LyondellBasell Gets Buyout Offer From Reliance LyondellBasell Industries said Saturday Reliance Industries offered to acquire a controlling interest in the beleaguered chemical company, which is under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Staff, AP NEWS - 2 minutes ago
Space Station Alarm Delays Atlantis Crew Spacewalk Space shuttle Atlantis astronauts aboard the International Space Station delayed their second spacewalk Saturday after being jolted awake by a false alarm, NASA said. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 4 minutes ago
Health Care Bill Faces a Crucial Senate Vote Democrats called a revamp of the nation’s health care system long overdue as historic legislation advanced toward a Saturday night Senate showdown, an early test of party unity on President Barack Obama’s top domestic initiative Erica Werner, AP NEWS - 6 minutes ago
Mali: Drought Resistant Maize The government in Mali is breeding drought resistant maize to help farmers there cope with the dry weather. Reuters Video, REUTERS NEWS VIDEO - 10 minutes ago
Sri Lanka to Release 136,000 Tamil War Refugees Sri Lanka will release next month the remaining 136,000 Tamil refugees still in the squalid and overrun government camps where they’ve been detained since the country’s civil war ended six months ago, a top official said Saturday. Eranga Jayawardena, AP NEWS - 10 minutes ago
Report Finds Wide Disparities in Gifted Education When Liz Fitzgerald realized her son and daughter were forced to read books in math class while the other children caught up, she had them moved into gifted classes at their suburban Atlanta elementary school. Dorie Turner, AP NEWS - 12 minutes ago
Hawaii Anxiously Watching Year-End Tuna Supply On New Year’s Eve each year, thousands line up at fish counters across Hawaii to buy blocks of raw tuna, hoping that eating it will bring good luck and prosperity in the new year. This year, the long tradition may get a little more difficult to observe. Audrey McAvoy, AP NEWS - 13 minutes ago
Atlantis Astronauts Take 2nd Spacewalk of Mission A spacewalking astronaut put aside the impending birth of his daughter and concentrated instead on his first-ever venture outside the International Space Station on Saturday. Marcia Dunn, AP NEWS - 14 minutes ago
Saudi: 4 Pilgrims Die of Swine Flu Before Hajj Saudi health officials announced the first deaths from swine flu of this year’s annual pilgrimage to Mecca, as four pilgrims succumbed to the disease soon after arriving in Saudi Arabia. Staff, AP NEWS - 18 minutes ago
Report Finds Wide Disparities in Gifted Education A new report says gifted children are being ignored in the U.S., as most federal education funding goes to help struggling students learn the basics. Staff, AP NEWS - 24 minutes ago
Obama Trumpets Asia Trip as Boost to US Economy President Barack Obama’s eight-day trip to Asia produced no tangible wins for the United States, though he is citing talks with Asian allies that he says could help create thousands of job and open new markets for American goods in the future. Philip Elliott, AP NEWS - 25 minutes ago
Life Requested for US Suspect in Italy Murder Case Prosecutors on Saturday requested life in prison for an American student and her ex-boyfriend accused in the fatal stabbing of her British roommate during a drug-fueled sex game — charges the U.S. woman dismissed as “pure fantasy.” Marta Falconi, AP NEWS - 26 minutes ago
Chavez Praises Alleged Terrorist Carlos the Jackal Hugo Chavez has defended the alleged terrorist mastermind Carlos the Jackal, saying the Venezuelan imprisoned in France was an important “revolutionary fighter” who supported the cause of the Palestinians. Ian James, AP NEWS - 30 minutes ago
Pope and Anglican Leader Agree on Closer Relations After offering a home in his church to disaffected Anglicans, Pope Benedict XVI assured the archbishop of Canterbury on Saturday that he is still committed to seeking closer relations between Catholics and Anglicans. Victor L. Simpson, AP NEWS - 32 minutes ago
Iran to Hold War Games to Protect Nuclear Sites Iran will begin large-scale air defense war games Sunday aimed at protecting its nuclear facilities from possible attack, a senior military commander said Saturday, reflecting the country’s concern that Israel could make good on threats to strike militarily. Ali Akbar Dareini, AP NEWS - 33 minutes ago
Coal Mine Blast Kills 42 in China, 66 Trapped Rescuers working in frigid cold and darkness tried to reach 66 people believed trapped a third of a mile (half a kilometer) underground after a huge gas explosion Saturday ripped through a coal mine in northern China, killing at least 42 people. Cara Anna, AP NEWS - 34 minutes ago
