# Israel Warns Iran That 'Bad Options' are Nearing Gabriela Shalev told journalists at the U.N. Israel still hopes diplomatic engagement and sanctions will halt Iran's push to become a nuclear power, but warned: "our intelligence tells us ... that Iran is racing towards this kind of nuclear capability, and it's not a matter of years." 3/9/2010 9:04:23 PM
Centuries-Old Shipwrecks Found Well-Preserved in Baltic Sea A dozen centuries-old shipwrecks — some of them unusually well-preserved — have been found in the Baltic Sea by a gas company building an underwater pipeline between Russia and Germany. The oldest wreck probably dates back to medieval times and could be up to 800 years old. 3/9/2010 9:01:54 PM
Man Dies Pumping Gas After Static Electricity Starts Fire Authorities in Pennsylvania say a gas station patron died when static electricity ignited a fire as he filled up his tank. A gas station equipment expert says the only other fatality from a static-generated fire was in Oklahoma more than a decade ago. 3/9/2010 8:27:36 PM
Defectors: Church of Scientology hides abuse Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. They worked seven days a week, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week at most. 3/9/2010 11:55:58 AM
Family hopes to stop release of SeaWorld death video SeaWorld and the family of a trainer slain by a killer whale want to prevent video of the attack from becoming public. Dawn Brancheau died last month after being pulled into the water by the 12,000-pound orca. The family and SeaWorld have been consulting the lawyer who represented race driver Dale Earnhardt's widow. 3/9/2010 8:36:34 AM
Haiti Frees 9th U.S. Baptist, Not Leader One of two U.S. Baptist missionaries still held on kidnapping charges in Haiti was released Monday, but the group's leader remained in custody. Charisa Coulter was taken from her jail cell to the airport by U.S. Embassy staff. 3/9/2010 7:11:10 AM
UK Mommy state: 'Insurance for all' plan for dogs All dog owners in England and Wales would have to insure against their pet attacking someone under Labour proposals to tackle dangerous breeds. Police and local authorities could also be given powers to force owners of dangerous dogs to muzzle them or even get them neutered. 3/9/2010 6:46:18 AM
Britons demand details about notorious toddler killer British authorities are under pressure from the public to disclose more information about why Jon Venables -- one of two former schoolboys convicted of killing a toddler in 1993 -- has returned to jail. Given new identities upon their release, the public has long demanded to know more about what happened. 3/9/2010 6:36:01 AM
U.S. leads Israeli, Palestinian peace talks Comments Israelis and Palestinians face a "moment of real opportunity" to make peace after agreeing to resume American-brokered talks, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden said Tuesday as he launched the highest-level visit by an Obama administration official to Israel. 3/9/2010 6:23:46 AM
Is Palin a Candidate, Pundit or Celebrity? On Thursday came word that the former Alaska governor was working on a TV series about her home state, currently being pitched by one of television's top producers. A day before that, her publishers announced she was embarking on a second book. (Ed: It's all about the MONEY.) 3/9/2010 6:21:31 AM
Toyota With 'Stuck' Accelerator Hits 94 MPH, Driver Rescued James Sikes, whose 2008 Toyota Prius accelerated suddenly on a California interstate Monday, reaching 94 MPH before he was able to bring it under control with the help of the California Highway Patrol. "Nothing wrong with my mat, and the pedal wouldn't do anything." 3/9/2010 6:18:36 AM
Indian MPs approve women's bill (Video) The upper house of India's parliament has approved a bill to reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women. The bill was passed with 186 members of the 245-seat house voting in favour. Only one member voted against. 3/9/2010 6:07:40 AM
Palin under fire, admits family sought healthcare in Canada Sarah Palin’s weekend admission that her family once travelled to Canada to receive treatment under the public health-care system she’s so often demonized prompted skepticism and ridicule Monday among her critics in the United States. There were also doubts about the veracity of her story. 3/8/2010 3:48:16 PM
Toyota disputes critic who blames electronics Toyota says faulty gas pedals and floor mats, not electronics, are the cause. It is fixing millions of vehicles to correct those problems. But some drivers have reported continued problems in vehicles that have already been supposedly fixed. 3/8/2010 3:00:33 PM
Obama slams private health insurance companies U.S. President Barack Obama cast America's private health insurance companies Monday as the premium-hiking villains in the nation's health-care crisis and hailed Canada's publicly funded medicare as a system that "works." Obama has set a difficult March 18 deadline for the U.S. House of Representatives to act. 3/8/2010 2:57:39 PM
Indian Swami with huge Vancouver following involved in sex scandal Self-styled Indian “Godman” Swami Nityananda, who has a huge following in Greater Vancouver, has assured his devotees he is “innocent.” Last week, India’s leading Tamil TV channel, Sun TV, aired the shocking sex video of Swami Nityananda and South Indian actress, Ranjitha. 3/8/2010 2:21:06 PM
Peachland: B.C. man gets 20 years for plot to kill U.S. attorney A B.C. man and former U.S. Army Ranger has had an extra 20 years added to his prison term after trying to hire a hit man to murder an assistant U.S. attorney. Luke Sommer, 23, offered an undercover FBI agent as much as $20,000 to kill the prosecutor. He'll now serve a 44-year sentence. 3/8/2010 1:46:45 PM
Strong quake hits eastern Turkey (Video) A strong earthquake has struck eastern Turkey, killing at least 57 people, officials have said. The 6.0-magnitude quake was centred on the village of Basyurt in Elazig provinceIt has been followed by more than 40 aftershocks. 3/8/2010 9:00:14 AM
US Program to pay homeowners to sell at a loss In an effort to end the foreclosure crisis, the Obama administration has been trying to keep defaulting owners in their homes. Now it will take a new approach: paying some of them to leave. This program will allow owners to sell for less than they owe and will give them a little cash to speed them on their way. 3/8/2010 8:19:36 AM
Pre-war fears of Hitler Youth link-up with Boy Scouts Clouds of war were gathering over Europe, and the English police officer was concerned. A group of black-clad Germans had been spotted heading for London — by bicycle. British intelligence files reveal the ripples of alarm that spread through the country as Hitler Youth cyclists toured Britain in 1937. 3/8/2010 7:34:24 AM
Canadian spies interrogated Afghan prisoners, insiders reveal Officers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service have played a crucial and long-standing role as interrogators of captured Taliban fighters. The spies began working side-by-side with military police intelligence officers in 2006. 3/8/2010 7:08:11 AM
U.S. seeks way to send Khadr back to Canada: source Obama administration officials are quietly seeking a way to repatriate Canadian-born terror suspect Omar Khadr, an authority in a position to know has confided. “They don’t have the stomach to try a child for war crimes,” said the source. They want Ottawa to ask for Khadr back. 3/8/2010 5:50:03 AM
Blast targets Pakistan interrogation center A suicide car bomber struck a building where police interrogate high-value suspects in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Monday, killing at least 12 people and wounding 61 more including women taking children to school, officials said. 3/8/2010 5:44:00 AM
Icelanders reject loan repayments Iceland's voters have resoundingly rejected a $5.3-billion-US plan to pay off Britain and the Netherlands for debts spawned by the collapse of an Icelandic internet bank, initial results indicate. Results so far in a country of about 320,000 showed that 93 per cent of voters said "no". 3/7/2010 12:47:30 PM
Sectarian violence in Nigeria leaves 200 dead More than 200 bodies, many of them women and children, lay in the streets of a central Nigerian town after a renewed spate of Christian-Muslim violence, witnesses said Sunday, just months after religious violence tore through a nearby city and left hundreds dead. 3/7/2010 12:45:28 PM
Iraq parliamentary election hit by insurgent attacks Iraq's second parliamentary election since the 2003 invasion has been hit by multiple attacks, with at least 24 people being killed. Two buildings were destroyed in the capital and dozens of mortars were fired across Baghdad and elsewhere. 3/7/2010 6:22:57 AM
Live Aid: Bob Geldof challenges BBC aid claim Bob Geldof has challenged the BBC to substantiate its report that millions raised for famine relief in Ethiopia were diverted to pay for weapons. The campaigner, who led the Western relief effort in the 80s, said there was "not a shred of evidence" Band Aid or Live Aid money was siphoned off. 3/7/2010 6:21:24 AM
Evacuation after Uganda mudslide Thousands of people are being evacuated from hillsides in Uganda where a mudslide is believed to have killed more 350 people. 4,000 people are being removed from their homes on the slopes of Mount Elgon as heavy rains continue. 3/7/2010 6:19:22 AM
Texas publisher apologizes for column likening Vancouver to ’36 Nazi Games The publisher of a Texas newspaper that ran a column equating Canada’s patriotic Olympic fervour with Nazi-era Germany has apologized. The columnist went too far by equating Canadians’ flag-waving festivities with Germany having "swastikas everywhere" during the 1936 Olympics. 3/7/2010 6:02:48 AM
Iranian President calls 9/11 a 'big fabrication' Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday called the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States a “big fabrication” that was used to justify the U.S. war on terrorism. It came amid escalating tension in the long-running dispute between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear program. 3/7/2010 5:35:36 AM
For Iraq's voters, hard choices with no guarantees Put yourself in the shoes of an Iraqi voter. You've endured 30 years of dictatorship under Saddam Hussein, punctuated by an eight-year war with Iran, two wars against U.S.-led alliances and a dozen years of a United Nations embargo. It's been seven years since Mr. Hussein was toppled. 3/6/2010 6:09:15 PM
Torture Suit Naming Rumsfeld Clears Hurdle A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a civil lawsuit accusing former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of responsibility for the alleged torture by U.S. forces of two Americans who worked for an Iraqi contracting firm. 3/6/2010 11:50:52 AM
New Sex Scandal Rocks Vatican The Vatican is facing allegations that one of Pope Benedict's ceremonial ushers, as well as a member of the Vatican choir, were involved in a gay prostitution ring. "We're just scratching the surface here," says CBS News consultant Father Thomas Williams. "There's definitely more to come. 3/6/2010 11:48:57 AM
A week later, some Chile quake surivors wait for aid Some survivors were still waiting for government aid on Saturday in south-central Chile, a week after one of the strongest earthquakes on record killed hundreds and repeated aftershocks rattled nerves. Homeless and desperate, they voiced anger and frustration. 3/6/2010 8:08:00 AM
Icelanders vote on payback plan Icelanders have gone to the polls to vote on paying the UK and Netherlands after the collapse of the Icesave bank, with a resounding "No" vote expected. The British and Dutch governments want reimbursement for the $5.2bn they paid out in compensation to customers in 2008. 3/6/2010 5:33:56 AM
Lost Jewish tribe 'found in Zimbabwe' In many ways, the Lemba tribe of Zimbabwe and South Africa are just like their neighbours. But in other ways their customs are remarkably similar to Jewish ones. British scientists have carried out DNA tests which confirm their Semitic origin. 3/6/2010 5:32:23 AM
Toyota secretive on 'black box' data Toyota has for years blocked access to data stored in devices similar to airline "black boxes" that could explain crashes blamed on sudden unintended acceleration, according to an Associated Press review of lawsuits nationwide and interviews with auto crash experts. 3/6/2010 4:30:49 AM
Waste watchers? British trash bins being fitted with microchips, some fear garbage spies Monitored by millions of cameras and spied on by a secretive domestic intelligence network, Britons could be forgiven for feeling up in arms over the latest threat to their privacy: Intelligent garbage bins that can monitor how much they throw out. 3/5/2010 3:14:54 PM
FBI director warns of growing cyber threat Militant groups, foreign states and criminal organizations pose a growing threat to U.S. security as they target government and private computer networks, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Thursday. He noted a cyberattack could have the same impact as a "well-placed bomb." 3/5/2010 1:11:06 PM
Athens erupts as Greek austerity plan passes The Greek parliament approved new spending cuts and taxes Friday aimed at defusing the country's debt crisis, while protesters fought with police in the streets of Athens. The violence came as Prime Minister George Papandreou went abroad to seek European leaders' support. (Ed: More like 'hiding out'.) 3/5/2010 12:19:31 PM
At least 6 dead in Arizona bus crash Multiple fatalities have been reported after a charter-style bus apparently rolled over on westbound Interstate 10 about 15 miles south of Ahwatukee. The bus apparently collided with another vehicle then rolled over. The bus was badly damaged. At least one child was injured in the rollover. 3/5/2010 5:59:34 AM
11-year-old spends $44 million on Dubai homes Even by the standards of a city that celebrates extravagance, it was a spectacular shopping spree: In just two weeks early last year, an 11-year-old boy from Azerbaijan became the owner of nine waterfront mansions. The total price tag: about $44 million -- or roughly 10,000 years' worth of salary for the average citizen of Azerbaijan. 3/5/2010 5:56:42 AM
For soldiers in the real world, The Hurt Locker sets off explosions of laughter There sits Staff Sergeant William James, the bomb technician at the centre of The Hurt Locker, lighting a cigarette and bragging about his credentials. "I saw a little bit in Afghanistan, too," he says on his first Hummer ride with his new team. 3/5/2010 5:28:11 AM
Japan's Princess Aiko skips school after being bullied Japan's Princess Aiko, granddaughter of the emperor, has missed several days of classes because of bullying by boys at her elementary school, a spokesman for the royal family said Friday. The news provided a rare glimpse into the private affairs of the world's oldest hereditary monarchy. 3/5/2010 5:25:12 AM
Chile sharply lowers quake death toll to 279 Chile's government on Thursday sharply cut the official death toll from a massive weekend earthquake and ensuing tsunamis to 279 identified bodies, from a previously reported 802 victims, without giving an explanation. 3/4/2010 4:16:08 PM
US: Salmonella Alert for Popular Food Additive A wide range of processed foods — including soups, snack foods, dips and dressings — is being recalled after salmonella was discovered in a flavor-enhancing ingredient. Food and Drug Administration officials said Thursday that the ingredient, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, is used in thousands of food products. 3/4/2010 3:11:31 PM
Brazil quarantines cruise ship over food poisoning An international cruise ship was placed under quarantine in southeastern Brazil after hundreds of passengers were stricken with vomiting and diarrhea, health authorities said Thursday At last 310 people suffered “some kind of food poisoning aboard” the Vision of the Seas. 3/4/2010 12:59:10 PM
Iceland braces for public backlash Iceland is bracing for a public backlash against the use of taxpayer money to pay its international debts — the latest stumbling block in the tiny island's difficult struggle out of a deep recession. Icelanders are expected to deliver a resounding “no” vote in a referendum Saturday. 3/4/2010 12:32:31 PM
India temple stampede kills 63 people: police At least 63 people, more than half of them children, were killed in a stampede triggered by a massive rush for free food and clothes at a Hindu temple in northern India on Thursday, police said. Thousands of people had gathered at the old temple at Kunda village in Uttar Pradesh state for free food and clothes. 3/4/2010 6:42:05 AM
Fleeing Haiti, family gets hit by Chile quake The Desarmes family left their native Haiti two weeks after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake, joining the eldest son in Chile for what seemed a refuge from the fear and chaos of Port-au-Prince. Their sense of security lasted barely a month. 3/4/2010 6:06:10 AM
Strong earthquake hits southern Taiwan, causing damage, injuries A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan on Thursday, terrifying residents, disrupting communications and triggering at least one large fire. Twelve people were injured, the National Fire Agency said. No tsunami alert was issued. 3/4/2010 4:53:52 AM
German Islamists convicted over bomb plot (Video) Four Islamists have been convicted by a court in Germany of plotting to attack US facilities in the country. The judge said they had dreamed of "mounting a second September 11 2001" by killing US civilians and soldiers by bombing targets like Ramstein Air Base. 3/4/2010 4:44:02 AM
FAA suspends pair after kids radio pilots at JFK As planes waited to take off from Kennedy Airport, the jargon-packed radio chatter between controllers and pilots was interrupted by a young boy's voice: "JetBlue 171, cleared for takeoff." The boy made five transmissions to pilots preparing for departure, according to the recording. 3/3/2010 3:52:35 PM
Drivers complain that Toyota's fixes didn't work At least 15 Toyota drivers have complained to U.S. safety officials that their cars sped up by themselves even after being fixed under recalls for sticky gas pedals or floor mat problems, according to an Associated Press analysis. 3/3/2010 3:46:31 PM
Dobbs, Beck, Palin, Bachmann Share Blame For Rise in Right-Wing Extremism Anti-government sentiments in the U.S. have reached levels so high they could result in another attack like the Oklahoma City bombing, according to a report by an organization that tracks right-wing extremists – and the authors of the report place part of the blame on Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck, Rep. Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin. 3/3/2010 3:37:04 PM
Pakistan reveals the Taliban’s secret underground cave network Pakistan seized the complex in its latest offensive against terrorists in its semi-autonomous tribal belt, following U.S. pressure on the country to eliminate Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked groups who attack Western troops in Afghanistan. 3/3/2010 3:30:34 PM
Chile military begins aid deliveries Four days after a deadly earthquake, Chile's military finally launched a massive humanitarian aid effort Wednesday that promised to improve an image long associated with dictatorship-era repression. 3/3/2010 2:26:13 PM
Zuma - 'You British think Africans are barbaric' Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa, has given a scathing interview about British condescension and colonialism hours before the start of his three day state visit to the UK today. Zuma was responding to discussion in the UK media of his five marriages, three current wives and 20 children in and out of wedlock. 3/3/2010 2:15:12 PM
Chinese official caught as diary of wine and women leaked online Most officials in trouble for corruption in China try to hide their tracks. In the case of Han Feng, he wrote a diary. Mr Han’s Twitter-style, almost-daily, diary entries recounting his sexual dalliances and the cash gifts he received, have caused a sensation since they were leaked onto the internet last month. 3/3/2010 2:08:08 PM
'Iran arms runners' held in Italy Two Iranians and five Italians have been arrested by Italian police on suspicion of trafficking arms to Iran, anti-terror police say. Italy's anti-terrorist prosecutor Armando Spataro said the two Iranians arrested in Italy worked for the Iranian government. 3/3/2010 12:00:24 PM
UK: Women refuse airport body scans Two women were stopped from boarding a plane at Manchester Airport after refusing to undergo a full body scan. The passengers were due to fly to Islamabad on 19 February when they were selected at random to go through the new scanning machine. 3/3/2010 11:57:47 AM
US and China bid to ease tensions Two senior US diplomats have begun meetings with Chinese officials over a wide range of issues, amid a series of high-profile disagreements. The Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and White House adviser Jeffrey Bader arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday. 3/3/2010 11:55:26 AM
Two killed as giant waves hit Mediterranean cruise ship Two people have been killed and six injured as giant waves slammed into a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, Greek and Spanish officials say. The 26ft (8m) high waves hit the Cypriot-owned Louis Majesty near the French port of Marseille. The ship was carrying 1,350 passengers and 580 crew. 3/3/2010 11:17:22 AM
Ancient Egyptian queen’s burial chamber unearthed French archaeologists announced Wednesday the discovery outside Cairo of the burial chamber of a mysterious queen from Egypt’s Old Kingdom more than 4,000 years ago. The necropolis of Saqqara outside Cairo has yielded a string of new discoveries as 10 different teams excavate a previously untouched area. 3/3/2010 10:45:29 AM
JFK tower allowed a kid to direct air traffic A child apparently directed pilots last month from the air traffic control center at John F. Kennedy Airport, one of the nation's busiest airports, according to audio clips. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it was investigating. 3/3/2010 7:13:29 AM
Middle East peace process lurches forward with Arab approval Arab nations gave the green light Wednesday for Palestinians to enter indirect negotiations with Israel for a preliminary four-month period, a decision likely to break the months-long deadlock over resuming Mideast peace talks. 3/3/2010 5:42:44 AM
Greece unveils huge austerity plan Greece's cabinet approved a sweeping new austerity programWednesday, the third in as many months, intended to rein in a bulging budget deficit and secure European financial support. Prime Minister George Papandreou compared his country's fiscal crisis to a war and said he would have to take harsh and possibly unfair measures. 3/3/2010 5:36:20 AM
String of bombings kills dozens in Iraq A string of three deadly suicide bombings killed at least 30 people in the former insurgent stronghold of Baqouba on Wednesday, including a blast from a suicide bomber who rode in an ambulance with the wounded before blowing himself up at a hospital, police said. 3/3/2010 5:04:23 AM
N.Y. state police chief retires amid scandal The head of the New York State Police on Tuesday announced his abrupt retirement, becoming the second public safety official to depart amid an unfolding scandal threatening Gov. David Paterson and his administration. Corbitt's boss, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O'Donnell, resigned a week ago. 3/2/2010 5:37:54 PM
Israel: Palestinian homes to be demolished for park Scores of Palestinian homes in one of Jerusalem’s most volatile neighbourhoods will need to be demolished to make way for a parks project under plans unveiled yesterday by the city’s Israeli mayor. The plan has been criticised by Palestinians and the United Nations. 3/2/2010 3:52:35 PM
Catching up: 'Buy farmland and gold,' advises Dr Doom The world’s most powerful investors have been advised to buy farmland, stock up on gold and prepare for a “dirty war." Dr Marc Faber, who advised his audience to pull out of American stocks one week before the 1987 crash and was among a handful who predicted the more recent financial crisis. 3/2/2010 3:37:04 PM
100 dead in Uganda landslide At least 106 bodies had been recovered Tuesday after massive landslides wiped out several villages around Mount Elgon on the Uganda-Kenya border, an army spokesman and local aid officials said. The army has joined the search for an estimated 245 people who are still missing. 3/2/2010 3:22:30 PM
U.S. Internet companies urged to protect Web's freedom of expression "If it were not for the Internet, God knows how many more people would have been killed on the streets of Tehran" after the 2009 Iranian elections, an Iranian blogger told a Senate subcommittee Tuesday. Omid Memarian, who said he was imprisoned and tortured by the Iranian regime for his pro-democracy Internet writings, was the star witness. 3/2/2010 3:20:04 PM
Lots of anger, some aid, in Chile disaster zone Facing angry survivors who had little warning of the coming tsunami, and who still are waiting for aid three days after the devastating earthquake, Chile's government used helicopters and boats to step up food deliveries on Tuesday as the death toll rose to nearly 800. 3/2/2010 1:48:32 PM
SeaWorld workers describe frenzy of fatal attack A killer whale that dragged a trainer to her death eluded SeaWorld workers' frenzied efforts to corral it with plastic nets while it swam pool-to-pool, according to witnesses. After the whale was finally trapped, it refused to unclench its teeth and let go of Dawn Brancheau 3/2/2010 1:27:08 PM
Rwanda president's widow arrested The widow of former Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, whose assassination triggered the Rwandan genocide, has been arrested in France. Agathe Habyarimana is accused by the current Rwandan government of helping to plan the 1994 genocide, and has long been sought by prosecutors there. 3/2/2010 5:22:14 AM
Chile asks Canada for help Chile is asking Canada to provide a field hospital, a pontoon bridge, generators and telecommunications equipment following Saturday's devastating earthquake that killed more than 700 people, destroyed 500,000 homes and displaced at least 1.5 million people. 3/2/2010 5:01:21 AM
Chile Tsunami swept away fleeing bus full of retirees The 40 retirees enjoying summer vacation at a seaside campground nestled under pine trees knew they had to move fast after Chile's powerful earthquake struck. They didn't make it. The tsunami came in three waves, dragging away the bus they'd piled into. Most were tourists. 3/2/2010 4:42:10 AM
GM recalls 1.3 million American cars over power steering General Motors has announced it will recall 1.3 million cars in North America over a potentially faulty power steering motor following a federal probe into the problem. Complaints had been filed about power steering failures that could make the vehicles difficult to control. 3/2/2010 4:22:15 AM
Obama smokes, eats too much junk food: Physician Barack Obama's struggle to quit smoking has been amply chronicled over the past couple of years: apparently being president of the United States doesn't make it any easier to break a bad habit. "Put the potato chips down," Robert Gibbs, Obama's spokesman, quipped Monday. 3/1/2010 2:32:51 PM
Toyota to replace oil hose on 933,800 vehicles Toyota Motor Corp will replace an oil hose in some 933,800 vehicles in the United States due to the risk of a potential leak that if left untreated could damage the engine, the automaker said on Monday. 3/1/2010 2:14:38 PM
Weak sea walls blamed for France storm disaster Blame is being laid on weak and aged sea defences after violent storms left at least 50 dead and thousands homeless along France's Atlantic coast. Many died after the sea wall off the coastal town of L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer was breached, allowing 8m-high (26ft) waves to crash through the streets. 3/1/2010 8:23:15 AM
Russian Olympic officials should resign - Medvedev President Dmitry Medvedev has called on Russian Olympic officials to resign, following the nation's worst ever performance in the winter games. Those in charge of preparing Russian athletes for the Vancouver games "should take the brave decision and submit their resignations," he said. 3/1/2010 8:21:32 AM
Madoff whistle-blower: ‘No One Would Listen’ Harry Markopolos is the whistle-blower who uncovered Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme 10 years before the rest of the world. While a lot has been written about Madoff’s scam, few actually know the dramatic details of how Markopolos and a small group of sleuths went about investigating the fraud that reached around the globe. 3/1/2010 5:08:08 AM
Massive head of pharaoh unearthed in Egypt Archaeologists have unearthed a massive red granite head of one Egypt's most famous pharaohs who ruled nearly 3,400 years ago, the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities announced Sunday. The leader of the expedition described it as the best preserved sculpture of Amenhotep III's face found to date. 3/1/2010 5:05:00 AM
Man dies when 911 calls unheeded for 30 hours With her boyfriend in severe abdominal pain, Sharon Edge called 911 for an ambulance in the early morning hours of Feb. 6. Heavy snow was falling — so heavy it would all but bring the city to a standstill — and Curtis Mitchell needed to go to a hospital. "Help is on the way," the operator said. 3/1/2010 5:01:58 AM
Toyota boss apologises in China The president of the Japanese car company Toyota, Akio Toyoda, has apologised to customers in China, the world's biggest auto market. Mr Toyoda travelled to Beijing after his high-profile appearance before angry US lawmakers last month. 3/1/2010 4:48:20 AM
Naked photo at Sydney Opera House highlights openness More than 5,000 people have shed their clothing on the steps of the Sydney Opera House to pose for a photograph by the American artist Spencer Tunick. The organisers had only expected about half that number to take part. 3/1/2010 4:47:02 AM
Washington State: Teen burglar may have struck again Notorious teen burglar Colton Harris-Moore has apparently eluded the long arm of the law once again after a break-in at a hardware store on Orcas Island. Several witnesses report an unusual level of police activity across the island for several hours, including SWAT teams and search teams with dogs. 2/28/2010 2:21:02 PM
Gun fans cheer Starbucks’ stance on the armed Dale Welch recently walked into a Starbucks in Virginia, handgun strapped to his waist, and ordered a banana Frappuccino with a cinnamon bun. He says the firearm drew a double-take from at least one customer, but not a peep from the baristas. 2/28/2010 1:53:38 PM
Chile Earthquake: Death toll surges to over 700 The death toll from a massive earthquake that struck Chile surged above 700 on Sunday as reports emerged of coastal towns devastated by the tremor and tsunamis that followed. President Michelle Bachelet said that 708 people were confirmed dead and that the total was likely to rise. 2/28/2010 10:28:44 AM
Argentina: Lady Penguin picks a Falklands fight Cristina Kirchner racked up her war of words with Britain over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands last week, but then Argentina’s glamorous president tends to lay it on a bit thick. “Slaps it on” would be more apt. “I have painted myself like a door since I was 14 years old,” she said once, “and I spend more time on makeup and dressing than I do at the gym.” 2/28/2010 9:13:28 AM
The gun-toting boys from Brazil who rule Rio’s ‘Corner of Fear’ A boy steps boldly into the night traffic and waves a gun to bring the cars to a halt, clearing a path for a motorcycle which screeches into the intersection. Riding pillion is another boy, brandishing a machinegun. Later two teenagers, also riding pillion on motorbikes, flash their guns at other motorists. 2/28/2010 8:44:51 AM
Mexico's Drug Mess: Circular Firing Squad Last May, feeling the need to show how seriously they took the drug war—and to demonstrate some results—Mexican federal troops arrested nearly 30 public officials suspected of ties to drug trafficking in President Felipe Calderón's home state of Michoacán 2/28/2010 5:48:06 AM
Snowpocalypse to snowicane: Hype reigns The snowmenclature smackdown among meteorologists started with "snowmageddon" and "snowpocalypse." When the latest snow event — laden with flakes and whipped by heavy winds — headed for the storm-weary Northeast this week, the folks at AccuWeather Inc. warned of a coming "snowicane." 2/28/2010 5:40:59 AM
Protests, grand jury challenge ‘toughest sheriff’ With a sheriff's helicopter beating overhead, the man known as "Sheriff Joe" stood behind a line of officers as 10,000 people marched past — but this was not the usual show of affection and support for Joe Arpaio. "Joe must go! Joe must go," whole families chanted. 2/28/2010 5:38:51 AM
Fierce storms in France, Spain, Portugal kill 16 A violent late winter storm with fierce rain and hurricane-strength winds battered France, Spain and Portugal Sunday, leaving at least 16 people dead. Most of the 12 victims in France drowned, while others died when hit by parts of buildings or trees. 2/28/2010 5:35:25 AM
Chile counts cost as tsunami ebbs (Video) Chile has begun to count the cost of its deadly 8.8 magnitude earthquake as nations around the Pacific eased their fears of a devastating tsunami. The quake Saturday morning killed at least 300 people - 90% of them in their homes. It is feared the damage may cost tens of billions of dollars. 2/28/2010 4:49:34 AM
SeaWorld faces major public relations challenge SeaWorld's online pitch for its Dine With Shamu show: "Be part of an up-close and unforgettable adventure!" Now the company must reassure visitors the park and its sister locations in San Diego and San Antonio are still places where they can enjoy a family friendly day. 2/27/2010 7:09:13 PM
Canadians wait for word after massive earthquake hits Chile (Video) Canadian officials say they are ready to offer assistance and are closely watching the tsunami warning that’s been issued across the Pacific Ocean after a massive earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, leaving those with friends and family in the region scrambling to make contact. 2/27/2010 5:53:08 PM
Silvio Berlusconi 'avoiding justice', demonstrators say Ten of thousands of Italians have demonstrated in Rome against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, over what they say are attempts to evade justice. Mr Berlusconi is on trial in two corruption cases. But legislation being discussed in parliament would in effect stop him going to court. 2/27/2010 5:36:11 PM
Russia blames Nato for heroin surge from Afghanistan The head of Russia's federal drug control agency has accused Nato of not doing enough to curb the production of heroin in Afghanistan. Victor Ivanov said at least 30,000 people died in Russia every year from heroin, 90% of it from Afghanistan. 2/27/2010 5:34:25 PM
Hours after Chile quake, Tsunami hits Hawaii Tsunami waves have washed ashore in Hawaii, hours after a massive earthquake struck Chile overnight. The impact from the waves doesn't appear to be severe, as the flow of water looked more like a tidal fluctuation. 2/27/2010 2:29:04 PM
Diamond bought for record $35.3m A rare, uncut diamond has achieved a record sale price at an auction in South Africa. The Cullinan Heritage diamond, which was discovered last year, was sold for $35.3m to a Hong Kong-based jewellery company. The 507-carat gem is one of the largest diamonds ever discovered. 2/27/2010 4:50:09 AM
Massive earthquake strikes Chile (Video) A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 has hit central Chile, killing at least 78 people, ministers say. Tsunami warnings have been issued for Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Central America and Pacific island nations. Several hospitals have had to be evacuated in a number of areas, including Santiago. 2/27/2010 4:48:17 AM
Switzerland faces 'holy war' with Gadhafi's Libya After two centuries of neutrality, Switzerland found itself in a bizarre and unprecedented situation Friday, facing a would-be "holy war" announced by Libya's Moammar Gadhafi. The Swiss government declined to comment on Gadhafi's latest salvo in a simmering diplomatic saga. 2/26/2010 3:47:32 PM
Teacher killed at Tacoma, Wash. elementary school A man shot and killed a special education teacher as she walked into her Tacoma, Wash., school Friday, shortly before students began arriving. The suspect was killed in a shootout with a deputy a short time later about 10 miles away, said Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer. 2/26/2010 12:53:00 PM
Tsunami alert as a quake strikes off Japan A tsunami alert has been issued in Japan after a powerful earthquake struck near the Okinawan coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency gave the strength as 6.9 while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.3. 2/26/2010 12:31:15 PM
Thailand: Court seizes $1.4bn of Thaksin fortune Thailand's Supreme Court has ruled that former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's family should be stripped of more than half a contested $2.3bn fortune. The court said $1.4bn (£910m) of the assets were gained illegally through conflict of interest when Mr Thaksin was prime minister. 2/26/2010 12:23:39 PM
French law would tag violent spouses The French government has passed a bill that gives judges the power to evict violent spouses from the home and fit them with electronic security bracelets. The bill, passed unanimously Thursday night in France's National Assembly, is part of the country's stepped-up effort to tackle domestic violence. 2/26/2010 7:21:47 AM
Failure of U.S. health summit satisfies both sides Barack Obama did not achieve the rapprochement he publicly hoped would come out of his day-long summit on health-care reform. If anything, the chasm separating the President from Republicans on how to fix the sickly U.S. system was only wider at the end. 2/26/2010 6:08:25 AM
Thai court seizes $1.4-billion of ex-leader Thaksin's wealth Thailand's highest court has ruled that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra concealed his assets while in office and abused his power for personal gain, and ordered the seizure of $1.4 billion (U.S.) of his $2.29 billion in frozen assets. 2/26/2010 6:07:17 AM
Huge winter storm cuts power to thousands in northeast US, fans fire and disrupts travel A windy winter storm plodding over the northeast of the United States has knocked out power to thousands, fanned a huge fire in coastal New Hampshire and disrupted air and road travel. Utility companies are working to restore power to hundreds of thousands of people across the region. 2/26/2010 5:42:35 AM
Taliban suicide strike kills 17 in Kabul Insurgents struck in the heart of the Afghan capital Friday with suicide attackers and a car bomb, targeting hotels used by foreigners and killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens, police said. An Italian diplomat and a French national were also among the dead. 2/26/2010 5:39:39 AM
Did Toyota Pull Strings to Stifle Probes? Critics in Congress say Toyota pulled strings at NHTSA -- with help from two former insiders, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. Christopher Santucci's job at NHTSA was to conduct defects investigations of automakers and some of his probes were into Toyota. 2/25/2010 6:54:46 PM
Court throws out David Mills bribery, clearing way for Silvio Berlusconi reprieve Italy’s top court threw out a case against the British lawyer convicted of taking a bribe from Silvio Berlusconi, a verdict that could kill charges against the Italian Prime Minister in a related case. 2/25/2010 2:55:37 PM
Shoppers flee as shark-filled Dubai aquarium springs a leak If assassinations, financial meltdown and exploding lifts in the world's tallest building were not enough, Dubai faced a new setback on Thursday. Visitors fled as water shot from a crack in the glass of the Dubai Aquarium, home to 33,000 fish, including numerous sharks. 2/25/2010 1:51:34 PM
‘Toyota defence' might rescue jailed Minnesota man Ever since his 1996 Toyota Camry shot up an interstate ramp, plowing into the back of an Oldsmobile in a horrific crash that killed three people, Koua Fong Lee insisted he had done everything he could to stop the car. The prosecutor who sent Mr. Lee to prison said he thinks the case merits another look. 2/25/2010 10:35:37 AM
Toyota recall: Japan has a soft spot for teary-eyed executives Never mind the congressional hearing. What the Japanese are riveted by is Toyota president Akio Toyoda's weepy display of emotion when he met American dealers. The footage is being played over and over on TV news Thursday in Japan where the public has always had a soft spot for tearful executives. 2/25/2010 10:29:51 AM
Family say whale trainer's death an accident (Video) The grieving family of a veteran trainer who was killed by an orca at SeaWorld Orlando say they consider her death an accident. The orca that killed Dawn Brancheau was always considered a particularly dangerous animal by staff. Staff were not allowed to swim with Tilikum. 2/25/2010 9:47:15 AM
Bankers still overpaid, Bank boss John Mack says The chairman of US bank Morgan Stanley, John Mack, has said that bankers are still paying themselves too much. "I still don't think the industry gets it," Mr Mack said. The issue of bonuses has become a huge political issue on both sides of the Atlantic. 2/25/2010 7:14:13 AM
Crunch time for Obama's landmark health reforms Barack Obama's bid to overhaul the US health care system reaches a dramatic climax Thursday as the president gathers Democratic and Republican leaders for a last-gasp televised debate. Obama is challenging opposition Republicans to stop obstructing his top domestic priority. 2/25/2010 6:16:01 AM
Nicolas Sarkozy admits Rwanda genocide 'mistakes' French President Nicolas Sarkozy has acknowledged that France and the international community made "mistakes" during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. But he stopped short of offering a full apology, saying he hoped those responsible would be punished. 2/25/2010 5:51:34 AM
Turkish leaders in 'plot' summit (Video) Turkey's leaders have met the head of the armed forces, Gen Ilker Basbug, about an alleged plot to stir up chaos and justify a military coup. After several hours of talks, the presidency said all problems should be solved "within the constitution". 2/25/2010 5:50:25 AM
Hamas man's son Mosab Hassan Yousef 'was Israeli spy' The son of a jailed Hamas leader who converted to Christianity and moved to California has gone public to say that he spied for Israel. Speaking before the release of a book about his life, Mosab Hassan Yousef made the assertion in an interview for Israel's Haaretz newspaper. 2/24/2010 8:08:11 PM
Hooded gunmen kill 13 in southern Mexico Officials say hooded men travelling in several cars stormed a ranch killing the owner and his three sons as well as four other people. The Mexican authorities say the gunmen then killed five local police officers who tried to fight back. 2/24/2010 7:57:22 PM
Toyota boss Akio Toyoda apologises for faults (Video) Toyota's president has apologised to the US Congress and American Toyota owners for safety problems that led to deaths and worldwide recalls. Akio Toyoda said he was "deeply sorry" for any incidents which had occurred as a result of failures with accelerators and brakes on several models. 2/24/2010 7:54:20 PM
Latvian 'Robin Hood' hacker leaks bank details to TV An alleged hacker has been hailed as a latter-day Robin Hood for leaking data about the finances of banks and state-owned firms to Latvian TV. Using the alias "Neo" - a reference to The Matrix films - the hacker claims he wants to expose those cashing in on the recession in Latvia. 2/24/2010 5:52:24 PM
