149 dead in plane crash at Madrid airport (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:32:59 GMT
AP - A Spanish airliner bound for the Canary Islands crashed, burned and broke into pieces Wednesday while trying to take off from Madrid's Barajas airport, killing 149 people on board, officials said.

Rice signs missile defense deal with Poland (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:17:07 GMT
AP - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Polish counterpart signed a deal Wednesday to build a U.S. missile defense base in Poland, an agreement that prompted an infuriated Russia to warn of a possible attack against the former Soviet satellite.

Iraq official: US, Iraq finish draft security deal (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:28:58 GMT
AP - U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have finished a draft agreement that would see American troops removed from Iraqi cities by June 30, an Iraqi official said Wednesday. But the draft has not been approved by the Cabinet and some members have expressed opposition.

Sen. Joe Lieberman to speak at GOP convention (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:18:34 GMT
AP - Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democratic Party's vice presidential candidate in 2000 and now an independent who is one of John McCain's strongest supporters, will speak at the Republican National Convention, an official said.

Obama, VP choice to campaign together Saturday (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:22:38 GMT
AP - Barack Obama and his newly named running mate will campaign together Saturday at the place where the Democratic presidential hopeful formally launched his White House bid.

Tropical Storm Fay hugs Florida's Atlantic coast (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:32:12 GMT
AP - Tropical Storm Fay will likely not become a hurricane, forecasters said Wednesday, relieving fears the zig-zagging storm would return from the Atlantic with punishing force later this week.

Jamaica's Bolt breaks 200 mark, gets sprint double (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:58:48 GMT
AP - Usain Bolt of Jamaica broke the world record by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds Wednesday night, becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 gold medals at an Olympics.

States push laws to require paid sick days (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:31:59 GMT
AP - For school bus driver Jamille Aine, a cold is more than an inconvenience. His employer does not offer paid sick days, so if he can't shake the bug, he may not be able to pay his bills.

France bans broadcast of TV shows for babies (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:16:46 GMT
AP - France's broadcast authority has banned French channels from airing TV shows aimed at children under 3 years old, to shield them from developmental risks it says television viewing poses at that age.

Mourning gorilla holds on to body of her baby (AP)
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:55:31 GMT
AP - A gorilla at a zoo in the German city of Muenster is refusing to let go of her dead baby's body several days after it died of unknown causes.