news

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  Obama asks House to vote on health care bill

  President Barack Obama summoned Democrats to "answer the call of history" Saturday as the House pushed toward a vote on a landmark health care bill holding out the promise of coverage for tens of millions who lack it.

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  Suspect told 'There's something wrong with you'

  There was the classroom presentation that justified suicide bombings. Comments to colleagues about a climate of persecution faced by Muslims in the military. Conversations with a mosque leader that became incoherent.

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  Officer describes firefight that downed Hasan

  One of two police officers who confronted the alleged Fort Hood killer says he shot Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan before kicking the man's weapon away, handcuffing him and ending the nation's worst killing spree on a military base.

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  Afghan ministry: NATO strike kills Afghan forces

  U.S. and Afghan authorities investigated Saturday whether a botched NATO airstrike was to blame for the death of Afghan soldiers and police during a search for two American paratroopers missing in a Taliban-infested area of the country's west.

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  Alleged Ohio serial killer rare among mass killers

  Authorities say Anthony Sowell lured women into his home in a busy neighborhood, killed them — most by strangulation — and scattered their remains throughout the inside and buried some in the backyard.

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  Navy ship built with WTC steel goes into service

  The USS New York, built with steel from the rubble of the World Trade Center, was put into service Saturday both as a symbol of healing and strength.

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  High court to look at life in prison for juveniles

  Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack.

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  Jobless: 10 percent is tougher than it used to be

  It hurts more to be unemployed now than the last time the jobless rate hit 10 percent.

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  Police: LA celebrity burglaries led by 19-year-old

  A 19-year-old woman was the driving force behind a youthful burglary ring that preyed on Hollywood's rich and famous, often brazenly walking into unlocked homes to make off with cash, jewels and family heirlooms, authorities said.

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  N'western knocks out QB, upsets No. 8 Iowa 17-10

  No. 8 Iowa finally ran out of time.

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  Obama makes pitch for House healthcare votes

  President Barack Obama urged Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a broad healthcare reform bill on Saturday as they prepared for a close vote on the biggest changes in health policy in four decades.

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  Obamas to attend Fort Hood memorial Tuesday

  President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, will attend a memorial service in Fort Hood, Texas, on Tuesday for victims of a mass shooting.

• Afghans killed during search for missing U.S. troops

  NATO forces mistakenly killed seven Afghan soldiers and police in an air strike during a battle while searching for two missing American soldiers in Afghanistan, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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  UK floats bank levy

  Britain pressed the G20 on Saturday to come up with a plan to make banks pay for any future bailouts but one idea of imposing a global financial transactions tax was immediately shot down by the United States.

• Iran says over 100 people detained at anti-U.S. rally

  Iranian police detained more than 100 people for "disturbing public order" during a rally this week to mark the anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. embassy, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

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  Honduran rivals signal new bid to solve crisis

  Honduras' ousted president and de facto leader gave signs they would try again on Saturday to form a unity government to guide the country out of a four-month crisis after the process collapsed a day earlier.

• Storm Ida revives, churns toward Gulf of Mexico

  Tropical Storm Ida regained strength off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Saturday and spun north toward the Gulf of Mexico, where it could again become a hurricane.

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  Laid-off Orlando engineer kills one, wounds five

  An ex-employee of an engineering consulting firm who was laid off in 2007 opened fire at his former workplace in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, killing one person and wounding five others, police said.

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  U.S. Army gunman's act "impossible": grandfather

  The grandfather of a U.S. Army psychiatrist accused of shooting dead 13 people and wounding 30 others at a base in Texas said on Saturday he found it impossible to believe his grandson had committed the act.

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  Afghanistan hits back at U.N. and foreign criticism

  Afghanistan accused the United Nations on Saturday of intervening in the formation of President Hamid Karzai's next cabinet, less than a week into his new term.

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• Governor: Talks in transit strike have broken off

  Gov. Ed Rendell says a negotiations in Philadelphia's transit strike have broken off.