Ukraine’s ‘Hot Air’ Bedevils Global Climate Deal Vladimir Gapor is a plumber by trade, but now he’s a scavenger, prying bits of scrap steel from the ruins of his old factory and selling them for a pittance. Arthur Max, AP NEWS - 36 minutes ago
Azerbaijan Threatens Force Over Nagorno-Karabakh President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan says his nation may use military force if talks with Armenia on resolving a long-standing territorial dispute produce no result. Staff, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
German Auction House Pulls Disputed Painting A German auction house says it has withdrawn from sale a painting that the Max Stern estate claims was one of hundreds the Jewish art dealer was forced to sell off by the Nazis. Staff, AP NEWS - 42 minutes ago
McCain Says He Enjoyed Reading Sarah Palin Book U.S. Sen. John McCain said Saturday that he enjoyed reading running mate Sarah Palin’s new memoir and downplayed any tension between their campaign aides as “no big deal.” Rob Gillies, AP NEWS - 44 minutes ago
LyondellBasell Gets Buyout Offer From Reliance LyondellBasell says Reliance Industries offered to acquire a controlling interest in the beleaguered chemical company, which is under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Staff, AP NEWS - 45 minutes ago
Health Care Bill Faces a Crucial Senate Vote Democratic senators pressed ahead Saturday toward a crucial first vote on President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, a test of party unity in the face of solid Republican opposition. Erica Werner, AP NEWS - 56 minutes ago
Saudi: 4 Pilgrims Die of Swine Flu Before Hajj The Saudi Health Ministry has announced the first four deaths from swine flu of this year’s annual pigrimage to Mecca. Staff, AP FEATURES - 58 minutes ago
Australia Issues ‘Catastrophic’ Alerts as Fires Rage Australia has issued “catastrophic” alerts after record-breaking temperatures and wild lightning storms sparked more than 100 fires across the country, officials said Saturday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 64 minutes ago
Iraqi MPs to Meet Sunday on Election Wrangle Iraqi MPs will meet again on Sunday to try to break the deadlock on a stalled electoral law which has left the country’s planned January general election in doubt. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 64 minutes ago
‘Four Injured’ in Rocket Attack in Afghan Capital A rocket attack near the luxury Serena Hotel in Kabul has injured four people, including two members of the Afghan security forces, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s health ministry said Saturday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 64 minutes ago
Sri Lanka ‘to Free All War-Displaced Civilians’ Sri Lanka said Saturday it would grant free movement to the remaining war-displaced civilians held in internment camps, meeting a key demand of the international community. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 64 minutes ago
‘Four Injured’ in Rocket Attack in Afghan Capital A rocket attack near the luxury Serena Hotel in Kabul wounded four people, including at least one member of the Afghan security forces, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s health ministry said Saturday. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 64 minutes ago
Putin Backs Medvedev’s Call for Russia Modernisation Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday strongly backed President Dmitry Medvedev’s call for economic modernisation, moving to smother talk of differences between the two leaders. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 64 minutes ago
Putin Backs Medvedev’s Call for Russia Modernization Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday strongly backed President Dmitry Medvedev’s call for radical economic modernization, in an apparent bid to smother talk of differences between the leaders. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 64 minutes ago
Obama Touts Asia Trade to Create Jobs US President Barack Obama, back from a tour of Asia, called Saturday for the United States to produce more goods to sell across the Pacific, touting trade as a way to revive the troubled US economy. Afp, AFP GLOBAL EDITION - 64 minutes ago
Liverpool and City Inflict Mutual Damage Liverpool’s stuttering season continued as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester City that did little for either club’s hopes of finishing the season in the top four. Afp, AFP EUROPEAN EDITION - 64 minutes ago
Rocket Hits Outside Luxury Hotel in Afghan Capital A rocket hit outside the luxury Serena Hotel in Afghanistan’s capital late Saturday, wounding two people, the Interior Ministry said. Elena Becatoros and Amir Shah, AP NEWS - 64 minutes ago
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