Michael Jackson ‘Opus’ Book Offers Rare Images Nate Giorgio, an artist who Michael Jackson relied on to illustrate him over the years, recalls the last time he saw the singer, just days before his death this summer. The pop icon wanted him to create dazzling murals of his children as well as artwork for his “This Is It” concerts, and Giorgio got out his pen during their talks. Nekesa Mumbi Moody, AP NEWS - 7 minutes ago
Pakistan’s Army Attacks Militants in Northwest Pakistan’s army killed 18 Islamist militants in a northwestern region Monday, part of an escalating campaign against insurgents intent on toppling the U.S.-allied government. Hussain Afzal, AP NEWS - 13 minutes ago
Sri Lanka President Calls for Early Election Sri Lanka’s president signed a decree Monday calling for early elections, hoping to take advantage of his popularity after ending the country’s 25-year civil war to win a new six-year term. Bharatha Mallwarachi, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
Murky Ocean Depths Hide Abundance of Life Thousands of animal species thrive in the ocean depths beyond the reach of sunlight, between 200 to 5,000 meters below the surface, an international team of scientists has reported after nearly 10 years of research. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 16 minutes ago
To Millions, Oprah’s Not a Megastar, Just a BFF Like any wife who knows her husband well, Nancy Martus knows what will annoy her man. Like when she utters the phrase, “Oprah says...” Jocelyn Noveck, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
Home Sales Likely Rose Again in October Home resales for October are projected to rise to the highest level in more than two years as first-time buyers, anticipating that a tax credit would soon expire, rushed to beat the clock. Alan Zibel, AP NEWS - 22 minutes ago
TV Retailer QVC Joins ‘Black Friday’ Frenzy Television retailer QVC has made aggressive plans to keep shoppers watching — instead of mall-hopping — on Black Friday, an event it has traditionally ignored. David Bauder, AP NEWS - 22 minutes ago
Woman Found 25 Hours After Indonesia 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 off Indonesia’s Sumatra island. At least 29 people drowned and 20 others were missing. Niniek Karmini, AP NEWS - 26 minutes ago
Medical Marijuana Finds Social Outlet in Ore. Cafe At the newly opened Cannabis Cafe, people sit around taking tokes from a “vaporizer” — a contraption with a big plastic bag that captures the potent vapors of heated marijuana. Glass jars hold donations of dried, milky-green weed, and the cafe serves up meals and snacks for the hungry. William McCall, AP NEWS - 28 minutes ago
Trial of Khmer Rouge Prison Chief in Final Stage Closing arguments began Monday in the genocide trial of a Khmer Rouge prison chief, with the prosecution accusing Kaing Guek Eav of having pursued his role with zeal despite his expressions of remorse for atrocities. Sopheng Cheang, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Stock Futures Point to Higher Opening Stock futures are pointing to a higher opening Monday as investors try to snap a three-day losing streak. Stephen Bernard, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
Oil Rises Above $78 Amid Iranian War Games Oil prices rose above $78 a barrel Monday as Iran’s war games, aimed at protecting its nuclear plants, deepened tensions in the oil-rich region. Barry Hatton, AP NEWS - 36 minutes ago
‘New Moon’ Wolfs Down $140.7M in Opening Weekend The vampire romance “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” sucked up $140.7 million in its first three days and pulled in a total of $258.8 million worldwide, according to studio estimates Sunday. David Germain, AP NEWS - 38 minutes ago
Gaps for Consumers in Democrat Health Care Bills For consumers, the health care bills taking final shape in Congress don’t rate close to a perfect 10. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, AP NEWS - 40 minutes ago
Miners' Families Want Answers in China Mine Blast Grieving family members demanded answers Monday from mining officials about the underground gas explosion that left at least 104 men dead in northeastern China. Cara Anna, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
World Markets Rally as Gold Hits New Record High World markets rose sharply Monday amid further hopeful signs about the economic recovery. Commodity stocks led the charge, particularly in London, after gold hit another record high amid renewed dollar weakness. Pan Pylas, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
Kennedy Dispute Reveals Divide Among Catholics A bitter dispute over abortion that prompted Rhode Island’s Roman Catholic bishop to ask Rep. Patrick Kennedy not to receive Holy Communion has revealed the depth of the divide among Catholics over how politicians should reconcile their faith with their public duties. Ray Henry, AP NEWS - 44 minutes ago
FBI Wants Public’s Help in Civil Rights Killings Over the last three years, the FBI scoured faded documents, interviewed aging lawmen and tracked down witnesses from killings that occurred decades ago, many of them involving white police officers who shot black men or teenagers. Shelia Byrd, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
Sizing Up the Kennedy Dynasty’s Next Generation Sen. Edward M. Kennedy will be a tough act to follow, even for the Kennedys. His death, coupled with the decision by family members not to seek the seat he held for nearly five decades, has prompted predictions that the family’s long-running political dynasty is over. Andrew Miga, AP NEWS - 46 minutes ago
