Venomous Aussie Redback Spiders Invading Japan Australia’s venomous redback spiders are on the march in Japan, where they are believed to have arrived years ago as stowaways on cargo ships, a wildlife expert warned Wednesday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 13 minutes ago
Obama Expects Support for More Afghanistan Troops President Barack Obama expects Americans to support more U.S. troops in 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 - 16 minutes ago
Gay Marriage Momentum Stalls in Liberal NY, NJ The state-to-state march to legalize gay marriage across the left-leaning Northeast lost some of its momentum this month. Geoff Mulvihill, AP NEWS - 17 minutes ago
Stars, Top Dem Donors Make State Dinner Guest List Celebrities, major Democratic fundraisers and prominent Indian businessmen were among those scoring coveted invitations to President Barack Obama’s first state dinner. Sharon Theimer, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
Evening Gowns, Saris at Obama’s First State Dinner Traditional evening gowns and vibrantly colored saris mixed with banded-collar dinner jackets and tuxedos at President Barack Obama’s first state dinner. Darlene Superville, AP NEWS - 18 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 - 20 minutes ago
Impatience With Obama Trade Policy Grows The third anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-Colombia free trade pact came and went this month with the Obama administration still negotiating the fine print, Congress showing little interest and business groups frustrated by the lack of action on trade deals. Jim Abrams, AP NEWS - 21 minutes ago
Shuttle Atlantis Leaving Space Station It’s time for Atlantis and its seven astronauts to leave the International Space Station. Marcia Dunn, AP NEWS - 21 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 - 21 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 - 21 minutes ago
Southern Calif. Wildfire Spreads Amid Strong Winds A wind-driven wildfire broke out in the hills of Southern California Tuesday night as late season Santa Ana winds blasted down burning slopes toward homes. Staff, AP NEWS - 48 minutes ago
Kingsley to Play Mogul Emperor Who Built Taj Mahal Ben Kingsley, famous for his Oscar-winning portrayal of Indian independence hero Mohandas Gandhi, is reaching deeper into the country’s history with a new role as the Mogul emperor who ordered the construction of the Taj Mahal. Min Lee, AP NEWS - 50 minutes ago
Obama Hosts India PM Dinner U.S. President Barack Obama hosts a White House dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 51 minutes ago
Icebergs Head From Antarctica 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 - 52 minutes ago
Philippine Massacre Probe Focuses on Arroyo Ally Philippine authorities, under intense public pressure to make arrests in the country’s worst election massacre, said Wednesday they are investigating a member of a powerful clan allied with the government along with four police commanders. Aaron Favila, AP NEWS - 53 minutes ago
Americans Search 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 - 54 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 - 57 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 - 61 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 - 64 minutes ago
Oil Hovers Near $76 Amid Weak US Crude Demand Oil prices hovered near $76 a barrel Wednesday in Asia as investors mulled whether signs of a sluggish U.S. economy and weak crude demand justified a further sell-off this week. Alex Kennedy, AP NEWS - 67 minutes ago
Asian Stocks Mixed on Concern About US Recovery Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday after more evidence that recovery in the world’s biggest economy is set to be slow and bumpy. Joe McDonald, AP NEWS - 69 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 - 73 minutes ago
India Is ‘Indispensable’: Obama Barack Obama threw the biggest party of his presidency for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, hailing the world’s largest democracy as “indispensable” and pledging to work out a range of thorny issues. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
India Is ‘Indispensable’: Obama Barack Obama threw the biggest party of his presidency for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, hailing the world’s largest democracy as “indispensable” and pledging to work out a range of thorny issues. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Italian Ex-Militant Ends Brazil Hunger Strike Italian ex-leftist militant leftist Cesare Battisti ended an 11-day hunger strike at the prompting of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is studying a Supreme Court ruling authorizing Battisti’s extradition to Italy. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Arroyo Urged to Take Action Over Massacre Philippine President Gloria Arroyo is facing rising pressure to bring to justice a political ally who stands accused of masterminding a massacre that left 46 people dead. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
S.Korea Halves Ceiling on Text Messages to Fight Spam South Korean authorities on Wednesday halved the daily limit on text messages sent out by mobile phones as part of a campaign against spam, officials said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Japanese Woman Faces Death Penalty in Malaysia A Japanese woman was charged in a Malaysian court Wednesday with trafficking 4.7 kilograms (10 pounds) of methamphetamines, and faces the death penalty if convicted. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Indonesia’s Top Detective Replaced Indonesia’s chief detective has been replaced after being implicated in an alleged plot to falsely imprison anti-graft investigators, police said Wednesday. Afp, AFP ASIAN EDITION - 74 minutes ago
White House Veggies for Obama’s Big Night With arugula straight from his garden and entertainment by two Oscar winners, President Barack Obama took a fresh take on the state dinner in Washington’s top social event since his inauguration. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 74 minutes ago
Nuggets Extend Nets NBA Losing Streak to 14 Games The New Jersey Nets slid closer to the NBA’s record of 17 losses to start a season by dropping their 14th game in a row, falling to the Denver Nuggets 101-87. Afp, AFP AMERICAN EDITION - 74 minutes ago
St. Vincent Contemplates Cutting Ties With Queen Voters in the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines decide Wednesday whether to break their ties with Britain’s monarchy, even as Queen Elizabeth II is making a rare visit to the region. Duggie Joseph, AP NEWS - 75 minutes ago
Southern Calif. Wildfire Spreads Amid Gusty Winds A wind-driven wildfire broke out south of Los Angeles Tuesday night as late season Santa Ana winds blasted down burning slopes toward homes. Staff, AP NEWS - 79 minutes ago