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  Brother: Shooting suspect is a peaceful person

  A brother of the man authorities say went on a shooting spree at Fort Hood says the Army psychiatrist is peaceful person — and hopes he will be treated fairly by the legal system.

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  Alleged Ohio serial killer rare among mass killers

  Authorities say Anthony Sowell lured women into his home in a busy neighborhood, killed them — most by strangulation — and scattered their remains throughout the inside and buried some in the backyard.

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  Fort victims had different reasons for enlisting

  The 13 people killed when an Army psychiatrist allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, a father of three with ties to Laos whose family had a history of military service, a civilian who had returned to work a week after suffering a heart attack, and a psychiatric nurse who arrved at Fort Hood a day before the shootingHere is a look at some of the victims.

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  Suspect told 'There's something wrong with you'

  There was the classroom presentation that justified suicide bombings. Comments to colleagues about a climate of persecution faced by Muslims in the military. Conversations with a mosque leader that became incoherent.

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  Perry says he's humbled after visiting wounded

  Texas governor Rick Perry has visited with wounded victims from the Fort Hood shooting.

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  Navy ship built with WTC steel goes into service

  The USS New York, built with steel from the rubble of the World Trade Center, was put into Navy service Saturday both as a symbol of healing and strength.

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  Obama asks House to vote on health care bill

  President Barack Obama summoned Democrats to "answer the call of history" Saturday as the House pushed toward a vote on a landmark health care bill holding out the promise of coverage for tens of millions who lack it.

• Amendment blocks federal funding for abortions

  A bipartisan coalition sought to impose stricter abortion limits on insurance sold under a new health care bill Saturday, hoping to leave their imprint on legislation otherwise crafted largely by more liberal lawmakers.

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  Some fear backlash against Muslims in US military

  Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's family says he confided in them that he felt harassed as a Muslim in the U.S. military — and wasn't treated as an American and soldier should be.

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  Ida hurricane watch for Mexico's Caribbean coast

  Officials readied storm shelters along Mexico's Caribbean coast Saturday and told fishermen and tour operators to pull in their boats amid warnings that Tropical Storm Ida could become a hurricane as it neared the resort city of Cancun.

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  Giant dominoes form tribute to Berlin Wall's fall

  Massive colorful dominoes painted by German students were placed Saturday along the former path of the Berlin Wall to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the barrier that divided the city for nearly three decades.

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  G-20 finance officials: Too early to end stimulus

  Finance officials from rich and developing countries pledged Saturday to maintain emergency support for their economies until recovery is assured, but failed to reach a clear agreement to bear the cost of fighting climate change.

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  Afghan ministry: NATO strike kills Afghan forces

  U.S. and Afghan authorities investigated Saturday whether a botched NATO airstrike was to blame for the death of Afghan soldiers and police during a search for two American paratroopers missing in a Taliban-infested area of the country's west.

• Medvedev: Arms control deal with US can be reached

  Russia and the United States have a good chance of reaching a new nuclear arms reduction deal before year's end, but other nuclear powers must join disarmament efforts, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in remarks released Saturday.

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  Afghanistan hits back at U.N. and foreign criticism

  Afghanistan accused the United Nations on Saturday of intervening in the formation of President Hamid Karzai's next cabinet, less than a week into his new term.

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  Honduran rivals signal new bid to solve crisis

  Honduras' ousted president and de facto leader gave signs they would try again on Saturday to form a unity government to guide the country out of a four-month crisis after the process collapsed a day earlier.

• Afghans killed during search for missing U.S. troops

  NATO forces mistakenly killed seven Afghan soldiers and police in an air strike during a battle while searching for two missing American soldiers in Afghanistan, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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  Study shows high cost of German reunification: report

  As Germany prepares to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a new study shows that some 1.3 trillion euros ($1.9 trillion) have been transferred from the west to rebuild the east, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

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  Lebanon's Hariri set to form government with Hezbollah

  Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri will announce a new national unity government to include Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah in the next few days, politicians said on Saturday.