Afghans displaced in Marja offensive fret in a cold limbo In wind-whipped tents, makeshift shelters and overcrowded family compounds, Afghans who fled the battleground town of Marja are asking themselves and one another: When will it be safe to go home? Nearly 4,000 families have sought shelter in nearby Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. 2/24/2010 4:58:47 PM
Hummer joins GM's growing scrap heap The Hummer, the hulking, gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle that came to symbolize conspicuous consumption, has hit the end of the road. General Motors Co. said Wednesday it will wind down operations of its Hummer division after a deal to sell it to a Chinese industrial company fell through. 2/24/2010 4:49:38 PM
Whale Kills Trainer at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium (Video) A SeaWorld killer whale seized a trainer in its jaws Wednesday and thrashed the woman around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience. It marked the third time the animal had been involved in a human death. Distraught audience members were hustled out of the stadium immediately, and the park was closed. 2/24/2010 4:12:25 PM
Gordon Brown apologizes to children shipped to colonies Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday apologised for Britain's role in sending thousands of children to Canada, Australia and other former colonies. Children were often told their parents were dead, while parents were given little information about where their offspring were going. 2/24/2010 8:14:34 AM
UK: Hospital left patients 'sobbing and humiliated' Hospital patients were left "sobbing and humiliated" by uncaring staff, an investigation has found. The independent inquiry claimed the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust had become driven by targets and cost-cutting. 2/24/2010 6:34:04 AM
Plastic rubbish blights Atlantic Ocean Scientists have discovered an area of the North Atlantic Ocean where plastic debris accumulates. The region is said to compare with the well-documented "great Pacific garbage patch". 2/24/2010 6:31:52 AM
Dubai reveals new Hamas suspects Police in Dubai have identified 15 more suspects in the killing last month of a senior member of the Palestinian Islamist militant group, Hamas. Six of those believed to be responsible for the death of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh had UK passports, while the rest had Irish, Australian and French documents. 2/24/2010 6:30:01 AM
Google bosses convicted in Italy An Italian court has convicted three Google executives in a trial over a video showing an autistic teenager being bullied. The Google employees were accused of breaking Italian law by allowing the video to be posted online. 2/24/2010 6:28:34 AM
Ferrari savages FIA over new teams In a column published on the official Ferrari website on Tuesday, the Italian team attack FIA for encouraging struggling newcomers like Campos and US F1 instead of supporting old hands such as BMW and Toyota, who have both left the sport. (Ed: And they're right.) 2/23/2010 3:51:52 PM
'Unbelievably Stupid' NATO attack policy losing the Afghan fight for the West The two Land Rovers and another four-by-four rumbled through a mountain pass. The 40 or so passengers in the convoy were heading south to find work. But to the NATO helicopters hovering overhead, the three vehicles were supposed to be crawling with insurgents. 2/23/2010 3:34:11 PM
Toyota apologizes for handling of safety issues The president of Toyota's U.S. operations insisted Tuesday that electronic problems did not contribute to sudden acceleration of its cars, drawing sharp criticism from both legislators and a tearful driver who could not stop her runaway Lexus. 2/23/2010 3:12:20 PM
U.S. pediatrician faces 471 counts of child abuse A Delaware pediatrician has been charged with multiple acts of child rape and abuse over the course of more than a decade in what may be the worst pedophilia case in U.S. history. A grand jury indictment charges Earl Bradley with sexually assaulting and molesting 102 girls and one boy. 2/23/2010 10:25:05 AM
Greedy Pigs? You betcha! Wall Street bonuses up 17% Wall Street bonuses were up 17 per cent to more than $20 billion in 2009, the year taxpayers bailed out the financial sector after its meltdown, New York state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said Tuesday. "But for most Americans, these huge bonuses are a bitter pill and hard to comprehend." 2/23/2010 10:20:37 AM
Toyota, US lawmakers clash over electronics safety Toyota drivers also testified, including Rhonda Smith, a Sevierville, Tenn., woman whose Toyota-made Lexus suddenly zoomed to 100 miles per hour as she tried to get it to stop. Finally, her car slowed down before she crashed. She called it "a near death experience." 2/23/2010 9:45:39 AM
British bank says CEO will give up his annual bonus BRITAIN'S state-rescued Lloyds Banking Group announced Eric Daniels would not take his annual bonus of $3.95 million. The news comes after Barclays bank last week announced that its top executives had shunned their latest annual bonuses amid growing public outrage over pay. 2/23/2010 8:12:42 AM
German female Protestant bishop drove drunk The head of Germany's Protestant church has admitted drink-driving, after she was charged with running a red light while three times over the legal limit. Bishop Margot Kaessmann, appointed the church's first female leader last year, was arrested in Hanover at the weekend. 2/23/2010 7:46:07 AM
Colombian and Venezuelan leaders' undiplomatic row Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe have clashed at a Latin American summit on Monday, officials say. The row at a private meeting started after Mr Uribe complained to Mr Chavez about the Venezuelan trade embargo on Colombia, upsetting the Venezuelan president. 2/23/2010 7:41:12 AM
Record 63cm/2ft snowfall blankets Moscow Thousands of snow-clearing machines have been working to dig the Russian capital Moscow out of a record-breaking fall of 63cm (nearly 25 inches). After a weekend of heavy snow showers, the regional weather centre announced that the previous record of 62cm, set in 1966, had been broken. 2/23/2010 7:33:40 AM
The Boneyard: world's 'biggest' plane cemetery up close Dubbed The Boneyard, but officially 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) facility, this sprawling US airbase is reputed to be the world's largest military aircraft cemetery. 4,000 retired aircraft, including nearly every plane the US armed forces have flown since World War II. 2/23/2010 7:31:22 AM
Under world's greatest cities, deadly plates Megacities are something new on the planet. Earthquakes are something very old. The two are a lethal combination, as seen in the recent tragedy in Port-au-Prince, where more than 200,000 people perished — a catastrophe that scientists say is certain to be repeated somewhere, and probably soon. 2/23/2010 6:01:03 AM
Karzai 'not to be trusted' in poll power grab Western diplomats have expressed deep concern at a decree from Afghan President Hamid Karzai granting him total control over a key election body. The move gives him the power to appoint all five members. The watchdog helped expose massive fraud in last year's presidential poll. 2/23/2010 5:56:14 AM
Peru buses crash head-on; at least 38 dead Two buses crashed head-on along a remote stretch of highway in northeast Peru Monday, killing at least 38 people and injuring 58, police said. Police and firefighters used cutting equipment to reach the injured trapped inside the twisted wreckage of the buses, which collided shortly before dawn. 2/22/2010 2:38:32 PM
Iran to build nuke facilities ‘inside mountains’ Iran said Monday it plans to build two new uranium enrichment facilities deep inside mountains to protect them from attack, a new challenge to Western powers trying to curb Tehran's nuclear program for fear it is aimed at making weapons. 2/22/2010 2:36:38 PM
British oil firm begins Falklands drilling British oil exploration company Desire Petroleum PLC began drilling at a spot north of the disputed Falkland Islands on Monday, the company said. The announcement is sure to infuriate Argentina, which claims the south Atlantic archipelago as its own and calls it Malvinas. 2/22/2010 9:11:08 AM
Obama unveils new U.S. health care push President Barack Obama tried to rejuvenate his stalled U.S. health care overhaul on Monday with a revised plan to make insurance coverage more affordable and bolster federal authority to regulate premium hikes. The proposal comes three days ahead of a bipartisan White House health care summit. 2/22/2010 8:12:57 AM
Update: Toyota Boasted Saving $100M On Recall New documents shared with congressional investigators show that Toyota officials boasted saving $100 million by successfully negotiating with the government on a limited recall over complaints of sudden acceleration. Congress is scheduled to hold two hearings this week on Toyota. 2/22/2010 7:18:05 AM
Iran warning over 'Persian Gulf' Iran has warned that airlines will be banned from flying into its airspace, unless they use the term "Persian Gulf" on their in-flight monitors. The transport minister has threatened to impound planes that fail to comply. To call it the Gulf, annoys the authorities; to call it the Arabian Gulf, infuriates them even more. 2/22/2010 6:21:17 AM
27 civilians killed in NATO air strike in southern Afghanistan As NATO continues to shift its Afghanistan strategy away from pursuing Taliban insurgents and towards protecting the civilian population, it was forced Monday to announce yet another case where civilians were killed by coalition fire. 2/22/2010 5:59:18 AM
'Mountains' of e-waste threaten developing world Urgent action is needed to tackle the "mountains" of e-waste building up in developing nations, says a UN report. Huge amounts of old computers and discarded electronic goods are piling up in countries such as China, India and some Africa nations, it said. 2/22/2010 5:48:04 AM
Documents: Toyota boasted saving $100M on recall Toyota officials claimed they saved the company $100 million by successfully negotiating with the government on a limited recall of floor mats in some Toyota and Lexus vehicles, according to new documents shared with congressional investigators. 2/21/2010 2:50:23 PM
Rapper Sky Blu: Mitt Romney Attacked Me First Rapper Sky Blu of Grammy-nominated rap group LMFAO was the "unruly airline passenger" that took a swing at former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney early this week. "He grabbed my shoulder, and I was like boom get off of me," Sky Blu said on a video post on celebrity Web site TMZ. 2/21/2010 2:02:45 PM
Train Kills 3 Girls Crossing Florida Bridge Three teenage girls crossing a bridge in central Florida were killed by a freight train as they desperately tried to get out of its way and their helpless friend on the other side could only watch, police said Sunday. The girls and the fourth teenager, a boy, were hanging out in Melbourne's downtown area. 2/21/2010 1:57:45 PM
U.S. athletes are silencing host country's boasts About that "Own the Podium" thing? Right phrase, wrong country. While Canada came into the Vancouver Winter Olympics hoping to send more athletes to the podium for gold, silver and bronze medals than ever before, it is the United States atop the medals chart, running away from everyone else. 2/21/2010 12:57:00 PM
PM staff 'called bully helpline' (Video) Several people in Gordon Brown's office have contacted an anti-bullying charity, its boss has told the BBC. Christine Pratt said "three or four" calls had been made to the National Bullying Helpline in recent years. 2/21/2010 11:05:58 AM
U.S. governors sing the praises of Canada at meet with premiers Canadian politicians have long complained about the challenges of getting their voices heard in America’s halls of power. But for seven Canadian premiers, there’s no longer any reason to complain. Leaders got an enthusiastic welcome this weekend from U.S. state governors. 2/21/2010 9:58:00 AM
Dutch troops 'to end Afghan tour' A day after his cabinet collapsed, the Dutch prime minister says he expects Dutch troops to end their mission in Afghanistan in August as expected. The cabinet fell after the two largest parties failed to agree on a Nato request to extend the tour of the almost 2,000-strong Dutch contingent. 2/21/2010 7:27:02 AM
Afghan fighting rages as Karzai urges restraint U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers advanced through poppy fields of Marjah on Saturday under withering gunfire from Taliban fighters shooting from mudbrick homes and compounds where families huddled in terror. President Hamid Karzai urged NATO to do more to protect civilians during combat operations. 2/21/2010 7:24:11 AM
Danger of Marines’ polluted water removed from report An environmental contractor dramatically underreported the level of a cancer-causing chemical found in tap water at Camp Lejeune, then omitted it altogether as the Marine base prepared for a federal health review. For years, Marines who served at Camp Lejeune have blamed their families' cancers and other ailments on tap water 2/20/2010 6:27:42 PM
Toyota's are killing people, Crashes are ‘huge red flag’ Jean Bookout couldn't control her revving car, even after she pulled the emergency brake. It slammed into an embankment beside an Oklahoma interstate, killing her best friend. Bulent Ezal was about to park his car for lunch when it plunged over a 70-foot cliff beside the Pacific Ocean, killing his wife. 2/20/2010 5:15:09 PM
32 killed as rains lash Portugal's Madeira (Video) At least 32 people have been killed in floods and mudslides after torrential rains hit the Portuguese island of Madeira, local authorities say. Sixty-eight others were reported to have been taken to hospital for treatment on the Atlantic island, which is popular with foreign tourists. 2/20/2010 4:57:46 PM
U.S. school used webcams to spy on students A suburban Philadelphia school district used the webcams in school-issued laptops to spy on students at home, potentially catching them and their families in compromising situations. The school district can activate the webcams without students' knowledge or permission, the suit said. 2/20/2010 8:08:43 AM
Dutch government falls in dispute over Afghanistan The Dutch government has collapsed over disagreements within the governing coalition on extending troop deployments in Afghanistan. After marathon talks, Christian Democratic Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende announced that the Labour Party was quitting the government. 2/20/2010 5:37:23 AM
Top General Bars Fast Food on Afghan Bases In Afghanistan, the top U.S. military commander believes life is a little too comfortable for some of the men and women in uniform. Gen. Stanley McChrystal is shutting down fast-food restaurants on military bases in Afghanistan - such as Burger King - and cutting back on first-run movies. 2/19/2010 7:12:55 PM
2 China Schools Said to Be Tied to Online Attacks A series of online attacks on Google and dozens of other American corporations have been traced to computers at two educational institutions in China, including one with 'close ties' to the Chinese military, say people involved in the investigation. 2/19/2010 6:33:45 PM
UK: Police told not to chase criminals at end of a shift 'to cut down on overtime payments' Police have been told not to chase criminals at the end of their shifts as part of a scheme to cut overtime payments. Instead officers are being encouraged to hand over cases to colleagues once they have completed their allotted working hours. 2/19/2010 6:28:20 PM
US Government was told of Toyota claims in ’04 The largest U.S. auto insurer alerted regulators earlier than first believed about a worrying trend of accidents involving Toyota Motor Corp vehicles, while the Obama administration's top transportation official said on Friday he would not relax pressure on the carmaker. 2/19/2010 6:16:59 PM
New U.S. Law OKs loaded guns in parks Loaded guns will be allowed in Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and other national parks under a new law that takes effect Monday. The law lets licensed gun owners bring firearms into national parks and wildlife refuges as long as they are allowed by state law. 2/19/2010 6:13:32 PM
Hamas links Fatah members to Dubai killing Hamas claimed Friday that two ex-officers from the rival Fatah organization were involved in the assassination of a Hamas operative in Dubai, and Fatah shot back by insinuating Hamas members were the ones who collaborated with the killers. 2/19/2010 6:09:14 PM
African Union suspends Niger as junta tightens control The African Union suspended Niger on Friday, a day after a deadly coup toppled President Mamadou Tandja, as the new ruling junta lifted a curfew and cemented its control on the uranium-rich country. Thousands of people meanwhile took to the streets to celebrate Thursday's coup. 2/19/2010 5:43:25 PM
Wine giant duped into buying fake pinot A French court has convicted a dozen people, including wine growers and a wine merchant, in a scheme that exported fake pinot noir from southwestern France to the United States. Among those duped into buying the fake pinot noir was California-based giant E.&J. Gallo Winery. 2/19/2010 5:48:23 AM
Ocean Census discovers 5,000 marine species A preview of the Census of Marine Life has revealed that the project has discovered over 5,000 new species. These include bizarre and colourful creatures, as well as many organisms that produce therapeutic chemicals. The final report from the decade-long census will be released in October. 2/19/2010 5:34:54 AM
US school accused of web spying Parents in the US have accused a school of spying on children by remotely activating webcams on laptops. A couple from Pennsylvania have filed a lawsuit against a school district which gave laptops to its high school pupils. The school district gave the laptops to all 1,800 students. 2/19/2010 5:31:35 AM
Iran's supreme leader denies nuclear report claims Iran's supreme leader has denied it is developing nuclear weapons, after a new report from the UN atomic watchdog, the IAEA, sparked an international outcry. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the outcry was "baseless" as Iranians' beliefs "bar us from using such weapons". 2/19/2010 5:23:18 AM
Small plane crashes into Austin, Texas building Two bodies have been recovered after what authorities called a suicide attack by a man who, apparently angry at the Internal Revenue Service, flew his small plane into an office building. The plane was owned by Joseph Stack, whose home burned down Thursday morning before his plane hit the building. 2/18/2010 7:07:15 PM
Ticketmaster settles Springsteen ticket ordeal Ticketmaster has reached a settlement with federal regulators to refund money to people who bought marked-up tickets to 14 Bruce Springsteen concerts last year. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said the refunds could go to thousands of people and ultimately total more than $1 million. 2/18/2010 4:23:35 PM
Small plane crashes into Texas office building A small plane crashed Thursday into a multistory office building in Austin, causing a fire and sending black smoke billowing from the seven-story structure, officials said. At least two people were injured and a third was unaccounted for. 2/18/2010 9:15:33 AM
Why does the West love the Dalai Lama? A US president is again choosing to meet the Dalai Lama despite Chinese opposition. But why is this Tibetan spiritual and political leader such a popular figure in the West? To the Chinese government and to many of its people he is an inciter of violence. 2/18/2010 6:17:07 AM
Corolla probe threatens Toyota brand Toyota Motor Corp. braced itself for further damage to its brand on Thursday, as it waited to hear if a U.S. probe into steering complaints would lead to another recall of its flagship Corolla model. This follows steering problems with Toyota's second most popular vehicle, its Camry sedan. 2/18/2010 6:05:21 AM
Accusations of Israeli Hit squad using British passorts Britain is determined to "get to the bottom of" how fake UK passports were used by the alleged killers of a Hamas commander, the foreign secretary says. Dubai's police chief has said he is 99% sure of the involvement of Israeli agents in Mahmoud al-Mabhouh's death, but Israel says there is no proof. 2/18/2010 4:44:23 AM
Toyota considers Corolla recall Toyota is considering a recall of its hot-selling Corolla subcompact after complaints about power steering problems – another blow to the world's largest auto maker already reeling from a string of recalls for safety problems. Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles globally during the past four months. 2/17/2010 5:27:36 AM
Olympic luger's body arrives in hometown The body of the Georgian luger killed during a practice run at the Vancouver Olympics was flown Wednesday to his hometown, where his grief-stricken mother threw herself on his coffin and cried: "Why have I survived you?" 2/17/2010 4:58:53 AM
Iran could spark nuclear arms race: Clinton If Iran gets a nuclear weapon it could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday. Clinton told an audience of students that Iran's secret uranium enrichment facility was an example of how Iran had violated its obligations to not pursue nuclear weapons. 2/16/2010 5:37:07 PM
Update Crews recover body from Mt. St. Helens volcano crater The body of a veteran climber who fell into Mount St. Helens' dormant crater was recovered on Tuesday. Skamania County Undersheriff Dave Cox said a helicopter crew recovered the body of Joseph Bohlig from the south wall of the crater after two passes over the peak. 2/16/2010 5:26:26 PM
Dubai: European hit squad killed Hamas leader (Video) Dubai police appealed for an international manhunt Tuesday after releasing names and photos of an alleged 11-member European hit squad accused of stalking and killing a Hamas commander last month in a plot that mixed cold precision with spy caper disguises such as fake beards and wigs. 2/16/2010 5:24:39 PM
Dalai Lama heads for Obama meet as China fumes Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama headed Wednesday for the United States and a long-awaited meeting with President Barack Obama that has infuriated China. The 75-year-old Dalai Lama is vilified by Beijing as a "wolf in monk's robes." 2/16/2010 5:17:21 PM
Argentina starts fresh Falklands row Argentina has said that it is taking control over all shipping between its coast and the Falkand Islands, effectively awarding itself the power to blockade the disputed territory. Tensions over the islands remained buried until the discovery of potentially rich energy reserves in the Falklands’ seabed. 2/16/2010 1:27:16 PM
Missionaries' lawyer admits link to human smuggling case The man who served as legal adviser to 10 American missionaries jailed in Haiti on charges of child kidnapping acknowledged Monday that he is the suspect wanted in El Salvador on human smuggling accusations. In a call from an unknown location, Jorge Puello told The Associated Press he was innocent. 2/16/2010 12:03:52 PM
Weather still hampering rescue efforts atop Mount St. Helens Rescuers struggled against bad weather Tuesday to reach a climber who fell 1,500 feet into the dormant crater of Mount St. Helens, but they faced uncertain prospects after observers in helicopters reported seeing no movement by the man. Avalanche danger prevented a ground rescue attempt. 2/16/2010 12:02:08 PM
Top Taliban commander captured in Pakistan The Taliban's top military commander has been arrested in a joint CIA-Pakistani operation in Pakistan in a major victory against the insurgents as U.S. troops push into their heartland in southern Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the group's No. 2 leader behind Afghan Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar and a close associate of Osama bin Laden, was captured in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, 2/16/2010 7:15:13 AM
Pedophilia is a heinous crime: Pope tells Irish bishops Pope Benedict told Irish bishops at crisis talks over a pedophilia scandal that sexual abuse of children by priests is a "heinous crime" that they must address with resolve. Benedict, the 24 Irish bishops and top Vatican officials met in response to outrage in Ireland over a damning indictment of child sex abuse by priests. 2/16/2010 6:19:34 AM
Haiti Leader: We Can't Rebuild for 3 Years It will take three long years to clear the rubble left by Haiti's devastating earthquake, said President Rene Preval who admitted even he's still afraid to sleep under concrete in case another quake strikes. "It will take 1,000 trucks moving rubble for 1,000 days, so that's three years." 2/16/2010 6:14:50 AM
Sexual violence going unpunished in the US military Marti Ribeiro was born into a military family. Her grandfather and father were both in the Air Force - and all her life she had wanted to join the armed forces. While she loved her job as a public affairs specialist, from the time she arrived she was routinely harassed and called Air Force Barbie. 2/16/2010 5:58:06 AM
California's sorry state a major threat to U.S. California is to the United States what Greece is to Europe. Busted budgets and dysfunctional politics have also made them kindred spirits. And just as Europe is reluctantly looking at coming to Greece's financial rescue, the day may soon come when California's financial woes become a problem for all Americans. 2/16/2010 5:27:32 AM
World needs a reboot: TED Nobel laureates, technology titans, artists, scientists, and academics spent five days here grappling with how best to reboot the world. The annual TED gathering was a thought-sparking swirl of perspectives, revelations, and creative presentations delivered by vaunted personalities in an 18-minute punch. 2/15/2010 6:10:22 PM
Second group of Afghan civilians killed in NATO push A NATO air strike on suspected insurgents Monday has accidentally killed five civilians and wounded two in a part of Kandahar that is under Canadian military command. However, Canadian troops were not involved in Monday's accident, according to sources at Kandahar Airfield. 2/15/2010 5:31:28 PM
Weather Causes Massive Crashes in Midwest Highways have reopened in the Kansas City area after an afternoon snow squall caused dozens of accidents. Dozens of weather-related crashes have shut down stretches of several highways in the area. The largest accident involved upwards of 40 vehicles in a massive pileup on Interstate 70. 2/15/2010 5:17:37 PM
Ala. professor went to range before shootings The husband of an Alabama professor accused of fatally shooting three colleagues said Monday that the couple went to a shooting range recently, but that he didn’t know where she got the gun she used for practice that day. 2/15/2010 5:15:36 PM
Flights disrupted across the Caribbean by eruption on Montserrat Flights have been disrupted across the Caribbean after a volcanic eruption on the British overseas territory of Montserrat. The Soufriere Hills volcano, which first erupted in 1995, returned to life on Thursday, spewing ash up to 6 miles (10km) into the sky. 2/15/2010 10:28:08 AM
More deaths may be linked to recalled Toyotas The U.S. government has received new complaints that bring to 34 the total number of alleged deaths in Toyota vehicles due to sudden acceleration since 2000, according to government data posted Monday. Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles globally during the past four months. 2/15/2010 10:14:48 AM
U.K. press slams Canada's hosting of Games Some British media are slamming Canada as being a bad Olympic host, with much of the criticism focused on its role in the death of the 21-year-old Georgian luger. A headline in the Daily Mail reads: "Canada's lust for glory is to blame for this senseless tragedy." 2/15/2010 10:11:20 AM
Deadly violence, child's murder sour Rio's Carnival The climax of Rio's famed Carnival was overshadowed by a series of violent incidents that left two people dead -- one of them a murdered girl -- and raised questions over security. Brazilian media reported that the bloody, half-naked body of the girl, aged around 10 years, was found late on Sunday. 2/15/2010 10:00:13 AM
Whaling protester secretly boards Japanese boat In the latest headline-grabbing attempt to stymie the efforts of Japanese whalers, a member of the Sea Shepherd Society jumped from a speeding Jet Ski onto a whaling vessel and attempted to enact a citizen's arrest. Capt. Peter Bethune was detained by the Japanese sailors. 2/15/2010 6:34:38 AM
NATO's novel battle tactic spawns opposite effects, civilians die Though somewhat unusual, the strategy was at least straightforward: Before executing a massive attack on Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan's Helmand province, NATO would get the word out. Leaflets warning about a looming offensive were dropped in the two target areas. 2/15/2010 5:45:43 AM
Belgium train crash: Toll put at 10 to 25 dead (Video) Two passenger trains in Belgium have collided head-on near the capital, Brussels, with the latest reports of the death toll ranging from 10 to 25. Rail services to south-western Belgium and beyond to Paris and London have been cancelled. 2/15/2010 4:58:27 AM
NATO rockets kill Afghan civilians The top NATO commander in Afghanistan apologized to Afghan President Hamid Karzai Sunday after two NATO rockets missed insurgents and killed 12 Afghan civilians. "We deeply regret this tragic loss of life," Gen. Stanley McChrystal said in a news release. 2/14/2010 1:41:36 PM
China recalls US panda due to political issues When China requested the return of a giant panda from the National Zoo in Washington, it was thought this was because the pandas back home were not producing enough babies. President Barack Obama’s decision to meet the Dalai Lama this week has infuriated the Chinese. 2/14/2010 6:58:45 AM
‘Backstabber’ daughter tastes Silvio’s revenge The daughter who defied Silvio Berlusconi over a long-running sex scandal has been frozen out of a job that the billionaire prime minister had promised her in the family firm (pictured here with her mother). Her father was astounded. “What bitterness,” he said. “Nobody had warned me. A real bolt from the blue.” 2/14/2010 6:50:28 AM
Sarkozy in a fight over French woman's Mexican 'justice' The harrowing account of a French woman who has been jailed for life in Mexico despite vigorously protesting her innocence has filled her countrymen with indignation. France’s activism and the intervention of President Sarkozy, who has written letters to President Felipe Calderon, seem only to have hardened Mexico against her. 2/14/2010 6:38:19 AM
University of Alabama shooting suspect 'killed brother' The biology professor charged with shooting dead three staff at an Alabama university on Friday is alleged to have also killed her brother 24 years ago. Amy Bishop shot her 18-year-old brother in the chest (with a shotgun). The case was logged as an accident and never came to court. 2/14/2010 6:08:09 AM
Israel charges ‘godlike’ harem leader with rape A 60-year-old Israeli man who kept a harem of at least 21 women who bore him 49 children has been charged with enslavement, rape, incest and other sexual offenses. Police were aware of Ratzon for years, but say they couldn't make any allegations stick until three of the women brought complaints. 2/14/2010 4:49:51 AM
Gunbattles rage as Taliban fighters dig in Squads of Marines and Afghan soldiers occupied a majority of the Taliban stronghold of Marjah on Sunday, but gunfire continued as pockets of militants dug in and fought, military officials said. The Marjah offensive is NATO's most ambitious effort yet to break the militants' grip over their southern heartland. 2/14/2010 4:47:16 AM
Spectators swept from sea wall by rogue wave at California's Mavericks Surf Contest Several people standing on a seawall watching the Mavericks Surf Contest were struck by an unexpected big wave, hurting some of them seriously enough to require medical attention. It was unclear if anyone was missing or how many people were injured. Dozens of people were standing on the wall when the wave hit. 2/13/2010 10:07:01 AM
Snow in U.S. South catches residents offguard A rare snowstorm caught the U.S. South by surprise Friday, causing a spate of traffic accidents and air travel havoc. Snow had been predicted to fall from Texas to northern Florida and along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. Residents of Dallas were the first to feel the cold chill of winter when they woke Friday. 2/13/2010 10:03:01 AM
Bombs, Booby Traps Slow Marjah Assault Thousands of U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers stormed the Taliban stronghold of Marjah by air and ground Saturday, meeting only scattered resistance but facing a daunting thicket of bombs and booby traps that slowed the allied advance through the town. 2/13/2010 6:43:45 AM
US Toyota recalls 8,000 Tacoma trucks Toyota is recalling about 8,000 Tacoma pickup trucks from the 2010 model year to fix a problem with the front drive shaft. A crack could develop that could lead to the front driveshaft separating and falling from the truck, causing the vehicle to lose control. 2/13/2010 6:28:34 AM
Wine glut prompts changes in Napa Valley For generations, Napa Valley has cultivated its image as carefully as its grapes: It is America's premiere wine region, known for its boutique operations turning out small quantities of some of the most sought-after wines in the world. 2/13/2010 6:21:07 AM
Woman Professor charged in university shooting A biology professor was charged with murder late Friday in the shooting deaths of three colleagues at the campus. Amy Bishop, a Harvard University-trained neuroscientist, was reportedly upset over being denied tenure. Authorities say the researcher opened fire during an afternoon faculty meeting. 2/13/2010 6:18:28 AM
What's organic? US sets new rules for milk, meat What makes milk or meat organic? After a drawn-out debate, the U.S. Agriculture Department has significantly narrowed the definition to livestock that spend a third of the year grazing on pasture. Once a niche market, the organic industry has grown exponentially in the last 20 years. 2/13/2010 5:52:22 AM
Everything goes in Rio? Not anymore The World's Greatest Party opened Friday, but the everything-goes atmosphere of Carnival that turns Rio into a giant oceanside den of debauchery is under assault. The mayor's year-old, zero-tolerance campaign against petty crimes and disorder is on full display. 2/12/2010 12:14:09 PM
Sri Lanka: Fonseka accused of link to editor's murder THE Sri Lankan Defence Secretary has told a Singaporean newspaper that the presidential challenger Sarath Fonseka (pictured) abused his former top military post, plotted a military coup and was involved in the disappearance of several journalists. 2/12/2010 9:46:04 AM
Spain: Reality TV father raped long lost daughter A 65-year-old father who was reunited with his long-lost daughter via a Spanish reality TV show went on to rape her. The man seemed like a normal father who was desperate to get back in touch with the two daughters he had not seen for nearly 40 years. 2/12/2010 7:02:46 AM
Missionaries’ aide probed for child trafficking The police in El Salvador have begun an investigation into whether a man suspected of leading a trafficking ring involving Central American and Caribbean women and girls is also a legal adviser to many of the Americans charged with trying to take 33 children out of Haiti without permission. 2/12/2010 6:15:43 AM
NY Times: Obama has edge over GOP, poll finds At a time of deepening political disaffection and intensified distress about the economy, President Obama enjoys an edge over Republicans in the battle for public support, in a New York Times/CBS News poll. Americans blame former President George W. Bush, Wall Street and Congress much more than they do Mr. Obama. 2/12/2010 6:13:25 AM
Russia farmer convicted of planting landmines in field A Russian farmer has been convicted of planting landmines around his field to ward off trespassers. Alexander Skopintsev, from the eastern region of Primorye near China's border, laid the three devices on his land after building them in his garage. 2/12/2010 6:01:58 AM
German economic recovery falters Germany's recovery from recession faltered in the final quarter of 2009, according to preliminary figures released on Friday. The German economy failed to grow at all in the last three months of the year, with GDP unchanged compared with the previous quarter. 2/12/2010 5:58:39 AM
Haiti holds day of mourning for earthquake victims Haiti is holding a day of national mourning exactly a month after the earthquake struck, killing at least 217,000 people. A ceremony is due to begin shortly near the devastated cathedral in the centre of the capital, Port-au-Prince. 2/12/2010 5:55:27 AM
Spacewalking astronauts install room with a view Astronauts put the last big addition on the International Space Station early Friday, attaching a new room with an enormous bay window that promises to provide unprecedented panoramic views of Earth. The room, named Tranquility, was hoisted into place by the station's Canadarm 2 robotic arm. 2/12/2010 4:50:57 AM
Poll finds most Americans are unhappy with government Two-thirds of Americans are "dissatisfied" or downright "angry" about the way the federal government is working. And, 53 cents of every tax dollar they send to Washington is "wasted." There is also a growing sense that Sarah Palin is not qualified to serve as president, with more than seven in 10 Americans now saying she is unqualified 2/11/2010 7:01:33 PM
EBay found liable in Louis Vuitton suit EBay Inc. will pay about $316,500 to Louis Vuitton Malletier. Ebay had been buying keywords such as "Viton," "Vitton" and "Wuiton" so that online shoppers using these misspellings into a search engine, along with anyone using the brand's correct spelling, would be directed to links promoting eBay. 2/11/2010 4:02:13 PM
Vancouver warmly embraces Winter Games The joke in Vancouver these days is that it’s literally not possible to give the world a warmer welcome. As one local newspaper headline put it: "Welcome to paradise. Sorry about the weather." It is a bit strange to come for the Winter Olympics and never actually see a flake of snow. 2/11/2010 3:56:38 PM
Bill Clinton hospitalized in New York City Former President Bill Clinton has been hospitalized in New York City. Early reports indicated that Clinton experienced chest pains and has received a stent. A stent is small mesh tube that is used to treat narrowed or weakened arteries. The seriousness of his condition is unknown at this point. 2/11/2010 1:02:52 PM
Republican candidate doubts U.S. story on 9/11 Debra Medina, a Republican candidate in the Texas gubernatorial race, is walking back some comments she made earlier today on the Glenn Beck radio show suggesting the U.S. government could have had a role in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. 2/11/2010 11:54:20 AM
Study: Ohio at Center of Child Sex Trade About 1,000 American-born children are forced into the sex trade in Ohio every year and about 800 immigrants are sexually exploited and pushed into sweatshop-type jobs, a new report on human trafficking in the state said Wednesday. 2/11/2010 11:40:18 AM
Seattle: Guards Watched As Girl Beaten at Bus Depot Three unarmed security guards were following orders last month when they stood by without intervening as a 15-year-old girl was badly beaten in a downtown Seattle bus tunnel. Now the company they work for and government officials say those orders should be revised. 2/11/2010 11:36:28 AM
Palin: Global Warming Just "Snake Oil" Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin called studies supporting global climate change a "bunch of snake oil science" Monday during a rare appearance in California, a state that has been at the forefront of environmental regulations. The media were barred from the event. 2/11/2010 11:11:04 AM
Iran Reform Leader's Wife Beaten at Rally As hundreds of thousands of government supporters massed in Tehran to mark the 31st anniversary of the revolution that created the Islamic republic, gangs of hard-liners attacked senior opposition figures as they tried to attend the rallies - including the wife of the head of the reform movement. 2/11/2010 11:08:09 AM
Omar bin Laden warns father's successors will be 'much worse' Osama bin Laden's son has warned that if his father were killed the al-Qaeda leaders who succeed him are likely to be far worse. But Omar, who wrote a book about his experiences called "Growing Up Bin Laden," said he and his brothers broke with their father when he encouraged them to become suicide bombers. 2/11/2010 9:41:35 AM
U.S. ex-lawmaker Charlie Wilson dead at 76 The former U.S. lawmaker and hero of the film "Charlie Wilson's War," who championed covert CIA support for Afghans fighting Soviet troops in the 1980s, has died at age 76. Some of the Afghan warlords that Wilson championed and who received millions from the CIA are now viewed as dangerous Islamist extremists. 2/11/2010 9:11:37 AM
Greek crisis shows EU’s fall from superpower to impotence Only a few months ago, it could call itself the United States of Europe: 27 countries forming the world's largest economy, backed by the world's strongest currency, with a newly minted constitution establishing a permanent president, and, with a few bold moves, the foreign-policy clout of a true superpower. 2/11/2010 6:55:04 AM
Record blizzards shut down Washington, New York Record blizzards that dumped several feet of snow paralyzed much of the eastern United States, trapping millions in their homes and shutting down the federal government for a fourth day. Nearly 6,000 flights in airports between Washington and New York were cancelled at the height of the storms Wednesday. 2/11/2010 5:52:04 AM
UK: School bans Valentine's Day cards A primary school has been criticised for banning Valentine cards to save pupils the "emotional trauma" of being rejected. Children at Ashcombe Primary School were stopped from exchanging cards because the head teacher said they were not emotionally mature enough to cope. 2/11/2010 5:24:58 AM
European bank data ban angers US The European Parliament has blocked a key agreement that allows the United States to monitor Europeans' bank transactions - angering Washington. The US called the decision a "setback for EU-US counter-terror co-operation". Euro MPs said the deal provided insufficient privacy safeguards. 2/11/2010 5:23:23 AM
Google launching fibre broadband networks Google is launching experimental fibre broadband networks in several U.S. cities in an effort to push high-speed internet development. The networks, which will be available to between 50,000 and 500,000 people "at a competitive price," will offer connection speeds up of up to one gigabit per second. 2/10/2010 5:17:16 PM
Fort Lewis, Washington soldier used water torture on daughter, 4 A Fort Lewis Army sergeant who served in Iraq is facing allegations of using water torture to punish his 4 year old daughter for not reciting the alphabet. Police in Yelm responded to a report of a drunk man wearing a Kevlar helmet and threatening to bust residents' windows. 2/10/2010 6:27:35 AM
Washington Post: U.S. trial of ex-boy soldier raises fierce debate Omar Khadr, the youngest detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was 15 when he allegedly threw a grenade that killed a U.S. Special Forces medic in Afghanistan. Now, more than seven years later, Khadr is drawing the Obama administration into a fierce debate over putting a child soldier on trial. 2/10/2010 5:55:04 AM
Snow won't stop: Blizzard pummels U.S. East Coast Plows that have been rolling around the clock for days in the nation's capital, Philadelphia and Baltimore won't be heading for the garage any time soon as a second major storm in a week moved into the snowbound region Wednesday. 2/10/2010 5:50:10 AM
