Obama pledges $100M to Haiti for aid
Recent News
U.S. President Barack Obama said $100 million would be available immediately to provide equipment, food, water and medicine to earthquake-ravaged Haiti. "This investment will grow over the coming year as we embark on the long-term recovery from this unimaginable tragedy," Obama said.
The first w...
"Candle of Hope" legislation passed early morning Christmas Eve.
Democrats in the United States Senate have passed the first major health care reform bill since the 1960s. The bill would extend health care coverage to an additional 31 million Americans who are currently without coverage. Not a ...
New York: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging countries to seize the opportunity presented by next month´s climate change conference in Copenhagen to clinch a political agreement that will help chart the way forward on a new legally binding pact to combat global warming.
"Opportunity is knock...
At 11:15 p.m. Eastern Time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the historic passage of a health care bill revamping the health care system and bringing about the reforms promised by President Obama during the November 2008 election.
The vote was 220 to 215 with one Republican, Representative C...
$1 billion minimum required annually to reach children still at risk.
WASHINGTON, DC | GENEVA -- Reversing a downward trend, immunization rates are now at their highest ever and vaccine development worldwide is booming, according to a new assessment released today by the World Health Organizati...
Barely nine months into office, President Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize, substantially boosting his prestige and standing in the United States and internationally.
The Nobel Committee said the President won the award for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diploma...
More than 400 of the nation's most respected health care leaders issued a joint Open Letter to Congress declaring that the health care system is in crisis and is unsustainable and calling on Congress to act now on meaningful reforms. They state that Congress has a moral and ethical obligation to imp...
Speaking to a joint session of Congress last night, President Obama gave a clear, inspiring and unusually detailed explanation of our nation´s health care crisis and his plan to address it.
The President outlined the two key goals of health care reform: safety and security for those already insu...
Stay in school and take personal responsibility are two messages President Barack Obama delivered to U.S. school children.
Obama's speech to the nation's school children Tuesday encouraged them to do the best they can.
"(At) the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most...
The number of people hit by deadly floods across West Africa has now topped 600,000, and the heavy rains have also destroyed crops and infrastructure in a region already hard hit by poverty, the United Nations humanitarian arm reported today.
The rains that began in June have claimed nearly 160 l...
GENEVA -- Monitoring of outbreaks from different parts of the world provides sufficient information to make some tentative conclusions about how the influenza pandemic might evolve in the coming months.
WHO is advising countries in the northern hemisphere to prepare for a second wave of pandemic ...
A strong earthquake struck Indonesia Wednesday, killing at least 13 people, injuring 18 others and damaging several older buildings, witnesses said.
The earthquake, centered about 150 miles from Jakarta, initially was categorized at 7.4 magnitude before being downgraded to 7 by geological official...
By William M. Welch
LOS ANGELES -- Two firefighters died in a wildfire Sunday in the San Gabriel Mountains that threatened more than 10,000 homes and the century-old Mount Wilson Observatory.
Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Mike Bryant said the two firefighters died in the Angeles Nationa...
Praise for the long political career of U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., began coming in early Wednesday as word of his death was reported.
The Kennedy family released a brief statement announcing the death and thanking those who cared for the senator in his last months.
"He loved this count...
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told assembled bankers and policymakers in Wyoming Friday to expect the U.S. economy to grow soon.
"Fears of financial collapse have receded substantially," Bernanke said at the Fed's annual retreat in Jackson Hole.
"After contracting sharply over the...
A tropical storm warning was issued Sunday for Florida and Alabama as a tropical depression organized off the Gulf Coast, meteorologists said.
The depression, on the brink of becoming Tropical Storm Claudette, was located about 125 miles south-southeast of Apalachicola and moving toward the Florid...
By Karen Jeffrey, Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
HYANNIS -- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 88, an internationally acclaimed advocate for people with physical and development disabilities, died early this morning at Cape Cod Hospital, according to a statement from the family.
Born into the privilege...
Former Democratic President achieves diplomatic coup.
By Matt Williams
Two American reporters were freed from North Korea's notorious labour camps after former President Bill Clinton flew in for talks. Clinton met Kim Jong-il yesterday during a surprise visit to the secretive Asian state.
