Wary Consumers, Rising Unemployment Snag Recovery The economy is not growing as fast as the government first thought and the recovery still faces significant obstacles, including households nervous about spending and rising unemployment. Martin Crutsinger, AP NEWS - 2 minutes ago
Panel 1st Up in SC Gov. Sanford Impeachment Debate Gov. Mark Sanford’s tearful confession that he quietly disappeared from the state for five days to rendezvous with his lover in Argentina has shattered his marriage and dimmed his once-bright political future. Jim Davenport, AP NEWS - 6 minutes ago
Authorities: Hanged Ky. Census Worker Killed Self When an eastern Kentucky census worker was found naked, bound with duct tape and hanging from a tree with “fed” scrawled on his chest, suspicion fell on the hardscrabble Appalachian area where bad news seems like a way of life. Bruce Schreiner and Roger Alford, AP FEATURES - 7 minutes ago
Iran’s Leader Makes Inroads in Latin America Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won support for his country’s nuclear ambitions and expanded his reach in Latin America in a three-country goodwill tour that took him to close ally Venezuela for his final stop. Ian James, AP NEWS - 8 minutes ago
Kandahar Is Key City in Afghan War A wedding was called off because international troops killed the groom. A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a police patrol. An old woman was beaten by the Taliban after she tried to stop them from taking her son. Kathy Gannon, AP NEWS - 9 minutes ago
Soul-Searching Debates on the French Identity The Great Debate gets under way Wednesday, led off with a grand question: “For you, what does it mean to be French?” Elaine Ganley, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Rights Group Rejects Saudi Witchcraft Charges An international human rights group has urged a Saudi court to overturn a death sentence imposed on a Lebanese man convicted of practicing witchcraft. Staff, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
UK: NATO to Offer 5,000 Troops for Afghanistan British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says 10 NATO nations are ready to offer about 5,000 more troops for the war in Afghanistan. Staff, AP NEWS - 13 minutes ago
Shuttle Atlantis Leaves Space Station, Headed Home Shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station early Wednesday, headed home with one astronaut eager to hold his newborn daughter for the first time and another who’s been away from her young son since the summer. Marcia Dunn, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
Obama Expects Support for More Afghanistan Troops President Barack Obama expects Americans to support sending tens of thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan once they understand the perils of losing, and he is preparing to make his case to the nation next week. Anne Gearan, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
AP NewsBreak: Toyota to Replace 3.8M Gas Pedals Toyota Motor Corp. will replace gas pedals on 3.8 million recalled vehicles in the United States to address problems with sudden acceleration or the pedal becoming stuck in the floor mat, The Associated Press has learned. Ken Thomas, AP NEWS - 28 minutes ago
Khmer Rouge Jailer Says Sorry The Khmer Rouge’s chief torturer and jailer in Cambodia in the 1970s expresses “excruciating remorse” in the final stages of his trial before the U.N.-backed “Killing Fields” tribunal. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 29 minutes ago
Israel Team Visits Gulf State of Oman Top Israeli diplomats have made a rare visit to the Persian Gulf state of Oman this week to discuss Middle East peace efforts, said a senior Omani official Wednesday. Saeed El-Nahdy, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Julie Andrews Announces London Concert Julie Andrews is to perform in London, 30 years after her last appearance on the British stage. Staff, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
Beijing Autos Says Will Reevaluate Saab Bid The Chinese automaker that had joined with Koenigsegg Automotive AB in bidding to buy Saab said Wednesday it regrets the Swedish luxury sports car maker’s decision to drop the deal and will reconsider its own stance. Staff, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
Pakistan Charges 7 Suspects in Mumbai Attacks Pakistani prosecutors charged seven men on Wednesday with planning and helping execute last year’s Mumbai terror attacks. Asif Shahzad, AP NEWS - 36 minutes ago
GM Says Main Plant in Germany Crucial to Its Plans General Motors Co.’s top European official underlined the future importance of Opel’s biggest German plant on Wednesday, while reiterating that there likely will be up to 9,500 jobs cut across the continent. Staff, AP NEWS - 37 minutes ago
LSE First-Half Net Profit Drops 40 Percent The London Stock Exchange PLC posted a 40 percent drop in first-half earnings on Wednesday on the back of lower trading and warned that market conditions remain uncertain. Staff, AP NEWS - 40 minutes ago