Indian PM to Be Feted by Obama at State Visit India has watched with wariness as President Barack Obama’s administration has lavished attention on rivals Pakistan and China. Now, Obama is trying to ease Indian worries by honoring Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the first state visit of his presidency. Foster Klug, AP NEWS - 48 minutes ago
Study: Kids Watching Hours of TV at Home Daycare Parents who thought their preschoolers were spending time in home-based day cares, taking naps, eating healthy snacks and learning to play nicely with others may be surprised to discover they are sitting as many as two hours a day in front of a TV, according to a study published Monday. Donna Gordon Blankinship, AP NEWS - 49 minutes ago
Heritage Oil to Sell Ugandan Fields to Italy’s Eni British oil exploration company Heritage Oil PLC said Monday it has agreed to sell its stakes in two Ugandan fields to Italy’s Eni SpA for up to $1.5 billion. Staff, AP NEWS - 50 minutes ago
Speedboat’s Flying Crash An Australian couple competing in a speedboat race in Temora Australia escape a spectacular accident without injury. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 55 minutes ago
Germany Warns Fellow EU Gov'ts Against GM Jobs Aid Germany warned fellow European governments on Monday against offering financial aid to General Motors Europe in exchange for job guarantees, hours ahead of a meeting in Brussels to discuss the future of the company. Staff, AP NEWS - 56 minutes ago
French Ship Russia Wants to Buy in St Petersburg A French amphibious assault ship like the one Russia hopes to buy arrived Monday in St. Petersburg, fueling concern in Georgia and other ex-Soviet nations that Russia is upgrading its navy to intimidate its neighbors. Irina Titova, AP NEWS - 63 minutes ago
Program to Help Truckers Attracts Drug Smugglers A U.S. program that offers trusted trucking companies speedy passage across American borders has begun attracting just the sort of customers who place a premium on avoiding inspections: Mexican drug smugglers. Christopher Sherman, AP NEWS - 63 minutes ago
Germany’s Merck Will Expand R&D in China German drugmaker Merck KGaA said Monday the company plans to invest euro150 million ($225 million) in a global research and development center in Beijing for its Serono drugs division. Staff, AP FEATURES - 64 minutes ago
Khmer Rouge Jail Chief Accused of Crocodile Tears Lawyers for Khmer Rouge victims Monday accused the regime’s jailer of duping Cambodia’s war crimes court with “crocodile tears” as he faces final arguments over “Killing Fields” atrocities. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 76 minutes ago
Philippines Gunmen Kill 21 in Hostage Crisis Twenty-one people who were among a group of local politicians and journalists abducted in the southern Philippines on Monday have been found dead, the region’s military chief said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 76 minutes ago
Indonesian Ferry Captain Rejects Overcrowding Claims The captain of an Indonesian ferry which sank killing 29 people rejected claims of overcrowding Monday and blamed a freak storm for the disaster, as officials launched an investigation. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 76 minutes ago
At Least 21 Dead in Philippine ‘Political Massacre’ At least 21 people among a group of local politicians and journalists were killed in the southern Philippines on Monday shortly after being abducted, the military said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 76 minutes ago
IMF Head Says World Economy ‘Highly Vulnerable’ The head of the IMF Dominique Strauss-Kahn said here on Monday that although the worst of the global financial storm had passed, the world economy remains “highly vulnerable.” Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 76 minutes ago
EADS Executives Testify in Insider Trading Case France’s financial watchdog began hearings on Monday into insider trading allegations against more than a dozen current and former executives of European aerospace giant EADS. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 76 minutes ago
Jordan Quits I’m a Celebrity Glamour model Katie Price has walked out of “I’m a Celebrity.. ” after the public voted for her to perform yet another ‘bushtucker’ trial, ITV said on Monday. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 76 minutes ago
X-Factor Dream Ends as Jedward Voted off The ‘Jedward’ twins were on Sunday voted off the X-Factor, prompting a sigh of relief from bookmakers across the country. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 76 minutes ago
Taiwan Export Orders See First Rise in 13 Months Taiwan said Monday that export orders last month posted their first year-on-year hike in 13 months as demand for high-tech products picked up amid a global economic recovery. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 76 minutes ago
Japan, China, S.Korea Sign Food Safety Memorandum Health ministers from Japan, China and South Korea agreed Monday to step up efforts to ensure food safety following concerns over pesticide-tainted Chinese-made dumplings. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 76 minutes ago
Chinese Critic on Quake Response Gets 3 Years A Chinese dissident was sentenced Monday to three years in prison after criticizing the government’s response to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that killed about 90,000 people. Staff, AP NEWS - 76 minutes ago
21 Filipinos Killed on Way to File Election Papers Philippine troops found 21 bodies in the country’s restive south after dozens of gunmen on Monday hijacked a convoy of politicians and supporters filing their nominations for next year’s elections, officials said. Jim Gomez, AP NEWS - 77 minutes ago
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