Top News HEADLINES

Somali PM Asks for More Help to Fight Pirates
MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) -- Somalia's prime minister says his government has identified many pirate leaders and would be willing to share that information with other countries, including the United States, to get the resources needed to go after them.

Israeli Conductor Barenboim Gets Ovation in Egypt
CAIRO (AP) -- Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim stirred a sold out Cairo Opera House Thursday with a performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, drawing ovations in his first visit to Egypt.

Drought in West Africa Repeats and May Get Worse
WASHINGTON (AP) -- West Africa is already living on the edge, and new research indicates that even worse droughts are possible than the one that devastated the region in the late 20th century.

15 Gunmen, 1 Soldier Killed in Mexican Shootout
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- A shootout between Mexican troops and a convoy of gunmen left 15 assailants and one soldier dead hours before President Barack Obama arrived in the country to show his support for the fight against drug cartels.

Health Advocates Tout New Model of Female Condom
NEW YORK (AP) -- Advocates of the female condom are promoting a less costly, more user-friendly version that they hope will vastly expand its role in the global fight against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. An early version of the female condom was introduced in 1993, and it remains the only available woman-initiated form of protection against both STDs and unintended pregnancy.

Accused Marine Returning to US From Mexico
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- A Marine accused of killing a pregnant colleague in North Carolina and fleeing to Mexico will be returned to the U.S. this week, federal authorities said Thursday.

Iranian Scientists Claim They Have Cloned a Goat
ISFAHAN, Iran (AP) -- Iranian scientists have cloned a goat and plan future experiments they hope will lead to a treatment for stroke patients, the leader of the research said Wednesday. The female goat, named Hana, was born early Wednesday in the city of Isfahan in central Iran, said Dr. Mohammed Hossein Nasr e Isfahani, head of the Royan Research Institute.

Bacteria Found Thriving Beneath Antarctic Glacier
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hidden in the bone-chilling dark beneath an Antarctic glacier, a colony of strange bacteria is thriving. Scientists investigating the flow of blood-red water from beneath the glacier discovered the bacteria, which have survived for millions of years, living on sulfur and iron compounds, they report in Friday's edition of the journal Science.

Planet-Hunting Spacecraft's First Images Released
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- NASA's new planet-hunting telescope has beamed back the first images of a patch of faraway sky in the Milky Way galaxy where it hopes to find Earth-like planets. NASA on Thursday released several images snapped by Kepler earlier this month, including a view of a distant part of our galaxy containing some 14 million stars. Scientists say more than 100,000 of those stars are potential candidates for research.

Obama to Seek Ratification of Arms Treaty
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Confronting a security threat on the America's doorstep, President Barack Obama arrived Thursday in Mexico declaring solidarity with a neighbor deeply troubled by drugs and violence and pledging action to slow the contributing flow of weapons from the U.S.

For Sale: A Taste of Royalty From Princess Bride
LONDON (AP) -- Would you pay 145 pounds ($215) for a slice of very stale cake? That's what an antiques fair in Birmingham hopes to earn Thursday when people bid for the remnant from one of Britain's most controversial royal weddings.

Capone May Have Had 1 Last Hit _ a Musical 1
CHICAGO (AP) -- He never sang to the feds, but it turns out Al Capone had a song in his heart. All it took was a stint in Alcatraz to bring it out.

No Charges Against CIA Officials for Waterboarding
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration on Thursday informed CIA officials who used waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics on terror suspects that they will not be prosecuted, senior administration officials told The Associated Press.

80-Year-Old Omaha Store Owner Foils Armed Robber
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- An 80-year-old's quick thinking foiled an armed robber's attempt to hold up an Omaha liquor store. Store owner Floyd Westbrook was closing up his Sugar Hill Package Liquor on Wednesday when a man wearing a ski mask and holding a gun ran in and demanded money.

Experts: Spot of Mexican Surrender in Texas Found
DALLAS (AP) -- Archaeologists believe they have found the spot where hundreds of Mexican soldiers surrendered to the Texas army after a battle that sealed Texas' independence from Mexico.

Senate Panel to Probe Wiretapping Violations
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Thursday that the panel would hold a hearing to get to the bottom of reports that the National Security Agency improperly tapped into the domestic communications of American citizens.

Indonesia Clears Time of Defaming Suharto
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Indonesia's top court cleared Time magazine of defaming ex-dictator Suharto by alleging in a cover story that his family amassed a fortune during his rule. It said Thursday the publication did not have to pay $106 million in damages.