Americans Searching for Cheaper Thanksgiving Trips The Miles family is changing it up this year in the annual American race to make it to the table for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of booking plane tickets, they opted to take the 1,100-mile trip by train. Michael Tarm, AP NEWS - 44 minutes ago
Quotations of the Day “I feel very confident that when the American people hear a clear rationale for what we’re doing there and how we intend to achieve our goals, that they will be supportive.” — President Barack Obama speaking at a White House news conference after announcing he was ready to spell out war plans virtually sure to include tens of thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Staff, AP FEATURES - 47 minutes ago
Report: Congo Massacre Witnesses Were Threatened A senior investigator says witnesses testifying against two Congolese warlords at the International Criminal Court have been threatened and the court does not have the resources to fully protect them. Staff, AP NEWS - 49 minutes ago
Obama, Singh Boost Hopes of Climate Deal US President Barack Obama sought to boost hopes of a landmark deal at the Copenhagen climate summit, as a new report showed the crisis facing the planet is deeper than previously thought. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 51 minutes ago
French Bid for Emirates Nuclear Plant at Risk: Report A French attempt to win a 41-billion-dollar (27.2-billion-euro) contract to build nuclear power stations in the Emirates is at risk over pricing, the La Tribune newspaper reported on Wednesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 51 minutes ago
Hamas to Issue Permits for Palestinians Leaving Gaza The Hamas-run government in Gaza said on Wednesday it would begin requiring all Palestinians wishing to enter Israel from the besieged territory to obtain permits three days in advance. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 51 minutes ago
Millions Begin Hajj Amid Swine Flu Fears The world’s largest annual religious pilgrimage began on Wednesday but was overshadowed by the swine flu pandemic as 2.5 million Muslims massed at the holy city of Mecca for the hajj. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 51 minutes ago
Yemen Closes Iran Hospital, Clinic in Sanaa Yemen said on Wednesday it has ordered the closure of the Iranian hospital and clinic in Sanaa due to what it said was Iran’s support of the facilities and lack of transparency in their accounts. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 51 minutes ago
Pakistan Court ‘Indicts Seven Over Mumbai Attacks’ A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Wednesday indicted seven suspects over last year’s Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and all those in the dock pleaded not guilty, a defence lawyer said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 51 minutes ago
Khmer Rouge Prison Chief Faces 40 Years in Jail Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded a 40-year jail term for Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch, as he expressed “excruciating remorse” for the deaths of 15,000 Cambodians at his brutal torture centre. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 51 minutes ago
British Economy Shrinks, But Edges Towards Recovery Britain’s recession-hit economy shrank officially by 0.3 percent in the third quarter but this was better than initial data had shown and was welcomed by economists. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 52 minutes ago
India Electric Car Pioneer Plans Biggest Plug-in Plant Chetan Maini, the engineer who pioneered India’s first electric car, had his eureka moment two decades ago when he drove a vehicle fuelled by solar power across the blazing Australian outback. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 52 minutes ago
Banks Win High Court Appeal Over Charges High Street banks on Wednesday won a landmark High Court appeal saving them from paying out more than a billion pounds in compensation for fees charged for unauthorised overdrafts. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 52 minutes ago
BAIC to ‘Reassess’ Options After Saab Bid Fails China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Holding (BAIC) told state media Wednesday it will “reassess” its options after a plan to buy Swedish carmaker Saab collapsed, but gave no hint of its plans. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 52 minutes ago
BAIC to ‘Reassess’ Options After Saab Bid Fails China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. (BAIC) told state media Wednesday it will “reassess” its options after a plan to buy Swedish carmaker Saab collapsed, but gave no hint of its plans. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 52 minutes ago
The Nation’s Weather A blistery and chilly day was expected in the Midwest and Great Lakes on Wednesday, while the Pacific Northwest was forecast to remain wet and cool. Weather Underground, AP NEWS - 55 minutes ago
Eco-Friendly Festive Lights in Paris With the flick of a switch, nearly a million lightbulbs are illuminated as the city of light turned on its Christmas illuminations along its most imposing avenue, the Champs Elysees. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 60 minutes ago
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