Weekly Jobless Claims Drop Below 500,000 In a hopeful sign, the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, dropping below 500,000 for the first time since January. Martin Crutsinger and Jeannine Aversa, AP NEWS - 6 minutes ago
‘Woe Is Me’ to Those Who Miss Biblical Rhetoric If a phrase like “Woe is me” sounds familiar, it should. It comes from the Bible and has entered everyday language. Thomas J. Sheeran, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Judge Orders Chavez Opponent to Stay in Prison A Venezuelan court has ordered an opponent of President Hugo Chavez to remain in prison while awaiting trial on charges of injuring a police officer during a protest. Staff, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Obama to Address Nation on Afghanistan Tuesday President Barack Obama will address the nation on his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan Tuesday night from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Staff, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Rocket Man Bid to Fly From Morocco to Spain Fails A Swiss adventurer went down in the Atlantic on Wednesday while trying to fly from Morocco to Spain with jet-powered wings strapped to his back. A rescue helicopter pulled him from the water and he appeared unhurt. Daniel Woolls, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
China Reports 8 Cases of Swine Flu Mutation China has detected eight cases of swine flu mutation, a health official said Wednesday, amid longstanding concerns among scientists that the virus could change into a more dangerous form. Gillian Wong, AP NEWS - 11 minutes ago
Rates on 30-Year Mortgages Match Record Low Freddie Mac reports that average rates for 30-year fixed mortgages have matched a record low of 4.78 percent this week. Staff, AP NEWS - 12 minutes ago
Stocks Rise Following Drop in Jobless Claims Stocks rose in light volume Wednesday following a drop in weekly unemployment claims to the lowest level of the year and a rise in new home sales. Tim Paradis and Ieva M. Augstums, AP NEWS - 13 minutes ago
Studies: Fighting Global Warming Reduces Diseases Cutting global warming pollution would not only make the planet healthier, it would make people healthier too, newly released studies say. Seth Borenstein, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
Official: Obama Going to Copenhagen Climate Summit President Barack Obama will go to Copenhagen next month, a White House official said Wednesday, to participate in a long-anticipated, high-stakes global climate summit. Julie Pace, AP NEWS - 15 minutes ago
Iraq Was Not UK’s Main Worry Prior to Invasion Iran and Libya, not Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq, were Britain’s main security concerns before the invasion of Iraq, Foreign Office officials testified Wednesday at an inquiry probing Britain’s role in the war. Jennifer Quinn, AP NEWS - 17 minutes ago
Ships Warned About Icebergs Headed for New Zealand Ships are on alert and maritime authorities are monitoring the movements of hundreds of menacing icebergs drifting toward New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean, officials said. Ray Lilley, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
Putin’s Rare Siberian Tiger Goes Missing A rare Siberian tiger fitted by Vladimir Putin with a radio-tracking collar has vanished, a Russian environmentalist said Wednesday, dramatizing the plight of a species some conservationists fear may be approaching extinction. Liya Khabarova, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
New US Home Sales Rise 6.2 Percent Sales of new homes rose last month to the highest level in more than a year as strong activity in the South made up for weakness in the rest of the country. Alan Zibel, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
Indian Tribe Votes Against New York Casino Plan An Indian tribe at New York’s northern border is dropping its push to build a casino in the Catskills, 230 miles south of its reservation. Staff, AP NEWS - 19 minutes ago
Taliban Leader Rules Out Talks With Karzai The Taliban’s reclusive leader has ruled out talks with President Hamid Karzai and called on Afghans to break off relations with his “stooge” administration. Elena Becatoros, AP NEWS - 19 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 - 21 minutes ago
Kansas Lottery Rejects Casino Bid for Southeast The Kansas Lottery has rejected an application from a group seeking to build and manage a state-owned casino in the southeastern part of Kansas. Staff, AP NEWS - 22 minutes ago
Death Toll in China Mining Blast Rises to 107 The number of dead in China’s worst mining accident in two years rose to 107 Wednesday after three more bodies were pulled out of the coal mine, state media said. Staff, AP NEWS - 23 minutes ago
Stocks Mixed Amid Welter of Economic Data Stocks are narrowly mixed as reports showing a smaller rise in new claims for jobless benefits and strong consumer spending were offset by an unexpected decline in durable goods orders. Ieva M. Augstums, AP NEWS - 26 minutes ago
Israeli PM Seeks 10-Month New Settlement Halt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is asking his government to approve a 10-month moratorium on new building permits for Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, his office said on Wednesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 28 minutes ago
Gay Marriage Momentum Stalls in Liberal NY, NJ The state-to-state march to legalize gay marriage across the left-leaning Northeast has lost more momentum since a major setback three weeks ago at the ballot box in Maine. Geoff Mulvihill, AP NEWS - 31 minutes ago