...
Inspectors General fault Bush-Era surveillance tactics for questionable effectiveness and circumvention of legal safeguards.
Top federal investigators from the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, CIA, Directorate of National Intelligence, and the National Security Agency issued a detai...
AVE MARIAH FOR MICHAEL; STARS FLOCK TO MEMORIAL AS 17,000 FANS FIND OUT OF THEY'VE GOT A TICKET
By Keith McLeod
Mariah Carey will sing the Jackson Five's classic I'll Be There as Tinseltown pays tribute to the King of Pop today.
Maria, who had a hit with the haunting ballad in 1992, is o...
Protesters hit the streets of Tehran again Tuesday to express anger over election results they say were manipulated to keep Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power.
The government has begun cracking down harder on the demonstrations that have turned deadly, while reaction from world leaders remains subdued, ...
By Marie McCullough, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The tobacco-control movement celebrated another milestone yesterday as the U.S. Senate easily passed a bill giving the government unprecedented power over the making and marketing of tobacco products.
Supporters say the law will enable the Food ...
By PAUL KANE; JOBY WARRICK
FORMER US vice-president Dick Cheney personally oversaw at least four briefings with senior members of Congress about controversial interrogation programmes, part of a secretive and forceful defence he mounted throughout 2005 in an effort to maintain support for the hars...
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has nominated federal judge Sonia Sotomayor of New York for the U.S. Supreme Court positioning the longtime federal jurist to become the first Hispanic member of the nation's high court.
Sotomayor, a former federal prosecutor who first was appointed to the fed...
North Korea claimed Monday it had "successfully" conducted a nuclear test, its second since October 2006, to "bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defense."
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported the testing comes in the wake of the Communist country's warning last month about its nuclear pla...
Poor weather conditions prevented the the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis from landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA said Friday.
The landing was rescheduled for Saturday.
Two landings were waved off at the center because weather conditions wouldn't permit a safe landing, the space agen...
Los Angeles - Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, sank six free throws in the final 30.5 seconds and came up with the game-sealing rebound in the final seconds, as the Lakers rallied to beat Denver, 105-103, in the opener of the Western Conference finals.
Bryant had 18 of his points in the fourth quarte...
By Tom Troy, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame University gave a thunderous welcome during Sunday's graduation ceremony to President Obama and cheered him throughout the program despite stark differences on abortion that prompted protests on the Catholic campus.
Mr. Obama w...
Pope Benedict XVI, in Israel on his Middle East tour, called for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would lead to a homeland for both sides.
The pontiff said, "I plead with all those responsible to explore every possible avenue in the search for a just resolution of the outstandin...
By Bangor Daily News, Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci on Wednesday signed a gay marriage bill passed just hours before by the Maine Legislature.
Baldacci made his announcement within an hour of the Maine Senate giving its final approval to LD 1020. The Senate voted 21-13 in favor o...
Washington – During a debate on hate crimes legislation taking place last week in the well of the United States House of Representatives, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) claimed that Matthew Shepard's murder and torture were "a hoax."
While Matthew's mother, Judy Shepard looked on from above in the H...
By DENIS STAUNTON
US SUPREME court justice David Souter is set to retire this summer, offering President Barack Obama his first opportunity to shape the court after almost a decade of conservative government.
Mr Obama yesterday declined to comment on Mr Souter's decision, which had yet to be m...
By ADAM THOMSON
Governments and health authorities worldwide went on the alert over the weekend for a possible influenza pandemic as the death toll from a new strain of swine flu in Mexico reached 81.
Janet Napolitano, US homeland security secretary, yesterday declared a "public health emergen...
By Sandy Bauers and John Shiffman, The Philadelphia Inquirer
WASHINGTON -- In a landmark move that countered eight years of inaction by the Bush administration, the Environmental Protection Agency determined yesterday that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare because they contribu...
By Rachel Stassen-Berger, Pioneer Press
Democrat Al Franken won last year's U.S. Senate race, three judges decided Monday.
The decision comes after a tough and testy two-year campaign, a two-month statewide hand recount and a detailed seven-week trial.