Homeland Security Chief Defends Agency Risk Report
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Thursday dismissed criticism of an intelligence assessment by her agency that says some military veterans could be susceptible to extremist recruiters or commit lone acts of violence.

DirecTV, Comcast Hit With Fines
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Satellite television provider DirecTV Inc. and cable company Comcast Corp. will pay out a combined $3.2 million to settle claims that they broke the law by placing phone calls to people who had asked the companies not to call them again. It's the second time DirecTV has been hit with such a fine.

Democrats: Texas Gov Should Disavow Secession Talk
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A group of Texas Democrats says Republican Gov. Rick Perry was reckless when he suggested at an anti-tax rally that fed-up Americans may one day want to secede from the United States.

Not on the Menu: Pizza Workers Charged in Pranks
CONOVER, N.C. (AP) -- A gross video posted on YouTube showing a Domino's Pizza worker stuffing cheese up his nostril and waving salami under his rear end as he is making sandwiches has led to charges against him and a co-worker who recorded him, authorities said Wednesday.

Race, Service Mark 2nd Anniversary of Va. Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Randy Sterne got chills Thursday as he watched hundreds of balloons sail into a bright, sunny sky at the start of a 3.2-mile run to honor 32 people killed by a student gunman at Virginia Tech two years ago. Later in the day, several thousand people gathered for a somber memorial service.

All Minn. Bridge Victims Accept State Settlements
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The state of Minnesota has reached settlements with all 179 eligible victims of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis two years ago.

Bolivian Police Uncover Plot Against President
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- Bolivian police say they broke an armed international group on Thursday that was plotting to assassinate President Evo Morales and the vice president.

Obama: Memos' Release Required by Law
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says the release of legal opinions governing harsh questioning of terrorism suspects is required by the law and should help address ''a dark and painful chapter in our history.''.

Obama to Seek Ratification of Arms Treaty
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Confronting a security threat on the America's doorstep, President Barack Obama arrived Thursday in Mexico for a swift diplomatic mission to show solidarity on drugs and guns with a troubled neighbor -- and to prove the U.S. is serious about the battle against trafficking.

No Charges Against CIA Officials for Waterboarding
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Attorney General Eric Holder says the government won't prosecute CIA officials for using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics on terror suspects.

The INFLUENCE GAME: Peanuts Want Gov't Help, Too
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The battered peanut industry has a new message: Peanuts are safe to eat, and there's a law in the works to make them even safer. So have a handful.

Roadside Bomber Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The only Iraq war insurgent to be prosecuted in U.S. court was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison, but how much time he'll serve will be up to the Netherlands.

Baby Pythons Escape During Flight in Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Four baby pythons escaped from a container aboard a passenger plane in Australia, leading to a search that forced the cancellation of two flights, the airline said Thursday. Twelve non-venemous Stimson pythons were being transported Tuesday on a flight from Alice Springs to Melbourne in the plane's cargo area in a bag inside a plastic foam box with air holes.

NY Governor Introduces Bill to Allow Gay Marriage
NEW YORK (AP) -- Gov. David Paterson announced plans Thursday to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, comparing the effort to the fight for the abolition of slavery.

Venezuela Opposes Americas Summit Declaration
CUMANA, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez says Venezuela will vote against the declaration of the Summit of the Americas in a gesture of protest against the United States.

Board Rejects Demjanjuk Bid, Court Wants More Info
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A U.S. immigration appeals board on Thursday denied a request to reopen the deportation case of John Demjanjuk, who is wanted in Germany to face accusations that he served as a Nazi death camp guard.

Obama: Better Trains Foster Energy Independence
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama called Thursday for the country to move swiftly to a system of high-speed rail travel, saying it will relieve congestion, help clean the air and save on energy.

Mudslide Buries 25 Homes in Peru, 30 Feared Dead
LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Peru's civil defense says a mudslide has buried 25 homes in two towns in the northern highlands. As many as 30 people are missing.

Suicide Bomber Strikes Iraqi Military Base
BAGHDAD (AP) -- A suicide bomber struck an Iraqi military base Thursday in an attack that Iraqi officials first said killed 16 soldiers but later maintained no one died but the attacker.

Stimulus Funds in States: It Costs Money to Spend
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- When it comes to the $787 billion in federal stimulus money flowing from Washington to the states, it will cost money to spend money.

Awash in Celebrities, US Still Hungry for Heroes
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A nation awash in celebrities still hungers for genuine heroes, never more so than in dreary times like these.

Prison for Mich. Couple Accused of Grill Cremation
DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit couple who admitted killing their 2-year-old son and allegedly tried to cremate his body on a barbecue grill have been sentenced to prison.