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  Obama asks House to vote on health care bill

  President Barack Obama summoned Democrats to "answer the call of history" Saturday as the House pushed toward a vote on a landmark health care bill holding out the promise of coverage for tens of millions who lack it.

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  Iran, North Korea top Clinton's overseas agenda

  Nuclear impasses with Iran and North Korea are the dominant issues for Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on her trip to Europe and Asia, which begins with a stopover in Germany to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall.

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  Obama arrival in Tokyo delayed by a day

  President Barack Obama is attending a memorial service at Fort Hood on Tuesday and now won't get to his planned first stop in Asia next week until one day later than expected.

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  Shortage of military therapists creates strain

  Amputations. Combat stress. Divorce. Suicide. For troubled service members, military therapists are at their sides.

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  2010 elections: Democratic fears, Republican hopes

  Oh, how the tables have turned. Nervous Democrats are on defense and emboldened Republicans sense opportunity heading into 2010 and the midterm elections. It was just three years ago that the GOP lost the House and Senate as well as governors' races in a cross-country Democratic wave.

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  Obama makes pitch for House healthcare votes

  President Barack Obama urged Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a broad healthcare reform bill on Saturday as they prepared for a close vote on the biggest changes in health policy in four decades.

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  U.S. OKs two more import probes versus China

  A U.S. trade panel on Friday approved two new investigations into charges of unfair trade practices by China, but rejected another one week ahead of President Barack Obama's trip to Asia.

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  Obama weighs steps to spur jobs, wary on deficit

  U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday listed a range of fresh options being considered by the White House to spur growth after "sobering" news that unemployment spiked to a 26 1/2-year peak last month.

• Obama will push economic rebalancing on China trip

  U.S. President Barack Obama will seek to reinforce the U.S. desire for more balanced global growth during his trip to Asia this month, administration officials said on Friday.

• Obama administration would talk to North Korea: aide

  The Obama administration would be willing to hold bilateral talks with North Korea but only if certain conditions were met, the president's top adviser on Asia said on Friday.

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  Alaska island village hit by suspected swine flu

  Suspected swine flu is sweeping a traditional Eskimo whaling village on a remote Alaska island — prompting an urgent medical mission to deliver help.

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  In Europe, most swine flu shots by invitation only

  In Britain, there are no long lines of people seeking swine flu vaccine. Doctor's offices aren't swamped with desperate calls. And there are no cries of injustice that the vaccine is going to wealthy corporations or healthy people who don't really need it.

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  Poll: One-third able to get swine flu vaccine

  Only about a third of adults who have tried to get a swine flu vaccine have been able to get it, according to a new national poll released Friday.

• FDA warns Web companies not to sell flavored cigs

  The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it has warned several companies to stop selling banned flavored cigarettes to U.S. consumers online.

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  Goldman Sachs, Citigroup got swine flu vaccine

  Some of New York's biggest companies, including Wall Street giants Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, received doses of swine flu vaccine for at-risk employees, drawing criticism that the hard-to-find vaccine is going first to the privileged.

• New gene therapy halts 2 boys' rare brain disease

  French scientists mixed gene therapy and bone marrow transplants in two boys to seemingly halt a brain disease that can kill by adolescence. The surprise ingredient: They disabled the HIV virus so it couldn't cause AIDS, and then used it to carry in the healthy new gene.

• WHO: Swine flu virus is top strain worldwide

  The World Health Organization's flu chief said the swine flu virus has now become the predominant flu strain worldwide.

• Old method of heart bypass better than 'off-pump'

  It seemed like a great idea — doing bypass surgery while the heart is still beating, sparing patients the complications that can come from going on a heart-lung machine. Now the first big test of this method has produced a surprise: Bypass has fewer problems and is more successful done the old way.

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  Medical aid group raises alarm about AIDS funding

  The global recession and pressure to divert funds to other health crises are hurting the fight against AIDS, a medical group warned Thursday, with one health worker saying he feared a return to the days when the AIDS virus was a death sentence in Africa.

• Family doctors group loses members over Coke deal

  Advice about soft drinks and health from one of the nation's largest doctors groups will soon be brought to you by Coke.