In the cool spring evening Monday, F...
Pope Benedict XVI began the Easter Vigil late Saturday at St. Peter's in Rome, celebrating the mass that opens the holiest day of the Christian calendar.
The service began in darkness, the BBC reported. After Benedict lit a candle to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he was joined by thousand...
Vote to override Governor's veto makes Vermont first state to recognize marriage for lesbian and gay couples through legislative process. Vermont becomes the fourth state to recognize gay marriage.
Momentum in favor of same-sex marriages increases following similar victory for marriage equality ...
By Rod Boshart, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
In a precedent-setting ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court Friday upheld a lower court decision legalizing same-sex marriages in Iowa.
The unanimous landmark decision is expected to carry national implications as Iowa becomes the first Midwest state...
By Erica Werner, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The House is poised to thrust tobacco companies under government control after years of attempts in legislatures and the courts to tame one of the country's signature industries.
"We cannot and we must not wait a moment longer to protect our...
By Vanessa Gera, The Associated Press
BONN, Germany - From an Antarctic research base to the Great Pyramids of Egypt and beyond, the world switched off the lights Saturday for Earth Hour, dimming skyscrapers, city streets and some of the world's most recognizable monuments for 60 minutes to high...
Top Headlines
Michael Jackson's personal physician pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges Monday in Los Angeles in connection with the pop icon's death.
Laura Chinchilla has become Costa Rica's first woman president after a festive weekend election, observers said Monday.
At least 5 more inches of snow was on tap early this week for the blizzard-weary U.S. mid-Atlantic states, forecasters said Monday.
Feb. 8--The record book will show it was Drew Brees, but the real MVP -- Most Valuable Performer -- of Super Bowl XLIV didn't throw a pass or make a tackle or score a touchdown.
TOYOTA'S prized Prius hybrid is in trouble - days after the company had to recall more than seven million other cars.
Super Bowl XLIV: Saints 31, Colts 17
WASHINGTON -- President Obama said his administration will make another attempt at revamping the nation's health care system as early as this month and that Republican ideas will be welcome from the start of the process.
Rescuers searched through wreckage Sunday for workers at a power plant in Middletown, Conn., after an explosion killed five people and injured at least a dozen, the mayor said.
Feb. 8--MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Nothing the Indianapolis Colts came up with confounded Drew Brees, but sitting in a big tent behind Sun Life Stadium, having just trod through the piles of glitter that descended after Brees led the New Orleans Saints to their first NFL championship, Brees struggled a bit.
Feb. 8--MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Who Dat, indeed.
AT least five people died and 12 were injured yesterday when a huge explosion levelled a gas power plant being built in Connecticut.
UP to 50 people are feared dead after a massive explosion at a US power plant yesterday.
PRESIDENT Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has raised the stakes once more in Iran's nuclear stand-off with the West, publicly instructing his officials on state television to start upgrading the country's stockpiles of uranium to a 20 per cent enrichment level.
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave instructions yesterday for the production of higher-grade nuclear reactor fuel, prompting the US and Germany to threaten carefully targeted new sanctions against Tehran.
Feb. 8--MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- A devastating explosion that was heard and felt for miles destroyed a power plant Sunday morning as workers purged a natural gas piping system, killing at least five and injuring many more, emergency response officers said.
Business
William Blair & Company today announced that Charles Watson has joined the firm's financial sponsors group as head of southeast coverage.
MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ --
TORONTO, Feb. 8 /CNW/ - Upper Canada Gold Corporation (formerly Washmax Corporation) (UCC-TSX-V, formerly WMC.H-NEX) ("Upper Canada" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that following completion of its reverse take-over, financing, consolidation, shares for debt and related transactions (as disclosed in the Corporation's press releases dated December 17, 2009 and it has now received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for the commencement of trading of its common shares under the symbol "UCC".
TORONTO, Feb. 8 /CNW/ - Mackenzie Financial Corporation ("Mackenzie Investments") is pleased to announce that on or about March 4, 2010, MSP 2008 Resource LP (the "Partnership") will transfer substantially all of its assets to Mackenzie Financial Capital Corporation ("Capitalcorp").