Honda extends airbag recall by 437,000 cars Honda has added 437,700 cars, mainly in North America, to its existing global safety recall over airbag inflation problems. It broadens a recall announced in late 2008 for less than 4,000 Accord and Civic sedans, then expanded in mid-2009 to cover another 510,000 vehicles. 2/10/2010 5:47:03 AM
Binyam Mohamed torture appeal lost by UK government The foreign secretary has lost an Appeal Court bid to stop the disclosure of secret information relating to the alleged torture of a UK resident. Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed says UK authorities knew he was tortured at the behest of US authorities during seven years of captivity. 2/10/2010 5:32:00 AM
Michelle Obama spearheads U.S. push against childhood obesity First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday launched a major push against childhood obesity, which affects around one in three U.S. children and threatens to make the current generation of Americans the first to live shorter lives than their parents. 2/9/2010 8:40:45 AM
Afghan avalanches kill dozens, injure hundreds Afghan avalanches on a mountain pass north of Kabul may have killed up to 70 people, officials said Tuesday. Interior Minister Hanif Atmar said that rescuers have already recovered 24 bodies but fear that more than 40 others have also died. 2/9/2010 6:10:17 AM
Critics mock Palin's 'helping hand' at Tea Party speech (Video) Former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been criticised for writing crib notes on her hands for her Tea Party speech on Saturday. Mrs Palin was shown reading from her hand and displaying the scribbled notes after she had made the address. (Ed: She was paid $100,000. to make that speech.) 2/9/2010 5:16:34 AM
Toyota recalls 436,000 Prius cars worldwide (Video) Toyota has announced the recall of about 436,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide, including its latest Prius model, to fix brake problems. The total includes more than 200,000 Prius cars sold in Japan and 8,500 cars in the UK. 2/9/2010 5:12:46 AM
Buried Mid-Atlantic Faces More Snow A storm expected to begin Tuesday could dump a foot or more of snow on parts of the Mid-Atlantic that got two feet over the weekend. National Weather Service forecaster Bruce Sullivan says the next storm is expected to begin late Tuesday afternoon and run through midday Wednesday. 2/8/2010 9:11:24 AM
Toyota has powerful friends in Washington Toyota has friends in high places in Washington, including some of the very people now investigating the Japanese automaker. Lawmakers on the committees investigating Toyota's massive recall represent states where Toyota has factories and the coveted well-paying manufacturing jobs they bring. 2/8/2010 5:53:54 AM
New Orleans goes into party mode early after NFL win Party season has come early to New Orleans which is celebrating a historic victory in the US Super Bowl less than a week before Mardi Gras. People hugged and kissed in the city's famous French Quarter as they marked the Saints' win against all the odds. 2/8/2010 5:51:27 AM
Yanukovych 'to win Ukraine poll' Ukraine's pro-Moscow opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych will win a narrow victory in the country's presidential election, electoral officials say. With more than 97% of votes counted, Mr Yanukovych had a 2.6% lead over his rival, PM Yulia Tymoshenko, media said. 2/8/2010 5:20:38 AM
Shuttle Endeavour in orbit toward space station Endeavour and six astronauts rocketed into orbit Monday on what's likely the last nighttime launch for the shuttle program, hauling a new room and observation deck for the International Space Station. The space shuttle took flight before dawn, igniting the sky with a brilliant flash seen for miles around. 2/8/2010 4:38:39 AM
Tacoma: US soldier 'waterboarded' daughter, 4 A Tacoma, Washington soldier allegedly waterboarded his four-year-old daughter because she failed to recite her ABCs. He admitted to police that he chose the CIA torture technique because his daughter was terrified of water. 2/7/2010 8:16:01 PM
Haitian Lawyer for U.S. Missionaries Fired The Haitian lawyer for 10 U.S. Baptists charged with child kidnapping tried to bribe the missionaries' way out of jail and has been fired, the attorney who hired him said Saturday night. The Haitian lawyer, Edwin Coq, denied the allegation. He said the $60,000 he requested from the Americans' families was his fee. 2/7/2010 7:40:34 PM
Who Dat? It’s the Super Bowl champ Saints Who Dat won the Super Bowl? The New Orleans Saints, that’s who. Ain’t kidding. Put away those paper bags forever: Drew Brees and the Saints are NFL champions, rallying to upset Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 Sunday night in one of pro football’s most thrilling title games. 2/7/2010 6:42:41 PM
Haiti protesters denounce aid corruption, hoarding Hundreds of Haitian earthquake survivors protested in a suburb of the wrecked capital on Sunday, accusing a district mayor of corruption and hoarding food aid provided by relief groups, witnesses said. 2/7/2010 5:20:46 PM
Budget Crisis causes Colorado Springs to go dark In Colorado Springs, every third streetlight is dark. Buses no longer run at night or on weekends. City pools will soon be dry, trash bins have disappeared and the verdant grass in the city's famed parks will soon grow long, turn brown and die. 2/7/2010 4:31:26 PM
Karzai may introduce army draft Afghan President Hamid Karzai has told a conference of the world's top defence officials in Germany that he is considering introducing conscription. The Afghan president said at the summit in Munich he wants to build an army and police force of 300,000 by 2012. 2/7/2010 8:26:50 AM
Iran makes new uranium enrichment challenge Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has asked the country's nuclear chief to begin enriching uranium to 20%. The move comes amid a worsening stand-off over a Western offer for Iran to swap enriched uranium for nuclear fuel. 2/7/2010 8:23:38 AM
California: 'Niagara' of mud hits homes An unexpectedly powerful rainstorm unleashed a torrent of mud that inundated more than 40 houses Saturday, leaving La Cañada Flintridge's northernmost neighborhood awash in boulders, dented cars and broken homes. 2/7/2010 5:53:38 AM
Seal proves to be unsavoury subject at G7 talks A summit-ending community feast with raw seal among the local offerings was boycotted by the ministers and central bankers of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom on Saturday. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who was born in the Northwest Territories, were the only participants. (Ed: The whole thing was a 'dumb' idea.) 2/7/2010 5:46:28 AM
Sarah Palin brews trouble for Tea Party THEY sang her praises with a country music twang in Nashville yesterday, but not even the sugary lyrics of a specially written Sarah Palin song could hide the tensions between the former Alaska governor and the dyspeptic conservative rabble-rousers collectively known as Tea Party Nation. 2/7/2010 5:40:33 AM
Arch-enemy takes aim at ‘the dwarf’ Sarkozy A SMELL of fresh paint pervades what used to be a doctor’s surgery in Paris where Dominique de Villepin, the former French prime minister, has established the headquarters of his campaign to push President Nicolas Sarkozy from power. 2/7/2010 5:35:21 AM
Special forces assassins infiltrate Taliban stronghold American and British troops poised to assault the Taliban stronghold of Marjah have begun targeting insurgent leaders for assassination. About 1,000 Taliban, mostly Afghans but with some foreign fighters in their ranks, are believed to be in Marjah, an opium centre and local headquarters for bomb-making and sending out suicide bombers. 2/7/2010 5:34:07 AM
‘Snowmageddon’ blankets Mid-Atlantic in white Skiers lapped the Reflecting Pool along the National Mall; others used the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a slope. Hundreds crowded Dupont Circle for a snowball fight organized online. Washington took on a surreal, almost magical feel as it was buried under nearly 2 feet of snow Saturday. 2/7/2010 4:07:21 AM
Clouds force delay in space shuttle liftoff Clouds prevented space shuttle Endeavour from blasting off Sunday on the last planned nighttime shuttle launch, delaying its trip with a final few building blocks for the International Space Station. The band of low clouds started moving in from the north late Saturday. 2/7/2010 3:58:57 AM
Ukraine votes in tense presidential election run-off Ukrainians are voting in a presidential election run-off, after a bruising campaign and warnings of mass street protests and demonstrations. PM Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych are competing for the top job after President Viktor Yushchenko lost out in the first round. 2/7/2010 3:28:05 AM
Whaler, Sea Shepherd's Bob Barker collide at sea The anti-whaling ship the Bob Barker and a Japanese harpoon boat collided in the icy waters off Antarctica on Saturday — the second major clash this year in the increasingly aggressive confrontations between the two sides. 2/6/2010 7:25:47 AM
Bill Clinton urges solution to Haiti 'kidnap' case Former U.S. President Bill Clinton urged the U.S. and Haitian governments on Friday to resolve the case of 10 American missionaries accused of trying to take children illegally out of quake-hit Haiti. The accused U.S. missionaries, most of whom belong to an Idaho-based Baptist church, were arrested a week ago. 2/6/2010 5:04:01 AM
Recall tarnishes Toyota's spotless image There is a deep shine of pride and dedication in the black paintwork on the replica 1936 Toyota which sits boldly on its plinth at the company's Commemorative Hall in Toyota City. But the last few weeks have dulled the spotless image Toyota built up over the decades. 2/6/2010 4:40:54 AM
North Korea frees 'repentant' U.S. missionary An American missionary arrived in Beijing on Saturday after being freed by North Korea, which had detained him for illegally crossing its border from China on Christmas Day. Robert Park, appearing pale and drawn, did not say anything as U.S. consular officials escorted him from the North Korean plane. 2/6/2010 4:26:09 AM
Preteen samba queen stirs Rio Carnival controversy She is the Shirley Temple of samba, a 7-year-old named to a coveted Carnival role normally reserved for barely clad models who have undergone more plastic surgeries than little Julia Lira has seen birthdays. Naming the girl drum corps queen for the Viradouro samba group is raising eyebrows even in a city that has seen everything. 2/5/2010 5:26:13 PM
Danish Special forces thwart Somali pirate attack Danish special forces stormed a Slovenian-owned ship and rescued the 25-strong crew yesterday in the first known case of Western forces intervening during an attack by Somali pirates. The rescue began at dawn when the captain of a cargo ship named the Ariella sent out a mayday call. 2/5/2010 5:08:50 PM
Girl, 12, arrested for doodling on school desk A New York City junior high student has been arrested for doodling on her desk with a marker. The girl says the doodles could have been erased. Moraima Tamacho says her daughter was released several hours after she was taken in handcuffs to a police station. 2/5/2010 10:43:46 AM
Monster storm heads up Atlantic seaboard A snowstorm dubbed “Snowmageddon” — not just major, but historically major — was heading to the U.S. capital on Friday, threatening to dump as much as 65 centimetres on a region that rarely gets more than a few dustings a year. 2/5/2010 10:40:41 AM
Embarrassing: 'Cold enough to freeze a can of 10W30' Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's decision to take his G7 counterparts to the High Arctic for their two-day meeting has raised eyebrows in Britain, the U.S., France, Italy, Germany and Japan. One unnamed European official told a British newspaper it was "crazy." 2/5/2010 10:04:17 AM
NASA puzzled by spaceship-like object About a month ago, the celestial object pictured here streaked by us at about 290 million kilometres from Earth. This image was taken by the Hubble telescope. Hubble takes pictures of all sorts of weird things, but seldom does NASA refer to them as “mysterious.” 2/5/2010 8:01:34 AM
Toyota's chief apologizes for global recalls Toyota's president/CEO has apologized for the massive global recalls over sticking gas pedals as the automaker scrambles to repair a damaged reputation and sliding sales. But Akio Toyoda said the automaker is still deciding what steps to take to fix brake problems in the Prius gas-electric hybrid. 2/5/2010 5:42:50 AM
U.S. military punishes more officers for failures The U.S. military has reprimanded an unusually large number of commanders for battlefield failures in Afghanistan in recent weeks, reflecting a new push by the top brass to hold commanders responsible for major incidents in which troops are killed or wounded, said senior military officials. 2/5/2010 5:34:36 AM
22 dead as second bomb hits Pakistan city Two bombs exploded in Pakistan's largest city Friday, one outside a hospital treating victims from the earlier attack on Shiite Muslim worshippers. At least 22 people were killed and more than 50 wounded. Police appealed for calm following the strikes in Karachi, which took place within two hours of each other. 2/5/2010 5:25:53 AM
Four UK politicians face charges over expense accounts Three Labour MPs and one Tory peer will face criminal charges over their expenses, Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer has said. MPs Elliot Morley, Jim Devine, David Chaytor and Lord Hanningfield will be charged under the Theft Act. 2/5/2010 5:24:34 AM
Official: Jet bomb suspect turns against cleric His cooperation talking about U.S.-born Yemeni radical Anwar al-Awlaki is significant because it could provide fresh clues for authorities trying to capture or kill him. Al-Awlaki has emerged has a prominent al-Qaida recruiter and has been tied to the 9/11 hijackers, and the deadly shooting rampage at Fort Hood. 2/4/2010 6:54:15 PM
Toyota’s shifting stories raise credibility issues What did they know and when did they know it? That is a question circling around Toyota executives. Those who might have come to the automaker’s defense are finding it more difficult especially in the light of developments involving the Toyota Prius 2/4/2010 6:50:16 PM
Jailed U.S. missionary left trail of legal troubles back home The leader of a group of American missionaries charged with kidnapping for trying to take 33 children out of earthquake-ravaged Haiti faces legal troubles in her home state of Idaho. Laura Silsby, 40, is the subject of several lawsuits, according to a report in her hometown newspaper, the Idaho Statesman. 2/4/2010 6:40:09 PM
Are wrong people on trial over Concorde crash? Few pictures in the history of flight are as shocking as the last take-off of the Concorde Foxtrot-Sierra Charlie. Lesser airliners disappear in the night. The Air France jet was filmed trailing a plume of fire as it struggled away from Paris airport on July 25, 2000. 2/4/2010 6:21:56 PM
US missionaries charged in Haiti (Video) Haiti has charged 10 US missionaries with child abduction and criminal conspiracy for allegedly trying to smuggle 33 children out of the country. Haitian officials said their cases would now be sent to an investigating judge who would decide how to proceed. 2/4/2010 6:14:44 PM
Turkish Teenager buried alive for friendship with boys The father and grandfather of a Turkish teenager are to face trial for burying her alive because they were concerned that her friendship with boys had brought dishonour on their family. The especially gruesome manner of Medine Memi’s death has shocked the nation. 2/4/2010 6:06:42 PM
Legit Web sites team up with shady operators It's bad enough the Internet is a money-making machine for con artists and swindlers. Now you have to worry about “legitimate” companies that team up with dishonest marketing firms. The companies under investigation include Barnes & Noble, Orbitz, Expedia, Staples, FTD and Ticketmaster. (Ed: Worth a read if you buy on-line.) 2/4/2010 11:30:16 AM
New York files civil charges against Bank of America, executives The New York Attorney General's office said Thursday it filed civil fraud and its former chief executive officer Ken Lewis, saying the bank misled investors about Merrill Lynch before it acquired the Wall Street bank in early 2009. Bank of America has been accused of failing to properly disclose losses at Merrill and bonuses paid. 2/4/2010 10:32:57 AM
China set to become the largest consumer of gold China is poised to steal India's centuries-old gold crown. After knocking South Africa out of first place as the world's largest gold producer in 2007, it now appears China will overtake India as the world's leading gold consumer when industry figures are released in mid-February. 2/4/2010 10:26:17 AM
CIA involvement: Video shows jet shooting down missionaries (Video) Dramatic video has emerged showing a bungled CIA drug operation that led to Peruvian fighter jets shooting down a floatplane carrying an American missionaries and their children. The seaplane being shadowed by a CIA aircraft. (Ed: When this story broke previously the CIA was painting the missionaries as drug smugglers.) 2/4/2010 7:46:16 AM
Florida Kiteboarder dies after attack by sharks A KITEBOARD surfer died after he was attacked by several sharks off the coast of Florida. The 38-year-old man had beeen apparently surfing in an unguarded stretch of water near Stuart Beach, Martin County. Thousand sharks have been spotted off the Florida coast in recent days. 2/4/2010 7:37:09 AM
Pakistan seeks return of woman convicted in U.S. A US-educated Pakistani scientist was convicted of trying to kill a group of American servicemen who detained her in Afghanistan. Aafia Siddiqui, 37, was accused of grabbing a rifle while she was being interrogated in 2008 and trying to kill the Americans. 2/4/2010 7:26:34 AM
U.S. missionaries to hear fate in Haiti 'kidnap' case Ten U.S. Christians sat in a Haiti jail on Thursday waiting to hear if they would be charged with child trafficking for trying to smuggle children out of the quake-hit nation, where the death toll rose above 200,000. 2/4/2010 7:15:10 AM
U.S. launches formal probe of Toyota, Canada doing nothing U.S. safety regulators opened a formal investigation Thursday into consumer complaints about braking on 2010 Toyota Motor Corp Prius hybrids. Toyota said Thursday there was a brake design flaw with its Prius hybrid, in a major new blow to the world's top automaker. (Ed: Nothing happening in Ottawa yet.) 2/4/2010 6:33:32 AM
Google enlists US National Security Agency to fight Under an agreement that is still being finalized, the National Security Agency would help Google analyze a major corporate espionage attack that the firm said originated in China and targeted its computer networks. The objective is to better defend Google — and its users — from future attack. 2/4/2010 5:49:17 AM
PR nightmare: Toyota admits design flaw with Prius brakes Toyota Motor Corp. acknowledged design problems with the brakes in its prized Prius, adding to the catalog of woes for the Japanese automaker as it reels from massive gas-pedal recalls around the world. Toyota said Thursday it found design problems with the antilock brake system. 2/4/2010 4:43:03 AM
The dictator, his daughter, and millions in cash In the final years before his death this summer, with French anti-corruption investigators nipping at his heels and ordering freezes on his myriad bank accounts, one of Africa's longest-reigning dictators had an ace up his sleeve: A daughter with a Canadian passport. 2/4/2010 4:40:16 AM
Swiss court approves return of cash to Duvalier clan in blow to Haiti In an embarrassment to Switzerland's government, the country's top court said Wednesday that at least $4.6 million in Swiss bank accounts previously awarded to charities must be returned to the family of Haiti's ex-dictator Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier. (Ed: Swiss banks also cooperated with the Nazis.) 2/3/2010 4:10:04 PM
Toyota Lexus: Accelerator’s stuck: crash victims' last words The final moments of a (California) family killed in a car crash apparently caused by a faulty accelerator on a Toyota vehicle have been made public as lawyers challenge the company’s safety record. Four members of the same family died in a rented Lexus that allegedly accelerated out of control. 2/3/2010 10:52:29 AM
German Minister to Tax Cheats: Be Wise and Confess Germany’s finance minister warned German tax evaders Wednesday that they risk punishment if their names are found on a CD the government is buying that contains information about Swiss bank customers. Chancellor Angela Merkel said this week that the government should acquire the CD from the unidentified informant. 2/3/2010 10:42:33 AM
Millions of U.S. passengers fly on unsafe planes U.S. airlines permitted at least 65,000 flights with millions of passengers on planes that were not fit for takeoff over the past six years.Flights were allowed to take off after problems ranging from damaged rudders to faulty engines were subject to substandard repairs by unaccredited mechanics. 2/3/2010 9:32:59 AM
AIG to Dish Out $100 Million in Bonuses The upcoming bonus payments will go to employees at AIG's Financial Products division (FP), the unit that brought the company to the brink of failure with risky deals years ago and led to the government's record $182 billion bailout. 2/3/2010 7:30:09 AM
Haiti judge quizzes US missionaries over child case
US Baptist missionary Laura Silsby: "God is going to bring this to a positive closure"
A group of 10 US missionaries who were arrested as they tried to take 33 children out of earthquake-stricken Haiti are being questioned by a judge. The investigative magistrate quizzed the five women for several hours and will interview the men on Wednesday. 2/3/2010 6:39:01 AM
Britain: Man jailed for raping woman, 86 A 19-year-old man has been given an indeterminate jail sentence for the kidnap and rape of an 86-year-old woman in a Bradford care home. A judge at Bradford Crown Court told Dale Boocock, from the Woodside area of the city, his crime was "appalling". 2/3/2010 6:36:56 AM
Jenny Sanford: Governor Husband asked me for affair advice In a new memoir, South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford writes that Gov. Mark Sanford sought her advice about his romance and how to deal with the media after she discovered his extramarital relationship with an Argentine woman. Mark Sanford was once considered a possible 2012 Republican presidential candidate. 2/3/2010 6:33:16 AM
Nearly a ton of pot seized near U.S.-Mexico border U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized nearly a ton of marijuana hidden in a banana shipment at a cargo facility near the U.S.-Mexico border. Officials say a drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to the stash Monday. 2/3/2010 6:31:03 AM
Cigarette-maker repents over exploding product An Indonesian tobacco company has agreed to pay the medical expenses of a man who lost six teeth when a cigarette mysteriously exploded in his mouth. Indonesia is one of the most profitable tobacco markets in the world, and more than 60 percent of Indonesian men smoke. 2/3/2010 6:20:35 AM
Man with 'burqa' wife denied French nationality France's prime minister said Wednesday he would sign a decree refusing French nationality to a man who forced his wife to wear the full Islamic veil. "If this man does not want to change his attitude, he has no place in our country. In any case, he does not deserve French nationality." 2/3/2010 6:02:18 AM
P.R. Fiasco: Toyota hit by Prius brake complaints Toyota has been hit by over 100 complaints in the U.S. and Japan about brake problems with the popular Prius hybrid, the latest in a spate of quality troubles for the automaker as it grapples with massive global recalls. The Japanese company's sales are being battered in the U.S. – Toyota's biggest market. 2/3/2010 5:25:29 AM
Three U.S. soldiers killed in Pakistan blast Three U.S. soldiers traveling with Pakistan security force members were killed Wednesday and one wounded in a roadside bombing in northwest Pakistan that also injured dozens of schoolgirls. The soldiers were in the region as part of a little-publicized U.S. mission to train members of the paramilitary Frontier Corps. 2/3/2010 5:19:45 AM
Iran sends mouse and two turtles into space Iran announced Wednesday it has successfully launched a three-metre-long research rocket carrying a mouse, two turtles and worms into space — a feat President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said showed Iran could defeat the West in the battle of technology. 2/3/2010 5:17:19 AM
Toyota slow to respond: U.S. had to force gas-pedal issue U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Toyota was slow to deal with safety problems with its gas pedals, asserting in an interview Tuesday that it took government pressure to force the company to recall millions of its most popular vehicles. 2/2/2010 3:09:57 PM
South Africa's President Sows (Another) Sex Scandal John Edwards might have reason to feel a little jealous of Jacob Zuma right now. The South African president has faced many accusations of sleazy behavior during his 20-year-long political career, from corrupt business dealings, to having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman 2/2/2010 2:18:44 PM
US: Top Uniformed Officer Says 'Don't Ask' Should Go The military's top uniformed officer on Tuesday made an impassioned plea for allowing gays to serve openly in uniform, telling a Senate panel it was a matter of integrity and that it is wrong to force people to "lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens." 2/2/2010 2:12:49 PM
‘Land Scam General’ brings new scandal to India’s armed forces First came the “Ketchup Colonel” — an officer in the Indian Army who was disgraced after he was found to have faked gun battles by sprinkling tomato sauce on civilians in order to win glory, medals and promotion. Next on the roll of dishonour was “Brigadier Booze.” 2/2/2010 9:13:53 AM
Pope criticised for attack on UK Equality Bill Pope Benedict XVI said the bill - which could end the right of the Church to ban gay people from senior positions - "violates natural law". But gay and human rights campaigners condemned his comments, and Labour MEP Stephen Hughes said he was "appalled". 2/2/2010 7:46:31 AM
UK troops 'failed' by bomb safeguards in Afghanistan The family of a British soldier killed by a bomb in Afghanistan has said the Ministry of Defence failed to protect troops. And a former MI6 official says Taliban militants are using fertiliser from aid projects to construct bombs. 2/2/2010 7:43:48 AM
Arrests stir debate over Haiti adoptions The debate over international adoptions has intensified in the aftermath of Haiti's earthquake and the arrest of 10 Americans for trying to take children out of the country without permission. Some groups are saying there is too much chaos, and the risks of mistakes or child trafficking are too high. 2/2/2010 6:13:55 AM
China warns U.S. against Dalai Lama meeting The warning, from an official in charge of recent talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives, comes ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's anticipated visit to the United States, possibly in April. U.S. officials have signalled in recent weeks that Obama might soon meet the exiled Tibetan leader. 2/2/2010 6:10:10 AM
Super Bowl: Less-than-Super weather hits Miami Rain drove the New Orleans Saints indoors Monday. The NFL scrambled to move Tuesday’s media day activities under cover. And tourism officials tried to shrug off the public-relations blow of a soggy start to Super Bowl week. 2/2/2010 5:58:47 AM
Haitian girl recounts tearful bus ride with supposed orphans For she knows not how long, Berline Chéry travelled toward the Dominican border in a blue-and-white bus with 32 other children. She didn't know where they were going or who was taking them there. That's when the police opened the doors and found them. 2/2/2010 4:53:41 AM
France Concorde crash trial opens (Video) US airline Continental and five individuals have gone on trial in France over the crash of an Air France Concorde nearly 10 years ago. The jet took off in flames from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and crashed minutes later, killing 113 people. 2/2/2010 4:47:28 AM
Pentagon chief fires head of F-35 aircraft programme US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has sacked the marine general overseeing a $40bn project to build the next generation strike fighter jet. "The progress and performance of the F-35 over the past two years has not been what it should," Mr Gates told a news conference. 2/1/2010 4:45:36 PM
Poverty stalks the U.S. middle class The "Yes We Can" optimism that drew its strength from the middle-class dream of a nice house in the suburbs, two cars, good schools and a comfortable retirement has been replaced by an alarming new uncertainty. The U.S. economy remains in a perilous state. 2/1/2010 4:43:02 PM
Haiti prime minister: US Baptists knew they were wrong to try to take 33 children Haiti's prime minister said Monday that 10 Americans who tried to take a busload of undocumented Haitian children out of the country knew that "what they were doing was wrong." The prime minister said some of those parents may have knowingly given their kids to the Americans. 2/1/2010 3:53:31 PM
At least 40 killed over bloody Mexico weekend A spasm of bloodletting by drug gangs in Mexico claimed 40 lives over a long weekend in Mexico, including at least 18 young people gunned down at a high school party, officials said. Early Monday gunmen again opened fire in Ciudad Juarez at a bar, killing five people and injuring six others, police said. 2/1/2010 3:21:17 PM
In $3.8 Trillion Budget, Obama Pivots to Trim Future Deficits President Obama sent Congress on Monday a proposed budget of $3.8 trillion for the fiscal year 2011, saying that his plan would produce a decade-long reduction in the deficit from $1.6 trillion this year. “We simply cannot continue to spend as if deficits don’t have consequences." 2/1/2010 10:58:59 AM
CIA moonlights in U.S. corporate world In the midst of two wars and the fight against Al Qaeda, the CIA is offering operatives a chance to peddle their expertise to private companies on the side — a policy that gives financial firms and hedge funds access to the nation’s top-level intelligence talent, POLITICO has learned. 2/1/2010 10:35:08 AM
Same Blackwater, Different Names After Blackwater contractors were accused of shooting 17 civilians in Iraq, the State Department announced it would stop doing business with the company, but ABC News has found that several other agencies, including the CIA and the Pentagon, continue to employ the controversial company, often via secret, classified contracts. 2/1/2010 10:29:39 AM
Berlusconi ‘planning to nominate showgirls as poll candidates’ Silvio Berlusconi was facing a party revolt yesterday over reported plans to field showgirls with little or no political experience as candidates in regional elections next month — a strategy that caused uproar last year. The list was denounced by several of Mr Berlusconi’s allies. 2/1/2010 9:27:38 AM
Young Offered 'Gigantic' Sum for Edwards Sex Tape The former John Edwards aide who claims to have a sex tape of the one-time presidential candidate and his pregnant mistress said he'd been offered a "gigantic" amount of money to sell it. Andrew Young didn't say who offered to pay for the video, but it's apparently in demand. 2/1/2010 8:48:49 AM
Woman Suicide bomber kills 41 in Baghdad A female suicide bomber walking among Shiite pilgrims in northern Baghdad detonated an explosives belt on Monday, killing at least 41 people and wounding more than 100. The bombing was the first major strike this year against pilgrims making their way to the southern city of Karbala. 2/1/2010 4:46:58 AM
Honda recalls 646,000 cars worldwide Honda is recalling 646,000 Fit hatchbacks worldwide. The problem is in the power window mechanism, which could allow water to enter and cause components to overheat. In South Africa, one person was killed last year in a vehicle fire related to the malfunction. 2/1/2010 4:44:45 AM
China: Man stabs colleague, then kills 9 with bus A disgruntled employee killed nine people and injured 11 by plowing a bus into pedestrians and cyclists while fleeing after stabbing a co-worker in northern China, a local government spokesman said Monday. The man, surnamed Zhang, tried to get away by stealing the bus after an argument. 2/1/2010 4:38:07 AM
Despite setbacks, Obama’s aims unchanged For a president in political trouble, the State of the Union address seems the ideal launch site to get past it and get going. But that seldom has worked as planned. Now President Barack Obama is trying to make a go of his "we don't quit" campaign for change. 1/31/2010 8:13:56 PM
Afghan interpreter shoots dead two US soldiers Two US soldiers who died in eastern Afghanistan on Friday were shot dead by an Afghan interpreter, it has emerged. A Nato official said the translator gunned down the US soldiers before other soldiers shot him dead. 1/31/2010 7:56:20 PM
'Avatar' wins box office for seventh straight week "Avatar" is on the cusp of toppling the domestic box-office record after leading all movies for a seventh straight week. Earlier this week, the 20th Century Fox blockbuster passed "Titanic" for the worldwide box-office record. It has now crossed the $2 billion worldwide mark. 1/31/2010 3:56:48 PM
Seized North Korea arms were bound for Iran: Thailand Thai authorities seized more than 35 tons of arms from a cargo plane they said had come from North Korea, and arrested its five crew members after the aircraft made an emergency landing at a Bangkok airport in December. The cargo plane departed from Pyongyang and was en route to Mehrabad airport in Tehran. 1/31/2010 3:17:17 PM
UK: Doctors are addicted to 'every drug under the sun' In its first year the clinic has treated NHS (National Health Service) staff hooked on drugs including heroin, ketamine, a horse tranquilliser, and methadrone, a drug linked to amphetamines, said Dr Clare Gerada, medical director of the Practitioner Health Programme. 1/31/2010 2:55:28 PM
Gunmen kill 13 high-school students at party in Mexico Suspected drug hitmen burst into a party and killed 13 high school students, on Sunday in Ciudad Juarez, the latest massacre in one of the world’s deadliest cities. Gunmen jumped out of sport utility vehicles and fired at the students in a house in the city across the border from El Paso, Texas. 1/31/2010 12:38:16 PM
Berlusconi meets wife to hammer out divorce deal Silvio Berlusconi has met his estranged wife for the first time face to face since she demanded a divorce nine months ago over his relationships with showgirls and "escorts". The meeting between the Italian Prime MInister and Veronica Lario, a former actress, lasted 20 minutes. 1/31/2010 9:12:24 AM
World's most famous 'unseen' diamond The room was dimly lit. Armed guards stood at both entrances and enormous ironclad doors were slid shut to seal the gallery. Nobody spoke above a whisper as we waited for the first glimpse in half a century. The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond was last seen in public in 1958. 1/31/2010 7:59:45 AM
Why do people often vote against their own interests? Last year, in a series of "town-hall meetings" across the country, Americans got the chance to debate President Obama's proposed healthcare reforms. What happened was an explosion of rage and barely suppressed violence. 1/31/2010 7:56:15 AM
Gaddafi thwarted over AU position Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi has failed in his bid to stay on as president of the African Union for another year. At the annual AU summit in Ethiopia, leaders from 53 African countries chose the president of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika, to take his place. 1/31/2010 6:07:25 AM
Head of Pakistani Taliban reportedly killed The Pakistani army said Sunday that it was investigating reports that Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud died from injuries sustained in a U.S. drone missile strike. Pakistani intelligence officials have said that Mehsud was targeted in a U.S. drone strike in South Waziristan on Jan. 14. 1/31/2010 5:51:26 AM
Who said it never rains in Southern California? California, a part of the world usually associated with sunny skies and sandy beaches, is suffering from such heavy rains that a state of emergency has been declared in several areas including Los Angeles, as David Willis reports. Remember that song It Never Rains In Southern California? 1/31/2010 5:40:45 AM
10 American Baptists accused of taking kids in Haiti Haitian police arrested 10 U.S. citizens after they tried to take 33 Haitian children out of the earthquake-stricken nation, authorities said Saturday. Whether they realized it or not, these Americans put themselves in the middle of a firestorm in Haiti. 1/31/2010 5:30:49 AM
Eye doctor charged in murder plot has licence suspended A doctor charged with trying to arrange a "hit" on his business partner had his medical licence suspended in Washington state this week. Mike Farrell confirmed the department has suspended the licence of Dr. Michael Mockovak, 51. 1/30/2010 2:43:57 PM
Afghan Taliban deny negotiations with UN official The Taliban on Saturday denied reports that their representatives met with a UN official to discuss prospects for peace in Afghanistan, calling them "futile and baseless" rumours. The UN in Afghanistan has not confirmed the meeting between the Taliban and the world body's local chief, Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide. 1/30/2010 5:42:17 AM
Confusion, anger for Toyota drivers Toyota executives have been virtually silent amid a recall of millions of their cars because gas pedals can become dangerously stuck. For their customers, oh, what a feeling. Since the Japanese automaker said it would stop making and selling some of its top-selling models, the company has had few answers for dealers and drivers. 1/30/2010 5:21:52 AM
Abortion doc’s killer found guilty of murder The man who said he killed prominent Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller in order to save the lives of unborn children was convicted Friday. The jury deliberated for just 37 minutes before finding Scott Roeder, 51, of Kansas City, Mo., guilty of premeditated, first-degree murder. 1/30/2010 4:58:40 AM
China hits back at US over Taiwan weapons sale China has announced a series of moves against the US in retaliation for a proposed weapons sale to Taiwan worth $6.4bn. Beijing said it would suspend military exchanges with the US, impose sanctions on companies selling arms, and review co-operation on major issues. 1/30/2010 4:50:08 AM
Bin Laden slams U.S over global warming Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has slammed the United States and other industrialized nations for global warming, in an audiotape recording claimed to be of his voice. "Speaking about climate change is not a matter of intellectual luxury — the phenomenon is an actual fact," bin Laden said, according to the Al-Jazeera website. 1/29/2010 10:27:34 AM
Wild tiger conservation plan enlists 13 countries A dozen Asian nations and Russia vowed Friday to double the number of wild tigers by 2022, crack down on poaching that has devastated the big cats and prohibit the building of roads and bridges that could harm their habitats. 1/29/2010 10:25:31 AM
Toyota tells workers it has found fix for gas pedals Toyota Motor Corp. has told employees that it has figured out how to fix a problem with sticking accelerator pedals. The company said in an e-mail that it presented the remedy to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The memo did not say when the repairs would make their way to customers. 1/29/2010 9:31:16 AM
Pope says marriage annulments shouldn't be easy Pope Benedict XVI called Friday on the Vatican court which rules on marriage annulments to take a strict line, saying the point of Church laws was to save souls. Catholics who have marriages annulled are allowed to remarry in church and take communion, unlike those who are divorced by civilian courts. 1/29/2010 9:13:38 AM
Boy, 12, and girl, 13, facing felony charges for 'sexting' nude pictures A 12-year-old boy and 13-year old girl from Indiana are facing felony charges for "sexting" each other with nude pictures. They face child exploitation and child pornography charges after the teacher confiscated the girl's cellphone when it rang in class last week. 1/29/2010 9:02:28 AM
U.S. Economy grows at fastest pace in 6 years The U.S. economy grew for a second straight quarter from October through December, the fastest quarterly pace since 2003. Growth exceeded expectations mainly because business spending on equipment and software jumped 13.3 percent -- much more than forecast. 1/29/2010 5:12:40 AM
Toyota faces probe; Honda recalls models Toyota faces U.S. Congress scrutiny over its biggest ever safety recall as rival Honda, tipped to gain from Toyota's woes, also said it would recall thousands of cars worldwide. Honda said it would recall its Fit/Jazz and City models, because of a faulty window switch, after a child died. 1/29/2010 5:08:56 AM
Russia tests stealth fighter jet (Video) A new stealth fighter has made its maiden flight in Russia's far east. The Sukhoi T-50 jet spent 47 minutes in the air over Komsomolsk-on-Amur and test pilot Sergei Bogdan said "it is easy and comfortable to pilot". 1/29/2010 4:58:50 AM
Blair denies 'covert' deal with Bush to invade Iraq (Video) Tony Blair has denied striking a "covert" deal with George Bush to invade Iraq at a private meeting in 2002 at the US president's ranch. He told the Iraq inquiry there was no secret about what was said - that Saddam Hussein had to be dealt with and "the method of doing that is open". 1/29/2010 4:55:03 AM
Earth needs sunblock and fast, scientist says As greenhouse gases accumulate, the Earth could soon need a planetary sunblock to keep from frying. But just what that block will consist of and who will slather it on are questions that need to be urgently answered, a Canadian researcher argued Wednesday in the world's premier science journal. 1/28/2010 9:41:59 AM
Two Koreas resume artillery exchange North Korea resumed firing artillery Thursday near its disputed western sea border with South Korea, an official said, a day after the country fired dozens of shells and prompted South Korea to fire back a barrage of warning shots. 1/28/2010 5:56:54 AM
Reasons for execution of 2 Iranians unclear Conflicting reports have emerged over the execution of two Iranian men after state media claimed they were hanged for their role in protests related to the controversial presidential elections in June. Dozens of protesters were killed in the unrest and hundreds have been detained since June. 1/28/2010 5:53:17 AM
Bill Clinton praises Canada's Haiti effort Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, the United Nations special co-ordinator for Haiti, singled out Canadians as the biggest donors to earthquake relief there. “The Canadian people have been so generous. I'll bet you on a per-capita basis they're the number one in the world in helping Haiti." 1/28/2010 5:35:50 AM
Afghanistan summit: Gordon Brown says 'tide must turn' (Video) British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said mid-2011 should be the deadline for "turning the tide" in the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan. Speaking at a 70-nation London summit on the future of Afghanistan, he said the nations faced "a decisive time". 1/28/2010 5:32:34 AM