US Bancorp to Sell 3 Texas Banking Units U.S. Bancorp said Wednesday it plans to sell three Texas banks it recently acquired when it took over FBOP Corp.’s banking operations last month. Staff, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Hong Kong Director Takes on Mulan With Real Actors More than a decade after Disney made a blockbuster animated film out of a folk tale about a young woman in ancient China who takes her father’s place on the battlefield, a Hong Kong director is taking on the story of Hua Mulan with real actors. Min Lee, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
Americans Search for Cheaper Thanksgiving Trips Millions of Americans got an early jump on their Thanksgiving travel Wednesday, with many opting to drive or take trains and buses instead of shelling out more money for flights amid a sour economy still hitting household budgets hard. Michael Tarm, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
Hispanic Group Sues Ohio Over License Plate Policy A Hispanic group filed a lawsuit asking a judge to stop Ohio from canceling vehicle registrations for thousands of people if they do not provide certain documentation. Lisa Cornwell, AP NEWS - 37 minutes ago
Despite Upticks, Hawaii Tourism Remains Weak Despite an uptick in the number of visitors from the West Coast and Japan, nearly 2 percent fewer tourists arrived in Hawaii in October compared to the same month last year, according to new data. Staff, AP NEWS - 41 minutes ago
Donny Osmond Wins ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Donny Osmond was declared the new champion of “Dancing with Stars” on Tuesday night, taking home the show’s mirror ball trophy in the season finale of the ABC contest reality program. Staff, AP NEWS - 41 minutes ago
6 Family Members Killed in Iraq Assailants broke into a house and killed six family members before dawn Wednesday in an area north of Baghdad that was once a stronghold of al-Qaida in Iraq, Iraqi officials said. Sinan Salaheddin, AP NEWS - 41 minutes ago
Religion News in Brief An Oregon legislative leader plans to introduce a bill to repeal a 1923 state law that bans teachers from wearing religious garb. The Associated Press, AP NEWS - 43 minutes ago
Google,Virgin Media Deals Command TiVo Spotlight Deals with Google and Virgin Media took the spotlight away from TiVo’s fiscal third-quarter loss Wednesday, as analysts said the company stands to benefit from the new agreements. Staff, AP NEWS - 43 minutes ago
Highlights of Conn. Gov’s Deficit-Cutting Plan Highlights of Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s latest deficit-cutting plan, most of which requires legislative approval: Staff, AP NEWS - 43 minutes ago
Conn. Governor Unveils Deficit-Cutting Plan Gov. M. Jodi Rell unveiled a plan Tuesday she said will erase Connecticut’s latest budget deficit of nearly $470 million. Rell is expected to announce Wednesday when she’d like legislators to vote on the package. Susan Haigh, AP NEWS - 43 minutes ago
Judge: White Conn. Firefighters Must Be Promoted A federal judge has ordered Connecticut officials to promote 14 firefighters who won a reverse discrimination case in a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. Staff, AP NEWS - 47 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 - 48 minutes ago
Rocket Man Bid to Fly From Morocco to Spain Fails A Swiss adventurer has gone down in the Atlantic while trying to fly from Morocco to Spain on jet-powered wings. A rescue helicopter has pulled him from the water and he appears to be unhurt. Daniel Woolls, AP NEWS - 49 minutes ago
Gubernatorial Hopefuls Target Colo. Energy Rules One Republican in the race to become Colorado’s next governor is pledging to repeal new oil and gas regulations if elected, and the front-runner for the GOP nomination says he would consider abolishing the rules approved on the Democratic incumbent’s watch. Judith Kohler, AP NEWS - 49 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 - 50 minutes ago
Ariz. Gov, Lawmakers Slam Cities on Budget Lawsuit Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and top Republican legislators blasted Arizona municipalities for going to court to challenge the constitutionality of parts of a budget law, including provisions that deny government services and benefits to illegal immigrants. Paul Davenport, AP NEWS - 52 minutes ago
New Blackout Hits Rio’s Glitzy Beach Neighborhoods Rio de Janeiro’s posh beach neighborhoods lost power for hours in sweltering summer weather Tuesday, prompting restaurants to toss out spoiled food and business owners to send employees home. Alan Clendenning, AP NEWS - 53 minutes ago
Israel Offers 10-Month West Bank Settlement Freeze Israel’s prime minister on Wednesday proposed a 10-month freeze on West Bank settlement construction in what he said was an attempt to jumpstart Mideast peace talks. Josef Federman, AP NEWS - 53 minutes ago
Feds Seek Rehearing of Baseball Drug List Ruling Solicitor General Elena Kagan asked for an unprecedented reconsideration of an appeals court ruling that government agents illegally seized drug-testing samples and records of baseball players who allegedly tested positive for steroids in 2003. Paul Elias, AP NEWS - 54 minutes ago
Salvation Army’s Iconic Kettles Now Credit Ready COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — 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. Kristen Wyatt, AP NEWS - 55 minutes ago
Toyota to Replace 4M Gas Pedals That Could Jam Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will replace accelerator pedals on about 4 million recalled vehicles in the United States because the pedals can get stuck in the floor mats. Ken Thomas, AP NEWS - 57 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 NEWS - 60 minutes ago
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 - 70 minutes ago
Google Apologizes for Offensive First Lady Image 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. Staff, AP NEWS - 70 minutes ago