US-Israeli Differences Over Palestinians Emerge
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Stark differences between U.S. and Israeli policy toward peace talks with the Palestinians emerged clearly Thursday in the first meetings between President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy and top leaders of the new Israeli government.

3 More Not Guilty Pleas in Blagojevich Case
CHICAGO (AP) -- Ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich's most recent chief of staff, former chief fundraiser and another Illinois political insider pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that they took part in what prosecutors allege was widespread corruption.

Crew Members Urging Stronger Security for Ships
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) -- An emotionally drained but ebullient Maersk Alabama crew told gripping stories of captivity at sea Thursday while urging stronger protection for ships operating in treacherous Horn of Africa waters.

Rebels Promises to Free Army Cpl Held for 11 Yrs
BOGOTA (AP) -- Colombia's largest rebel group promised on Thursday to release an army corporal kidnapped 11 years ago in a hostage case made famous by his father, who walked across the country to push for his release.

Syracuse Teen Admits to Sniper Killing of Neighbor
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- A 16-year-old admitted Thursday that he was the sniper who gunned down a city worker outside the victim's home in January, but offered no explanation for the crime.

Thieves Smash Car Windows to Steal Inspection Tabs
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Drivers may have a new reason to fear an automobile break-in: the inspection stickers they must plaster to the inside of their windshield in many states.

Ex-Police Chief Gets 3 Years for Kicking Suspect
HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) -- A former Indiana police chief has been sentenced to nearly 3 1/2 years in federal prison for using unreasonable force in kicking a handcuffed suspect he believed had robbed his house.

US Official: Rescued Captain Expected Home Friday
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A U.S. official says a homecoming is planned Friday for the rescued American captain of a ship pirated off the Somali coast.

IG: IRS Allows Improper Tax Credits for Foreigners
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The IRS allowed more than 1 million foreigners -- many of them in the U.S. illegally -- to improperly claim $1.8 billion in child tax credits in 2007, a government investigator said Thursday.

Alaska Gov. Palin Back on Road With Indiana Trip
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is to speak during an anti-abortion group's dinner in Indiana Thursday night in her first out-of-state trip on a partisan agenda since the presidential campaign ended.

Sri Lankan Troops Attack Rebel Defenses
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) -- Sri Lankan troops backed by helicopter gunships attacked Tamil Tiger defenses in the northeast Thursday, a rebel-allied Web site reported, as international pressure grew for a new cease-fire to allow civilians to escape the fighting.

Tent School Opens for Youngest Italy Quake Victims
POGGIO PICENZE, Italy (AP) -- Some of the youngest victims of central Italy's earthquake got a taste of normalcy Thursday when the school bell rang, summoning them to makeshift classrooms set up among the tents they now call home.

US Seeks Transit Deal With Turkmenistan
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) -- A senior U.S. diplomat says the United States hopes to reach an agreement with Turkmenistan on allowing the transit of non-lethal goods to neighboring Afghanistan.

US Urges Iran to Release Accused US Journalist
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Iran stands to gain U.S. goodwill by ''responding in a positive way'' to the case of an American journalist tried on spy charges by an Iranian court this week, a U.S. official said Thursday.

Ill. Rep. Blames Heroin Deaths on Mexican Drugs
CHICAGO (AP) -- An Illinois congressman says at least 31 people in two suburban Chicago counties have died this year after overdosing on unusually strong heroin from Mexico.

$40M Fuel Theft From Army Prompts Global Manhunt
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- A former Army contractor convicted of stealing $40 million worth of fuel from a military base in Iraq is helping authorities search the globe for other suspects in the case.

Wild Bear Closes Central Park in Slovenian Capital
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) -- Slovenia is home to about 430 brown bears, but residents of Ljubljana, the capital, rarely see any but the two who live in the local zoo.

US Court: Ex-Israeli Cabinet Member Cannot Be Sued
NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal appeals court says a former Israeli security chief cannot be sued in the United States for 15 deaths in a Gaza City bombing.

US Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison
VILSECK, Germany (AP) -- A U.S. Army soldier convicted of murder in the 2007 killings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqis was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison.

Scholarship Honors US Captain Held by Pirates
BOURNE, Mass. (AP) -- A new scholarship at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy will honor the graduate who was recently held hostage by pirates off Africa.

A Key to Women's Rights in Afghanistan: Men
KABUL (AP) -- There are a handful of them at every women's rights gathering in Afghanistan: men.