A yes-we-can speech, and a dose of reality By now, President Obama can hardly be under any illusions about the depth of the partisan divide as he seeks to reboot his presidency. Yet he still seemed surprised on Wednesday night when he could not get Republicans to applaud tax cuts. Democrats jumped to their feet to cheer. Republicans sat quietly. 1/28/2010 4:50:35 AM
Haiti quake rescuers find girl alive after 15 days (Video) A 16-year-old girl has been pulled out of the rubble in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, 15 days after the earthquake struck, rescuers say. Darlene Etienne was said to be happy but dehydrated. Rescuers said she had survived by drinking water from a bath. 1/28/2010 4:47:46 AM
U.S. governance just got even more dysfunctional Go to the United States with open ears and eyes. Read the serious U.S. media. Listen to informed observers of the U.S. political scene, be they of a leftist, centrist or rightist variety. The most commonly heard word to describe U.S. governance and politics: “dysfunctional.” 1/27/2010 5:51:15 AM
Massive Toyota halt and recall spreads to Europe The faulty gas pedals that prompted Toyota (TM-N86.78----%) to suspend U.S. and Canadian sales of eight of its most popular models – including the Camry, America's best-selling car – are also in its vehicles sold in Europe, an official with the automaker said Wednesday. 1/27/2010 5:37:04 AM
NY Times: World of chaos envelops Haiti’s children Haiti’s children, 45 percent of the population, are among the most disoriented and vulnerable of the survivors of the earthquake. By the many tens of thousands, they have lost their parents, their homes, their schools and their bearings. 1/27/2010 5:00:30 AM
Target drops all farmed salmon from stores Target Corp. said Tuesday that it had eliminated all farmed salmon from its fresh, frozen and smoked seafood sections at stores nationwide. The company said salmon farms can hurt the environment through pollution, chemicals and parasites. 1/26/2010 9:14:41 PM
Tony Blair to give $3,000-a-minute' talks to hedge fund Former British prime minister Tony Blair will add to a lucrative portfolio since leaving power with lectures to a hedge fund that reportedly bet on the collapse of the country's banks. The news came shortly before he gives evidence at a public inquiry about Britain's involvement in the Iraq war. 1/26/2010 5:28:48 PM
Australians look to Canada in Union Jack debate Advocates for a new Australian flag have launched a high-profile campaign to emulate Canada's 1965 rebranding by dropping the Union Jack from the current design and adopting a homegrown icon comparable to our maple leaf — perhaps a kangaroo? 1/26/2010 5:15:23 PM
Consumer advocates declare war on copyright treaty The latest talks on a global anti-counterfeiting agreement kicked off Tuesday, and so did a new wave of opposition. The 'secret' treaty is motivated by U.S. entertainment lobbies, and would allow internet providers to spy on customers and criminalize millions of people, they said. 1/26/2010 4:59:55 PM
Cold weather claims more lives in Europe A deep freeze gripping Europe claimed more lives Tuesday as record low temperatures combined with snow and ice to disrupt travel, close schools and trigger emergency measures. Ten people died of cold in Poland, a police spokeswoman said Tuesday, after 11 on Sunday, raising the death toll since November to 212. 1/26/2010 4:43:33 PM
Peru mudslides kill seven, strand thousands Peru was Tuesday conducting an airlift evacuation of more than 2,500 foreign tourists trapped in and around its famed Machu Picchu ruins by rain and mudslides that killed at least seven people. The operation, which began Monday, had rescued 125 of the foreigners by late Tuesday. 1/26/2010 4:31:16 PM
Toyota in U.S. tells dealers to stop selling 8 models Toyota Motor Corp. is temporarily halting sales and production of eight models, including the top-selling Camry and Corolla, that it has recalled because the accelerator pedal can stick and cause unwanted acceleration. The automaker announced the recall of 2.3 million cars and trucks late last week. (Ed: No word in Canada yet.) 1/26/2010 3:39:56 PM
Two weeks after earthquake, survivor pulled from Haiti rubble U.S. troops pulled a man alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Haiti's destroyed capital on Tuesday. The 35-year-old man, covered in dust and dressed only in underpants, was carried out from the ruins of a building in downtown Port-au-Prince. 1/26/2010 3:35:25 PM
IMF more upbeat on world economy The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its projection for how much the global economy will grow in 2010. It now predicts that the worldwide economy will expand by 3.9% this year, up from the 3.1% estimate it published back in October. 1/26/2010 11:06:19 AM
U.S. Authorities Worried About Female Suicide Bombers U.S. national-security officials say that that in Al Qaeda and its affiliates' efforts to figure out ways to circumvent security measures imposed by American and allied governments, they may be considering, and even plotting, using female suicide bombers. 1/26/2010 6:04:57 AM
France MPs' report backs Muslim face veil ban A French parliamentary committee has recommended a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils. The committee's near 200-page report has proposed a ban in hospitals, schools, government offices and on public transport. 1/26/2010 5:00:31 AM
90 dead: Ethiopia plane 'flew wrong way' (Video) The Ethiopian jet that crashed into the sea off Beirut on Monday did not fly in the direction suggested by Beirut's control tower. Ministers said the pilot was asked to correct his course, but turned in the opposite direction. It is not clear why this happened, or if it was beyond the pilot's control. 1/26/2010 4:58:59 AM
Super Bowl anti-abortion ad riles women's groups A coalition of U.S. women's groups called on CBS on Monday to scrap its plan to broadcast an ad during the Super Bowl featuring college football star Tim Tebow and his mother, which critics say is likely to convey an anti-abortion message. 1/26/2010 4:45:31 AM
Haiti's initial rebuilding budget could reach up to US$3-billion Even before the Jan. 12 earthquake, Haiti was the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with 80% of its nine million people living below the poverty line. Although no funding pledges were made at the conference, in a joint statement participants agreed to an "initial 10-year commitment." 1/25/2010 6:23:32 PM
Italians ponder paying kids to leave home Italy's public administration minister proposed Sunday offering youngsters $750 a month, funded by cutting certain pensions, to help them leave the family nest after age 18. Italy has one of the highest rates in Europe of children choosing to live with their parents well into adulthood. 1/25/2010 3:43:23 PM
Haitians question country's leadership in times of crisis "Preval doesn't care about the Haitians. He doesn't know about our life. He doesn't recognize the people." It's a sentiment heard increasingly throughout the capital amid few visible signs that President Rene Preval or anyone else in the Haitian government is actually in charge. 1/25/2010 3:36:48 PM
Obama likely a no-show during opening ceremonies for 2010 Games U.S. President Barack Obama may not attend the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games, but an announcement is expected soon on whether he will appear during the two weeks of events. Although there are 80 nations with athletes competing at the Games, not all heads of state will attend. 1/25/2010 3:33:40 PM
China finds more melamine in milk products More dairy products tainted with melamine have been pulled from store shelves in southern China, calling into question the effectiveness of a crackdown after the baby formula scandal in 2008. The tainted products came from three companies, including one named in the original scandal in 2008. 1/25/2010 3:29:01 PM
Tamil-Canadians get 25 years in U.S. terror trial Two Tamil-Canadians who were caught by the FBI trying to buy anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons for the Tamil Tigers three years ago have been sentenced to 25 years in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors had argued the men's plan to buy the weapons constituted an act of domestic terrorism. 1/25/2010 3:17:49 PM
36 killed as bombers hit Baghdad hotels (Video) At least 36 people were killed today when insurgents set off a series of car bombs outside some of Baghdad's best known international hotels. The three huge explosions rocked the Iraqi capital shortly before the Government announced the execution of "Chemical Ali". 1/25/2010 9:32:01 AM
Suu Kyi 'may be free in November' Burma's military government may be planning to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi later this year. Burma's home minister reportedly said Ms Suu Kyi would be freed when her current period of house arrest expires, which is scheduled for November. 1/25/2010 4:58:22 AM
Canadian among passengers on downed Ethiopian airliner An Ethiopian Airlines plane carrying 90 people caught fire and crashed into the sea minutes after taking off from Beirut early Monday, setting off a frantic search as rain lashed the coast and debris washed ashore. At least 34 bodies were recovered. 1/25/2010 4:17:48 AM
'Bin Laden tape' warns Obama of more attacks (Audio) A tape said to be from al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has warned US President Barack Obama there will be more attacks if the US continues to support Israel. In the newly released audio tape aired on al-Jazeera, Bin Laden says the US will never live in peace until there is "peace in Palestine". The voice recording says that the message is from "Osama to Obama". 1/24/2010 7:56:27 AM
Iranian Jet catches fire while crash landing (Video) A plane carrying pilgrims in Iran has caught fire while landing at Mashhad. State media said almost 170 people were on board and that at least 46 were injured. There were no reports of fatalities. Iran's civil fleet is made up of old planes in poor condition. 1/24/2010 7:53:55 AM
Afghanistan parliamentary election postponed Afghanistan is to postpone its parliamentary elections by four months until September, the country's election commission has confirmed. Elections were to take place before 22 May under the constitution but a new date of 18 September has been set. 1/24/2010 7:49:52 AM
Don't be evil? Where Google still censors Google's promise to end its self-censorship in China, a daring response to a Chinese cyber attack, may have brought the shine back to the search giant's "Don't Be Evil" ethos. But Google is still blocking certain content in other countries at the demand of their governments. 1/24/2010 7:43:53 AM
Trial in U.S. abortion doctor's killing begins The trial in Kansas of a man charged with killing one of the few late-term abortion providers in the United States began on Friday, after more than a week of jury selection. Scott Roeder, 51, has admitted killing Wichita doctor George Tiller. 1/24/2010 5:51:51 AM
Hungary: The next stop for the Roma, Canada? Once or twice a month, three-year-old Mate Csorba disappears from his family house on the edge of a Hungarian village. When his worried relatives find him wandering in the forest, he tells them he is searching for his father and his older brother, who are out hunting. 1/24/2010 5:02:27 AM
Saudi Arabia death toll now133 in Yemen conflict Saudi forces have recovered the bodies of 20 soldiers who had been reported missing in fierce battles with Yemeni rebels on the border, the assistant defence minister said Saturday, raising the Saudi death toll in the conflict to 133. Prince Khaled bin Sultan said six soldiers are still missing. 1/23/2010 3:07:47 PM
California: Sexual orientation not a choice, expert says The final witness for gays and lesbians seeking to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage testified Friday that most people don't choose their sexual orientation, few people change it and "conversion therapy" is useless and potentially harmful. 1/23/2010 1:46:29 PM
Tropical whale turns up dead in Puget Sound The body of a Bryde’s whale, an animal usually found in warm tropical waters, washed up the a beach near Olympia, Wash., this week and U.S. and Canadian scientists trying to figure out why the whale strayed so far north. 1/23/2010 10:29:32 AM
Biden vows the US will appeal in Iraq Blackwater case US Vice-President Joe Biden says the US government will appeal against a court ruling dismissing manslaughter charges in the Blackwater shootings case. Biden was speaking after meeting Iraqi politicians in Baghdad. Mr Biden is in Iraq in an attempt to defuse a political crisis over candidates for the election in March. 1/23/2010 9:43:27 AM
Nigeria religious riot bodies found in village wells More victims of deadly religious clashes in central Nigeria have been found, with scores of bodies stuffed in wells and sewage pits. An exact death toll is not known but overall up to 300 are thought to have died in the Muslim-Christian clashes. 1/23/2010 9:41:58 AM
Venezuela oil 'may double Saudis' A new US assessment of Venezuela's oil reserves could give the country double the supplies of Saudi Arabia. Scientists working for the US Geological Survey say Venezuela's Orinoco belt region holds twice as much petroleum as previously thought. 1/23/2010 9:39:22 AM
Haiti ends search for earthquake survivors Haiti's government has declared the search and rescue phase for survivors of the earthquake over, the United Nations said Saturday, with little hope of finding more people alive 10 days after much of the capital was reduced to rubble. "except for miracles, hope is unfortunately fading." 1/23/2010 5:06:49 AM
Obama lashes out at campaign finance ruling President Barack Obama on Saturday sharply criticized a Supreme Court decision easing limits on campaign spending by corporations and labor unions, saying he couldn't "think of anything more devastating to the public interest." He also suggested the ruling could jeopardize his domestic agenda. 1/23/2010 5:04:22 AM
Canada's man in Tehran was a CIA spy Ken Taylor, the Canadian diplomat celebrated 30 years ago for hiding U.S. embassy personnel during the Iranian revolution, actively spied for the Americans and helped them plan an armed incursion into the country. Mr. Taylor himself said he never expected the story to come out. 1/23/2010 4:42:56 AM
Earthquake puts Haitian children in further peril Like many teenagers, Argentine Joseph Bernard knows exactly what she wants to do with her life. “I want to be a doctor,” she says with a big smile as she stands outside an empty classroom in an orphanage called Foyer D'espoir pour Enfants d'Haiti. “Haiti needs doctors.” 1/23/2010 4:37:06 AM
Visas of U.S.-bound Foreigners Are Not Checked Until Flights Are Airborne U.S. officials are acknowledging that the visa status of foreign airline passengers en route to the U.S. was not routinely checked until after their flights had already left the ground for their American destinations. Officials have offered little in the way of explanation. 1/22/2010 7:22:43 PM
Russian Cop who condemned corruption on Youtube arrested Russia's top investigative body says a police officer who has complained on YouTube of abuse and corruption in the country's law enforcement system has been arrested on fraud charges. Alexei Dymovsky posted three videos on YouTube in which he said he was promised a promotion in return for jailing an innocent person. 1/22/2010 7:17:45 PM
Officer: I gave favors to Peterson during probe The lead investigator in the death of Drew Peterson's third wife said he never collected any forensics evidence from the home where her body was found in a dry bathtub, telling a pretrial hearing Friday he never considered the possibility she was murdered. 1/22/2010 7:06:28 PM
19 bears rescued from bear bile farm in Vietnam The three tractor-trailer containers sat in a row, divided with metal partitions into 19 tiny, sweltering cells. Massive claws and furry black noses poked between the iron bars: 19 rare Asiatic moon bears awaiting their next gall bladder milking. Their bile is a coveted traditional medicine ingredient. 1/22/2010 4:46:02 PM
Toyota recalls 2.3M cars in U.S. Toyota is recalling 2.3 million U.S. vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals, the latest in a string of quality problems that have plagued the Japanese automaker. Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman Brian Lyons said the recall is due to the vehicles' pedal mechanism becoming worn and, in some cases, getting stuck. 1/22/2010 11:29:38 AM
'Miracle on Hudson' plane on auction block For sale: One severely water-damaged jet. Hero not included. The banged-up US Airways plane that Capt. Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger deftly landed on the Hudson River a year ago after a flock of geese disabled its engines is being auctioned off. 1/22/2010 11:14:40 AM
Texas’ ‘Murdering minister’ gets 65 years Jurors on Thursday sentenced a former Texas minister to 65 years in prison for murdering his wife and trying to cover it up as a suicide. He had faced from probation to life in prison for slipping his wife sleeping pills and suffocating her in 2006. 1/22/2010 6:12:22 AM
400,000 Haitians bound for temporary camps (Video) Haitian officials say they plan to relocate 400,000 victims of last week's devastating earthquake to temporary camps outside the capital of Port-au-Prince. President Rene Preval's chief of staff said the decision is based on concerns over sanitation and possible outbreaks of disease. 1/22/2010 5:21:58 AM
Update: US firm removing illegal Bible gunsights A US military contractor has said it will stop engraving Biblical references on rifles used by the US army. They broke a US rules barring troops proselytising in the predominantly Muslim countries of Afghanistan and Iraq, where they are widely used by both the US and British military. 1/22/2010 5:03:34 AM
Witness: Peterson said he planned to kill wife The stepbrother of a former Illinois police officer accused of killing his third wife told a hushed courtroom Thursday that he helped Drew Peterson carry a large blue barrel that he now fears may have held the body of his relative's fourth wife. 1/22/2010 4:49:35 AM
Italian buffalo mozzarella probe as tests find cow milk Italian buffalo mozzarella producers fear their reputation could be undermined after it was revealed some were using cow's milk in production. An investigation is under way after random tests found about a quarter of sampled cheese was adulterated. The cheese has protected status under EU law. 1/21/2010 6:21:02 AM
California Storms: Authorities Rush to Save Home as Residents Refuse to Flee (Video) Pelted by a deluge of stinging rain in 60 mph winds, California residents say they've have had enough of the wicked weather that has forced evacuations and flooded highways. But the worst may be yet to come. Authorities have been going door-to-door there, begging residents to evacuate. 1/21/2010 6:16:01 AM
Muslims angry over U.S. military 'Jesus' rifles Muslim groups reacted angrily Wednesday after it emerged that the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan were using rifle sights inscribed with coded Biblical references. The Pentagon sought to defuse the brewing controversy, saying it was "disturbed" by the reports. 1/21/2010 6:13:12 AM
Mass graves swell with thousands of bodies in Haiti Workers are carving out mass graves on a hillside north of Haiti's capital, using earth-movers to bury 10,000 in a single day. Medical clinics have 12-day patient backlogs, untreated injuries are festering and makeshift camps housing thousands of survivors could foster disease, experts said. 1/21/2010 6:04:55 AM
Obama to limit size, risks of banks President Barack Obama, eager to harness and redirect voter anger over bank bailouts, is ramping up his clampdown on Wall Street. Building on his own proposals and the work of the House, the president wants new federal government powers to limit the size and complexity of large financial institutions. 1/21/2010 5:58:19 AM
UN alarm at Sri Lanka poll violence United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed alarm at the violence surrounding the run-up to Sri Lanka's presidential election. He has urged all political parties and their supporters to "refrain from violence... and to avoid provocative acts throughout the election period". 1/21/2010 5:56:56 AM
US to seek world cyber crackdown after Google China row The US is calling for tough action against people and states that carry out cyber attacks, following an alleged attack on search giant Google in China. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will say in a speech an attack on a nation's networks is "an attack on all". Google has threatened to quit China. 1/21/2010 5:53:20 AM
China's economy resumes rapid growth China has said its economy expanded by 8.7% in 2009, exceeding even the government's own initial expectations. The pace of change increased as the year went on, with growth in the final quarter of 2009 increasing by 10.7% from the same period a year earlier. 1/21/2010 5:49:53 AM
Pakistan snubs US over new Taliban offensive Pakistan's army has said it will launch no new offensives on militants in 2010, as the US defence secretary arrived for talks on combating Taliban fighters. Athar Abbas told the BBC the "overstretched" military had no plans for any fresh anti-militant operations over the next 12 months. 1/21/2010 5:47:57 AM
Haiti rescuers refuse to give up hope Search teams in Haiti on Thursday refused to abandon hope of finding more survivors after two children were pulled alive from the rubble in 24 hours. More than eight days rescuers said they could not rule out the possibility of some victims still being alive under the debris. 1/21/2010 5:32:44 AM
Air France may bar obese passengers from flights Air France has revealed it may prevent obese economy passengers from boarding its planes for "safety reasons". It said that, under new rules, if a flight was full an overweight person who did not fit into a single seat might have to take another plane. 1/20/2010 7:14:49 PM
Ozone pollution in N. America linked to Asia Comments Ozone levels over the west coast of North America are rising because of air streams carrying the pollutant from Asia. The analysis of springtime ozone data collected since 1984 indicates the U.S. may be unable to reach its Clean Air Act goals because of ozone emissions from overseas. 1/20/2010 2:36:46 PM
China accuses Google, U.S. of conspiracy China has signalled a change of approach to the Google crisis, with state media describing the company’s threat to pull out of the country as a political conspiracy. Accusations in two newspapers that Washington was using Google as a foreign policy tool were echoed by the Chinese. 1/20/2010 1:33:52 PM
Vietnam jails democracy activists A court in Vietnam has convicted four activists, including prominent human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh, of trying to overthrow the Communist government. The four men received sentences of up to 16 years on charges of subversion. 1/20/2010 6:36:30 AM
South Koreans told to go home and make babies (Video) South Korean government workers are being given an unusual instruction - go home and multiply. They want to encourage staff to go home to their families and, well, make bigger ones. They plan to repeat the experiment every month. The country has one of the world's lowest birth rates. 1/20/2010 6:17:39 AM
US Republicans wins former Teddy Kennedy senate seat In an epic upset in liberal Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown rode a wave of voter anger to win the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy for nearly half a century, leaving President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in doubt and marring the end of his first year in office. 1/20/2010 4:55:29 AM
Strong aftershock rocks Haiti A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Wednesday morning, shaking buildings and sending screaming people running into the streets only eight days after the country's capital was devastated by an apocalyptic quake. Frightened survivors of last week's quake poured out of unstable buildings. 1/20/2010 4:53:28 AM
UN approves more troops, police for Haiti The UN Security Council has unanimously approved 3,500 extra troops and police officers to beef up security in Haiti and ensure that desperately needed aid gets to earthquake victims. Relief workers say violence is hampering the already slow delivery of aid. 1/19/2010 1:41:21 PM
Quake hits off Cayman Islands A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Tuesday off the Cayman Islands, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The 6.2-mile deep quake hit at 9:23 a.m. ET, 40 miles from George Town, Cayman Island. The British territory of the Cayman Islands is about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti 1/19/2010 9:35:18 AM
All eyes on Massachusetts Senate election Voters across Massachusetts braved winter cold and snow Tuesday to decide who will inherit the U.S. Senate seat controlled by the Kennedy family since 1953. At stake was President Obama's domestic agenda, including the overhaul of health care. 1/19/2010 9:32:02 AM
Iran state prosecutor shot dead Four people have been arrested after an Iranian state prosecutor was shot dead outside his home in northern Iran. Vali Hajgholizadeh, who officials say had a reputation for fighting corruption, was killed in the town of Khoy near the Turkish border. 1/19/2010 5:39:53 AM
As Haitians flee, the dead go uncounted A few miles north of the busted-down buildings in Port-au-Prince, up a hillside where cows graze, an empty hole awaits the dead. Rectangular, 20 feet deep and wide, 100 feet long, it is one of the newest mass graves, but there are many more. The government’s dump trucks have been dropping off bodies here since Friday. 1/19/2010 5:37:48 AM
UN Survey: Afghans 'paid $2.5 Billion in bribes' Afghans paid $2.5bn in bribes over the past 12 months, or the equivalent of almost one quarter of legitimate GDP. Bribes were most often paid to police, judges and politicians. "Corruption is the biggest impediment to improving security, development and governance in Afghanistan." 1/19/2010 4:51:56 AM
U.S.: High Support for Medical Marijuana Eight in 10 Americans support legalizing marijuana for medical use and nearly half favor decriminalizing the drug more generally, both far higher than a decade ago. With New Jersey this week poised to become the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana, 81 percent support the idea. 1/18/2010 8:43:37 PM
Air India Pilots, Crew Scuffle Leaving Cockpit Unmanned If Indian national carrier, Air India didn’t have enough problems, now the airline has hit the headlines for a brawl between pilots and cabin crew that reportedly left the cockpit unmanned as the aircraft flew over Pakistani territory. 1/18/2010 8:27:36 PM
Royal Caribbean Cruise ships still find a Haitian berth Sixty miles from Haiti's devastated earthquake zone, luxury liners dock at private beaches where passengers enjoy jetski rides, parasailing and rum cocktails delivered to their hammocks. The decision to go ahead with the visit divided passengers. One said he was "sickened". 1/18/2010 8:12:39 PM
U.S. Military Weapons Inscribed With Secret 'Jesus' Bible Codes Coded references to New Testament Bible passages about Jesus Christ are inscribed on high-powered rifle sights provided to the United States military by a Michigan company, an ABC News investigation has found. U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan. 1/18/2010 7:49:31 PM
FBI Illegally Collected Telephone Records for years From 2002 to 2006, the FBI was illegally collecting thousands of U.S. telephone call records and approving them afterwards to "justify their actions," reports The Washington Post. To do this, they cited terrorism emergencies that didn't exist. 1/18/2010 7:22:16 PM
Haiti help severely restricted by aid bureaucracies Critics, and friends, of Haiti point out that it lacked a functioning government even before the earthquake. Six days after disaster struck, the operation to rescue Haiti descended into blame and finger-pointing yesterday as only a trickle reached hundreds of thousands of victims. 1/18/2010 6:49:43 PM
France joins Germany warning against Internet Explorer (Video) France has echoed calls by the German government for web users to find an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer to protect security. Certa, a government agency that oversees cyber threats, warned against using all versions of the web browser. 1/18/2010 3:16:59 PM
Singer Billy Bragg to stop paying taxes over bank bonuses British singer Billy Bragg has threatened to stop paying taxes, and called on others to follow suit, unless the government acts to limit bonuses paid by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The 52-year-old singer aims to tap public anger over "fat cat" bonuses at U.S. and British banks. 1/18/2010 2:44:48 PM
Gangs take over Haiti's largest slum Heavily armed gang members who once ran Haiti's largest slum like warlords have returned with a vengeance since Tuesday's earthquake damaged the National Penitentiary, allowing 3,000 inmates to break out. "It's only natural that they would come back here. This has always been their stronghold," said a Haitian police officer. 1/18/2010 8:22:11 AM
Somali pirates free oil tanker after record ransom Somali pirates freed a Greek-flagged tanker carrying 2 million barrels of oil on Monday, a day after the biggest ransom yet paid to them was dropped onto its deck. An aircraft dropped a ransom believed to be between $5.5-million and $7-million (U.S.) onto the vessel on Sunday. 1/18/2010 6:09:15 AM
Afghan capital Kabul hit by co-ordinated Taliban attack Suspected Taliban militants have launched an attack in the Afghan capital Kabul, setting off explosions and sparking a gun battle. The fighting erupted near the Serena Hotel and presidential palace, although Afghan President Hamid Karzai says security has now been restored. 1/18/2010 5:17:20 AM
Haiti quake toll 'may be 200,000' (Video) The leading US general in Haiti has said it is a "reasonable assumption" that up to 200,000 people may have died in last Tuesday's earthquake. Lt Gen Ken Keen said the disaster was of "epic proportion." Rescuers pulled more people alive from the rubble on the weekend. 1/18/2010 5:11:01 AM
IMF head in 'double-dip' global economy warning The International Monetary Fund head has warned that the global economy could experience another downturn - a so-called double dip recession. Dominique Strauss-Kahn said countries should not exit from stimulus packages that have bolstered growth. 1/18/2010 5:01:32 AM
Haiti’s absent leader ‘doesn’t like to talk' As foreign aid and troops flow into this ruined capital, a Haitian government led by a diffident president has been overwhelmed, making it largely invisible since the earthquake. President René Préval has spoken far more to foreign audiences than to his own people. 1/18/2010 4:58:43 AM
Japan MP denies land deal scandal A leading figure in Japan's governing party, Ichiro Ozawa, says he will not resign despite a growing scandal over political funding. Police have now arrested three aides to Mr Ozawa, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party (DPJ), seen by many as Japan's most influential politician. 1/17/2010 6:08:41 PM
Billionaire Pinera wins Chile presidential election Conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera has won Chile's presidential run-off, ending two decades of centre-left rule. Mr Pinera promised a tough law-and-order programme and vowed to use his business know-how to boost the economy. 1/17/2010 6:05:22 PM
Ukraine vote heads for tense run-off: exit polls Ukraine braced for a nail-biting run-off between two old rivals in presidential elections after Sunday's first round vote eliminated discredited Orange Revolution hero President Viktor Yushchenko (pictured). Exit polls forecast the election was led by pro-Russia politician Viktor Yanukovich. 1/17/2010 11:42:03 AM
Avatar passes Star Wars at the box office James Cameron's Avatar has shot past Star Wars to become the No. 3 movie on the all-time domestic box office charts, raising its total to $491.8-million. Next stop: The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight is No. 2 domestically with $533.3-million. Titanic at $600-million is on top. Worldwide, Avatar has grossed $1.5-billion. 1/17/2010 10:27:49 AM
Haiti and the science of sniffer dogs Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Rescuers from all around the world are converging on Haiti in the wake of this week's earthquake - and not all of them are human. Finding survivors amid the rubble of Port-au-Prince is a job tailor-made for dogs. The search-and-rescue operation "appears to be unprecedented in scale." 1/17/2010 7:56:16 AM
Stories of Survivors who were trapped in Hait quake Stories of survival after Haiti's devastating earthquake have been few and far between. Some, however, have been trapped in the rubble and still managed to survive a natural disaster that may have killed tens of thousands of people. Their stories from the BBC. (Ed: Just click on the pic.) 1/17/2010 7:46:19 AM
BBC: Extent of Haiti destruction clearer (Video) First reports from the epicentre of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti suggest the damage is even more dramatic than in the capital, BBC correspondents say. They say the scene in Leogane, west of Port-au-Prince, is "apocalyptic", with thousands left homeless and almost every building destroyed. 1/17/2010 7:43:01 AM
A scolding evangelist puts the ‘hate' back in Haiti They swore a pact to the devil. They said, ‘We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.' True story. And so the devil said, ‘Okay, it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed …” That's Rev. Pat Robertson. 1/17/2010 5:31:11 AM
Pakistan drone attack 'kills 15' A missile attack by a US drone aircraft has killed at least 15 people in north-west Pakistan, officials say. Four missiles hit the house of a local tribesman near the Afghan border. Last week an attack targeted Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, but the Taliban say he survived. 1/17/2010 4:30:40 AM
Adult Scots 'drink 46 bottles of vodka' a year Adults in Scotland are drinking the equivalent of 46 bottles of vodka each in a year, a study has suggested. The Scottish government said the figure, which had remained static since 2005, was the equivalent of 537 pints or 130 bottles of wine per person. 1/16/2010 8:17:14 PM
10,000 protest sheriff's immigration efforts Ten thousand immigrant rights advocates marched in front of a county jail in Phoenix Saturday in a protest that was aimed at Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration efforts and was marked by a clash between a small group of protesters and police officers. 1/16/2010 7:52:18 PM
Arizona boy who admitted killing father sentenced to treatment A 10-year-old Arizona boy who admitted to shooting and killing his father and another man in 2008 was sentenced Thursday to "in-patient treatment" that could go on for several years. The boy pleaded guilty in February to one count of negligent homicide in exchange for a plea deal that dropped the two counts of murder. 1/16/2010 3:16:14 PM
Sarah Palin's Booze Hypocrisy The former governor's upcoming speech at a liquor convention in Las Vegas doesn't square with her previous efforts to dry out Alaska. Yet the group has just announced the former vice-presidential candidate as the keynote speaker for its 2010 convention and expo. (Ed: They are paying her $$ Thousands. It's about MONEY.) 1/16/2010 9:47:19 AM
Rush and Robertson: Shameless Haiti Wingnuts With the horror in Haiti’s true dimensions dawning on Americans, leave it to the Wingnuts to find the ugliest possible spin on the devastation. Reverend Pat Robertson said, Haiti deserved it because the country made a deal with the Devil, and the politically correct crowd wants to keep this truth from coming out. 1/16/2010 9:40:20 AM
Bodies pile up, fears of riots loom in Haiti Desperation is morphing into chaos in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, as reports of looting, threats of violence and gunfire have hampered relief efforts and rescue teams scrambling to deal with an estimated 300,000 homeless people stranded on death-strewn streets. 1/16/2010 6:04:42 AM
Two British soldiers die in Afghanistan explosion Two British soldiers have been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said. The soldiers, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, who were on foot patrol, died following the incident near Sangin in Helmand province on Friday evening. 1/16/2010 5:35:29 AM
Afghan MPs reject many new Karzai cabinet nominees The Afghan parliament has rejected 10 of 17 new cabinet nominees suggested by President Hamid Karzai. The vote comes two weeks after MPs turned down most of Mr Karzai's first choices, dealing him a serious blow. 1/16/2010 4:14:29 AM
World Solo teen sailor Jessica's parents pay a visit She was just a "tiny pink speck" in a vast ocean but, for Jessica Watson's parents, their first glimpse of Ella's Pink Lady was a sight for sore eyes. As their intrepid teenage sailor rounded South America's treacherous Cape Horn, Julie and Roger Watson marked the mid-point of her solo sail with a memorable 45-minute flyover. 1/15/2010 7:27:40 PM
Romania to introduce ‘fat tax’ Fast-food restaurants are bracing themselves for Europe’s first “fat tax” as the battle against obesity gathers momentum. The Romanian Health Ministry has outlined plans to levy an extra charge on fatty, salty and sugary foods; a move that will tackle two problems simultaneously. 1/15/2010 7:17:22 PM
Haiti death toll could reach 200,000 The death toll in the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince could reach 200,000. "We have already collected around 50,000 dead bodies," Interior Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aime told Reuters. "We anticipate there will be between 100,000 and 200,000 dead in total, although we will never know the exact number." 1/15/2010 7:11:44 PM
Social networks and the web offer a lifeline in Haiti (Video) The collapse of traditional communication in Haiti has again highlighted social media and the internet. Twitter is being used as a prime channel for communications, while sites such as Ushahidi are providing maps detailing aid and damage. Google and Facebook have missing persons lists. 1/15/2010 7:04:21 PM
Senior Iranian envoy quits in disgust at regime A veteran Iranian diplomat based in Norway has resigned his post, denounced his government and urged colleagues around the world to do the same after the regime’s brutal suppression of huge opposition demonstrations last month. 1/15/2010 6:54:27 PM
Woman survives eight days trapped in elevator Police and firefighters in Spain have rescued a woman who spent eight days trapped in the lift of her apartment building, police said Thursday. The 35-year-old was found conscious but disorientated and was taken to hospital after she was found. 1/15/2010 4:00:15 PM
Fort Hood probe may see up to 8 officers punished Several officers failed to use "appropriate judgment and standards" in overseeing the career of U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Hasan and their actions should be investigated immediately, according to an internal investigation into the November Fort Hood massacre that left 13 people dead. 1/15/2010 3:03:28 PM
Duck hunters spark nuclear weapons plant lockdown A pair of duck hunters has trigged a security alert at a nuclear weapons assembly plant in Amarillo, Texas. Officials locked the plant after getting reports of individuals in camouflage gear stalking across the road from the factory. 1/15/2010 12:16:12 PM
As many as 10,000 U.S. troops to be in Haiti by Monday Up to 10,000 U.S. troops will be off Haiti's shores by Monday to help distribute aid and prevent potential rioting among desperate earthquake survivors, the top U.S. military officer said Friday, as President Obama pledged long-term reconstruction help to President Rene Preval. 1/15/2010 11:54:17 AM
'Police cancel' China gay pageant A Chinese gay pageant, said to be the first held in the country, was ordered by police to close an hour before opening, organisers say. The Mr Gay China event was thought to mark a new openness toward the gay community in China. Homosexuality was illegal in China until 1997. 1/15/2010 8:43:29 AM
Silvio Berlusconi bribery trial postponed in Italy A corruption trial involving Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been suspended until 27 February. Mr Berlusconi is accused of bribing his former tax lawyer to lie in two court cases in the 1990s on his behalf. 1/15/2010 8:38:51 AM
As anger grows, looters raid U.N. warehouses in Haiti Looters have broken into U.N. food warehouses in Haiti's crumbled capital, an official said Friday, as security and logistical challenges mounted for groups trying to feed at least 2 million people reeling from a devastating earthquake. The U.N. World Food Program had 15,000 tons of food aid in Haiti. 1/15/2010 5:29:28 AM
France moves closer to banning full Muslim veil The man she married is French, her four children were born in France and she speaks French with only a trace of her native Arabic tongue. Faiza Silmi contends her clothes — a head-to-toe robe and filmy tissue covering her face — are the reason France has denied her citizenship in her adopted land. 1/15/2010 5:24:20 AM
China tries to limit Google fallout China tried Friday to keep its censorship row with Google from damaging business confidence or ties with Washington, promising good conditions for foreign investors but giving no sign it might relax Internet controls. The loss of such a high-profile company would be an embarrassment. 1/15/2010 5:22:20 AM
U.S. issues warning to Olympic tourists The U.S. Government has warned Olympic tourists to be on alert during the 2010 Winter Olympics Games next month. According to a recently issued U.S. Department of State security assessment, “as security increases in and around Olympic venues, terrorists could shift their focus. 1/15/2010 4:55:36 AM
U.S. takes charge in Haiti with troops, aid President Barack Obama and the U.S. moved to take charge in earthquake-ravaged Haiti on Thursday, dispatching thousands of troops along with tons of aid to try to keep order as well as rescue the suffering in a country dysfunctional in the best of times. 1/14/2010 3:18:36 PM
Meet Mikey Hicks, 8: U.S. has him on watch list "Meet Mikey Hicks," said Najlah Feanny Hicks, introducing her 8-year-old son, a New Jersey Cub Scout and frequent traveler who has seldom boarded a plane without a hassle because he shares the name of a suspicious person. The first time he was patted down, at Newark Liberty International Airport, Mikey was 2. 1/14/2010 3:13:55 PM
Red Cross estimates 50,000 died in Haitian quake The Red Cross federation estimated Thursday that between 45,000 and 50,000 people might have died in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. "It's chaos," UN humanitarian spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs told The Associated Press. "It's a logistical nightmare." 1/14/2010 2:09:41 PM
John Gotti racketeering case abandoned in New York Prosecutors in New York have given up their case against John Gotti Junior, the son of the city's most powerful modern gangster. In the course of five years, juries in four trials failed to reach a verdict against John Gotti on charges of murder and racketeering. 1/14/2010 6:51:58 AM
Israeli army calls for boycott against supermodel Bar Refaeli The Israeli army has launched a campaign against supermodel Bar Refaeli and called for a boycott of products she promotes, after she asked to be listed as a foreign resident to pay less tax. Refaeli also stirred army anger when she got an exemption from military service by getting married. She divorced soon after. 1/14/2010 5:45:52 AM