Sales of New Homes Forecast to Rise 2 Percent Sales of new homes are expected to post a modest increase in October, reinforcing data this week that showed the real estate market is regaining its footing after a dramatic collapse. Alan Zibel, AP NEWS - 70 minutes ago
Lambert Says He Got Carried Away, But Not Sorry Adam Lambert admits he got carried away with his sexually charged American Music Awards performance, but he’s offering no apology. David Bauder, AP NEWS - 73 minutes ago
Consumers Log Stronger-Than-Expected Spending Rise Consumers got back in the buying mood in October as their incomes grew modestly, an encouraging sign for the budding economic recovery. Jeannine Aversa, AP NEWS - 73 minutes ago
Stock Futures Point to Higher Open After Data Stock futures pointed to a higher open after data on an improving job market and strong consumer spending provided reassurance that the economy is recovering. Ieva M. Augstums, AP NEWS - 77 minutes ago
World Stocks Buoyed by US Data as Dollar Slides European stock markets rose and Wall Street was expected to open higher Wednesday after a batch of stronger than anticipated U.S. economic data on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday. Pan Pylas, AP NEWS - 84 minutes ago
Serb Nationalist’s War Crimes Trial to Resume Judges at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal have ordered the resumption of a Serb nationalist’s trial almost a year after it was suspended amid claims of witness intimidation, the court announced Wednesday. Mike Corder, AP NEWS - 86 minutes ago
Deere Reports 4Q Loss on Charges, Lower Sales Deere and Co. lost $223 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting big charges and a 28 percent slump in sales as demand for tractors, combines and construction equipment sagged amid the global economic downturn. David Mercer, AP NEWS - 88 minutes ago
Netanyahu to Propose 10-Month Settlement Halt Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to propose a 10-month halt in the construction of new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, his office said on Wednesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
Congo Has Failed to Disarm Rwandan Rebels: UN Rwandan Hutu rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have thwarted UN-led attempts to disarm them militarily and global action is needed to cut off their financing, UN experts say. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
Three Women Among Six Killed in Iraq Attack Unknown attackers on Wednesday broke into a house and slit the throats of two women in a brutal Iraqi killing in which four other people including a teenage girl were gunned down, police said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
British Officials Quizzed on WMD at Iraq Inquiry Top civil servants were grilled Wednesday over fears Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction -- used to support the 2003 invasion but never borne out -- at a British inquiry into the conflict. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
GM to Keep All German Opel Plants Open A top General Motors executive completed a tour of Opel’s four German plants on Wednesday pledging that none would be shut down as the US giant takes the axe to its loss-making unit. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
Crude Oil Prices Firm Before US Energy Report Oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday as traders awaited the weekly US energy report after slower-than-expected economic growth in the United States, the world’s biggest energy consuming nation. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
Euro Hits $1.50, Gold Sets Record High The euro jumped back above 1.50 dollars on Wednesday, sending the price of gold to a record high point. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
Alarm Over Asset Bubbles Returns With Recovery Asset bubbles are coming back, riding the waves of easy money that are now pulling the world economy from recession into unsteady recovery. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
Toyota ‘to Fix Gas Pedals on 4 Mln US Vehicles’ Japan’s Toyota Motor is planning to fix accelerator pedals in around four million vehicles in the United States, a media report said Wednesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 88 minutes ago
Disney Re-Making ‘High School Musical’ in Chinese Disney is re-making its international smash hit “High School Musical” in Chinese with a film set to be released here next summer, a Disney spokeswoman said Wednesday. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 88 minutes ago
Rare, Heavy Rains Soak Pilgrims at Islam’s Hajj Rare, heavy rainstorms soaked pilgrims and flooded the road into Mecca, snarling Islam’s annual hajj as millions of Muslims headed for the holy sites. The downpours add an extra hazard on top of intense concerns about the spread of swine flu. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, AP NEWS - 89 minutes ago
UN Report: Rebel Network Spans 25 Countries A United Nations report leaked to The Associated Press confirms that one of Africa’s most brutal rebel movements relies on a vast, international network of supporters in at least 25 countries including in the United States and Europe who facilitate arms trafficking, money transfers and day-to-day operational support. Rukmini Callimachi, AP NEWS - 92 minutes ago
Sting Offers a ‘Spooky, Ghostly’ Seasonal Album Sting and his wife Trudie keep with tradition on Christmas Eve: They go to a local church, sing along to carols, then head back home to their English estate to open presents with their family. Nekesa Mumbi Moody, AP NEWS - 96 minutes ago
A Growing Tale of Dog Designer Wear The signs are, in Britain and the United States, that the popularity of designer clothing and accessories for dogs is stronger than ever. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 96 minutes ago
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