AP Source: Talk of Delaying 2 WTC Towers for Years
NEW YORK (AP) -- The owners of ground zero, locked in a new round of heated talks with a private developer about how and when to build office towers at the World Trade Center site, have proposed indefinitely putting off two of three planned skyscrapers until the real estate market recovers, officials familiar with the negotiations say.

Heavy Security Surrounds Obama's Mexican Visit
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Heavily armed police are patrolling a wealthy neighborhood near Mexico's presidential residence as President Barack Obama heads to the capital on his first visit to the country.

March Housing Construction Falls 10.8 Percent
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Housing construction plunged to the second lowest level on record in March, reversing a big jump from the previous month. Economists, however, were heartened by indications that the long slide in single-family construction could be coming to an end.

Medvedev: Russia Needs More Political Competition
MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia needs stronger political competition and a greater freedom to protest, President Dmitry Medvedev said in remarks released Thursday, sending the strongest signal yet that he may rethink the legacy of predecessor Vladimir Putin.

French Captain Recounts Hostage-Taking by Pirates
PARIS (AP) -- A French captain who knows his pirates has some advice for other sailors: ''When you see them coming, it's too late.''.

Gorbachev: US Military Power Blocks 'No Nukes'
ROME (AP) -- President Barack Obama's call for a nuclear weapons-free world is welcome, but the huge U.S. defense budget may prove an ''insurmountable obstacle'' to reaching that goal, former Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev said Thursday.

Dutch to Invite Dalai Lama to Parliament
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- Dutch lawmakers said Thursday they will invite the Dalai Lama to parliament despite a warning from China that the visit would harm relations between the two nations.

English Village May Use Potholes for Speed Control
LONDON (AP) -- Here's a new road repair plan: Don't bother.

Official: Mafia Has Moved Into Italy Quake Area
ROME (AP) -- Organized crime syndicates have already moved into the central Italian region devastated by a quake this month and are looking to profit from the reconstruction of the area, the head of parliament's anti-Mafia commission said.

Demjanjuk Faces Uncertain Fate if Deported
BERLIN (AP) -- The family of alleged Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk is citing his poor health as it fights a U.S. drive to deport him to Germany for a possible war crimes trial. Questions remain over what would happen if he is ruled unfit to face trial once he arrives.

Serb Ex-Commander to Testify in Americans' Killing
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) -- A former Serbian police commander on trial at the U.N. war crimes court has agreed to testify in a separate case over the 1999 execution-style murder of three Albanian-American brothers, a judge said Thursday.

Signs Threaten Killing of Texas College Students
NACOGDOCHES, Texas (AP) -- Authorities in Nacogdoches, Texas, are on alert after signs promising a deadly mass shooting were found on and near the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Police Probe Erie, Pa., Officer's Off-Duty Joking
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- A city police officer was suspended after someone posted to the Web a video of him, in a bar and apparently intoxicated, joking about a homicide victim.

Potential High-Speed Rail Corridors
Ten corridors the Obama administration had identified for possible high-speed rail projects:.

Univ. Of Florida, ASPCA Fill Void for Animal CSIs
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Only a few investigators in the country are trained to adequately investigate and prepare cases for prosecution of the horrendous crimes against animals that can leave dogs, roosters and other animals maimed and tortured.

Twin Reno Girls Treated for Rare Disease
RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Twin 5-year-old girls living with a rare disease are among the first in the country being treated for their condition at a Reno hospital after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted special permission to use an experimental drug.

Mich. Muslim Group Says FBI Asking People to Spy
DETROIT (AP) -- A Michigan Muslim organization said Thursday it has asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate complaints alleging the FBI is asking followers of the faith to spy on Islamic leaders and congregations.

Spanish AG: No Torture Probe of US Officials
MADRID (AP) -- Spain's attorney general has rejected opening an investigation into whether six Bush administration officials sanctioned torture against terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, saying Thursday a U.S. courtroom would be the proper forum.

Water Seeps Past Sandbags Fortifying Weak ND Dam
KATHRYN, N.D. (AP) -- National Guard troops dropped sandbags from a helicopter early Thursday to shore up a weakening dam that is protecting a small town from flooding, an official said.

French Fishing Protest Softens on English Channel
PARIS (AP) -- French fishermen allowed traffic to resume to three English Channel ports Thursday after receiving a government promise of euro4 million ($5.27 million) in aid, but they vowed to keep up their fight against European fishing quotas.

More Than Century Old, Royal Wedding Cake on Sale
LONDON (AP) -- A slice of cake from one of Britain's most controversial royal weddings is up for sale after more than 130 years.