Obama to unveil bank fee to cover bailout losses President Barack Obama will unveil Thursday a fee on 50 top financial firms that each hold at least 50 billion dollars in assets, to recoup billions of taxpayer dollars used to bail out the industry. Many of the firms rescued by public funds gear up to announce huge bonus payouts to top executives. 1/14/2010 5:41:11 AM
China cheating/hacking Internet causes Google threat An Internet security expert who has been asked by Google to explore hacking attempts on that company from China says the rift between the two could forever change the face of the Internet. The attacks included the use of targeted computer viruses to spy on the G-mail accounts of several well-known Chinese dissidents. (Ed: No doubt it's government sponsored.) 1/14/2010 5:21:25 AM
Help Haiti: Options for donating to the quake relief As details begin to emerge from Haiti, an already poverty-stricken nation that was devastated by a powerful earthquake on Tuesday, Canadians are seeking ways to help. Click for the story a List of sites for Canadian organizations that have a track record of providing aid to Haiti: 1/14/2010 4:53:54 AM
Haitians on their own to deal with utter calamity Truth is on this first day after the earthquake, Haitians are on their own in the face of the catastrophe. Policemen are nowhere to be seen, the same can be said about help, political figures, rescue efforts or supplies. Haitians are alone to sift through the rubble. 1/14/2010 4:38:24 AM
U.S. Major veterinary drug recall gets bigger What if your veterinarian was using a recalled drug -- and didn't know it? The recalls involve two commonly used injectable veterinary drugs: butorphanol, a fast-acting opioid used to control pain from surgical procedures in dogs and cats, and the anesthetic agent ketamine. 1/13/2010 7:27:33 PM
British Tories take a page from Paul Martin's balanced books If Paul Martin had gotten this kind of press while he was in office, things might have turned out differently. Canada is the envy of nations right now, as our country emerges sooner from a recession more intact than most other developed countries. The former prime minister is getting much of the credit. 1/13/2010 11:48:28 AM
White House backs Google in China row The White House signalled its strong support for Google today after the company said that it would no longer submit to China's internet censors. The California-based search giant announced yesterday that it was withdrawing from China's Great Firewall. 1/13/2010 11:32:14 AM
Phillipines: Warlord's son 'shot bound opponents' The Philippines warlord accused of the murder of 57 journalists and political campaigners fired the first shots in the massacre after receiving orders from his politician father, according to chilling testimony at his trial in Manila today. 1/13/2010 11:20:40 AM
'Thousands dead' in Haiti quake (Video) Haitian President Rene Preval has said thousands of people are feared dead following a huge quake which has devastated the country's capital. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the head of the UN mission in Haiti and his deputy were among more than 100 staff missing. 1/13/2010 11:02:44 AM
Melbourne sweats through hottest night in 108 years (Video) Melbourne has suffered its hottest night since 1902 as a heat wave grips southern Australia. While much of the northern hemisphere is suffering from unusually cold conditions, night-time temperatures in Melbourne have reached 34C (93F). Electricity companies said transformers had failed in the heat. 1/13/2010 5:32:05 AM
Haiti 7.0 quake: Presidential palace, parliament, national cathedral reported destroyed A powerful earthquake hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Tuesday, collapsing the presidential palace and raising fears of substantial casualties in what the country’s U.S. ambassador called “a major disaster.” 1/12/2010 4:54:40 PM
Google to end censorship in China, may leave over compromise of email Google Inc. will stop censoring its search results in China and may pull out of the country completely after discovering that computers hackers had tricked human rights activists into opening their email accounts to outsiders. 1/12/2010 4:20:54 PM
Major earthquake rocks Haiti; hospital collapses A powerful earthquake hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Tuesday. A hospital collapsed and people were screaming for help. Other buildings also were damaged. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7 and was centered about 10 miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince. 1/12/2010 2:07:44 PM
Mystery object to whizz close by Earth Tomorrow A near-Earth object that could be manmade has just been discovered hurtling toward us. On Wednesday (Jan. 13), an object called 2010 AL30 will fly by Earth at a distance of just 130,000 km (80,000 miles). That's only one-third of the way from here to the moon, ie: very close. 1/12/2010 2:03:07 PM
Saudi man accused of posing as pilot at Manila airport A 19-year-old Saudi man allegedly posing as a pilot was detained at Manila's airport after he breached security and spent several hours wandering in the terminal's restricted area, officials said Tuesday. The man told investigators he wanted to meet his father, who was flying in from Saudi Arabia. 1/12/2010 1:46:13 PM
Sarah Palin on Fox? It's simple, she's after the money News that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is to be a contributor to the Fox News Channel is widely discussed in the US media, largely for what it might say about the beaten Republican vice-presidential candidate's hopes for a shot at the presidency in 2012. 1/12/2010 8:14:42 AM
New Jersey Legislature approves bill to make state 14th with medical marijuana The Legislature on Monday approved a bill that would make New Jersey the 14th state to allow chronically ill patients access to marijuana for medical reasons. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine supports the legislation and could sign it before leaving office next week, making it law. 1/12/2010 5:02:21 AM
Study finds that UNICEF program in Africa fails to save more children A UNICEF program that spent $27 million to decrease child deaths from disease in West Africa has failed, according to a new study that found a higher survival rate in some regions that weren't included in the program. The aim was to reduce the death rate by at least 25 per cent by the end of 2006. 1/12/2010 5:01:09 AM
Iran blames U.S., Israel over killing of nuclear scientist A remote-controlled bomb killed a Tehran University nuclear scientist on Tuesday. The blast which killed professor Massoud Ali-Mohammadi occurred at a time of heightened tension in the Islamic Republic, seven months after a disputed presidential election plunged the major oil producer into turmoil. 1/12/2010 4:51:36 AM
US concern after UAE acquits sheikh in torture case The US has called on the United Arab Emirates to review a court ruling which acquitted a member of its ruling family of torture charges. A video tape showed Sheikh Nahyan apparently torturing the man in the desert at night, beating him, letting off rifle rounds close to him, and driving over him with a car. 1/11/2010 6:32:01 PM
Drug company Rip-offs: Prices of some drugs have doubled Prices on a growing number of prescription medications have ballooned in recent years. The GAO found more than 400 examples of unusual price jumps on brand name drugs during the eight-year period — most ranged from 100 to 499 percent, but several exceeded 1,000 percent. 1/11/2010 5:13:38 PM
Tiger Woods "Unfaithful" Gatorade labels trigger federal probe (Video) The appearance of Gatorade bottles featuring photos of Tiger Woods and his wife, labelled "Unfaithful" have alerted U.S. food safety authorities. Several of the tampered bottles of the famed golfer and wife Elin Nordegren have been spotted in the Denver, Colo. area, reports KUSA TV. 1/11/2010 4:55:53 PM
Hit-run driver returns home with victim's body stuck in windshield A Japanese woman who drove home with the body of an 80-year-old pedestrian lodged in her windshield has been arrested on charges of causing a deadly traffic accident and fleeing the scene. "The suspect said she was so shocked that she didn't know what to do," the police spokesman said. 1/11/2010 4:28:54 PM
Republican Sarah Palin to join Fox News Channel One-time TV journalist Sarah Palin has decided to return to her media roots. Fox News says the former mayor, city council member, state oil and gas regulator, Alaska governor, unsuccessful vice presidential nominee and most recently successful book author, has signed with Fox News. 1/11/2010 2:59:17 PM
African migrant workers removed from Italian town More than 1,000 African immigrants have been evacuated from the town of Rosarno in southern Italy following violent clashes with the local population. The violence highlights tension and resentment in Italy toward illegal immigrants, who come from countries such as Ghana, Togo, Sudan, Mali and Burkina Faso. 1/11/2010 6:50:19 AM
Skaters take to Amsterdam canals (Video) Parts of Amsterdam's historic canal system have frozen over for the first time in over a decade, and amateur ice-skaters have taken full advantage. City water authorities banned tourist canal cruisers on parts of the canal system, in order to let them to freeze over. 1/11/2010 6:30:32 AM
NATO: Six international soldiers die in Afghanistan Six international soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, Nato officials say, making Monday the deadliest day for foreign troops there in two months. The dead include three Americans killed in southern Afghanistan and one French soldier north-east of Kabul, Nato said. 1/11/2010 6:20:40 AM
Ft. Hood shooter: Superiors ignored own worries A Defense Department review of the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, has found the doctors overseeing Maj. Nidal Hasan's medical training repeatedly voiced concerns over his strident views on Islam and his inappropriate behavior, yet continued to give him positive performance evaluations. 1/11/2010 6:18:19 AM
Palin believed her Republican VP candidacy was 'God's plan' Sarah Palin believed that Sen. John McCain chose her to be his running mate in 2008 because of "God's plan," according to a top political strategist in the Arizona Republican's campaign. "60 Minutes," On "60 Minutes," Steve Schmidt described Palin as "very calm - nonplussed" after McCain met with her. 1/10/2010 5:53:38 PM
Snow strands thousands of travelers around Europe Snow and icy weather disrupted travel across Europe on Sunday, closing Geneva airport on one of its busiest tourist weekends of the year and prompting a state of emergency on part of Germany's Baltic coast. Many British, German and other European skiers use Geneva airport to reach popular Swiss and French ski resorts. 1/10/2010 5:50:55 PM
Behemoth bruin terrorizes Nevada homes A gigantic, bullet-scarred black bear has been terrorizing homeowners on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Wildlife officials have tried everything, but the food junkie apparently knows a bear trap when he sees one, shakes off bullets like they were mosquito bites, and keeps coming back for more. 1/10/2010 8:58:18 AM
Woman raped in Dubai charged for having illegal sex A British woman who alleged that she was raped in Dubai on New Year’s Eve has had her passport confiscated and may face a jail sentence after she was charged with having sex outside marriage with her fiancé. The 23-year-old woman, a Muslim from London, of Pakistani origin, said that she was attacked. 1/10/2010 7:35:01 AM
Mexican drug gangs worship Saint Death She was yet another desolate victim of the endless drug wars ravaging the northern Mexican borderlands, one of more than 2,600 people murdered in Ciudad Juarez last year. When police found her body there were two distinctive signs that she had been caught up in the bloodsoaked feuding. 1/10/2010 7:33:11 AM
Karzai resubmits cabinet picks to MPs Afghanistan's parliament is due to start grilling a new set of would-be cabinet ministers tomorrow after MPs rejected President Karzai’s first choice. The President is under pressure to form a Government before an international conference on Afghanistan on January 28. 1/10/2010 7:28:44 AM
Elite Iran force’s rise may limit U.S. options A major expansion in the role played by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps is giving the elite force new economic and political clout, but it could also complicate efforts by the United States and its allies to put pressure on the Iranian regime, according to analysts. (Ed: This is not new. We wonder what's really being said here.) 1/10/2010 6:02:00 AM
California hit by 6.5-magnitude Earthquake (Video) Residents are cleaning up the damage caused by a 6.5-magnitude quake that struck Saturday off the coast of Eureka, California. Nearly a dozen aftershocks followed, the strongest at 4.5 magnitude. There was no tsunami warning issued. "It rolled and rolled and then it slammed." 1/10/2010 5:39:00 AM
Apps, apps, everywhere apps To most people these days, an "app" is something you download on your smartphone. But big tech companies, seeing how applications have boosted the appeal of gadgets such as Apple's iPhone, are starting to view apps as low-cost enhancements for a broader range of products, from netbooks to TVs and beyond. 1/10/2010 5:36:19 AM
British reporter, 2 soldiers killed in Afghanistan An explosion in southern Afghanistan killed a British journalist, a U.S. marine and an Afghan soldier, Britain's military said Sunday. The Sunday Mirror's defence correspondent Rupert Hamer, 39, is survived by his wife Helen and three young children, the paper said. 1/10/2010 5:14:49 AM
Togo will play in African Cup after deadly ambush Togo has changed its mind and agreed to play in the African Cup of Nations, according to French sports daily L'Equipe on its website on Saturday — despite a call from Togo's government to return home following the deadly attack in Angola. 1/10/2010 5:09:23 AM
China overtakes Germany as the world's biggest exporter Growth in China's exports and imports last month blew past expectations, providing fresh evidence of the vigour of the economy and strengthening the case for Beijing to let the yuan start climbing again. Exports leapt 17.7 per cent from a year earlier, dwarfing the 4.0 per cent rise forecast by economists. 1/10/2010 5:03:30 AM
Google seeks to trade wholesale power in U.S. Google Inc has asked the main U.S. energy regulator for authority to trade electricity in the wholesale market, which will make it easier for the Internet search giant to obtain renewable energy to power its huge data centres as part of its green initiative. 1/9/2010 11:04:18 AM
Bookie refuses to pay out $11 million on snow bet Bookmaker Ladbrokes is refusing to pay out more than 7 million pounds ($11 million) to a man who gambled on a white Christmas across the UK, as the bet was accepted by mistake. Cliff Bryant had placed two bets that snow would fall on 24 towns and cities on Christmas Day. 1/9/2010 9:50:59 AM
Boy, 12, robs store with a toy gun A 12-year-old boy was arrested after pointing what turned out to be a toy gun at a convenience store clerk in northern Florida, authorities said. The boy walked into the store Thursday, pointed a wood-barreled, long gun at the clerk and demanded money 1/9/2010 5:45:11 AM
Credit card companies squeezing customers The U.S. Credit Card Accountability Act will be a real game-changer when it takes full effect next month. The law will (among other things) prohibit raising the interest rates during the first year a credit card account is opened, ban interest rate hikes on existing balances and more. (Ed: No action in Canada, just talk) 1/9/2010 4:58:13 AM
Re-branded Blackwater (now Xe Services) bids for Afghan deal Blackwater Worldwide's legal woes haven't dimmed the company's prospects in Afghanistan, where it's a contender to be a key part of President Barack Obama's strategy for stabilizing the country. Xe (Blackwater) eventually lost its license to operate as guardian of U.S. diplomats in Iraq and the State Department. 1/9/2010 4:47:46 AM
Venezuela sent jets to intercept US plane: Chavez President Hugo Chavez said he ordered two F-16 jets to intercept a U.S. military plane that twice violated Venezuelan airspace on Friday in what he called the latest provocation. "They are provoking us ... these are warplanes," he said. (The P-3 Orion is a surveillance aircraft also used by Canada) 1/8/2010 4:51:53 PM
Doctor gets 5 years for road rage against cyclists A former emergency room doctor who deliberately hit his brakes so that two bicyclists rammed into his car in a road rage incident was sentenced Friday in a case that sparked international interest among cyclists. One rider smashed through the back window, breaking his nose and front teeth. 1/8/2010 3:31:17 PM
Northern Ireland rocked by PM's wife's affair with teen The leader of Northern Ireland is under withering political fire after it emerged that his wife, a 60-year-old MP, may have given political favours to her teenage lover. The salacious details are piling up prompting calls that he step down. (Ed: Her name is Mrs. Robinson)
1/8/2010 2:26:40 PM
CIA bomber's wife says war must go on against US The Turkish wife of a Jordanian doctor who killed seven CIA employees in a suicide attack in Afghanistan says her husband was outraged over the treatment of Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison and the U.S.-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. 1/8/2010 10:05:50 AM
Same-sex marriage law backed in Portugal's parliament Portugal's parliament has passed a law to legalise same-sex marriage, but rejected proposals to allow homosexual couples to adopt. Portugal is the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriages after Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway. 1/8/2010 8:49:34 AM
Mein! Parents fight for sleds as Europe shivers Snow settled near France's Mediterranean shores. German parents battled to buy sleds. British horse races called off, too much ice. A European cold snap saw snow clog roads and airports, knock out electricity and induce hoorays from schoolchildren kept home from school. 1/8/2010 8:38:26 AM
Shattered Dubai dream echoes across Mideast Mahmoud Tamimi's friends call it the "Dubai syndrome" — the insatiable longing for a city he loves but was forced to leave. Back in Dubai, the 31-year-old had a good job, nice apartment and a $3,700 monthly salary, dozens of times what he'd ever made before. 1/8/2010 6:00:11 AM
Increase in corruption in China China's anti-corruption watchdog has said that 106,000 officials were found guilty of corruption in 2009, an increase of 2.5% on the year before. The number of government officials caught embezzling more than one million yuan ($146,000; £91,000) jumped by 19% over the year. 1/8/2010 5:56:01 AM
Australia condemns Indian cartoon Australia has condemned as "deeply offensive" an Indian newspaper cartoon depicting the police as members of the racist Ku Klux Klan. India's Mail Today ran the cartoon showing a figure with an Australian police badge and a pointed white hood. 1/8/2010 5:54:37 AM
Obama shoulders blame, orders revamped security measures Declaring “we are at war,” U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered a sweeping revamp of no-fly lists and tighter screening measures. “Rather than a failure to collect or share intelligence, this was a failure to connect and understand the intelligence that we already had.” 1/7/2010 6:33:41 PM
Britain shivers in coldest night with lows of -20C Snow and ice are set to continue causing problems across the UK with warnings that Thursday night could be the coldest of the winter so far. Temperatures could plummet to -20C (-4F), including in parts of the South, setting new local records. 1/7/2010 5:42:49 PM
Former George W. Bush attorney arrested A former attorney to President George W. Bush was arrested Wednesday at his Connecticut home and accused of trying to kill his wife. John Farren, 57, was “charged with Criminal Attempt at Murder and Strangulation 1st degree,” according to a police statement. 1/7/2010 5:06:01 PM
Obama admin. proposes stronger smog standards U.S. environmental regulators Thursday proposed stronger standards on lung and heart disease-causing smog. The move won praise from environmental groups who had criticized the Bush administration for setting smog standards in 2008 that were looser than government scientists had recommended. 1/7/2010 3:42:31 PM
Republican Congressman takes aim at Cheney "I think he had his eight years, and he's caused a lot of trouble for our country and perpetuated a war in Iraq unnecessary and wrong-headed," said Ron Paul. Paul's comments come several days after Cheney released a tough-worded statement criticizing the president's response to the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day. 1/7/2010 1:19:36 PM
Contractors (Mercenaries) charged in Afghan deaths Two men who worked as security contractors for the company formerly known as Blackwater have been charged with murder in the killings of two Afghan men. Christopher Drotleff and Justin Cannon each are charged with two counts of second-degree murder. 1/7/2010 12:31:44 PM
China hid tainted milk problem for months Chinese authorities kept concerns about the safety of a Shanghai dairy's products secret for nearly a year before announcing last week that the company had been shut for manufacturing contaminated milk, an official said Thursday. 1/7/2010 12:00:15 PM
Canadians jailed in Mexico investigated by organized crime unit The five Canadians arrested in Mexico on New Year's Eve are being investigated by Mexico's organized crime branch. Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs consular officials continue to press for answers as to why the five men were held for four days before the embassy was notified. 1/7/2010 11:51:48 AM
Fruits freeze, iguanas drop from trees in Florida Across the so-called Sunshine State, oranges and strawberries are freezing, icicles are hanging off palm fronds, and iguanas paralyzed by the cold are falling out of trees. Temperatures have plunged as low as the 20s in recent days (Minus 5C). 1/7/2010 6:59:14 AM
Go Sea Shepherd: After crash, activists up ‘whale war’ The helicopter from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's main ship was trying to find the Japanese fleet's whale processing ship and resume attempts to harass the whalers into giving up their hunt, the group's founder and ship captain Paul Watson said. 1/7/2010 5:42:27 AM
Airport chaos as Europe freezes (Video) The icy weather gripping northern Europe has disrupted flights at airports in the UK, France, the Irish Republic and the Netherlands. Many flights were delayed or cancelled at Orly airport in Paris, Dublin airport and Amsterdam-Schiphol, as well as major UK airports. 1/7/2010 5:22:58 AM
U.S. plane bomb suspect met with radical cleric: Yemen The Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a U.S. passenger plane on Christmas may have met with a radical American-Yemeni cleric linked to al-Qaeda and the alleged Fort Hood shooter to prepare for the failed attack, Yemen's deputy prime minister said Thursday. 1/7/2010 4:58:33 AM
They screwed-up: Passenger recalls terror accused's nervous behaviour It has been almost two weeks since Shama Chopra witnessed the failed attempt to blow up a plane. "He was shaking his head several times (before he passed through security)," she recalled. "I thought he was sick or something — why didn't anyone notice?" 1/6/2010 6:19:42 PM
World's cheapest car coming to Detroit India's Tata is bringing its Nano minicar to Detroit to show the Motor City what the world's cheapest car looks like. The Nano will be unveiled at a press conference on Thursday just a few miles away from where Tata's rivals will be displaying their latest wares at the Detroit auto show. 1/6/2010 11:50:01 AM
Hundreds rescued as heavy snow slams Britain Unusually heavy snowfall stranded motorists, disrupted trains and shut down schools and airports across Britain on Wednesday. The longest cold snap in nearly 30 years. The British military helped rescue motorists when up to 1,000 vehicles were caught in a massive snow-related traffic jam. 1/6/2010 7:26:23 AM
Michelle Obama featured in PETA anti-fur ad without permission The fur is flying over a new ad campaign by an animal rights group the White House says is using first lady Michelle Obama's image without her permission. Mrs. Obama appears in the ad with celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Underwood and Tyra Banks. 1/6/2010 6:18:03 AM
Ford shares leap as sales surge 33% Ford Motor Co posted a 33% sales gain for December as U.S. auto sales ended 2009 on an upswing after a tumultuous year that saw GM and Chrysler collapse into bankruptcy and China overtake the United States as the biggest car market. The Ford sales surge included all categories of its cars and trucks. 1/6/2010 5:58:14 AM
NY Times: Iran shields nuke efforts in tunnels Last September, when Iran’s uranium enrichment plant buried inside a mountain near the holy city of Qum was revealed, the episode cast light on a wider pattern: Over the past decade, Iran has quietly hidden an increasingly large part of its atomic complex in networks of tunnels and bunkers across the country. 1/6/2010 5:51:24 AM
‘Florida is not supposed to be cold like this’ Florida farmers worked to salvage millions of dollars worth of crops and sun-seeking tourists were met with chilly temperatures expected to last through the weekend as an unusual Southern cold snap gripped the Gulf states on Wednesday. 1/6/2010 5:43:50 AM
Honey caused California airport scare: passenger A passenger whose bag tested positive for explosives at a California airport Tuesday, prompting authorities to shut down the facility and divert flights, said he was carrying only bottled honey, police said. But hours after the incident, 31-year-old Francisco Ramirez, was still being held for questioning. 1/6/2010 5:27:23 AM
Japan whalers 'ram' Sea Shepherd boat Anti-whaling activists have accused a Japanese vessel of ramming their high-tech speed boat during a confrontation in the Southern Ocean. The Sea Shepherd group sends boats to Antarctic waters each year to try to stop the Japanese whaling fleet. The crew of the Ady Gil were picked up unharmed. 1/6/2010 5:05:47 AM
Obama admits intelligence failures over jet bomb plot (Video) US security agencies had enough intelligence to disrupt a plot to blow up a plane last month, but failed to act, President Barack Obama has said. The intelligence community had failed to "connect the dots", Mr Obama said, adding: "That's not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it." 1/5/2010 3:05:42 PM
Much of U.S. is cold and getting colder Another wave of Arctic air, colder than the current one, will plummet southward over the eastern two-thirds of the nation starting Wednesday, forecasters say. Little Rock, Arkansas, could see an actual temperature of 10 degrees and wind chill of 20 below zero on Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. 1/5/2010 11:00:52 AM
The Afghan government, and 'Broken Promises' Two years after the Afghanistan government persuaded him to renounce his insurgent past, 45-year-old former Taliban commander Mohammed Gul is itching to rejoin the battle. In 2007, he joined several thousand Taliban fighters who signed up and renounced the insurgency. 1/5/2010 10:15:21 AM
Snow and lots of it forecast for London and southern England The Met Office issued an emergency alert today warning that London and the Home Counties could be buried by more then 40cm (16in) of snow overnight. The snowfall in the South is expected to start in the evening and turn heavy overnight. 1/5/2010 9:54:20 AM
Airline cancels German family's vacation after man jokes about terrorism A German man was temporarily detained at Stuttgart airport on Tuesday after he repeatedly told security personnel that he had explosives in his underwear, police said. The 42-year-old man apparently was joking about the failed attempt by a Nigerian man to blow up a jetliner. 1/5/2010 9:49:27 AM
CIA bomber 'was a double agent' The suicide bomber who killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan was an al-Qaeda double agent, US media reports say. The reports came as the top US military intelligence officer in Afghanistan issued a scathing assessment of the state of the intelligence effort there. 1/5/2010 5:41:17 AM
Landslides, tsunami hit Solomons Landslides and a tsunami unleashed by a major earthquake destroyed some 200 houses on one Solomon island. Dive shop owner Danny Kennedy said the general rule is that “if there's anything more than 20 seconds of shaking or any sea water recedes, head for the hills.” 1/5/2010 5:06:24 AM
Johnson & Johnson heiress dead at 30 Casey Johnson (pictured at left), the heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune who recently made tabloid headlines with a purported engagement to reality star Tila Tequila, has died at age 30. Her death was announced by Tequila on her Twitter page and confirmed by police. 1/5/2010 4:39:21 AM
Yemen fertile ground for terror groups (Video) Yemen, a rugged, poor country on the southern Arabian Peninsula, is emerging as a key theater in the fight against terrorism. France became the latest Western power to close a diplomatic post in Yemen, as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula threatened attacks on Western interests. 1/5/2010 4:36:33 AM
Prince Harry criticises gossip magazine over Afghanistan PRINCE Harry reportedly launched a scathing attack on an Australian gossip magazine for publishing private details of his military involvement in Afghanistan. The royal outburst came two years after New Idea broke a worldwide news embargo and revealed the Prince was fighting the Taliban. 1/4/2010 8:41:00 PM
Swiss avalanches kill 5; 3 missing beneath snow Snowfall and fog were hampering a search in the Swiss Alps on Monday for three people believed trapped after avalanches killed at least four skiers and a rescue doctor, officials said. The worst incident occurred Sunday, when two avalanches hit a group of skiers, then the rescuers. 1/4/2010 5:34:51 AM
Yemen kills rebels it says behind embassy threat Yemeni forces fought al Qaeda militants on Monday, killing at least two they said were behind security threats which forced the U.S. embassy and other foreign missions to close. The United States embassy in the capital, Sanaa, said it was staying shut for a second day. 1/4/2010 5:05:20 AM
World's tallest building set to open Dubai is set to open the world's tallest building amid tight security on Monday, celebrating the tower as a bold feat on the world stage despite the city state's shaky financial footing. The building boasts the most stories and ranks as the world's tallest structure. 1/3/2010 5:32:20 PM
Beyond Ignorant: Iran soccer chief apologizes for Israel greeting The head of Iran's soccer federation issued a public apology and a staff member resigned after the federation mistakenly sent a New Year's greeting to its counterpart in Israel. Ali Kaffashian said Iran's soccer league routinely sends New Year's greetings to all members except for Israel. 1/3/2010 4:35:05 PM
UN fears impact of Karzai setback The rejection by Afghan MPs of most of President Hamid Karzai's new cabinet is a political setback for the country, the UN's mission chief Kai Eide says. Many nominees were criticised as having been picked for reasons other than their competency. 1/3/2010 5:52:35 AM
US, British embassies in Yemen close on Qaeda threat The United States and Britain closed their embassies in Yemen on Sunday over security concerns about possible militant attacks. The U.S. Embassy said it had received a threat by al Qaeda, which U.S. intelligence agencies believe has a growing presence in the poor Arab country. 1/3/2010 4:58:15 AM
Heavy snow brings Beijing to standstill Heavy snow hit Beijing on Sunday, stranding thousands of passengers at the main airport and casting an unusual quiet over normally busy streets as people stayed out of the freezing weather. Many of the highways out of Beijing were shut. 1/3/2010 4:55:45 AM
California Pastor fleeces flock for $2.4 mil. Evangelical pastor Rick Warren says his call for donations to fill a $900,000 deficit at his Southern California megachurch has brought in $2.4 million. He said the total includes only money brought in person to Saddleback Church by New Year's Eve. 1/2/2010 9:18:41 PM
Stuntman's record breaking car jump in California (Video) A stuntman has beaten the record for the longest distance jumped in a car. Travis Pastrana took a 269-foot (82m) flying leap off Long Beach Pier, over open water, and landed on a floating barge in the harbour. It's the longest jump ever in a car, shattering the previous world record of 171 feet. 1/2/2010 8:59:05 PM
Mexican police capture alleged drug lord Carlos Beltran Leyva Mexican police have captured alleged drug lord Carlos Beltran Leyva, just two week after his even more powerful brother was killed in a shootout with troops — back-to-back victories in President Felipe Calderon's drug war. Carlos Beltran Leyva was arrested in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa. 1/2/2010 8:07:39 PM
Got a choice? Don't fly American Airlines The FAA said Friday it is heightening scrutiny of American Airlines after the carrier had three landings go wrong in December. The review was prompted by the botched landings of three planes between December 13 and December 24. 1/2/2010 7:51:01 PM
Spectator dies, hit by race truck in Dakar Rally A woman watching the Dakar Rally in Argentina died Saturday after a vehicle in the event went off the track, striking her and other fans, race organizers said. This year's Dakar race spans from Argentina to Chile from January 1 to 17. (Ed: It's the second time in South America.) 1/2/2010 7:46:04 PM
Deep moon hole could be future colony Building a home near a moon crater or a lunar sea may sound nice, but moon colonists might have a much better chance of survival if they just lived in a hole. That's the message sent by an international team of scientists who say they've discovered a protected lunar "lava tube." 1/2/2010 7:37:42 PM
Danish cartoonist hid in 'panic room' (Video) Danish political cartoonist Kurt Westergaard hid in a "panic room" inside his home as a man wielding an ax and knife cracked the glass in the home's front door. Westergaard, who has been threatened for drawing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, is ordinarily accompanied by bodyguards. 1/2/2010 7:34:54 PM
Looking passengers in eye best airport security, Israeli expert Canada could provide safer and less expensive aviation security by focusing on the behaviour of passengers instead of investing resources in increased baggage searches and new scanning technology, says a leading Israeli airport security expert. 1/2/2010 7:17:03 PM
Montana court allows doctor-assisted suicide The Montana Supreme Court said nothing in state law prevents patients from seeking physician-assisted suicide. A year ago, a state District Court judge ruled that the state's constitutional rights to privacy and dignity protect the right of terminally ill Montanans to get the drugs needed to die peacefully. 1/2/2010 6:52:26 PM
Britain's coldest winter for 25 years causes chaos for millions Freezing temperatures, snow and treacherous ice are all set to stay throughout the weekend as millions are driving home after the holiday. Forecasters say the big freeze is set to continue for the first half of the month with fresh snowfall, severe frosts and ice on the roads. 1/2/2010 2:47:22 PM
Australia: 'Teen defrauds bank of $2 million' AN 18-year-old Brisbane student has been charged with defrauding Queensland's biggest bank of $2 million in a case that has set off alarm bells about online banking security. Just two days before, Suncorp's general manager was praising the bank's award-winning internet banking scheme. 1/2/2010 11:40:26 AM
CIA caught in dirty and secretive war against al-Qaeda on Afghan border The deaths of seven CIA agents in Khost province have brought into the limelight the secretive and dirty war being fought by America’s intelligence agencies. The CIA’s main strike weapons are the drones that loiter over the border areas 24 hours a day, watching and listening to telephone networks. 1/2/2010 11:21:13 AM
Female British soldier ‘abused Iraqi prisoners’ A female British soldier is accused of sexually humiliating and abusing prisoners in Iraq in a series of claims about British troops in Basra. Five former detainees have made specific allegations against a female interrogator they knew as “Katy”. 1/2/2010 11:16:21 AM
17 of Karzai's 24 cabinet nominees rejected Afghanistan's parliament dealt a stinging rebuke to President Hamid Karzai on Saturday by rejecting 70 per cent of his nominees for a new cabinet, including a regionally powerful warlord and the country's only female minister. 1/2/2010 10:44:48 AM
Death toll rises to 64 at Brazillian resort ravaged by mudslide Rescue crews Saturday intensified the search for victims at a plush Brazilian beach resort ravaged by mudslides and flooding that have killed at least 64 people in three states. Firefighters waded through mountains of mud and sifted through the remains of a lodge and homes. 1/2/2010 10:31:20 AM
Pirates seize 2 ships off Somalia’s coast A British-flagged cargo ship and a chemical tanker from Singapore have both been hijacked by pirates in the perilous waters off the coast of Somalia, officials said Saturday. There have been repeated acts of piracy against international shipping in the area in recent years. 1/2/2010 9:36:59 AM
Apple blocking Dalai Lama iPhone applications: report Apple appears to be blocking iPhone applications related to the Dalai Lama and the exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer from its China App Store. IDG News said the move would make Apple the latest US technology company to censor its services in China. 1/2/2010 9:17:18 AM
China nabs 5,400 people in online porn crackdown Chinese authorities caught nearly 5,400 suspects last year in a crackdown on online pornography and have vowed to strengthen Internet policing. Beijing's pervasive policing of cyberspace and attempts to block the Internet are already among the world's most stringent. 1/2/2010 5:42:01 AM
Plot exposes fissure in U.S. intelligence community Turf wars between U.S. spy and law enforcement agencies are nothing new. But lapses that allowed a Nigerian suspect to board a Detroit-bound plane with a bomb on Christmas Day, and the finger-pointing that followed, have raised questions about sweeping changes made after the September 11, 2001, attacks. 1/2/2010 5:39:23 AM
San Francisco sea lions quit town The famous sea lions of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf have disappeared after 20 years - leaving experts baffled. Last month, Pier 39 groaned under the weight of some 1,500 of the animals. Although the hunt for food seems the likeliest reason, experts admit it is a mystery. 1/2/2010 4:24:32 AM
Britain: Former PM Major criticises Tony Blair over war Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has criticised Tony Blair's handling of the Iraq war and his presentation of the case for invasion in March 2003. Sir John said he had reluctantly backed the war because he believed what Mr Blair had said as prime minister. 1/2/2010 4:20:54 AM
Obama links al-Qaeda to jet plot (Video) US President Barack Obama has for the first time publicly accused an offshoot of al-Qaeda over the alleged Christmas Day bomb plot to blow up a US plane. He said it appeared Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula had armed and trained the accused. 1/2/2010 4:18:30 AM
Cartoonist 'attacker' on attempted manslaughter charges A man has denied attempted manslaughter charges after allegedly storming the home of a Danish cartoonist whose Prophet Muhammad drawing caused uproar. The 28-year-old Somali was shot by police outside Kurt Westergaard's home Friday night. 1/2/2010 4:13:53 AM
Pakistan Taliban claim they carried out attack on CIA in Afghanistan using a turncoat 'agent' The Pakistani Taliban claimed Friday that they used a turncoat CIA operative to carry out a suicide bombing that killed seven American CIA employees in Afghanistan as revenge for a top militant leader's death in a U.S. missile strike. 1/1/2010 6:20:36 PM
Mudslides kill 30 in Brazil resort area At least 30 people were killed and 10 injured early Friday in two mudslides in a coastal region near Rio de Janeiro. A rain-loosened slab of hillside collapsed on three houses and an upscale waterfront lodge after New Year celebrations at an island resort in Angra dos Reis. 1/1/2010 5:35:43 PM
Russia doubles price of vodka The Russian government has set a minimum price for vodka that more than doubles the cost of the cheapest vodka on the market in an effort to fight rampant alcoholism. The measure also is aimed at reducing the extraordinary number of deaths caused by drinking in Russia. 1/1/2010 11:47:29 AM
Pakistan suicide bomb kills scores at volleyball match At least 88 people have been killed by a suicide bomb attack at a volleyball pitch in the troubled north-west of Pakistan. Police chied Ayub Khan said the bomber drove towards a field where people were watching a match, before detonating his load of high-intensity explosives. 1/1/2010 11:25:13 AM
Jordan asks Canada to seize Dead Sea scrolls Jordan has asked Canada to seize the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea scrolls, on display until Sunday at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, invoking international law in a bid to keep the artifacts out of the hands of Israel until their disputed ownership is settled. 1/1/2010 5:43:27 AM
New Year's 2010 around the world (Video) Cities throughout the world have been welcoming 2010 in a variety of ways. Fireworks lit up the skies of major cities across the world, whilst in Japan balloons were released, and in Paris the Eiffel Tower was illuminated with a laser display. 12/31/2009 5:38:34 PM
Global Warming: Why Branson Wants to Step In The response by government to the threat of global warming has been underwhelming so far. But at least one business leader, the British billionaire Richard Branson, says he has heard the alarm from scientists and environmentalists about climate change, and believes that the world must not waste time. 12/31/2009 12:15:52 PM
The Pentagon Prepares for a Missile Attack from 'Iran' Fake "North Korean" missiles have been hurtling over the Pacific toward the U.S. for years, providing test fodder for the Pentagon's missile-defense systems. Next month's U.S. interceptor test will, instead, be aimed at the as-yet-hypothetical threat of an Iranian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). 12/31/2009 12:12:52 PM
Why Mexico is Anxious About Its Bicentennial Forget 2012. As far as many Mexicans are concerned, the ancient Mayas were being generous: the sky's actually going to fall next year. Why? Because it's 2010, Mexico's bicentennial, and Mexican history has an eerie way of repeating itself. 12/31/2009 12:04:16 PM
U.S. changing visa checking procedures The State Department on Thursday is directing its embassies around the world to include information on whether a person has a U.S. visa when they send special cables to Washington containing information on potentially suspect individuals, CNN has learned. 12/31/2009 11:51:33 AM
Malaysian court rules non-Muslims may call God Allah A court in Malaysia has ruled that Christians have a constitutional right to use the word Allah when referring to God. The High Court said a government ban on non-Muslims using the word was unconstitutional. The authorities had insisted that Allah was an Islamic word which could only be used by Muslims. 12/31/2009 7:03:49 AM
