the official told CNN. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what went wrong, as it is believed to be an air traffic controller mistake, the official said.
The White House does not believe the first lady's life was ever in danger, the senior official said.
The FAA said in a statement controllers at Andrews Air Force Base instructed an incoming Boeing 737 to perform a "go around" "because the plane did not have the required amount of separation" behind the military plane. The FAA is investigating. "The aircraft were never in any danger," the agency said.

U.S. defends role in Libya

Gordon, recently back from a trip with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Berlin for informal NATO meetings on Libya and other other global trouble spots, said concerns that NATO may be running short of ammunition and ordinance