Clinton to focus on middle class...Carter completes first Asia trip...Pope speaks of genocide

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CHICAGO (AP) — Senior aides say the condition of the nation's middle class will be a big part of the driving force behind Hillary Rodham Clinton's second bid for the presidency. The effort is expected to become official with an online announcement today followed by small events in early voting states. Aides say Clinton intends to sell herself as being able to work with Congress, businesses and world leaders.

HONOLULU (AP) — Defense Secretary Ash Carter is expected to fly home from Hawaii today following his first Asia visit to underscore the U.S. focus there. It was a quiet trip during which Carter consulted with Japanese and South Korean leaders, gave pep talks to American troops, stressed the U.S. military's stabilizing influence in the region and repeatedly remarked that compared to the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific is calm and on a prosperous track.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is using the 'g' word today, likely causing great annoyance in Turkey. Francis today honored the 100th anniversary of the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks, calling it "the first genocide of the 20th century." Turkey vigorously denies any genocide and says the 1.5 million death toll is inflated. Armenians have long pushed for greater recognition of the killings.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Al-Qaida's new Indian branch is claiming today that two of its leaders have been killed in U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan. In an audio message, Usama Mahmood identified the dead as deputy chief Ahmed Farooq and Qari Imran, in charge of the group's Afghan affairs. Mahmood says a Jan. 5 drone strike in North Waziristan killed Imran, while a later drone strike killed Farooq.

EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — Military officials say five soldiers have been killed in the northern Sinai in Egypt. Officials say a roadside bomb hit an armored vehicle. Insurgents have targeted police officers and soldiers in the region and the attacks surged following the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.