China blames 54 officials for bullet train crash
BEIJING (AP) — A long-awaited government report said design flaws and sloppy management caused a bullet train crash in July that killed 40 people and triggered a public outcry over the dangers of China’s showcase transportation system. A former railway…
NKorean TV shows mourners paying respect to Kim
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Sobbing mourners filed past the begonia-bedecked bier of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, some appearing to shake with grief, in footage aired Wednesday on state television in the hours before his funeral. North…
Old fireplace embers caused deadly fire
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Two of the little sisters who died in a furious house fire early Christmas morning lost their way as a family friend tried to lead them to safety. Their other sister died just feet from escape,…
Son: Pilot routinely went out on medical flights
MIAMI (AP) — The pilot killed in a helicopter crash while heading to pick up a heart for transplant routinely flew medical transport missions and was a decorated veteran of combat missions in Vietnam, the man’s son said Tuesday. A…
Obama hits popular snorkeling spot during vacation
HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama and his family spent a warm and sunny afternoon at one of the most popular snorkeling spots on the island of Oahu, where they released four green sea turtles into the water. The Obamas…
Ex-Ukraine PM Tymoshenko’s jail sentence upheld
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A Ukrainian court on Friday upheld the conviction and seven-year jail sentence for former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Tymoshenko, the top opposition leader, was found guilty of abuse of office in October and sentenced to prison…
Danish zoo raises polar bear cub by hand
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A Danish zoo says a month-old polar bear cub is being raised by humans after his mother failed to produce enough milk to feed him. Scandinavian Wildlife Park manager Frank Vigh-Larse`n says Siku is doing “really…
Queen to host royals’ Christmas, Kate’s first
LONDON (AP) — It will be a traditional Christmas weekend for Queen Elizabeth II’s extended family, which now includes Kate Middleton, with the quiet holiday break to be followed by a year’s worth of festivities to mark the queen’s 60th…
European stocks up as holiday slowdown begins
LONDON (AP) — European markets bounced back Thursday as the traditional holiday slowdown began in earnest, rising a day after investors were rattled by the European Central Bank’s huge loans to bolster the continent’s banks. Investors were spooked by the…
Wal-Mart pulls formula after baby dies in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Wal-Mart and health officials awaited tests Thursday on a batch of powdered infant formula that was removed from more than 3,000 stores nationwide after a Missouri newborn who consumed it died from a rare infection. The…