Senegal apology for Christ 'slur' Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade has apologised to the Christian minority for comparing a controversial statue to Jesus Christ. Archbishop of Dakar Theodore Adrien Sarr said the comments had "humiliated" Catholics, leading to angry protests by hundreds of Christian youths in Dakar. 12/31/2009 6:58:29 AM
World ushers in 2010, hoping for a better year An expected 1.5 million New Year's revelers pitched tents and opened picnic baskets in Sydney on Thursday to get one of the world's biggest parties started — welcoming a new decade. Preparations were under way across the world for the final countdown to 2010. 12/31/2009 6:28:22 AM
High expectations? States eye marijuana reform Washington is one of four states where measures to legalize and regulate marijuana have been introduced, and about two dozen other states are considering bills ranging from medical marijuana to decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the herb. 12/31/2009 6:06:44 AM
Female AIG executive quits after government cuts pay American International Group Inc. has lost a top executive due to the government's limits on executive pay. AIG said Wednesday that vice chairman and general counsel Anastasia Kelly has resigned, effective immediately. Kelly left because of the reduction in her base salary AIG said. 12/31/2009 6:04:28 AM
U.S. Megachurch pastor asks for urgent donations Evangelical pastor Rick Warren appealed to parishioners at his California megachurch Wednesday to help fill a $900,000 deficit by the first of the year. He gained attention with his invocation at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. 12/31/2009 5:52:48 AM
Finland: Black-clad gunman kills 5 A gunman clad in black went on a shooting rampage Thursday, killing his ex-girlfriend then slaying four workers at a suburban shopping mall, police said. The gunman was identified Ibrahim Shkupolli, an immigrant who had been living for several years in Finland. 12/31/2009 5:50:29 AM
Western troops 'execute Afghan family' American-led troops were accused yesterday of dragging innocent children from their beds and shooting them during a night raid that left ten people dead. Afghan government investigators said that eight schoolchildren were killed, all but one of them from the same family. 12/30/2009 8:37:30 PM
8 U.S. CIA agents killed in Afghan suicide blast Insurgents intensified their campaign killing eight U.S. CIA agents at a base and four Canadian servicemen and a journalist. U.S. officials said the dead Americans — killed in a suicide bombing on a military base in southeastern Khost province on Wednesday — were CIA agents. 12/30/2009 7:21:57 PM
US 'aware of Nigerian attacker' The US was aware that "a Nigerian" in Yemen was being prepared for a terrorist attack - weeks before an attempted bombing on a US plane. President Obama said he wanted to know why a warning weeks ago from Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's father did not lead to the accused being placed on a no-fly list. 12/30/2009 5:38:06 PM
Whisky-loving Margaret Thatcher revealed High standards, a short temper and a taste for whisky — Margaret Thatcher's personality is laid bare in secret files released in Britain Wednesday which cover the first few months of her premiership. They reveal that Thatcher refused a guard of 20 "karate ladies" when she visited Japan. 12/30/2009 11:52:53 AM
8 Americans killed in Afghan attack: U.S. embassy Eight Americans have been killed in an attack in eastern Afghanistan, an embassy official and NATO said on Wednesday. The attack in Khost province was believed to be a suicide bombing, a Western military official told AFP. The number of foreign civilians in Afghanistan is mushrooming. 12/30/2009 11:23:49 AM
God created women to be men's companion: Pope Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday God wanted women to be a companion for men and neither his slave nor dominating boss, as he brought up family issues during his weekly audience at the Vatican. "God created woman from Adam's rib so she would not be dominating, or a slave, but his companion." 12/30/2009 9:58:07 AM
Ayatollah urges death for opposition leaders A representative of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, says opposition leaders are "enemies of God" who should be executed under the country's sharia law. The Iranian president shrugged off Sunday's protests as "a play ordered by Zionists and Americans." 12/30/2009 9:41:29 AM
Bombing attempt: Obama declares 'systemic failure' The most grievous security breach to threaten the United States since Sept. 11, 2001, constituted a “systemic failure” of the country's counter-terror protocols, President Barack Obama said Tuesday as evidence mounted regarding just how much warning U.S. authorities had. 12/30/2009 6:42:15 AM
Russia may send spacecraft to knock asteroid off path Russia is considering sending a spacecraft to a large asteroid to knock it off its path and prevent a possible collision with Earth. When the 270-metre-long asteroid was first discovered in 2004, astronomers estimated it had as high as a 1-in-37 chance of it smashing into Earth in 2029. 12/30/2009 6:30:42 AM
Failed jetliner bomber: 'There are more just like me' Security agencies in Britain and the U.S. were under pressure to explain how the Detroit bomber was able to board an aircraft with explosives, despite being on intelligence "watch lists" in both countries. He later told U.S. investigators: "There are more just like me who will strike soon." 12/30/2009 5:40:30 AM
Peruvian Indian won't sign report on deadly clashes A Peruvian Indian member of an official probe into June's bloody clashes between police and Amazon Indians that left 33 dead has condemned the final report and refuses to sign it. Jesus Manaces, an Awajun Indian, said Tuesday that the document was slanted toward the government. 12/30/2009 5:22:13 AM
Dutch to use full body scanners in airports after attack The Netherlands will immediately begin using full body scanners for flights heading to the United States to prevent future terrorist attacks. The Dutch government said the plan to blow up the Detroit-bound aircraft was professional but called its execution "amateurish." 12/30/2009 5:16:41 AM
CIBC loses age discrimination case A London banker who was dismissed by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce at the age of 42 has won an age discrimination case against the bank. The unusual case has garnered a high profile in London. Achim Beck had worked in derivatives marketing for a number of banks before being hired as head of marketing. 12/29/2009 1:56:38 PM
U.S. looks for bombs instead of terrorists Once a credible person of the stature of Abdulmutullab’s father, multimillionaire Umaru Mutullab, one of the most important figures in banking in all of Africa, contacted the Embassy and said he feared his son had been “radicalized,” the Embassy should have immediately reviewed the young man’s American multiple entry visa. 12/29/2009 1:11:07 PM
Terror suspect’s online posts detail ‘loneliness’ The 23-year-old Nigerian man accused of the attempted Christmas Day bombing of an American airliner apparently turned to the Internet for counseling and companionship, writing in an online forum that he was "lonely" and had "never found a true Muslim friend." 12/29/2009 6:11:11 AM
China executes British citizen China on Tuesday executed a British man convicted of drug smuggling in its first execution of a European citizen in half a century, drawing a strong condemnation from Britain's Prime Minister. He was convicted in 2008 after a half-hour trial. 12/29/2009 5:20:51 AM
Thailand moves to expel 4,000 Hmong Thailand launched an operation Monday morning to close a refugee camp and send some 4,000 ethnic Hmong back to Laos, despite concerns about their safety. Many of the Hmong claim they face persecution in their homeland. 12/28/2009 5:24:37 AM
Nigerian family of jet bomb suspect speaks of shock The family of a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a transatlantic jet on Christmas Day says his actions are "completely out of character". They said that, until recently, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, had never given them cause for concern. 12/28/2009 5:12:29 AM
Bomb attack on Shia march in Pakistani (Video) At least 20 people have been killed and dozens injured in a suicide bomb attack on a Shia Muslim march in the Pakistani city of Karachi, officials say. Hundreds of people had been part of the procession at the time of the blast. 12/28/2009 4:33:00 AM
Tribes buy back America — acres at a time Native American tribes tired of waiting for the U.S. government to honor centuries-old treaties are buying back land where their ancestors lived and putting it in federal trust. Native Americans say the purchases will help protect their culture and way of life. 12/27/2009 6:21:15 PM
Elite U.S. Force Expanding Hunt in Afghanistan Secretive branches of the military’s Special Operations forces have increased counterterrorism missions against some of the most lethal groups in Afghanistan and, because of their success, plan an even bigger expansion next year, according to American commanders. 12/27/2009 4:03:55 PM
Abdulmutallab's bomb plans began with classroom defence of 9/11 The rich kid with a brilliant school record was a ticking time bomb even before he turned up as an international student living in his father’s apartment in Britain. Classmates remember Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as such a pious youth that he was nicknamed “the Pope”. 12/27/2009 3:55:12 PM
Father of would-be bomber warned U.S. The father of a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a transatlantic jet on Christmas Day had voiced concerns to US officials about his son. The father, a top Nigerian banker, warned US authorities last month about 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's extreme views. 12/27/2009 5:02:31 AM
Report: 4 killed in Tehran protests Four people were killed in clashes between pro-reform protesters and security forces in Tehran on Sunday in a second day of violence during a Shiite Muslim religious mourning ritual, an opposition website said. The casualties were the first since a disputed election in June. 12/27/2009 4:55:06 AM
US states facing fresh blizzards A severe winter storm in the US that has seen record amounts of snow fall is set to continue, forecasts say. Blizzard warnings are still in place for parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. 12/26/2009 5:34:53 PM
Obama looks to a quiet Christmas holiday in Hawaii White House aides said not to expect much from President Barack Obama's holiday in Hawaii. No public events were scheduled and the best any of the president's aides could promise would be bets whether lefty Obama would out-drive his good friends -- joining him from Chicago -- on the golf course. 12/26/2009 12:42:25 PM
Indian governor, 86, resigns after tape shows him in bed with 3 women The 86-year-old governor of a southern Indian state resigned Saturday, a day after a television news channel broadcast a tape allegedly showing him in bed with three women, an official said. The television channel ABN Andhra Jyoti News said the tape was made in a sting operation. 12/26/2009 9:26:10 AM
Vatican mulls options over woman who lunged at pope The Vatican said on Saturday it had not yet decided whether to take legal action against the woman who lunged at Pope Benedict while calls grew for more efficient security to protect the pontiff. The Vatican has come under criticism because Sussana Maiolo had tried last year at the same Christmas Eve event 12/26/2009 9:17:25 AM
Obama's Climate Challenge President Obama may have secured momentum for global action on climate change at Copenhagen with American pledges to reduce emissions, but following through will be a major challenge. "There is no doubt that energy legislation is going to be tough." 12/26/2009 6:47:24 AM
Girl abducted in Phoenix rescued by police A 5-year-old girl who was abducted while playing outside with her sisters at a north Phoenix apartment complex was found "alive and well" Friday night. Natalie Flores was found around 9 p.m. Friday after a patrol officer spotted the pickup truck of the man accused of kidnapping her. 12/26/2009 5:44:39 AM
El Paso still safe although next to a war zone El Paso and its neighbor across the Rio Grande, Ciudad Juarez, are like reverse photographic images of each other. One is a model of civic order, the other an urban war zone just a few hundred yards away across the Mexican border. 12/26/2009 5:43:05 AM
Passengers help foil attack aboard jetliner A Nigerian man who said he was an agent for al-Qaida tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane Friday as it was preparing to land in Detroit, but travelers who smelled smoke and heard what sounded like firecrackers rushed to subdue him, the passengers and federal officials said. 12/26/2009 5:41:19 AM
Gifts bring cheer to Filipino volcano evacuees Some 47,000 Filipinos who fled their homes in anticipation of the eruption of the Mayon volcano shared rations of noodles, fried fish and fruit to celebrate Christmas in evacuation centers. Children opened donated presents and clowns entertained. 12/25/2009 10:35:34 AM
How to sum up the 'Noughties' 2000 - 2009 ?? (Ed: As 2009 draws to a close, you might enjoy this video clip from the BBC World service. Runs about 4 min.) - Time Magazine called it the 'decade from hell', but despite 9/11, two wars and a financial crisis it hasn't been all bad. So how would you describe it? Watch Matt Frei's thoughts. 12/25/2009 9:26:15 AM
Boy finally reunited with American dad in Brazil A U.S. man who has been fighting for custody of his nine-year-old son for five years, finally won his battle on Thursday in Brazil. David Goldman was reunited with his son Sean Goldman when the boy's Brazilian relatives delivered him to the U.S. consulate in Rio de Janeiro. 12/25/2009 6:02:20 AM
Salvation Army major slain on Christmas Eve (Video) A Salvation Army major was shot dead in front of his three children on Christmas Eve in North Little Rock, Arkansas, authorities said. Maj. Philip Wise, 40, was gunned down Thursday. He was found lying by the back entrance of a Salvation Army facility, said a police spokesman. 12/25/2009 5:27:43 AM
Holiday blizzard hits much of US Midwest That dream of a white Christmas is turning into a nightmare for some as forecasters predicted blizzard conditions to continue Friday in Oklahoma and Midwestern states. Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry ordered every state highway, interstate and turnpike closed Thursday night. 12/25/2009 5:26:11 AM
Esa satellite senses Earth's pull Europe's Goce satellite is returning remarkable new data on the way the pull of gravity varies across the Earth. Scientists say its first maps clearly show details not seen in previous space and ground measurements. Its information is expected to bring new insights into how the oceans move. 12/25/2009 5:14:16 AM
Pope gives Christmas message after assault(Video) Pope Benedict has delivered his traditional Christmas message at the Vatican, hours after a woman leapt at him and dragged him to the ground. The Pope spoke in a firm voice in front of thousands of pilgrims, appearing undaunted by the earlier incident. 12/25/2009 5:06:23 AM
U.S. Senate passes historic health care legislation Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history. 12/24/2009 6:40:01 AM
Man walks to diner with knife in chest, orders coffee A man who walked into a Michigan diner with a 12.5 centimetre knife stuck in his chest ordered a coffee and complained only about the cold weather. The 52-year-old man, who has not been identified, called a 911 operator to ask that an ambulance be sent. 12/23/2009 2:38:04 PM
Balloon boy parents sentenced to prison for hoax The couple who carried out the balloon boy hoax have both been sentenced to jail. Richard Heene gets 90 days in jail, including 60 days of work release that will let him pursue work as a construction contractor. Mayumi Heene was sentenced to 20 days behind bars after her husband's release. 12/23/2009 12:18:23 PM
UK: Steam train's snow rescue 'glory' Passengers were rescued by a steam locomotive after modern rail services were brought to a halt by the snowy conditions in south-east England. Trains were suspended on Monday when cold weather disabled the electric rail. The Tornado - Britain's first mainline steam engine in 50 years - offered them a lift. 12/23/2009 12:14:36 PM
Bernie Madoff moved to prison hospital Disgraced Wall Street financier Bernie Madoff has been moved to the medical centre within the prison where he is serving 150 years for fraud. He was transferred on 18 December, a spokeswoman for the Butner Federal Correctional Complex confirmed. 12/23/2009 11:39:35 AM
Obama in surprise radio show call (Video) US President Barack Obama has made a surprise call to a radio show featuring outgoing Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. Disguised initially as "Barry from DC", Mr Obama quickly revealed who he was, congratulating the governor for his "terrific" service to the US state. 12/23/2009 11:37:35 AM
Ho, ho, ho, stay away from the volcano Police and soldiers donned Santa hats and red clown noses and belted out songs in hopes of keeping 47,000 displaced residents from sneaking back to their homes on the slopes of a lava-spilling volcano. Despite the risk some residents weary of temporary shelters are conspiring to go back. 12/23/2009 5:46:50 AM
American Airlines plane 'overshoots runway' in Jamaica An American Airlines flight that took off from Miami Tuesday night overshot a runway in Kingston, Jamaica, but came to a safe stop and all passengers were off the plane, a spokesman said. Officials did not have immediate reports of injuries or fatalities. 12/22/2009 9:58:44 PM
Slaying of drug war hero's family shocks Mexico Assailants on Tuesday gunned down the mother, aunt and siblings of a marine killed in a raid that took out Arturo Beltran Leyva, one of Mexico's most powerful cartel leaders — sending a chilling message to troops battling the drug war: You go after us, we wipe out your families. 12/22/2009 6:42:34 PM
US woman held over Obama 'threat' US Secret Service agents have arrested a woman accused of threatening to kill Michelle Obama during a family break. Kristy Lee Roshia was taken into federal custody on Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii, where the Obamas are due to spend their holidays. 12/22/2009 6:07:08 PM
Facebook sex scam US teenager makes plea bargain A US teenager who blackmailed fellow students at his secondary school to have sex after using their Facebook images has agreed a plea bargain. Anthony Stancl, 19, who pleaded "no contest" to repeated sexual assault of a child - faces up to 50 years in jail. 12/22/2009 6:05:16 PM
Balloon boy parents must pay $42,000 rescue bill US parents who triggered a major alert by claiming their son was adrift in a helium balloon have been ordered to pay the $42,000 (£26,000) rescue bill. The Colorado couple reported in October that their young son had been carried away by the balloon. 12/22/2009 6:01:29 PM
Freezing weather brings misery to Europe (Video) Much of Europe continues to face severe transport upheaval as a cold snap sweeps the continent. More than 80 people have died across Europe, including at least 42 in Poland and another 27 in Ukraine who have frozen to death. Air, rail and road travel has been severely disrupted. 12/22/2009 8:51:57 AM
‘Laying in wait’ attacker shoots 2 Wash. state cops Two sheriff's officers responding to a domestic dispute were wounded and a 35-year-old man was killed Monday after he opened fire on the officers at a home in Washington state's rural Pierce County, authorities said. The shooting is the third in the last three months. 12/22/2009 5:46:19 AM
Pregnant troops may face court-martial, general says A new order from the general in charge of U.S. troops northern Iraq makes getting pregnant or impregnating a fellow soldier an offense punishable by court-martial. The directive is meant to prevent losing soldiers at a time when troop strength is stretched thin. 12/22/2009 5:38:01 AM
CIA used Lithuania 'black sites' The CIA used at least two secret detention centres in Lithuania after the 11 September 2001 terror attacks on the US, a Lithuanian inquiry has found. The report says that in 2005 and 2006 CIA chartered planes were allowed to land in Lithuania. 12/22/2009 5:06:01 AM
Sarkozy orders Eurostar restart President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered the head of the French train authority to get Channel Tunnel passenger traffic moving again by Tuesday. A Eurostar chief also said Monday he was confident two-thirds of the trains would be running by then. 12/21/2009 5:49:58 PM
Ayatollah's death stirs Iranian opposition to bitter protests The Iranian regime hit back viciously last night after the opposition turned the funeral of their spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, into another huge anti-government demonstration in the holy city of Qom. 12/21/2009 5:44:25 PM
US Airports: 3-hour limit imposed on tarmac strandings Stinky toilets, crying babies, airless cabins — the Obama administration says passengers don't have to take it any more. It ordered airlines to let people get off planes delayed on the ground after three hours. The airline industry said it will comply, but predicted more canceled flights. 12/21/2009 4:52:03 PM
D.C. chief slams cop over gun at snowball fight The city's police chief slammed a veteran detective Monday for pulling a gun during a mass snowball fight. Chief Cathy Lanier said she watched video clips from the confrontation and has no doubt the off-duty detective pulled his gun after snowballs hit his personal car. 12/21/2009 4:47:41 PM
Mexico City legalizes same-sex marriagesame-sex marriage Mexico City lawmakers on Monday made the city the first in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, a change that will give homosexual couples more rights, including allowing them to adopt children. The bill passed the capital's local assembly 39-20 to the cheers of supporters/\. 12/21/2009 4:38:03 PM
Brazil toddler recovers after some of 31 needles removed A Brazilian toddler is making a good recovery after surgery to remove the first of 31 sewing needles pushed into his body by his stepfather in a cruel act that has enraged locals, the hospital said on Saturday. The boy was brought to a small local hospital by his mother. 12/21/2009 11:29:05 AM
Philippine villagers return despite volcano evacuations Philippine troops on Monday pressed the last 3,000 villagers who have refused to heed government warnings to leave the danger zone around a volcano that experts say is ready to erupt. Tens of thousands of people have already been evacuated from the foothills of Mayon. 12/21/2009 5:25:49 AM
Cold snap causes havoc in Europe Snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures have killed at least 30 people across Europe as well as severely disrupting air, rail and road transport. At least 29 people froze to death in Poland as temperatures fell far below freezing, while in southern Germany a figure of -33C was recorded. 12/21/2009 4:25:15 AM
Obama gets an 'A' for effort from Schwarzenegger Asked to give Obama a grade as the end of the president’s first year in office approaches, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California’s Republican governor, gave Obama high marks. He was echoing the sentiments of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg 12/20/2009 5:02:34 PM
Passengers grounded as U.S. digs out from record snowfall The effect of a weekend snowstorm that shook the mid-Atlantic and northeast United States reached north to Toronto on Sunday, stranding passengers and stalling more than 60 flights arriving at and departing from Pearson Airport. 20 flights scheduled to leave were dropped on Sunday 12/20/2009 4:42:56 PM
Stolen Auschwitz sign is recovered Police in Poland have found the infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei" sign that was stolen on Friday from the gate of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz. Police have arrested five men. 12/20/2009 4:38:19 PM
Berlusconi bounces back in polls after attack Silvio Berlusconi's approval ratings, which had slipped over the past six months because of sex scandals and corruption charges, have bounced back amid a wave sympathy for him after he was attacked in Milan a week ago. 12/20/2009 4:35:32 PM
Missing Dutch teen sailor found in Antilles A Dutch teenager who went missing after child welfare authorities thwarted her attempt to become the youngest person to sail singlehanded round the world has been found in the Dutch Antilles. Laura Dekker, 14, has been found on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. 12/20/2009 4:16:46 PM
Massive U.S. snowstorm on path to Atlantic Canada After causing scenes both chaotic and absurd in the eastern United States, a fierce snowstorm moved across the border into this country Sunday, delaying numerous flights and threatening to dump as much as 25 centimetres of snow on parts of Nova Scotia. 12/20/2009 1:06:17 PM
Major volcanic eruption feared in Philippines More than 40,000 people have been told to leave the foothills around an active volcano on an island in the Philippines, after experts raised the alert level for a massive eruption of Mt. Mayon. An eruption could cause gas and hot, flying rocks to rush down the mountain. 12/20/2009 5:50:46 AM
Pakistan government says it will not resign Pakistan's government has said it will not resign, following a court ruling which overturned an amnesty for politicians facing corruption charges. Senior figures including interior and defence ministers are among those affected. 12/20/2009 5:24:29 AM
Dutch teenage sailor Laura Dekker 'missing' Dutch police say teenage sailor Laura Dekker - who seeks to be the youngest person to sail solo around the world -has been missing since Friday. Police say the 14-year-old's boat is moored at its berth and she appears to have left her father's home on her own. 12/20/2009 5:18:35 AM
Top Iranian dissident cleric Montazeri dies One of Iran's most prominent dissident clerics, Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri, has died aged 87. Hoseyn Ali Montazeri was a moving spirit in the 1979 revolution which created Iran's Islamic state, and was at one stage set to become its leader. 12/20/2009 5:17:32 AM
Africa: Typhoid, typhoid, everywhere Alongside a pitted rural road, a dozen women and children plunge yellow cans into a shallow pool of brown water. The few who can afford fuel might boil the water before consuming it. Fewer still will be able to afford the 30 cent purifying tablet that can treat 20 litres. 12/19/2009 8:21:11 PM
Blizzard hits eastern US A blizzard-like storm rocked the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States on Saturday, crippling travel across the region and causing hundreds of thousands of power outages. Five deaths appeared to have been caused by the storm system, which stretched from the Carolinas north to New England and the Midwest. 12/19/2009 6:28:35 PM
Brazil needle victim recovers, outrage at cruelty A Brazilian toddler is making a good recovery after surgery to remove the first of 31 sewing needles pushed into his body by his stepfather in a cruel act that has enraged locals, the hospital said on Saturday. The 2 1/2-year-old boy, underwent a nearly five-hour procedure on Friday. 12/19/2009 6:08:51 PM
Dad somehow lifts car off 6-year-old girl A Kansas mother is praising a neighbor as "Superman" after her 6-year-old daughter told her he somehow found the strength to lift a car off her. The girl escaped with minor injuries after she and neighbor Nick Harris said she was pinned under the vehicle. 12/19/2009 1:37:40 PM
Final Democratic holdout to support US health bill A holdout no more, Sen. Ben Nelson agreed Saturday to provide the 60th and deciding vote for sweeping health care legislation in the Senate, capping a year of struggle and a final burst of deadline bargaining on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. 12/19/2009 9:47:45 AM
Iran admits prisoners were beaten to death Iran's hard-line judiciary acknowledged for the first time Saturday that at least three prisoners detained after June's disputed presidential election were beaten to death by their jailers, confirming a key claim by the country's opposition movement. 12/19/2009 9:25:06 AM
Old names reappear in new Afghan cabinet Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to keep most of his top ministers, mainly technocrats favored by the West, in a new cabinet presented to parliament on Saturday, one of his ministers said. Western diplomats have generally welcomed the list of 23 cabinet nominees. 12/19/2009 6:20:51 AM
Mumbai accused says he was framed The man alleged to be the sole surviving gunman in last year's Mumbai attacks, Mohammad Qasab, has retracted a confession that he took part. Giving evidence in his defence, Mr Qasab, a Pakistani national, said he had been forced by police to confess after being repeatedly beaten up. 12/19/2009 5:46:46 AM
English Channel Tunnel breakdown traps thousands (Video) Eurostar passenger: "It was terrible. We were treated like animals" More than 2,000 people spent hours trapped inside the Channel Tunnel after five Eurostar trains broke down due to cold weather. The trains failed as they left the cold air in northern France and entered the warmer tunnel. 12/19/2009 5:40:07 AM
Brazil's top court halts boy's return to U.S. dad A New Jersey man made an emotional plea Friday for Brazilian authorities to let him take his son home in a custody fight that is expanding into a political tussle and testing the limits of an international child abduction treaty. 12/18/2009 5:18:13 PM
Leaders proclaim climate accord at summit's end Before going into the meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a hard-hitting speech to some 120 heads of state and government. Its goal was to ram the negotiations forward; nothing less than the potentially catastrophic warming of the planet was at stake. 12/18/2009 5:15:09 PM
Snowy Europe cold snap brings transport chaos Europe shivered under the lash of a snowy pre-Christmas cold snap Friday that closed airports, caused chaos on the roads and gave some school kids an early start to their holidays. Two of London's airports were closed overnight after heavy snow fell across south and east England. 12/18/2009 5:51:24 AM
Iraqi insurgents intercepted video feed of U.S. drones Insurgents in Iraq have intercept live video feeds from Predator drones, a major weapon in a Pentagon spy system that serves as the military's eyes in the sky. Although militants could see the video, there is no evidence they were able to jam the electronic signals. 12/18/2009 5:45:59 AM
Obama urges world leaders to make climate deal US President Barack Obama has called on world leaders to come together at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen as time runs out to strike a deal. President Obama told delegates the international community's ability to take collective action was in doubt. 12/18/2009 4:44:10 AM
Pakistan in turmoil as Zardari faces charges Pakistan’s top court struck down a controversial amnesty deal yesterday that has protected President Zardari and his allies from corruption charges, deepening the country’s political turmoil as it battles Islamic militants. The Supreme Court’s ruling prompted calls for Mr Zardari to step down and face criminal charges. 12/17/2009 1:19:57 PM
"Divorce is 100 per cent on," ABC News reported Elin Nordegren, the 29-year-old Swedish model who married the golfer five years ago, is "taking her sweet time" about the divorce, however, according to the ABC source. "She wants all the dirty laundry to be out on the table before she signs anything." 12/17/2009 7:42:30 AM
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi leaves hospital Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has left hospital after four nights recovering from Sunday's attack which broke his nose and two teeth. He has been advised by doctors to rest for at least two weeks and has cancelled various engagements. 12/17/2009 7:11:20 AM
British Airways cabin crew strike illegal, court rules A strike by British Airways cabin crew planned for Christmas has been declared illegal in a High Court ruling. The court agreed with BA that the cabin crew's union, Unite, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action. 12/17/2009 7:09:33 AM
Clinton warns of ‘deal breaker' on $100-billion (U.S.) climate pact The United States has finally shown its hand at the deadlocked climate change conference, and it's worth US$100-billion. U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton announced a conditional pledge to help raise US$100-billion a year to help fight climate change in the developing world. 12/17/2009 6:32:11 AM
Dumb Idea: Nato fails to secure Russian Afghan help Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has failed to gain any commitment from Russia to help win the war against the Taliban insurgency. Mr Rasmussen asked Moscow to provide helicopters to Afghanistan and also requested Russian help in training the Afghan air force. 12/17/2009 6:01:17 AM
Arrest in Brazil needle boy case (Video) A Brazilian toddler has been found with some 40 needles inside him, which police say his stepfather inserted during a possible "black magic" ritual. Police said Roberto Carlos Magalhaes has confessed to sticking the sewing needles into the two-year-old boy. 12/17/2009 5:58:24 AM
'Boss of bosses' killed in Mexico One of Mexico's most-wanted drug lords has been killed in a shoot-out with state security forces, officials say. Arturo Beltran Leyva and four alleged members of his cartel died in a raid by troops on a flat in Cuernavaca, just south of Mexico City. 12/17/2009 5:23:36 AM
After 35 years, Florida man exonerated by DNA evidence After more than three decades in prison, James Bain is eager to be able to help his wheelchair-bound mother. If all goes as planned in a Florida courtroom Thursday, Bain, 54, will be allowed to go home for the first time in 35 years -- free from his life sentence thanks to a DNA test. 12/16/2009 5:48:44 PM
The climate change conference from Hell Over in Copenhagen, we have Robert Mugabe, perhaps the most brutal and corrupt despot in Africa, whose life's work has been to destroy the once-prosperous country of Zimbabwe, lecturing the West on the "hypocrisy" of its position on climate change. 12/16/2009 4:57:32 PM
EU drops Microsoft browser charges The European Union said Wednesday it is dropping antitrust charges against Microsoft after the company agreed to give Windows users a choice of up to 12 other Web browsers. This will also allow computer manufacturers to ship PCs without Internet Explorer in Europe. 12/16/2009 4:39:21 PM
Over 1Million holiday travellers face chaos as strikes loom More than a million people faced travel chaos over the Christmas and new year's holidays as baggage handlers and check-in staff at Heathrow and Aberdeen airports announced strikes in tandem with work stoppages by British Airways cabin crews. 12/16/2009 12:49:32 PM
Iran says it test fired upgraded Sajjil-2 missile Iran on Wednesday test-fired an upgraded version of its most advanced missile, which is capable of hitting Israel and parts of Europe, in a new show of strength aimed at preventing any military strike against it amid the nuclear standoff with the West. 12/16/2009 6:26:15 AM
Man held in Berlusconi hospital A man has been arrested near the hospital room where Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is being treated, police said. A man of 26 was intercepted overnight by security guards at Milan's San Raffaele hospital. 12/16/2009 5:46:01 AM
Oregon: Little hope Mount Hood climbers alive Two climbers missing on Mount Hood for the past five days are likely dead and a search will not resume any time soon because of severe avalanche danger, officials said Tuesday. Dr Terri Schmidt, an expert on hypothermia and mountain survival, said there was less than a 1 percent chance. 12/16/2009 5:08:03 AM
20,000 exotic animals seized in Texas raid Starving snakes, dead rodents and hundreds of reptiles packed in shipping crates were discovered Tuesday when animal welfare groups in Texas raided an exotic animal delivery company, officials said. 12/16/2009 5:06:22 AM
Television evangelist Oral Roberts dies at 91 Television evangelist Oral Roberts has died, a posting on the Oral Roberts Ministries site said Tuesday. He was 91. "The Oral Roberts University family was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our dear Chancellor, Oral Roberts," Oral Roberts University President Mark Rutland said. 12/15/2009 12:14:42 PM
Khadr among Gitmo detainees headed to Illinois U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday will take a big step towards closing the Guantanamo Bay detention camps — as the administration announces that a large number of the terror suspects held there will be transferred to an Illinois facility. 12/15/2009 12:11:44 PM
Israel fury over British war crimes warrant for Tzipi Livni Israel’s Government issued an angry warning today that its ties with Britain were in jeopardy over a UK arrest warrant briefly issued against the Jewish state’s Opposition leader and former Foreign Minister. 12/15/2009 9:48:38 AM
Berlusconi attack 'premeditated' (Video) An attack on Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Sunday was premeditated, Italy's interior minister, Roberto Maroni, has said. Mr Maroni said the suspect had been "developing a rage" against the PM "for some time". 12/15/2009 6:48:58 AM
Deadly bombing rocks Pakistan town At least 20 people have been killed in a bomb attack in a market in central Pakistan, officials say. About 50 others were wounded in the blast in Dera Ghazi Khan, which badly damaged a number of buildings. 12/15/2009 6:46:24 AM
Police find slain family in upscale Calif. home Several family members were found dead in a rented home Monday in an upscale gated community in Southern California, authorities said. The owner asked deputies to check in on the family because he felt like "something just wasn't right." 12/15/2009 6:40:52 AM
20,000 evacuated as Philippine volcano oozes lava Authorities moved thousands of villagers from harm's way near the Philippines' most active volcano Tuesday after it oozed lava and shot plumes of ash, and said they probably would spend a bleak Christmas in an evacuation center. Nearly 50,000 people live in a five-mile radius around the mountain. 12/15/2009 6:39:00 AM
UN head chides countries at Copenhagen The dickering at the Copenhagen climate conference prompted some chiding on Tuesday from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. He said rich and poor countries must "stop pointing fingers" and raise their climate targets. 12/15/2009 6:30:31 AM
Letter from Rome: The feminine mistake (Video) When Lorella Zanardo decided to make a short documentary critiquing the sexist and humiliating depictions of women on Italian television, her expectations were modest. The half-hour documentary is a provocative montage of images of the semi-naked, surgically altered women who regularly parade across primetime Italian television. 12/15/2009 6:16:49 AM
U.S.: 15,000 will die from CT scans done in 1 year Radiation from CT scans done in 2007 will cause 29,000 cancers and kill nearly 15,000 Americans. The findings add to mounting evidence that Americans are overexposed to radiation from diagnostic tests. A chest CT scan exposes the patient to more than 100 times the radiation dose of a chest X-ray. 12/14/2009 7:30:22 PM
Banks must step up, Obama says President Barack Obama told top bankers Monday to explore “every responsible way” to increase lending, saying they were obliged to help repair the American economy after being saved by the taxpayer-funded bailout. “If they wish to fight common-sense consumer protections, that's a fight I'm more than willing to have.” 12/14/2009 1:45:21 PM
Canadian knew about Mumbai attacks, U.S. prosecutors say A terrorism suspect knew in advance about the deadly Mumbai terror attacks – and offered congratulations to the killers, U.S. prosecutors charged Monday. Pakistani-Canadian businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who now lives mostly in Chicago is charged with providing material support to terrorists. 12/14/2009 1:30:06 PM
The real inconvenient truth The "inconvenient truth" overhanging the UN's Copenhagen conference is not that the climate is warming or cooling, but that humans are overpopulating the world. A planetary law is the only way to reverse the disastrous global birthrate currently, which is one million births every four days. 12/14/2009 1:17:59 PM
Battered Berlusconi says it is a miracle he was not blinded by attack Silvio Berlusconi said today it was a miracle that he was not blinded by the attack in central Milan last night that left him with a broken nose, two missing teeth and a cut lip. Commentators have today pointed to "basic errors" leading to a double failure in the security arrangements. 12/14/2009 9:43:16 AM
‘Bush Sycophant Blair tricked Britain into war’ British soldiers were sent to their deaths in Iraq because of Tony Blair’s “sycophancy” towards Washington and the failure of the governing class to speak the truth, a former prosecutions chief says today. Sir Ken Macdonald says Mr Blair engaged in an “alarming subterfuge” with George Bush 12/14/2009 9:37:55 AM
Secret document exposes Iran’s nuclear trigger (Video) Confidential intelligence documents obtained by The Times show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb. The notes describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion. 12/14/2009 9:34:52 AM
China is more than just an economic superpower There was a time when the China Syndrome was just a thriller film — 1979, Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas — about what would happen if an American nuclear plant melted down, through the core of the Earth, until it reached China. 12/14/2009 7:42:44 AM
Copenhagen: Climate negotiations 'suspended' Negotiations at the UN climate summit have been suspended after developing countries withdrew their co-operation. Delegations were angry at what they saw as moves by the Danish host government to sideline talks on more emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol. 12/14/2009 4:54:15 AM
Italy's PM Berlusconi to stay in hospital after attack (Video) Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi will stay in hospital at least until Tuesday after having his nose broken by an attacker, doctors say. A medical bulletin reported in the Italian media said Mr Berlusconi was able to eat, but only with difficulty. 12/14/2009 4:51:58 AM
World markets rise as Dubai gets surprise $10 billion bailout Abu Dhabi provided its flashy but debt-laden neighbor Dubai a $10 billion lifeline to last its troubled flagship company until the end of April, heading off a bond default on payment day and sending Gulf markets higher. 12/14/2009 4:50:14 AM
Obama sees Senate healthcare passage by December 25 President Barack Obama said he expects the U.S. Senate to pass by the end of next week legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, but the top Senate Republican scoffed on Sunday that Obama's Democrats were too divided to do so. 12/14/2009 4:33:06 AM
Oregon: Clouds hamper search for missing climbers A cloud bank hugging the flanks of Mount Hood frustrated the air search for two missing climbers on Sunday, a day after their companion was found dead on a glacier on Oregon's highest mountain. Skies had cleared Sunday morning, but the weather worsened again. 12/13/2009 8:16:23 PM
Canada kept feared Afghan governor in power, rep as 'human-rights abuser' A former governor of Kandahar who is accused of personally torturing Afghans might have been removed from office as far back as 2006 if Canadian officials hadn't defended him. The new allegation is contained in a two-year-old end-of-mission report by Richard Colvin. 12/13/2009 3:32:43 PM