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  Seattle team wins $900,000 in Space Elevator Games

  A Seattle team has collected a $900,000 prize in a NASA-backed competition to develop the concept of an elevator to space — an idea spurred by science fiction novels.

• Prized mushroom collection returns to China

  A Chinese scholar persecuted during the Cultural Revolution for smuggling a rare collection of mushrooms out of China before World War II was honored Saturday when the collection was returned more than 70 years later.

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  Sea lions killed, but Columbia salmon toll rises

  Killing or removing 25 California sea lions over the past two years has not reduced the toll on salmon at the base of Bonneville Dam in the Columbia River.

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  Genetic tests for UK asylum seekers draw criticism

  Britain is using genetic tests on some African asylum seekers in an effort to catch those who are lying about their nationality, drawing criticism from scientists and provoking outrage from rights groups.

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  World leaders needed at talks to cut climate deal

  After two years of tough U.N. climate talks often pitting the world's rich against the poor, negotiators said Friday a new global agreement now rides on industrial nations pledging profound emissions cuts next month in Copenhagen.

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  Another reason to cover your cough: pets at risk

  People who think they may have H1N1 flu need to stay away from work, avoid sneezing on their spouses and children and now, they have someone else to worry about infecting too -- their pets.

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  Canada to investigate disappearing Pacific salmon

  Canada will launch an investigation into why far fewer sockeye salmon than scientists had predicted returned to the Fraser River on the Pacific Coast this summer.

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  Hu says China seeks peaceful use of airspace

  China supports the peaceful exploration and use of space, President Hu Jintao said on Friday, days after its top air force officials sparked concerns with talk of a "Great Wall of steel in the blue sky."

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  WHO says pandemic flu on rise in China, Japan

  H1N1 swine flu is on the rise in China and Japan after triggering an unusually early start to the winter influenza season in Europe, Central Asia and North America, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

• Company sequences whole human genome for $1,700

  Want to know your entire DNA sequence? A California company has done it for as little as $1,700.

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• Fla. police: Graffiti artist left work incomplete

  Police in Florida say a graffiti artist who apparently ran out of paint midway through a spray-painted creation left a note to potential critics to explain the unfinished work.

• Authorities say man stole car to face theft charge

  The California Highway Patrol say a man stole a car to make a court appearance on a previous auto theft charge.

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  SKorean woman passes driver's exam on 950th try

  A woman in South Korea who tried to pass the written exam for a driver's license with near-daily attempts since April 2005 has finally succeeded on her 950th time. The aspiring driver spent more than 5 million won ($4,200) in application fees, but until now had failed to score the minimum 60 out ofa possible 100 points needed to get behind the wheel for a driving test.

• Oregon man charged with DUI after 911 call

  Oregon police have charged a man with drunken driving after he called 911 to report his marijuana as stolen but the dispatcher couldn't understand him because he was vomiting while on the road.

• NZ lawmaker sculpted in cow manure

  A sculpture of a New Zealand government minister crafted from cow manure sold for New Zealand dollars 3,080 ($2,220) on an auction Web site. The bust of New Zealand Environment Minister Nick Smith, sculpted as a protest by artist Sam Mahon, attracted 112 bids before being picked up by an anonymous uyer on Friday.

• Pa. prostitution case tossed over gov't-funded sex

  An appeals court has ruled Pennsylvania State Police botched a prostitution investigation in which troopers gave an informant money to pay for sex four times at a massage parlor, along with a total of $180 for the man's trouble.

• Sleepwalker beaten after men find him in apartment

  Charges have been filed against three men accused of beating a man who sleepwalks after they found him asleep in one of the men's apartment. Iowa City Police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said the 21-year-old victim who was not identified, suffered injuries over most of his body. Kelsay said the man's injuries did not appear to require hospitalization, but the victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatme...

• Developer: Proposed wind farm site is too windy

  A wind-power company says a western Maine site it's been looking at is too windy for turbines. First Wind's Matthew Kearns told a public meeting in Rumford on Thursday that its proposed Longfellow wind farm on Black Mountain and North and South Twin mountains may not be viable.

