A defense appropriations bill that cleared a House-Senate conference this week will ban Pentagon military and civilian officials from using government credit cards to pay for nude entertainment at topless bars.

The personal stories about denied claims offered a few poignant moments amid hours of debate about the root causes of rising healthcare costs and the policies that can be used to lower them.

Brazilians celebrated the nomination of "The Secret Agent" film to four Oscar categories on Thursday, which many said confirmed the rise of Brazilian cinema and its universal appeal.