Skywatchers await meteor shower Skygazers in the northern hemisphere are preparing for the high point of the annual Geminids meteor shower. The shower is expected to be especially easy to see this year because it is nearly the new Moon, meaning there is less moonlight to obscure it. 12/13/2009 10:55:54 AM
Italy PM Berlusconi's face bloodied by attack (Video) Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was punched in the face at the end of a rally in Milan on Sunday. The attack occurred as the 73-year-old Berlusconi was signing autographs. TV showed the stunned leader with blood under his nose and on his mouth as he was lifted to his feet by aides. 12/13/2009 10:49:01 AM
Police detain hundreds on second day of Copenhagen rallies Danish police outnumbered protesters on Sunday, detaining more than 200 people on a second day of demonstrations. Meanwhile, church bells in Denmark and other countries rang 350 times, a number that refers to what many scientists consider a safe level of carbon dioxide in the air. 12/13/2009 10:44:08 AM
Palace denies report that Prince William will bypass Charles Buckingham Palace has denied a newspaper report that the Queen is passing more of her duties to her grandson, Prince William. Royal spokesman Miguel Head said the report that William is being groomed to be "shadow king," bypassing his father Prince Charles, is nonsense. 12/13/2009 8:35:27 AM
The $1-million soldier Back in 2002, as the United States was gearing up to invade Iraq, President George W. Bush fired his top economic advisor for overestimating the war's cost at US$100-billion to US$200-billion. Now the sum seems paltry compared with the US$707-billion tally to date. 12/13/2009 8:32:55 AM
Burned ayatollah photo sparks new Iranian protests Police surrounded the campus of Tehran University on Sunday, trapping hundreds of students protesting what they said were fabricated government images showing the burning of a photo of the revered founder of the Islamic republic. 12/13/2009 5:59:40 AM
N. Korea weapons found on plane in Thailand Five foreigners were detained and their foreign-registered aircraft impounded after it landed in the Thai capital Saturday with tons of war weaponry on board that originated in North Korea, Thai officials said. "It came from North Korea and was heading for somewhere in South Asia, probably Pakistan." 12/12/2009 9:22:05 AM
Review: E-mails show pettiness, not fraud E-mails stolen from climate scientists show they stonewalled skeptics and discussed hiding data — but the messages don't support claims that the science of global warming was faked, according to an exhaustive review by The Associated Press. 12/12/2009 9:18:40 AM
CIA cancels Blackwater contract (maybe) The CIA has cancelled a contract with US private security firm Blackwater for its operatives to load bombs onto drone aircraft in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The New York Times reported that Blackwater (re-named Xe) employees had been involved in "snatch-and-grab operations" in Iraq. 12/12/2009 6:52:18 AM
Former British PM Tony Blair defending Iraq invasion It would have been right to remove Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein even without evidence that he had weapons of mass destruction, Tony Blair has said. 12/12/2009 5:54:42 AM
Arrests fuel fears of U.S. ‘homegrown terrorism’ Four investigations disclosed in the past 12 months, including the arrests of five Northern Virginia men in Pakistan this week, underscore what the Obama administration asserts is a domestic threat emanating from Americans training overseas with al-Qaeda and related terrorist groups in Pakistan. 12/12/2009 4:49:27 AM
Using dentists as dope dealers Kenny Morrison soaked in life from his beachfront home. A top chef at a trendy L.A. restaurant, he served dinner to the Hollywood stars, including A-listers. But within a couple years, he lost it all. He got hooked on pain medication after some dental work. 12/11/2009 5:02:42 PM
H1N1 less lethal than feared: U.K. study The strain of swine flu virus currently circulating around the world is less deadly than previously thought, say British scientists who compared its effect to that of other pandemic viruses. The findings are similar to a U.S. study published on Monday. 12/11/2009 11:31:20 AM
New UN climate draft sets tougher emission targets A new draft proposal released Friday at the Copenhagen climate summit calls for developed countries to make deeper cuts. The draft calls for emission reductions of 25 to 45 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 for developed countries, and reductions of 15 and 30 per cent by 2020 for developing countries. 12/11/2009 11:11:07 AM
Wife divorcing cheating, S. Carolina governor Sanford South Carolina's first lady, a former Wall Street vice-president who helped launch her husband's political career, announced Friday she is filing for divorce months after his tearful public confession of an affair with an Argentine woman. 12/11/2009 7:23:47 AM
Blackwater guards tied to CIA raids Private security guards from Blackwater Worldwide participated in some of the C.I.A.’s most sensitive activities — clandestine raids with agency officers against people suspected of being insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan and the transporting of detainees. 12/11/2009 5:10:37 AM
Body of Cyprus ex-president stolen from grave Grave robbers unearthed the remains of former Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and stole his body by night from a suburban graveyard, Cyprus police said Friday, a day before the first anniversary of the statesman's death. 12/11/2009 5:04:58 AM
Multinational Unilever exposed for imported illegal palm oil A company that produces many of Britain’s best-known household brands has been exposed as contributing to the destruction of rainforests. The growth of the palm oil industry in Indonesia has turned the country into the third-largest emitter of CO2, after China and the US. 12/10/2009 6:22:18 PM
Ex-militiamen holding 57 hostages in Philippines Government-armed former militiamen wanted for murder and banditry took more than 70 villagers and children hostage Thursday from a southern Philippines village, demanding charges be dropped against them before they would free the captives. 12/10/2009 6:12:03 PM
100-year-old N.Y. child molester to be freed New York's oldest registered sex offender is scheduled to move by out of a Buffalo halfway house and into a place of his own, after completing his latest prison term for molesting little girls. Being grandfatherly was how the 5-foot-5, 150-pound Sypnier found his victims, authorities say. 12/10/2009 5:37:54 PM
U.S, assassinates senior al-Qaida official with drone A high-ranking al-Qaida figure was killed Thursday in an attack by a drone aircraft in northwest Pakistan, U.S. officials told NBC News. The officials did not identify who was killed, except to say that it was not al-Qaida’s supreme leader, Osama bin Laden. 12/10/2009 5:31:57 PM
Europol arrests 115 'child sex offenders' Europol says it has arrested 115 alleged child sex offenders in raids across 18 EU nations and Canada. It says its two-year Operation Typhoon - targeting child sex offenders on the internet - has now been concluded. 12/10/2009 4:10:38 PM
World's fastest train unveiled in China (Video) As China's economy and population expand, so do its transport needs. Although car ownership is on the increase, the Government is investing more in the railways. China now has the fastest train in the world. 12/10/2009 4:04:27 PM
Copenhagen ‘a huge ploy,’ leading U.S. expert says The U.S. economist who predicted in 1972 that the world was facing environmental disaster has ridiculed the Copenhagen climate change summit and says only a series of global crises will incite the world to take concrete action. "This conference is essentially about doing as little as possible." 12/10/2009 10:33:14 AM
Upscale tunnel found at US-Mexican border Authorities have uncovered an unfinished tunnel under the border between the United States and Mexico. The tunnel, complete with an elevator, electricity and a ventilation system, extends from Tijuana, Mexico to Otay Mesa, Calif., in San Diego. 12/10/2009 7:30:53 AM
India to create new southern state The Indian government is to allow a new state to be carved out of part of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Home Minister P Chidambaram said the process of forming Telangana state would begin soon. Campaigners say the region has long been neglected. 12/10/2009 7:24:34 AM
Group claims evidence of Mugabe-led rape campaign Armed with 70 sworn affidavits from rape victims, an advocacy group says it has enough evidence to warrant the prosecution of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his ruling party for crimes against humanity. The group is co-headed by former United Nations ambassador Stephen Lewis. 12/10/2009 6:13:59 AM
Obama accepts Nobel with ‘great humility’ President Barack Obama acknowledged the controversy surrounding the Nobel Peace Prize, which he received in here on Thursday, acknowledging his own few accomplishments while delivering a robust defense of war and promising to use the prestigious prize to "reach for the world that ought to be." 12/10/2009 5:22:41 AM
Spiral Light show sparks UFO buzz in Norway A spectacular light show visible from northern Norway has energized the UFO crowd. Was that blazing pinwheel in the sky a signal from the aliens? Was it a practice run for an elaborate worldwide messianic hoax? You'd expect the experts to come out with a less sensational explanation, and they have. 12/9/2009 8:27:52 PM
Smoking bans still rare: WHO Only about five per cent of the world's population was covered by smoking bans last year. Yet in 2008, only 5.4 per cent of the global population was protected by bans on smoking indoors in public places, up from 3.1 per cent in 2007, according to the report. 12/9/2009 12:16:06 PM
Has Climate Change forum been hijacked by the rich? The UN Copenhagen climate talks are in disarray today after developing countries reacted furiously to leaked documents that show world leaders will next week be asked to sign an agreement that hands more power to rich countries and sidelines the UN's role in all future climate change negotiations. 12/9/2009 6:50:46 AM
The climate denial industry is out to dupe the public. And it's working You can see it in the measured temperature record, which goes back to 1850; in the shrinkage of glaciers and the thinning of sea ice; in the responses of wild animals and plants and the rapidly changing crop zones. No other explanation for these shifts makes sense. 12/9/2009 6:41:31 AM
English winegrowers benefit from global warming As world leaders grapple with how to tackle climate change, England's winegrowers are embarrassed to admit that global warming is suiting them rather well. This year's crop has been one of the best yet, with a record three million bottles produced -- twice the average production. 12/9/2009 5:48:56 AM
Developing nations decry Danish climate plan On Tuesday, African activists stormed out of the meeting room and staged a protest after a draft proposal from Denmark was leaked. The document suggested that rich nations could cut fewer emissions — while developing nations should face tougher limits on greenhouse gases. 12/9/2009 5:06:09 AM
Kabul's mayor still in power after jail sentence The Afghanistan government's resolve in fighting graft and bribery is being tested this week in the case of the mayor of Kabul, who on Monday was sentenced to four years in jail for corruption but continues to run the country's capital city. Afghanistan receives billions of dollars a year in international aid. 12/9/2009 5:04:09 AM
Tennessee Mayor sorry for Obama 'Peanuts' accusation A Tennessee mayor is apologizing for writing on his Facebook page that President Barack Obama deliberately timed a speech last week to block the "Peanuts" Christmas special. Russell Wiseman also said the president is Muslim. Obama is Christian. 12/8/2009 6:27:31 PM
Update: Hawaii holds rare surfing contest as 12m waves roll in A rare surfing competition has been held in Hawaii as waves reaching 12m (40ft) pounded the north shore of Oahu. Thousands of people have gathered on beaches and cliffs to watch the world's greatest surfers. It is only the eighth time in 25 years that the Eddie Aikau competition has taken place. 12/8/2009 5:30:34 PM
Brazil police 'kill 11,000 people in six years' POLICE IN Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have killed more than 11,000 people in the past six years, many execution-style, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. Few of the officers have been charged, the killings are often labelled in police reports as the deaths of suspects who resisted arrest. 12/8/2009 5:25:46 PM
McChrystal backs US troop surge (Video) The top US commander in Afghanistan has said al-Qaeda will not be defeated unless its leader, Osama Bin Laden, is captured or killed. Testifying to US Congress, Gen Stanley McChrystal said Bin Laden had become an "iconic figure". 12/8/2009 5:18:33 PM
U.S. high court questions law used to convict Conrad Black U.S. Supreme Court justices hearing Conrad Black's appeal for freedom Tuesday sharply criticized the federal law used to convict the former Canadian newspaper baron, declaring it so vague and sweeping it could theoretically ensnare millions of American workers for misbehaving on the job. 12/8/2009 4:13:51 PM
Hamid Karzai delays naming new cabinet President Karzai has postponed the long awaited announcement of his new Cabinet, which he was expected to make this morning. After weeks of pressure from Western capitals linking future support to reform of the Afghan Government, Mr Karzai had said he would name the new line-up today. 12/8/2009 9:33:21 AM
2000s likely to unseat 1990s as warmest decade: UN The decade ending Dec. 31 will likely be the warmest ever recorded, and 2009 should be one of the 10 warmest years on the books, the World Meteorological Organization has said. For some regions in Africa and Asia, 2009 will probably be the warmest year on record. 12/8/2009 9:26:51 AM
Giant waves crash on Hawaii’s beaches Thousands of spectators and surfers are flocking to Hawaii's beaches to see the biggest waves in years crash ashore. Some of the world's most daring surfers took on the powerful and dangerous waves which forecasters say could reach heights of 50 feet (15 meters). 12/8/2009 8:54:47 AM
NYTimes: Millions in U.S. drink dirty water More than 20 percent of the nation’s water treatment systems have violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act over the last five years, according to a New York Times analysis of federal data. That law requires communities to deliver safe tap water to local residents. 12/8/2009 8:38:59 AM
Baghdad car bombs kill 127 (Video) A series of car bombings has killed at least 127 people and wounded 448 in the centre of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The first blast targeted a police patrol in the Dora district of the city. Four others occurred near official buildings within minutes. 12/8/2009 7:21:21 AM
Latest Toyota setback: Claims engines stall Federal regulators have launched an investigation into complaints of engine stalling on certain Toyota Corolla and Matrix models, the latest in a series of safety issues facing the Japanese automaker. Some complaints said vehicles stall randomly while driving. 12/7/2009 4:24:04 PM
Pearl Harbor memories still vivid for some Ed Johann will always remember the sound of planes diving out of the sky to bomb U.S. battleships, the explosions and the screams of sailors. He still recalls the stench of burning oil and flesh. 12/7/2009 3:24:05 PM
Hey Robert Gates, Bin Laden 'seen in Afghanistan in early 2009' A Taliban detainee in Pakistan claims to have information about Osama Bin Laden's whereabouts in January or February of this year. "That guy came from Ghazni, so I think that's where the sheikh was." The province of Ghazni in eastern Afghanistan has an increasingly strong Taliban presence. 12/7/2009 7:47:06 AM
Manila pursues 3,000 clan rebels Philippine armed forces and police say they are pursuing at least 3,000 armed men loyal to the Ampatuan clan in the southern province of Maguindanao. Manila has accused the clan of ordering the massacre of 57 people last week and of fomenting rebellion. 12/7/2009 7:38:02 AM
'Gunfire heard' as Iran police clash with protesters(Video) Iranian security forces have clashed violently with opposition supporters in central Tehran, witnesses say. Police used batons and tear gas, according to the witnesses. There were also unconfirmed reports of security forces using live rounds. 12/7/2009 7:31:52 AM
Biggest climate meeting in history begins The biggest climate meeting in history, with 15,000 participants from 192 nations, opened in Copenhagen on Monday with host Denmark saying an unmissable opportunity to protect the planet was "within reach." 110 world leaders, including Canada's PM Harper and President Obama, will attend. 12/7/2009 6:12:43 AM
'Men sought to kill woman for adultery in Spain' SPANISH police have arrested nine men suspected of seeking to have a woman killed after they accused her of adultery, claiming they were following Islamic law, authorities said. The men were arrested on November 14 and seven have been held in jail, a police spokesman said. 12/6/2009 3:48:14 PM
Mass cannibalism clues uncovered Archaeologists have found evidence of mass cannibalism at a 7,000-year-old human burial site in south-west Germany, the journal Antiquity reports. The authors say their findings provide rare evidence of cannibalism in Europe's early Neolithic period. 12/6/2009 8:15:50 AM
Does the U.S. really 'want to find' Osama Bin Laden? The US has had no reliable information on the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in years, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has admitted. A Taliban detainee in Pakistan told the BBC last week that he had information Bin Laden was in Afghanistan this year. 12/6/2009 8:14:04 AM
No one escapes barbs in Palin speech to journalists Sarah Palin poked fun at herself in a speech to journalists Saturday night, drawing laughter when she announced she “came down from my hotel room and I could see the Russian Embassy.” Ms. Palin was the Republican speaker at the winter dinner of the Gridiron Club, an organization of Washington-based journalists. 12/6/2009 5:20:15 AM
Polar bear sculpture shapes climate change concern A British sculptor carving a polar bear out of ice, with a bronze skeleton inside, hopes to make a powerful environmental message when the Arctic animal art piece melts. Coreth doesn't know how long it will take for the ice bear to melt into a pool of water. 12/6/2009 5:11:11 AM
Queen Elizabeth II tells paparazzi to back off Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has warned newspapers not to run unauthorized paparazzi photos of the royal family. A lawyer for the British monarch has written to newspaper editors telling them not to publish intrusive photos of the family at home. 12/6/2009 4:46:10 AM
UN hits back at climate sceptics The UN's official panel on climate change has hit back at sceptics' claims that the case for human influence on global warming has been exaggerated. The IPCC said it was "firmly" standing by findings that a rise in the use of greenhouse gases was a factor. 12/5/2009 6:14:15 PM
Russia to mourn club fire victims (Video) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has declared a national day of mourning on 7 December after a fire at a nightclub killed at least 109 people. He said the fire was a criminal act and those responsible must be punished. Officials say fireworks inside the club caused Friday's blaze. 12/5/2009 6:11:51 PM
Thousands march in Rome against Berlusconi Tens of thousands of Italians chanting "resign, resign" marched through Rome on Saturday demanding that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who they accused of corruption, step down. The national demonstration, called "No B Day," was organised by grassroots organisations from around the country. 12/5/2009 10:30:03 AM
Philippines arrests clan leader in massacre probe The Philippine president imposed martial law Saturday on a southern province and security forces detained the patriarch of a powerful clan and three of his sons, accusing them of massacring 57 people and fomenting a rebellion. 12/5/2009 5:57:19 AM
Thai king gives birthday audience King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has marked his 82nd birthday with an audience for members of the royal family and senior politicians. He left hospital for the first time since being admitted for respiratory problems and loss of appetite in mid-September. 12/5/2009 5:29:02 AM
Scandal shakes foundations of climate science The pirating of thousands of e-mail messages from Britain's University of East Anglia has revealed a dangerous bunker mentality among the scientists who guarded those records and a data-fudging scandal that has created a crisis of confidence in global-warming science 12/5/2009 5:18:26 AM
More than 100 killed in Russian nightclub explosion At least 100 people were killed in an explosion at a nightclub in the centre of the Russian city of Perm near the Ural mountains on Friday, Russian news agencies reported. The agencies quoted law enforcement officials as saying the blast had been caused by firecrackers. 12/4/2009 4:56:18 PM
Amanda Knox sentenced to 26 years An Italian jury has found American student Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito guilty in the stabbing death of British exchange student Meredith Kercher. Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison and Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years. 12/4/2009 4:09:14 PM
Witness links Berlusconi to Mafia A jailed Mafia hitman linked Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to the Cosa Nostra today, telling a court that a godfather convicted for a 1993 bombing campaign had boasted of his links to the media mogul. Mr. Berlusconi says biased courts are making false charges. 12/4/2009 7:23:10 AM
BBC: Five things about the World Cup draw England will find out on Friday evening who and when they will be playing at next year's football World Cup in South Africa. And the ramifications go far beyond football. Here are five reasons why. 12/4/2009 5:58:42 AM
Glacier threat to Bolivia capital (Video) Fears are growing for the future of water supplies in one of Latin America's fastest-growing urban areas - Bolivia's sprawling capital of La Paz and its twin El Alto. Water is already in short supply among the poorest communities and has become a cause of tension. 12/4/2009 5:23:00 AM
Pakistan mosque attack near army HQ 'kills 32' At least 32 people have been killed and dozens injured in a coordinated attack at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, military officials say. Reports suggest there were at least two suicide attacks during Friday prayers. 12/4/2009 5:19:08 AM
Karzai set to replace most of his cabinet In a sign that Afghanistan's embattled leader is finally acting on promises to purge corruption, President Hamid Karzai is expected replace up to 21 of 26 cabinet members any day now. A thorough house-cleaning would temporarily placate Western diplomats, who have been threatening to revoke aid dollars. 12/4/2009 4:53:30 AM
Irish nuns offer $190million for permitting child abuse A major Irish order of Roman Catholic nuns, the Sisters of Mercy, offered Thursday to pay child abuse victims, the government and charities a further $193.5 million to compensate for decades of abuse in its schools and orphanages. 12/3/2009 3:26:34 PM
Iran whistleblower dies from drug-laced salad A 26-year-old doctor who exposed the torture of jailed protesters in Iran died of poisoning from a delivery salad laced with an overdose of blood pressure medication, prosecutors say. The findings fueled opposition fears that he was killed because of what he knew. 12/3/2009 12:40:52 PM
Secret Service puts 3 on leave over Gate crashers President Barack Obama says "the system didn't work the way it was supposed to" at last week's White House state dinner, where an uninvited Virginia couple got in and shook hands with the president. Obama said, "I could not have more confidence in the Secret Service." 12/3/2009 11:28:44 AM
Afghanistan’s dogs of war sniff out mines On the heels of President Barack Obama's announcement that 30,000 more U.S. troops will be heading to Afghanistan, it's important to remember one thing that makes the fight there so difficult and unique: Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. 12/3/2009 11:02:20 AM
Italy 'to boost Afghan mission' Italy is to send about 1,000 extra troops to Afghanistan, say reports. The move comes two days after US President Barack Obama announced that America was sending 30,000 more forces to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. Mr Obama has asked Nato allies to increase their deployments. 12/3/2009 9:34:03 AM
Britain says, Bankers 'need to join real world' A government minister has told bankers "to come back into the real world" after Royal Bank of Scotland directors threatened to resign over bonuses. City Minister Lord Myners said it was unrealistic that bankers should expect to be paid million pound bonuses. 12/3/2009 9:32:15 AM
'Spy coin' revealed Washington's doubts How much does the U.S. government really trust Canada? Maybe less than you think. Espionage warnings from the U.S. Defence Department caused an international sensation a few years ago over reports of mysterious coins with radio frequency transmitters, until they were debunked. 12/3/2009 6:51:55 AM
Amanda Knox lawyer delivers emotional plea A defense lawyer for Amanda Knox made an impassioned plea to the jury Wednesday as the high-profile case neared its conclusion. Knox is the Seattle student accused of killing her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, at the villa they shared in Italy. 12/3/2009 5:58:53 AM
Climate change threatens life in Shishmaref, Alaska "The land is going away," said Shelton Kokeok, 65, whose home is on the tip of a bluff that's been melting. "I think it's going to vanish one of these days." Coastal erosion has been an issue for decades here, but rising global temperatures have started to thaw the permafrost that once helped anchor this village in place. 12/3/2009 5:27:14 AM
Putin considers another run for presidency Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday said he would consider running again for his country's presidency. Putin, speaking during a question-and-answer show broadcast live on Russia's state television, said in response to a question he had not ruled out a return. 12/3/2009 5:08:50 AM
China rebukes Harper for taking too long to visit In an unprecedented diplomatic breach, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao publicly upbraided Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “Five years is too long a time for China-Canada relations and that’s why there are comments in the media." Such a public scolding is unheard of in a meeting between heads of government. 12/3/2009 4:44:47 AM
Who throws a shoe?: Iraqi journalist gets taste of his own medicine Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, who became famous after hurling a pair of shoes at then U.S. president George W. Bush, got a taste of his own bizarre medicine on Tuesday when he had to dodge some flying footwear at a news conference. 12/2/2009 2:42:38 PM
Chinese central bank wary of gold bubble Gold prices are currently high and markets should be careful of a potential asset bubble forming, a senior official at China’s central bank said on Wednesday, as prices for the precious metal hit a record high. Gold hit record highs at US$1,216.75 an ounce in Europe on Wednesday 12/2/2009 1:34:42 PM
Obama's risky Afghan surge U.S. President Barack Obama inherited nothing from George W. Bush but bad options in Afghanistan. It showed last night as he assumed ownership of the war. His 30,000-troop surge to "disrupt, dismantle and defeat" Al Qaeda and to break the Taliban insurgency was making the best of a grim situation. 12/2/2009 11:11:34 AM
North Koreans in shock as cash is 'banned' All cash transactions in North Korea have been frozen after the Government’s shock decision to revalue the won currency. All other enterprises and services based on cash, including markets, long-distance bus services, barbers, saunas and bath houses, have been suspended. 12/2/2009 6:32:30 AM
Iran frees British yachtsmen (Video) Relatives of five British sailors detained after their racing yacht strayed into Iranian waters expressed their relief Wednesday after it was announced the crew was being freed and returned to international waters. 12/2/2009 5:01:41 AM
Obama outlines Afghan troop buildup, withdrawal plan In a televised speech from the U.S. Military Academy, Obama outlined a strategy intended to eliminate al Qaeda in Afghanistan and help the Afghan government defeat the Taliban insurgency while bolstering Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts. 12/2/2009 4:35:18 AM
Taliban defiant in face of U.S. troop surge The Taliban vowed to step up their fight in Afghanistan after U.S. President Barack Obama announced 30,000 more American soldiers would go to the country. In a message Wednesday, the Taliban said their resolve will be strengthened by the increase in foreign troops. 12/2/2009 4:33:14 AM
Argentine judge stops gay wedding A judge in Argentina has overturned a ruling that would have allowed the first gay marriage in Latin America. Judge Marta Gomez Alsina, in the capital Buenos Aires, ordered Tuesday's planned wedding of Alejandro Freyre and Jose Maria Di Bello suspended. 12/1/2009 5:15:07 AM
Seattle-area shooting suspect shot dead by Seattle police The man suspected of gunning down four police officers in a suburban coffee shop was shot and killed by Seattle police early Tuesday, a sheriff's spokesman said. Maurice Clemmons was shot to death around 2:40 a.m. on Kenyon Street outside a home in South Seattle. 12/1/2009 4:49:47 AM
Police surround Renton, Wash., home in search of Clemmons (Video) Police have surrounded a home believed to be housing the suspect in the Lakewood police shooting. A SWAT team has surrounded a home in the 13000 block of Renton Avenue South, and a police source has confirmed the incident is connected to the Lakewood murders. 11/30/2009 6:12:45 PM
Iran holds yacht with 5 British nationals Iran is holding five British sailors after stopping their racing yacht in the Persian Gulf, the British government said Monday. The move could heighten tensions between Iran and major world powers, including Britain, that are demanding a halt to its nuclear program. 11/30/2009 5:54:05 PM
Seattle Suspect walked free despite long criminal history The man suspected of gunning down four Lakewood police officers in cold blood Sunday morning has a long criminal historythat began when he was in his teens, including a long prison sentence commuted by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. 11/30/2009 3:47:38 PM
US: ‘Cyber Monday’ sales up 20 percent over '08 Retail Web sites kept amping up the deals Monday, the first day after Thanksgiving weekend's strong online sales, to try to maintain the momentum. Though the Web is only about 10 percent of the holiday shopping pie, it's seen most of the growth so far this year. 11/30/2009 12:52:29 PM
Brits rate Thai hospitality tops, French last Thailand was the most popular destination with the British, scooping 25 percent of the vote. The United States wooed 11 percent of British respondents, but France came last, scoring a miserable two percent. 11/30/2009 12:49:16 PM
What is the appeal of Scottish identity? Tartan, shortbread, haggis and whisky...Some of the stereotypes might make the average Scot cringe. For the past 10 months thousands of people of Scottish descent have been heeding a call to return "home" for a visit. What is the appeal of the Scottish identity? 11/30/2009 6:18:25 AM
Somali pirates seize supertanker Somali pirates have captured a tanker carrying oil to the US, officials say. The Greek-owned Maran Centaurus was about 1,300km (800 miles) off Somalia when it was hijacked on Sunday, said the EU Naval task force (Navfor). 11/30/2009 6:04:48 AM
Seattle: Suspect in killing of 4 cops may be dead A suspect in the slaying of four police officers gunned down in a suburban coffee shop was holed up at a Seattle house early Monday, wounded and possibly dead, police said. Negotiators were trying to communicate with Maurice Clemmons, 37. 11/30/2009 5:21:55 AM
Dubai's 'big pyramid scheme' grounded by debt load Don't be taken in: While the central bank of the United Arab Emirates stepped in Sunday to support local banks, the party looks to be over in Dubai. “It was all a big pyramid scheme,” said Chris Waitley, a Canadian surgeon who has been practising here for 10 years. 11/30/2009 4:47:14 AM
Paperwork blunder leaves Vanuatu PM without a job The Prime Minister of the tiny Pacific nation of Vanuatu has been left red-faced and jobless because he forgot to hand in an absence note before heading to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad. "If you miss three consecutive meetings, your seat will be declared vacant." 11/29/2009 11:39:24 AM
4 police officers shot dead in Washington State Four police officers were shot and killed Sunday morning in what authorities called a targeted ambush at a coffee house in Washington state. One or two gunmen shot the four uniformed officers as they were working on their laptop computers, then fled the scene. 11/29/2009 10:28:53 AM
Harper's Oilsands agenda in trouble: Obama's Secret Climate Pact Beyond the photo ops and press statements, Obama was pushing President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the kind of climate deals that eluded him at the G8 summit in Italy in the summer – and have eluded international negotiators for the last decade. 11/29/2009 9:42:37 AM
Anything for Oil: Gaddafi Jr.'s British Shooting Party Just when it seemed that the British government’s relations with Libya couldn’t possibly get any messier, Charles Moore at The Spectator has revealed details of a recent pheasant shooting party. 11/29/2009 8:45:40 AM
Are they Nuts? Iran approves building 10 enrichment sites The Iranian government approved a plan Sunday to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities, a dramatic expansion in defiance of U.N. demands it halt the program. The decision comes only two days after the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency censured Iran. 11/29/2009 8:41:07 AM
Swiss projected to OK ban on new minarets Swiss voters approved a move to ban the construction of minarets in a Sunday vote on a right-wing initiative that labeled the mosque towers as symbols of militant Islam, projections by a widely respected polling institute showed. 11/29/2009 7:21:02 AM
Calif. police: Car runs red light, kills family of 4 A car raced through a red light and slammed into a minivan broadside, killing four family members including both parents and their two young children in Northern California, authorities said Sunday. 11/29/2009 6:58:21 AM
Zimbabwe cabal seizes diamond riches to buy power A fabulously valuable diamond field in Zimbabwe has fallen under the control of a select few at the top of the country’s security forces. It is feared they intend to use the wealth to enrich themselves and entrench their power as the battle for succession to President Robert Mugabe, 85, heats up. 11/29/2009 5:49:30 AM
The man who smuggled himself into Auschwitz (Video) When millions would have done anything to get out, one remarkable British soldier smuggled himself into Auschwitz to witness the horror so he could tell others the truth. When millions would have done anything to get out, Dennis Avey repeatedly smuggled himself into the camp. 11/29/2009 5:46:47 AM
Indian nuclear plant leak probed Indian officials are investigating the leak of a radioactive substance into drinking water at an atomic power plant in the south of the country. Fifty-five workers at the Kaiga plant needed medical treatment for excessive exposure to radiation after tritium contaminated a water cooler. 11/29/2009 5:35:32 AM
Queen urges united front on climate change The Queen urged 53 Commonwealth countries gathered for a summit in Trinidad to forge a common stand on fighting climate change. The Queen warned Commonwealth leaders they must act in order to avoid climate change that will affect the world's poorest. 11/29/2009 5:22:36 AM
US Senate report: Bin Laden was 'within our grasp' Osama bin Laden was unquestionably within reach of U.S. troops in the mountains of Tora Bora when American military leaders made the crucial and costly decision not to pursue the terrorist leader with massive force, a Senate report says. 11/28/2009 8:11:50 PM
Tiger Woods delays police questions again (Video) Tiger Woods will not speak to police about his car crash outside his Florida home on Friday until Sunday. "It is unusual that we haven't gotten a statement," said Florida Highway Patrol Sgt Kim Montes. (Ed: Woods private life was featured in the National Enquirer this past week.) 11/28/2009 7:31:49 PM
Indonesia minister says immorality causes disasters A government minister has blamed Indonesia's recent string of natural disasters on people's immorality. According to the Jakarta Globe, his comments sparked an angry reaction on the internet, particularly among those who followed him on social networking site Twitter. 11/28/2009 7:24:51 PM
Commonwealth backs climate fund Commonwealth leaders have backed a multi-billion-dollar plan to help developing nations to deal with climate change and cut greenhouse gases. The fund, proposed by UK and French leaders at the Commonwealth summit on Friday, would start next year. 11/28/2009 7:22:57 PM
Public defender in Oregon strangled to death An autopsy has found that an assistant federal public defender found dead in her home was strangled. Nancy Bergeson was found Tuesday afternoon lying face down in the dining room of her southwest Portland home. 11/28/2009 10:51:11 AM
NYC’s Bloomberg spent $183 per vote Mayor Michael Bloomberg's narrower-than-expected reelection campaign cost the billionaire some $102 million, or about $183 per vote, making him the top-spending self-financed politician in U.S. history. Bloomberg defeated city comptroller William Thompson by fewer than five percentage points. 11/28/2009 7:24:17 AM
Afghan teens allege abuse at U.S. ‘black’ prison Two Afghan teenagers held in U.S. detention north of Kabul this year said they were beaten by American guards, photographed naked, deprived of sleep and held in solitary confinement in concrete cells for at least two weeks while undergoing daily interrogation. 11/28/2009 5:06:00 AM
Life isn’t all glitz, glamor for Obama crashers Friends describe the 40-something pair as "fun-loving" and unabashed about pursuing the spotlight. Interviews and court records also show the couple have a far less glamorous side. These documents and statements include dozens of civil suits alleging non-payment for services 11/28/2009 4:59:55 AM
Official: Bomb caused Russia train crash The head of Russia's domestic intelligence service said Saturday that a bomb was behind the derailment of an express train that left scores dead and nearly 100 injured. The Nevsky Express was carrying hundreds of passengers from Moscow to the northern city of St. Petersburg. 11/28/2009 4:56:41 AM
US and UK 'special relationship' not so special anymore Some sharp comments by a former British ambassador to Washington during the Iraq inquiry have again cast doubt on the strength of the so-called "special relationship" between Britain and the United States. The picture he painted was one in which British PM Tony Blair was very much the junior. 11/28/2009 4:25:48 AM
Australia emissions plan in chaos The Australian government's plans to enact a law for an emissions trading scheme have been thrown into chaos. A revolt within the opposition Liberal Party means a key deadline for the Senate to pass the legislation has been missed. 11/28/2009 4:22:14 AM
What is Dubai and who runs it? The inability of the government of Dubai to refinance the massive debts of its largest state-owned company, Dubai World, has sent shockwaves prompting many observers to ask not only how severe the economic crisis is, but also what exactly is Dubai and who is in control? 11/28/2009 4:19:39 AM
Are mysterious Hackers trying to derail Climate talks? Climate change scientists are on the defensive after hackers broke into a server of a British climate research centre over the weekend and posted hundreds of private emails that appear to show scientists have overstated the threat of man-made global warming. 11/27/2009 7:31:45 PM
British envoy: U.S. was 'hell bent' on Iraq war The United States was "hell bent" on a 2003 military invasion of Iraq and actively undermined efforts by Britain to win international authorization for the war, a former British diplomat told an inquiry Friday. Jeremy Greenstockwas British ambassador to the United Nations from 1998 to 2003. 11/27/2009 5:56:14 PM
Respected scientist says aliens are among us A leading astrophysicist who has worked on space missions claims that he and his colleagues are in contact with extraterrestrials who are "living among us." And they don't like what they see. Latchezar Filipov is head of the Space Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 11/27/2009 5:47:53 PM
Our PM Harper increasingly 'odd man out' on climate change UK PM Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have proposed a multi-billion-dollar fund to help developing nations deal with climate change. Mr Brown said the $10bn (£6bn) fund should also be used to help developing nations cut greenhouse gas emissions. 11/27/2009 4:41:37 PM
5 high-profile gangsters charged with trafficking Five well-known B.C. gangsters have been charged with drug trafficking. Red Scorpion Jarrod Wayne Bacon and his associate Arnold Wayne Scott, along with alleged UN gang members Douglas Edward Vanalstine, Nicholas Christian Wester and Daryl Robert Johnson were all arrested Thursday. 11/27/2009 4:33:35 PM
Couple at state dinner met president A White House photograph taken Tuesday evening shows Michaele Salahi, wearing a gold-accented red sari, clasping her hands around Obama's right hand as her smiling husband, Tareq, looks on. "The Secret Service is deeply concerned and embarrassed by the circumstances surrounding the State Dinner on Tuesday," 11/27/2009 3:41:18 PM
U.S. expanding Canadian footprint in Afghanistan With the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal, on his way to Ottawa for high-level talks next month, Washington may be upping the ante to get Canada to keep combat forces in Kandahar beyond July 2011 by expanding the Canadian battle group's numbers and responsibilities. 11/27/2009 3:34:53 PM
At least 22 dead in Russian train crash Twenty-two people were killed and several dozen injured in a Russian train crash on Friday, Russian news agencies said, and one source suggested it could have been caused by a bomb. "A one meter-diameter hole has been found next to the railway track." 11/27/2009 3:26:03 PM
Obama move: Lobbyists pushed off U.S. advisory panels Hundreds, if not thousands, of lobbyists are likely to be ejected from federal advisory panels as part of a little-noticed initiative by the Obama administration to curb K Street's influence in Washington. None of the more than 13,000 lobbyists would be able to hold seats on the committees. 11/27/2009 7:29:25 AM
German minister resigns over Afghanistan raid Germany's Labour Minister Franz Josef Jung has resigned amid allegations of a cover-up relating to a deadly Nato air strike in Afghanistan. Mr Jung was defence minister when a strike was ordered on 4 September by a German commander against two fuel tankers hijacked by Taliban militants. 11/27/2009 4:23:45 AM