• Wyoming hunter bags deer, then hungry lion

  Retired orthopedic surgeon Chris Smith thought his hunt was over when he bagged a white tail deer with a bow and arrow near Sheridan. Because the light was fading, he decided to return the next day to recover the deer. But when he returned Wednesday morning, the carcass had been covered by grass an bush — which is what mountain lions typically do.

• Miss. gov's son scores 2 holes-in-one in one round

  A single hole-in-one is a big enough dream for most golfers. But two in one round? That's some luck. Reeves Barbour, the 30-year-old son of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, had two aces in a single round Oct. 25 on a Robert Trent Jones course in Gainesville, Va.

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  Software cos. eye key patent case in Supreme Court

  With the technology industry looking on, the Supreme Court on Monday will explore what types of inventions should be eligible for a patent in a pivotal case that could undermine such legal protections for software.

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  New `Call of Duty' could set entertainment record

  This holiday season's biggest entertainment blockbuster likely will be a sequel to a popular franchise, with jarring depictions of war and an intricate story of good versus evil. It could easily rake in more than last year's record $155 million opening weekend for "The Dark Knight."

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  Deja vu: Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target in DVD price war

  First it was books. Now it's DVDs.

• EBay settles lawsuit filed by Skype founders

  EBay Inc. has settled a legal skirmish with the founders of Skype that threatened to complicate eBay's plans to sell most of the Internet phone service to a group of investors for $2 billion.

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  Review: Motorola's Droid is a serious smart phone

  Since its debut in 2007, millions of people have gravitated toward Apple's iPhone, wooed by its sleek hardware, simple user interface and abundance of applications.

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  Activision posts 3Q profit, backs 2009 outlook

  It's been a rough year for the video game industry, but Activision Blizzard Inc. reported a profit for its third quarter because of lower costs and a good response for games such as "Guitar Hero 5" and "World of Warcraft."

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  No Doubt sues video game maker over 'Band Hero'

  No Doubt has sued video game maker Activision for putting words in band members' mouths.

• Google providing better view of personal data

  Google is offering a new privacy control that will make it easier for people to see some of the information being collected about them.

• EU agrees on new Internet user rights

  EU lawmakers and governments agreed on new rights for Internet users Thursday, aiming to protect them from arbitrary crackdowns on those who illegally download music and movies on the Internet.

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  Microsoft lays off 800 more workers worldwide

  Microsoft Corp. says it is cutting 800 more jobs. That's in addition to the 5,000 layoffs it announced in January.

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  Northwestern upsets No. 8 Iowa 17-10

  With Ricky Stanzi watching from the sideline on crutches, No. 8 Iowa ran out of magic.

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  Navy upset Irish for 2nd time in 3 years, 23-21

  Navy did it to Notre Dame again — and this loss to the Midshipmen is even more costly.

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  Purdue wins at Michigan 38-36, 1st time since 1966

  Joey Elliott did what no Purdue quarterback since Bob Griese had done at Michigan Stadium.

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  Mickelson takes lead over Woods, Watney at HSBC

  Phil Mickelson was unwinding from a day of high energy and quick turnarounds, one that took him from a two-shot deficit against Tiger Woods to a two-shot lead over the final eight holes Saturday in the HSBC Champions.

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  Dancing in Silks pulls shocker in BC Sprint

  Dancing in Silks has pulled off a huge upset in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint, winning a four-horse photo finish by a nose.

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  Zero Cup wins for Edwards after 9 last year

  Carl Edwards has found a way to try to mask the frustration of his winless NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

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  Shipley's big day leads No. 2 Texas, 35-3

  At the end of his big day, a group of Texas fans were chanting Jordan Shipley's name when he was pushed out of a group of Longhorns players, flashed a quick "Hook'em Horns" salute and jumped back into the pack.

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  NASCAR trifecta in reach for Kyle Bush at Texas

  Kyle Busch keeps extending streaks at Texas in search of a NASCAR first.

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