TORONTO, Feb. 8 /CNW/ - Medoro Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: MRS) is pleased to announce that it has acquired all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Colombia Gold plc pursuant to its previously announced offer.
NEW YORK, Feb. 8 /CNW/ -- Capital Gold Corporation (NYSE Amex: CGC; TSX: CGC) is pleased to announce preliminary production results for its second fiscal quarter of 2010 (ended January 31, 2010) at its 100% owned and operated El Chanate mine in Sonora, Mexico.
Feb. 8--Two investment firms that have done business with CalPERS and CalSTRS agreed to pay millions of dollars today to settle a placement-agent corruption probe in New York state.
TORONTO, Feb. 8 /CNW/ - Bullion Management Group Inc. (BMG) has expanded its line of precious metal bullion funds with the launch of BMG Gold BullionFund.
BEIJING, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Based on recent statistics from ChinaVenture's online data system CVSource, some new characteristics and trends have cropped up in China's Venture Capital (VC) market in 2009:
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to growth enterprises and the financial institutions that invest in and support them, today announced that Christopher W. Kirkham has become a partner at the firm.
Corex Gold Corp. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: CGE) has commenced drilling on its Santana gold project in Sonora State, Mexico.
VANCOUVER, Feb. 8 /CNW/ -
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to growth enterprises and the financial institutions that invest in and support them, today announced that Christopher W. Kirkham has become a partner at the firm.
Harris Williams & Co. announces that Agdata, a division of AGDATA, L.P., owned by founder Verl Purdy and Carousel Capital (Carousel), has been purchased by SFW Capital Partners, LLC (SFW).
NEW YORK, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Winston & Strawn LLP announced today that Lawrence A. Larose and Samuel S. Kohn have joined the firm's New York office as partners in the firm's Restructuring and Insolvency Group, and William J. Grant has joined as senior counsel in the Mergers and Acquisitions practice.
PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Nautical Capital Management LLC, an asset management company specializing in the development and management of diversified commodity portfolios, announced today the launch of its commodity-based absolute return strategies.
NEW YORK - A former Intel executive charged in a massive insider trading case has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud.
Sports
MIAMI - Reggie Wayne stared right through all those reporters.
MIAMI - Remember all that talk about how, without hardhitting, playmaking safety Bob Sanders, the Colts' defense was essentially naked, unable to stop anyone?
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A memorable season capped by a super title game with a record TV audience has NFL executives and fans beaming.
Feb. 7--This is in no way meant to rain on our South Florida Super Bowl party because I love the game (and commercials) as much as anyone, but when people suggest that the NFL championship is the most watched annual sporting event on the planet, they are mistaken.
With the return last Friday night of Keegan Hyland of South Portland, the Western Maine Class A boys' basketball tournament, which opens Friday night at the Portland Expo, just got a lot more interesting.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - By sometime before 11 o'clock tomorrow night NFL history will be made.
Feb. 8--MIAMI -- New Orleans knocked off Indianapolis Sunday night here at Sun Life Stadium 31-17 in Super Bowl LXIV.
Feb. 6--Oregon City couldn't find the range from long distance all game, except when it mattered the most -- on senior point guard Taylor Ward's game-tying three-pointer with one second left in regulation.
This Valentine's Day fans are skipping the chocolates and scheduling an unforgettable outing with those closest to them.
Feb. 6--If the New Orleans Saints were looking for somebody to carry their banner in the Mid-Atlantic, Jerome Meyinsse was the guy.
Lonely Saints and Colts fans need not worry - there are places around New York that will be turned into little slices of New Orleans and Indianapolis during tomorrow's Super Bowl.
The NCAA admitted this week its officials have chatted with conference commissioners, university presidents, and athletic directors about increasing the field for the Division I men's basketball tournament from 65 to 96 teams.
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees have agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Randy Winn.
Feb. 8--More than eight years after helping the University of Miami win the last of its five national championships, Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma shared the biggest win of their professional careers Sunday night, lifting the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl crown.
Feb. 8-- Super Bowl's super ratings
MIAMI - The names themselves tell you that it's really true: Everyone has a shot to play in this game.
What a difference a few inches can make.