Iran rebuked over nuclear 'cover-up' by UN watchdog The UN nuclear watchdog's governing body has passed a resolution condemning Iran for developing a uranium enrichment site in secret. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also demanded that Iran freeze the project immediately. 11/27/2009 4:22:09 AM
Thanksgiving Day parades kick off in US Giant balloons, floats, marching bands and clowns with confetti brought smiles to thousands of revelers Thursday eager to catch a glimpse of a parade as steeped in Thanksgiving Day tradition as turkey and pumpkin pie. 11/26/2009 10:25:07 AM
Aspiring reality TV stars crash Obama party A couple of aspiring reality-TV stars from Northern Virginia appear to have crashed the White House’s state dinner Tuesday night, penetrating layers of security with no invitation. It appears to be the first time in modern history that anyone has crashed a White House state dinner. 11/26/2009 10:21:34 AM
Report says Berlusconi's wife seeking pricey alimony Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's estranged wife is seeking 43 million euros, or about $65 Million US, A YEAR in alimony in a divorce case she launched after her husband was embroiled in a sex scandal, an Italian newspaper reported Thursday. 11/26/2009 9:32:34 AM
Dubai debt worry ripples across globe Debt problems in Dubai hit global stocks, helped lift bonds and took the dollar away from a 14-year low against the yen on Thursday. Gold climbed to a new record high before falling back as the dollar rose. 11/26/2009 6:05:27 AM
Top German general removed over Afghan air strike video Germany's top military official has been removed over the handling of information about a September air strike in Afghanistan that killed civilians. Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan was dumped for failing to hand over the video to political leaders. 11/26/2009 5:46:39 AM
China pledges to slow emissions growth China announced plans Thursday to sharply boost its energy efficiency and slow the growth of carbon emissions as part of its contribution to the fight against global warming. India, the world's fifth-biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has proposed a similar policy. 11/26/2009 5:44:17 AM
UK Iraq Inquiry: Rice raised Iraq hours after 911 attacks The U.S. secretary of state raised the issue of Iraq with the United Kingdom hours after the Sept. 11 attacks, Britain's former ambassador told an inquiry into the Iraq war Thursday. The comments are important because they suggest that the United States quickly tied the attacks with Saddam's regime. 11/26/2009 5:42:49 AM
Ireland bracing for 'sordid' clerical abuse report Disclosures in May of decades of floggings, slave labour and gang rape in much of Ireland's now defunct system of industrial and reform schools shamed the Irish and further eroded the Catholic Church's moral authority in the country. 11/25/2009 3:37:57 PM
Philippines massacre: Son of President's supporter prime suspect The suspected mastermind of the election massacre in the Philippines is the son of a powerful local politician who is also a key supporter of the country's President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Police unearthed a third mass grave today, bringing the number of casualties to 57. 11/25/2009 11:30:42 AM
Italian prosecutors seek jail for Google execs Italian prosecutors sought six-month to a year sentences for four Google executives Wednesday over an Internet video showing the bullying of a teenager with Down's Syndrome, the company said. It remained for nearly two months. 11/25/2009 11:21:00 AM
Uganda's anti-gay bill causes Commonwealth uproar The Commonwealth convenes for a summit this week amid growing furor over a proposed law that would impose life imprisonment on homosexuals in Uganda, whose President is chairing the gathering. The meeting opens on Friday with Stephen Harper joining the leaders of 52 other countries. 11/25/2009 11:01:30 AM
Your move Harper: Obama to attend global climate summit U.S. President Barack Obama will go to the global climate summit in Copenhagen. The United Nations welcomed the move, saying the presence of the U.S. leader would be crucial to advancing talks on global reductions to greenhouse-gas emissions. 11/25/2009 10:34:12 AM
Lewd Latin email shocked woman, court told Ariane Gordji, a young university graduate looking for work, began a correspondence with millionaire banker Mark Lowe in early 2006. Gordji told a court yesterday that it seemed high minded and friendly. Until she translated it. Lowe stands accused in front of an employment tribunal in London, England. 11/25/2009 9:54:01 AM
Rocket man bid to fly from Morocco to Spain fails A Swiss adventurer ditched safely into the chilly waters between Morocco and Spain on Wednesday after a technical malfunction ended the first attempted intercontinental crossing on jet-powered wings. A rescue helicopter winched Yves Gossy to safety from the wind-swept Atlantic. 11/25/2009 9:44:56 AM
Salvation Army kettles take credit There could be less jingle in the Salvation's Army's hallmark red kettles this season. The charity is testing kettles that take debit and credit cards. In Colorado Springs, fundraising last year went up $64,000 from the year before, an 11-per-cent increase. 11/25/2009 6:17:51 AM
Stars are out at White House state dinner The first state dinner of the Obama White House had it all: Oscar-winning entertainers, Hollywood moguls, a knockout guest chef and even a wardrobe malfunction. Traditional evening gowns vied with saris of vibrant colors Tuesday night. 11/25/2009 6:10:25 AM
Toyota to replace 3.8 million gas pedals Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will replace accelerator pedals on 3.8 million recalled vehicles in the United States to address problems with the pedals becoming jammed in the floor mat. As a temporary step, Toyota will have dealers shorten the length of the gas pedals. 11/25/2009 5:57:24 AM
Obama hails Manmohan Singh, hails India's regional role President Obama on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is in Washington for the first state visit under the Obama administration, and moved to calm India's concerns that the United States is neglecting the Asian power as it seeks closer ties with India's competitors. 11/25/2009 5:55:46 AM
Japan to reveal ‘secret’ U.S. nuclear pact Japan's new government, already bickering with the United States about the location of a Marine air station on Okinawa, appears intent on revealing evidence of a decades-old secret pact that allowed U.S. ships and aircraft to carry nuclear weapons on stopovers in Japan. 11/25/2009 5:52:42 AM
Google sorry for offensive Michelle Obama pic, won't remove it Google Inc. is apologizing for a racially offensive image of the first lady that appears at the top of the list when users search for pictures of Michelle Obama on its site. (Ed: We called attention to this a couple of days ago. We just checked, it's still there. Shame on Google.) 11/25/2009 5:13:21 AM
1 year after Mumbai attacks, Pakistan charges 7 Pakistani prosecutors charged seven men on Wednesday with planning and helping execute last year's Mumbai terror attacks. The indictments came on the eve of the first anniversary of the attacks on India's financial center that killed 166 people. 11/25/2009 5:08:41 AM
Alaska to auction petroleum rights in disputed Arctic waters The Alaskan government has announced plans to auction oil and gas exploration rights in a disputed section of the Beaufort Sea along the Yukon-Alaska border — a move that has also prompted Canada to lodge a protest with Washington, Canwest News Service has learned. 11/24/2009 5:59:43 PM
UK: Secret talks on ousting Saddam 'began in 2001' British and US officials held secret discussions about ousting Saddam Hussein two years before invading Iraq and months before the September 11 terrorist attacks, the official inquiry into the war heard yesterday. The “drumbeats” from Washington had begun soon after the election of George W. Bush. 11/24/2009 5:01:36 PM
200,000 animals to be sacrificed at Hindu festival Hundreds of thousands of Hindus gathered at a temple in southern Nepal on Tuesday for a ceremony involving the slaughter of more than 200,000 animals, a festival that has drawn the ire of animal-welfare protesters. A Nepalese minister said it was the largest sacrificial slaughter of animals in the world. 11/24/2009 6:42:01 AM
China executes 2 for role in tainted milk powder scandal China executed a dairy farmer and a milk salesman Tuesday, the only two people sentenced to death in a scheme to water down infant formula with an industrial chemical that left at least six children dead and sickened more than 300,000. 11/24/2009 6:00:07 AM
Shame on Google: No excuse for Michelle Obama caricature as lead photo Confronted with the return of an offensive image of First Lady Michelle Obama to the top of its image search engine, Google is now using some of its own ad space to offer an explanation on how its results are determined. 11/23/2009 7:26:39 PM
CO2 levels keep rising as key climate talks loom Global warming gases are building in the atmosphere at record levels. Carbon dioxide concentrations this fall are hovering at around 385 parts per million. "For the past million years we've never seen 390. You have to wonder what that's going to do," said physicist John Barnes. 11/23/2009 7:15:40 PM
US Senator’s affair revealed in text message A Nevada man whose wife had an affair with Sen. John Ensign (pictured) said he discovered the relationship after intercepting a text message around Christmas in 2007. Doug Hampton makes clear through the interview he isn't going away quietly. 11/23/2009 7:12:25 PM
Crooked Karzai ‘angry’ at taskforce for arrest of police chief Afghan intelligence officials expected high praise from their political masters after they arrested a police colonel accused of running a sophisticated drug-smuggling ring. However, instead of congratulations there were “howls of protest” from the Presidential Palace. (Karzai seen with PM Harper.) 11/23/2009 6:56:28 PM
US policeman slams drunk through window (Video) Californian poice have taken the extraordinary step of releasing a controversial video to the public which appears to show a policeman slamming a drunk's head through a train station window. In January, one of its officers was videoed fatally shooting an unarmed man. 11/23/2009 6:50:31 PM
Britain: Arrests are being made 'to expand DNA files' Police are routinely arresting people simply to record their DNA profiles on the national database. It also states that three quarters of young black men are on the database. The revelations will fuel the debate about the DNA database, the world’s largest. 11/23/2009 6:42:26 PM
Emergency Fifa meeting after Ireland's controversial defeat Sepp Blatter has called an emergency meeting of Fifa’s executive committee. The president of football’s world governing body has been forced to gather the 24-man panel on December 2 because of the furore surrounding the match in Paris last Wednesday. 11/23/2009 6:37:35 PM
UK: Design fixed for 1,000mph car (Video) The UK team aiming to smash its own land speed record by driving a car beyond 1,000mph (1,610km/h) has settled on a final design for the vehicle. It calls for a major re-configuration, with a Eurofighter jet engine now being positioned above a hybrid rocket. 11/23/2009 5:47:12 PM
2 Afghan ministers accused of graft Two Afghan cabinet ministers are under investigation for alleged corruption, the attorney general's office has said. Deputy attorney general Fazel Ahmad Faqiryar told the BBC he could not name names but said a further 15 former ministers were also being investigated. 11/23/2009 5:41:14 PM
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces 37 ethics charges The South Carolina Ethics Commission has charged Gov. Mark Sanford with 37 counts of violating state ethics laws, according to a complaint released by the commission on Monday. The complaint follows a three-month investigation into Sanford's use of taxpayer money. 11/23/2009 5:29:22 PM
Drop-side cribs to be banned worldwide Drop-side cribs will no longer be sold in Canada and elsewhere now that the world's standards organization has come down against them in wake of multiple baby deaths. The new safety standards come as parents brace for a massive recall of drop-side cribs, to be announced Tuesday. 11/23/2009 2:27:29 PM
Rescuers find female survivor, 25 hours after Indonesian ferry sank Rescuers plucked a woman from choppy waters Monday, some 25 hours after she jumped from a crowded ferry that sank in a storm. At least 29 people drowned, and 20 others were missing. "Fishermen saw her floating with a life jacket on the rough sea in the rain ... She is very tough." 11/23/2009 8:30:57 AM
Five dead in Italian transport plane crash: military A military C-130 Hercules transport plane crashed on take-off during a training flight near Pisa in northwest Italy Monday, killing all five people on board, the Italian air force told AFP. The aircraft hit the ground almost immediately after take-off and caught fire. 11/23/2009 8:21:35 AM
Clinic with two doors, a symbol of two-tier care In America, you get what you pay for. Those who pay more get better service. That's the way it is in restaurants, and in health care, too. But imagine a restaurant with one kitchen, one chef, but two doors and two price lists. That's the model of health care that some doctors are practicing. 11/23/2009 7:44:29 AM
Seven soldiers die in Afghanistan Four US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, military forces say. Three of the Americans were said by Nato to have died in southern Afghanistan on Sunday and the other in the east in a bomb explosion on Monday. 11/23/2009 5:25:36 AM
Philippines political violence leaves 21 dead Twenty-one politicians and journalists who were abducted in the southern Philippines have been found dead. The military said they were taken by armed men as they tried to file nomination papers for a candidate in local elections next May. 11/23/2009 5:23:49 AM
Health care debate headed to Senate floor (Video) Health care reform backers won a key victory Saturday night as the Senate voted to move ahead with a floor debate on a sweeping $848 billion bill. The 60-39 vote prevents a Republican filibuster against the start of debate. 11/22/2009 5:19:32 AM
Nine dead as Indonesian ferry sinks Strong winds and waves delayed rescuers trying to save dozens of passengers after a ferry sank Sunday off the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing nine, officials said. The ferry was carrying more than 220 passengers when it sank off Riau province in Sumatra. 11/22/2009 5:17:07 AM
Iran to conduct large military exercise, state TV says Iran plans to launch a large aerial military exercise Sunday to prepare for any possible attack, state media said. The five-day exercise was to cover a vast area in the country's northwest, west, south and southwest, Press TV said, citing Brig. Gen. Ahmad Miqani. 11/22/2009 5:15:57 AM
Australian troops using hard drugs in Afghanistan, Iraq DIGGERS (Australian soldiers) are using cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs while on tours of duty in Afghanistan and are returning home as addicts. Soldiers were mainly developing addictions to cocaine, a drug which is "as cheap as chips" in Afghanistan. 11/21/2009 7:53:33 AM
Average Aussie wage now $1,200 a week THE average weekly wage in Australia is now $1200.60, after rising by 5.2 per cent in the year to August. The quarterly seasonally-adjusted pace of average weekly ordinary time earnings rose 0.9 per cent in the three months to August, Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today showed. 11/21/2009 7:41:12 AM
After data loss, ID theft risk soars A new study shows that consumers who receive a notice from a company that their data has been compromised are four times more likely to be hit with identity theft. The letters have become so familiar that many folks just ignore them. 11/21/2009 7:29:36 AM
China coal mine blast kills 42, traps 66 A gas explosion tore through a state-run coal mine in northern China on Saturday, killing 42 people and leaving 66 others trapped underground as rescuers worked hastily to save them. Television footage showed smoke billowing out of the mine, with a collapsed building nearby. 11/21/2009 7:24:37 AM
Vatican tries to woo back the art world Pope Benedict has invited international artists, sculptors, architects, musicians, film directors and even a solitary Italian prima ballerina to meet him under the soaring vaulted ceiling of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on Saturday. 11/21/2009 7:18:52 AM
French hand-wringing over dubious Soccer win For a nation not particularly known for its moral qualms - it once hailed a head-butting footballer as a hero - the French feel surprisingly chastened about their questionable qualification for next year's World Cup. Reactions to Thierry Henry's handball have ranged from embarrassment to outrage. 11/21/2009 7:15:48 AM
Mumbai attack suspects arrested by Italian police Italian police have arrested two Pakistanis suspected of providing logistical support for last year's attacks in Mumbai. The father and son were detained in an early morning raid in the northern city of Brescia, police said. 11/21/2009 7:10:33 AM
Iran to hold war games to protect atom plants Iran will begin large-scale air defence war games on Sunday to help protect its nuclear facilities against any attack, a senior commander said. The military manoeuvres will last for five days and involve both the elite Revolutionary Guards and the regular armed forces. 11/21/2009 5:59:58 AM
EU diplomat backs Richard Colvin's claims on torture Richard Colvin's repeated warnings to the Canadian government about detainee torture in Afghanistan were an expression of the common concerns of like-minded Western nations, not the baseless ramblings of a rogue diplomat, a European colleague says. 11/21/2009 5:56:31 AM
Shame! Ottawa 'is lying' on Afghan Detainee torture Speaking at a news conference Friday, Peter MacKay was asked how the Tories could keep Richard Colvin as a senior intelligence official at the Canadian Embassy in Washington. Colvin says his concerns were ignored by top government officials and they may have tried to cover up the issue. 11/20/2009 8:38:58 PM
Match-fixing inquiry probes 200 European Soccer games (Video) - About 200 European football games are under investigation in a match-fixing inquiry, German prosecutors have said. At least three of the games were in the Champions League and another 12 were in the Uefa Europa League. It's the biggest match-fixing scandal ever to hit Europe. 11/20/2009 7:13:34 PM
Militia movement resurfaces across U.S. nation Norm Olson's genial tone belies his reputation as a radical militiaman, yet here he is, at 63, an affable grandfather explaining why Americans should arm themselves against their government. Walking stick in hand, clad in military fatigues, he strolls a trail in the woods near his home. 11/20/2009 4:55:17 PM
UK 'sorry' for shooting at 'Spanish flag' buoy The UK has apologised to Spain after the Royal Navy used a buoy with the Spanish colours for target practice. The exercise took place off the coast of Gibraltar earlier this week. The UK ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in Madrid to explain. 11/20/2009 4:45:19 PM
Transsexual linked to Italy's sex scandal 'found dead' A Brazilian transsexual named in a sex scandal involving a former Italian politician is believed to have been killed in a fire in her Rome flat. The media said a bottle of whisky was found near the body. 11/20/2009 4:19:39 PM
3,400-year-old epidemic still plagues humans today: study AAbout 3,400 years ago, a mysterious plague is believed to have spread across Europe, killing vast numbers of people. No written records of the unknown disease survive today. A small cluster of genes protected part of early Europe's population against a disease that must have been horrific. 11/20/2009 4:09:52 PM
U.S. housing crisis hits new level Mounting unemployment is pushing foreclosure rates higher in the United States, and driving even Americans with good credit from their homes in greater numbers. What began as a crisis among home owners with subprime mortgages has spread to the those with traditionally safer fixed-rate mortgages. 11/20/2009 3:36:56 PM
'Dream killer' is freed by judge A husband who killed his wife while he said he had a dream about an intruder has been freed by a judge, who told him he bore no responsibility. Brian Thomas, 59, admitted killing Christine, 57, in their camper van, but blamed his rare sleep disorder. 11/20/2009 5:37:32 AM
U.S. postal service to stop sending letters to North Pole Thousands of starry-eyed children all over the world are writing letters to Santa Claus, the jolly man at the North Pole this holiday season, but they will not likely get a response. The U.S. Postal Service is dropping a popular effort begun in 1954 in the small Alaska town of North Pole. 11/20/2009 5:35:29 AM
China ramping up espionage against U.S.: Report A U.S. government report warned Thursday that China is sharply stepping up espionage against the United States as they invest in cyber warfare and it grows more sophisticated in recruiting spies. "China is changing the way that espionage is being done," said Carolyn Bartholomew. 11/20/2009 5:26:39 AM
British air force rescues 200 people from floodwaters Scores of people were rescued by British emergency service workers Friday as floods swamped homes and roads. The picturesque rural region which is home to poet William Wordsworth's cottage was hit by drenching downpours on Thursday, resulting in floodwaters of up to 2.5 metres. 11/20/2009 4:48:48 AM
Peruvian police: Gang killed people for their fat Police say a gang in the Peruvian jungle has been killing people and draining fat from the corpses to sell on the black market for use in cosmetics, although medical experts say they doubt a major market for fat exists. The gang may have been involved in dozens more, said Col. Jorge Meji. 11/20/2009 4:38:39 AM
Afghanistan set to oppose bid to expose Iranian abuses Afghanistan will Friday oppose a Canadian-led bid to have the United Nations highlight serious human rights abuses in Iran, diplomats expect — just a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai pledged that respect for women's rights is among his top agenda items. 11/19/2009 6:12:06 PM
University of Calif. OKs 32 percent tuition hike As hundreds of students demonstrated outside, University of California leaders on Thursday voted to approve a 32 percent hike in undergraduate fees, arguing the increase is crucial because of the state’s budget crisis. 11/19/2009 4:58:11 PM
Canada shamed on Afghan prisoner torture Senior Diplomat Richard Colvin named those who were warned about prisoner treatment and did not act, including, Gen. Rick Hillier; David Mulroney, former deputy minister of the Afghanistan Task Force in the Privy Council Office; and Margaret Bloodworth, PM Stephen Harper's national security adviser. 11/19/2009 3:13:48 PM
Ottawa's Afghan detainee issue makes news in China China Daily's website ran the headline "Canada Handed over Afghans for Torture" after senior diplomat Richard Colvin blasted the detainee policies of Canada before a House of Commons committee. Colvin said his reports of the detainee situation were either ignored or rebuffed. 11/19/2009 12:31:59 PM
UK study says, Energy-saving bulbs 'get dimmer' Energy-efficient light bulbs lose on average 22% of their brightness over their lifetime. In some cases they emit just 60% as much light as traditional models which are being phased out. The study concluded that consumers were being misled by the bulbs' packaging. 11/19/2009 12:16:53 PM
Indian terrorist probe turns eyes on Bollywood Indian investigators probing allegations a Pakistani-born Canadian currently in U.S. custody may have been involved in last year's Mumbai terror attacks have now turned their sights to glittering Bollywood. Indian authorities want to interview several Bollywood personalities, including actors. 11/19/2009 12:07:23 PM
World Cup: Irish ask Fifa for France replay (Video) The Football Association of Ireland has lodged a complaint with Fifa asking for their World Cup play-off against France to be replayed. Republic of Ireland were beaten 2-1 on aggregate after France won with goal scored when captain Thierry Henry handled the ball. 11/19/2009 12:02:31 PM
Belgian PM named as EU president EU leaders have chosen the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, to be the first permanent European Council President. The other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty - foreign affairs supremo - has gone to the EU Trade Commissioner, Baroness Catherine Ashton from the UK. 11/19/2009 11:25:52 AM
Corrupt Karzai regime back for 5 years in Afghanistan Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai promised Thursday to prosecute corrupt government officials and end a culture of impunity, speaking during an inauguration closely watched by the international community for signs that his administration is moving beyond the cronyism and graft of the past five years. 11/19/2009 5:44:33 AM
Eye-surgeon pleads not guilty in alleged murder plot A laser eye-surgeon charged with plotting to kill his business partner and a Canadian associate pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Seattle to two charges of criminal solicitation to commit murder. 11/19/2009 4:57:57 AM
Health experts say extraordinary measures against swine flu -- most notably quarantines imposed by China, where entire planeloads of passengers were isolated if one traveler had symptoms -- have failed to contain the disease. China's Health Minister Chen Zhu defended his country's aggressive quarantine policy. 11/19/2009 4:36:30 AM
You want fries with that free Wi-Fi? A McDonald's in midtown Manhattan became the first in the U.S. this fall to undergo a sleek, European-style makeover similar to what McDonald's has done at thousands of outlets around in France and the United Kingdom. 11/19/2009 4:23:19 AM
Karzai back at helm, with a battered image As Hamid Karzai is again sworn in as Afghanistan’s president on Thursday, the mood about the man could hardly be more different. He steps back into office after a fraud-tainted election, to head a government that is steeped in corruption and apparently incapable of halting the Taliban insurgency. 11/18/2009 6:53:04 PM
Iran brushes aside U.N. nuclear deal Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday said his country would not export its enriched uranium for further processing, brushing aside the latest U.N. plan aimed at preventing Tehran from potentially building nuclear weapons. Instead Iran would consider a nuclear swap inside Iran as an alternative plan. 11/18/2009 6:49:02 PM
Police: Girl, 15, dug grave anticipating killing Blessed with a Friday off school, 15-year-old Alyssa Bustamante dug two holes in the ground to be used as a grave, authorities said. For the next week, she attended classes, all the while plotting the right time for a murder, they said. 11/18/2009 6:38:48 PM
Hijacked tanker's captain 'dies' The captain of a ship seized earlier this week off the Seychelles has died of gunshot wounds he suffered during the hijacking, Somali pirates say. They say the captain, whose name is not yet known, died on Tuesday. 11/18/2009 4:32:34 PM
Six arrested over woman left to die in London street Six men have been arrested over the killing of a woman who was found dying in a London street with one of her hands cut off. Mother-of-two Geeta Aulakh, 28, was attacked as she made her way to her childminder's home. The victim's estranged husband is among those arrested. 11/18/2009 10:03:07 AM
Gold hits record near $1,150 Gold rose to record highs above $1,150 an ounce on Wednesday as the dollar index languished, boosting interest in the metal as an alternative asset, after largely benign U.S. inflation data. The metal is likely to break through to further fresh highs. 11/18/2009 6:25:54 AM
Obama meets with half brother in China When President Barack Obama landed in Beijing on Monday on his first state visit to China, his first order of business was family business. Before he headed to a formal dinner with China's President Hu Jintao, he set aside time to see his half brother, Mark Ndesandjo, and Ndesandjo's wife. 11/18/2009 6:14:06 AM
Britain: Square Mile sex scandal heats up The headlines scream of a lurid sex scandal with London papers salivating as a normally staid employment tribunal hears tales of prostitutes, hitmen, strip clubs and inappropriate sexual advances. At the centre of the storm is Jordan Wimmer, 29. (She's from Toronto.) 11/18/2009 6:05:26 AM
McCain adviser: Palin’s book is fiction Former McCain campaign senior adviser Nicolle Wallace says Sarah Palin's book "Going Rogue" is "based on fabrications," and that the basis for Palin’s depictions of her and former McCain campaign director Steve Schmidt as villains "took place entirely in her imagination." 11/18/2009 5:57:27 AM
Afghan minister accused of taking $30 million bribe The Afghan minister of mines accepted a roughly $30 million bribe to award the country's largest development project to a Chinese mining firm, according to a U.S. official who is familiar with military intelligence reports. The allegation, if proved true, would mark one of the most brazen examples of corruption yet disclosed. 11/18/2009 5:48:15 AM
Poor women 'bear climate burden' Women in developing countries will be the most vulnerable to climate change, a report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned. The agency said there was a disproportionate burden on those women and called for greater equality. 11/18/2009 5:07:40 AM
Afghanistan slips in corruption index Afghanistan has slipped three places to become the world's second most-corrupt country despite billions in aid meant to bolster the government against a rising insurgency, according to an annual survey of perceived levels of corruption. 11/17/2009 2:35:42 PM
Costco stops carrying Coca-Cola products As shoppers continue to grapple with the recession, retailers want to win their favor by giving them low prices. But that has been creating tension between product makers like Coca-Cola Co., who are working hard to maintain profit margins while meeting retailer demands. 11/17/2009 2:30:58 PM
Crooked? You Betcha! Confessions of a credit card telemarketer "I hate flat-out lying to someone, but that's exactly what we do, 150 calls a day," said the telemarketer, who requested anonymity out of fear of losing his job. "I have seen so many people ripped off that I had to attempt to let people know." 11/17/2009 2:26:55 PM
Man killed wife 'during a dream' The trial of a husband accused of murdering his wife as they slept in a camper van has heard he killed her while he dreamt she was an intruder. Swansea Crown Court heard Brian Thomas, 59, accepts he killed her but says he has a sleep disorder. 11/17/2009 1:55:03 PM
International Corruption index ranks Canada 8th An international watchdog says Canada is tied for eighth place in a survey that examined levels of corruption in 180 countries. International watchdog Transparency International says war-ravaged Somalia remains the world's most corrupt country, followed by Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sudan. 11/17/2009 5:26:12 AM
Britain: Army tells its soldiers to 'bribe' the Taliban British forces should buy off potential Taleban recruits with “bags of gold”, according to a new army field manual published yesterday. Army commanders should also talk to insurgent leaders with “blood on their hands” in order to hasten the end of the conflict in Afghanistan. 11/17/2009 5:10:48 AM
Britain wants out of Afghanistan (Video) Gordon Brown plans to host talks in the new year to discuss timing for handing over the campaign in Afghanistan to the Afghan government. The prime minister said he wanted the Nato meeting to "set a timetable" for transfer starting in 2010. 11/16/2009 5:54:01 PM
On patrol in Mexico's most dangerous city (Video) *Video contains some disturbing images.
Mexico's Ciudad Juarez is one of the world's most dangerous cities, plagued by battles between drug gangs. A BBC team witnessed its violence at first hand on a police patrol, as Ian Sherwood reports. 11/16/2009 5:50:41 PM
U.S. says 14% of Americans short of food More than 49 Million Americans — one in seven — struggled to get enough to eat in 2008, the highest total in 14 years," the U.S. government said. Anti-hunger groups pointed to the huge increase from the preceding year when 36.2 million people had trouble getting enough food. 11/16/2009 5:37:08 PM
World's Oldest trees grow faster because of warming Bristlecone pines, the world's oldest trees and growing at high altitudes in the American West, have been undergoing a growth spurt since 1950. The tree rings of living and dead bristlecone pines show wider annual growth rings from the period between 1951 and 2000 than in the previous 3,700 years. 11/16/2009 4:45:31 PM
Most Americans say Palin not qualified to serve as President Fewer than three in 10 Americans think Sarah Palin is qualified to be president, according to a new national poll. But another woman tops that list: two-thirds of the public thinks that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's is qualified for the Oval Office. 11/16/2009 11:43:55 AM
US Militias: Patriots or extremists? Out in the woods, 30-minutes from the nearest city, the Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia meets for training once a month. Armed with a small arsenal of semi-automatic weapons, the question that crosses your mind at one of these exercises is: training for what? That depends on who you ask. 11/16/2009 11:37:04 AM
Three homeless men arrested on suspicion of cannibalism Russian police have arrested three homeless people suspected of eating a 25-year-old man they had butchered and selling other bits of the corpse to a local kebab house. Suspicions were raised when dismembered parts of a human body were found near a bus stop. 11/16/2009 11:06:17 AM
Greek police arrest helicopter jail-breaker A convicted murderer in Greece who made a dramatic prison escape by helicopter earlier this year was arrested near Athens on Monday, police said. Alket Rizaj and a bank robber were whisked out of the Korydallos prison in a helicopter last February. 11/16/2009 8:16:10 AM
Greedy: US Drug firms raise prices ahead of Health reform Even as drug makers promise to support Washington’s health care overhaul by shaving $8 billion a year off the nation’s drug costs after the legislation takes effect, the industry has been raising its prices at the fastest rate in years. 11/16/2009 8:11:31 AM
NASA preps shuttle for afternoon liftoff NASA is fuelling space shuttle Atlantis for its afternoon liftoff. Atlantis is scheduled to blast off Monday at 11:28 a.m. PT on a mission to stockpile the International Space Station with big spare parts. There's now a 70 per cent chance that the weather will co-operate. 11/16/2009 5:15:26 AM
Obama presses China on Web censorship, human rights U.S. President Barack Obama sat down with the Chinese leader Monday night, hours after he pointedly nudged his host country to stop censoring the Internet access, offering an animated defence of the tool that helped him win the White House — and suggesting Beijing need not fear a little criticism. 11/16/2009 5:09:56 AM
Greenpeace 'to put humans first' (Video) The new head of Greenpeace, South African Kumi Naidoo, has told the BBC he will make human life more of a priority for the environmental group. Mr Naidoo is the first African to head Greenpeace since it was founded in 1971. 11/16/2009 4:44:47 AM
Australia 'sorry' for child abuse Australian PM Kevin Rudd has apologised to the hundreds of thousands of people, some British migrants, who were abused or neglected in state care as children. "The truth is, this is an ugly story," Mr Rudd told Parliament House. The truth is great evil has been done." 11/15/2009 7:16:49 PM
Obama: Fort Hood shooter failings to be held to account U.S. government officials say Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the army psychiatrist charged with 13 counts of murder in the Fort Hood rampage, had surfaced in communications with an anti-American cleric in Yemen who was sympathetic to al Qaeda. (A setup? Or a failure by US Intelligence?) 11/15/2009 6:05:32 PM
Colombian cooking concocts dessert with passion fruit - and Viagra A Colombian cooking school has concocted a "love dessert" made with passion fruit - and Viagra. Student chefs at the state culinary school in Quindio province wouldn't give the complete ingredients but say it contains the active ingredient in Viagra. 11/15/2009 1:05:35 PM
World politicians have 'no guts' on Climate change Asia-Pacific leaders on Sunday buried hopes a key UN meeting next month would forge a binding pact to combat climate change, saying talks would drag on well past the Copenhagen meeting. Environmental group WWF said the leaders had "missed a great opportunity." 11/15/2009 12:18:33 PM
Protecting environment worth trillions to economy, UN report From improving food and water security to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the report says money invested in protecting the planet's forests and natural systems is the best long-term solution for both the economy and the environment. Canadians also stand to benefit from doing more. 11/15/2009 8:21:56 AM
Germans take on Wikipedia for naming punished killers TWO German men who murdered an actor in 1990 are suing Wikipedia, claiming its description of their crimes impinges on their privacy. The case pits the United States's first amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, against German privacy and criminal laws. 11/15/2009 7:25:23 AM
Britain's child migrants apology planned Gordon Brown is to apologise for the UK's role in sending thousands of its children to former colonies. Under the Child Migrants Programme - which ended just 40 years ago - poor children were sent to a "better life" in Australia, CANADA, and elsewhere. But many were abused and ended up in institutions. 11/15/2009 7:22:00 AM
Here's a little of that Sarah Palin Book NBC News has obtained an advanced copy of Sarah Palin's new book, "Going Rogue: An American Life" Below are some of the fascinating excerpts, thanks to the tireless efforts of the fine folks working the late shift. The excerpts are presented in order as they appear in the book. 11/15/2009 5:50:48 AM
US Shame: Gates blocks abuse photos release The US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has blocked the publication of further images of US soldiers abusing foreign detainees. The US administration filed a request with the Supreme Court preventing the release of the photos. The American Civil Liberties Union had sued for the release of 21 of the images. 11/15/2009 5:35:39 AM
Apec leaders drop climate target World leaders meeting in Singapore have said it will not be possible to reach a climate change deal ahead of next month's UN conference in Denmark. After a two-day Asia-Pacific summit, they vowed to work towards an "ambitious outcome" in Copenhagen. 11/15/2009 5:11:55 AM
Obama urges Burma to free Suu Kyi US President Barack Obama has urged Burma's prime minister to release the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr Obama delivered the message as he met leaders of the Asean grouping of south-east Asian nations in Singapore. 11/15/2009 4:31:17 AM
Mexican drug lord on Forbes most-powerful list A reputed Mexican drug lord with a $5 million reward on his head has been named to Forbes magazine's list of the most powerful people in the world. Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is believed to have shipped up to $19 billion in cocaine to the United States over the past eight years. 11/14/2009 3:36:42 PM
Britain: Health and safety snoops to enter family homes Health and safety inspectors are to be given unprecedented access to family homes to ensure that parents are protecting their children from household accidents. New guidance urges councils and other public sector bodies to “collect data” on parents. 11/14/2009 3:27:07 PM
France's love of rogues and rule breakers A prevailing view that laws are made to be broken means criminals are often very popular with the French public which, as Emma Jane Kirby reports, can make the police task all the more difficult. 11/14/2009 7:25:43 AM
Peru and Chile in 'spy' scandal A new diplomatic row has erupted between Peru and Chile after a Peruvian court ordered the arrest of two Chilean military officers over alleged spying. The court accused the officers of paying a Peruvian air force officer to reveal national secrets. 11/14/2009 7:05:18 AM
David Frum on Sarah's Choice A rising young governor from a state remote from America’s media is given a big national chance. That’s the story of Bill Clinton. As Sarah Palin planned her own comeback strategy, she could have learned a lot from it. Instead of attending to her job as Alaska governor, she quit halfway through her first term. 11/14/2009 5:40:52 AM
Hawaii plans to replenish sand at Waikiki Beach Hawaii officials are appealing to the state's tourism authority for funds to restore part of world-famous Waikiki Beach. The officials want to pump sand from a spot offshore to an area from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel to the Duke Kahanamoku statue. The sand there has been eroding over the years. 11/13/2009 7:34:42 PM
Balloon boy's parents plead guilty to hoax (Video) Richard Heene, the father of a six-year-old dubbed "balloon boy", has pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant in what authorities say was an elaborate hoax for publicity. His wife Mayumi also entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor. 11/13/2009 6:31:57 PM
U.S. arrests two Madoff computer programmers wo computer programmers designed codes to falsify thousands of fake trade blotters and phantom records for swindler Bernard Madoff and took hush money to help keep the massive fraud going, U.S. authorities said. "They have been charged for their roles in Madoff's epic fraud, and the investigation remains ongoing." 11/13/2009 5:53:04 PM
Evangelist Alamo gets 175 years for child sex abuse Evangelist Tony Alamo is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison after an Arkansas judge sentenced him to 175 years Friday on charges that included taking minors across state lines for sex, according to prosecutors. An indictment accused Alamo of transporting five girls across state lines for sex. 11/13/2009 5:20:46 PM
8 years later....'New York trial' for key 9/11 suspects Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be sent from Guantanamo Bay to New York for trial. He had been subjected to harsh interrogation techniques including water-boarding on multiple occasions since his capture - potentially rendering some evidence inadmissible. 11/13/2009 6:33:14 AM
Chinese schools collapse in snow (Video) In China, heavy snowfall has led to the deaths of 38 people in road accidents and collapsed buildings, state-run media have reported. The deaths included four pupils in schools that collapsed, Xinhua news agency quoted officials as saying. 11/13/2009 6:14:41 AM
Men charged in Danish plot probed for roles in Mumbai massacre The two North Americans of Pakistani origin accused of plotting to assassinate Danish journalists are being probed for involvement in a much more deadly conspiracy: Indian officials suspect they may also have scouted out targets for the terrorists. 11/13/2009 4:52:19 AM
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Vatican forced to defend itself over abuse cases
Iran attacks US over Afghanistan
3-D TVs coming this week to U.S.
New runaway Prius incident in New York State
Skydiver With Tangled Chute Survives 3,000-Foot Plunge
China, India endorse Copenhagen climate deal
