Latest Top News

Last update: 8 days, 10 hours ago

Conservationists, developer reach major Calif. land deal 8 May 08, 23:38 ET AP - A group of environmentalists and the owners of a large stretch of wilderness have reached a deal that would set aside the largest parcel of land for conservation in California history. more The Law of Intended Consequences 8 May 08, 23:30 ET RealClearPolitics.com - In recent weeks, Congress has been furiously backtracking on ethanol, with Democrats considering legislation that would freeze ethanol subsidies and mandates at their current level, while Republicans are talking about rolling back the whole system. more Myanmar accused of seizing U.N. aid 8 May 08, 23:29 ET Myanmar's junta on Friday seized U.N. aid headed for cyclone survivors, prompting the world body to initially suspend help but then announce that it would resume shipments on Saturday. more Family of woman who died after airport arrest sues Phoenix 8 May 08, 23:06 ET AP - The family of a New York woman who died in police custody at the Phoenix airport sued the city Thursday, accusing officers of using excessive force and contributing to her death. more Most Energy Execs See Oil Below $100 This Year 8 May 08, 22:55 ET Even as oil prices ascended to new highs of more than $124 a barrel this week, many oil and gas industry executives say they expect the price to fall significantly by year's end, a new survey shows. more Spain claims $500 million in sunken treasure 8 May 08, 22:55 ET AP - Spain formally laid claim Thursday to a shipwreck that yielded a $500 million treasure, saying it has proof the vessel was Spanish. more "American Idol" hits another ratings low 8 May 08, 22:48 ET Reuters - Another Wednesday, another win for Fox's "American Idol" -- and another five-year ratings low. more Oldest gorilla looks fabulous at 55 8 May 08, 22:38 ET A gorilla recognized as the world's oldest in captivity celebrated her 55th birthday by munching down a four-layer frozen fruit cake and banana leaf wrapped treats. more The six scariest real estate markets 8 May 08, 22:30 ET With the housing crunch upon us, you'd be wise to choose your markets carefully. Real estate expert Barbara Corcoran reveals which areas to avoid — and which to embrace. more Dumbest move EVER made on 'Survivor' 8 May 08, 22:14 ET The most naive move was made on “Survivor” when the winner of the immunity challenge gives up the necklace and seals their fate before a hysterical jury. more Driver kills dog, sues owners for damage 8 May 08, 21:39 ET The driver of a 1997 Honda Civic that struck and killed a dog in Minnesota is suing the dog's owners for damage done to his vehicle. more Mom pregnant with 18th child 8 May 08, 21:35 ET The Duggar kids planned a big Mother's Day surprise for their mom this year — but the surprise was on them when Michelle Duggar announced on the TODAY Show that they were soon to welcome an 18th sibling. more Obama accuses McCain of 'losing his bearings' 8 May 08, 21:30 ET AP - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that Republican John McCain was "losing his bearings" for repeatedly suggesting the Islamic terrorist group Hamas preferred Obama for president. more Al-Qaida in Iraq leader reported arrested 8 May 08, 21:23 ET AP - Iraqi police commandos captured the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq in a raid in the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi officials said Thursday, in what could mark a significant blow to the Sunni insurgency in its last urban stronghold. more 1st big foreign aid flights finally let in by Myanmar junta 8 May 08, 21:23 ET AP - Myanmar's military regime allowed in the first major international aid shipment Thursday, but it snubbed a U.S. offer to help cyclone victims struggling to recover from a tragedy of unimaginable scale. more Records give peek at polygamist clans 8 May 08, 21:11 ET Hand-scrawled bishop's records taken from a polygamist sect are helping untangle the network of family relationships at the Texas ranch, where some husbands had more than a dozen wives. more Omaha man uses steak knife to perform self-tracheotomy 8 May 08, 21:09 ET AP - An Omaha man struggling to breathe used a steak knife to perform an at-home tracheotomy. Steve Wilder said he thought he was going to die when he awoke one night last week and couldn't breath. more Israeli PM denies taking illicit donations from American 8 May 08, 21:03 ET AP - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denied fresh accusations that he illegally accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from a U.S. citizen, but said Thursday night that he will step down if he is indicted. more 7 more cops pulled from Philly streets over taped beating 8 May 08, 21:01 ET AP - Seven more police officers were taken off street duty Thursday as investigators look into the videotaped police beating of three shooting suspects during a traffic stop. more 'CSI' star Gary Dourdan charged with felony drug possession 8 May 08, 20:58 ET AP - "CSI" co-star Gary Dourdan has been charged with felony possession of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy stemming from his arrest last month, prosecutors said. more Liv Tyler and husband split but still "friends": report 8 May 08, 20:47 ET Reuters - Hollywood actress Liv Tyler and her husband, British rocker Royston Langdon, have separated after five years of marriage, according to a report in People magazine. more New health woes as China moves from famine to feast 8 May 08, 20:29 ET Reuters - Evening exercise classes at the Nirvana fitness centre in Beijing are in high demand these days as young professionals whose mothers once counted ration cards seek to stay svelte despite lavish lunches. more Huge Texas sinkhole's appetite decreasing, officials say 8 May 08, 20:21 ET AP - Geologists said a 260-foot-deep sinkhole that grew to the length of three football fields over just two days seemed to be slowing down Thursday, but that it could take months before it's clear whether surrounding areas are stable. more Jeff Probst: Surviving 16 seasons of `Survivor' 8 May 08, 20:21 ET AP - After all this time, you don't associate Jeff Probst with traffic gridlock, yowling sirens, or office towers crowding the sky. more Commencement readers cram to prep for tongue-twister names 8 May 08, 20:08 ET AP - A week from Saturday, 453 new graduates will cross the commencement stage on the lawn of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. Among them: Nokuthula Sikhethiwe Kitikiti, Udochukwu Chinyere Obodo, and Baitnairamdal Otgonshar. more President Bush in Texas for daughter Jenna's wedding 8 May 08, 20:08 ET AP - President Bush stuck out his right elbow Thursday, jokingly demonstrating how he'll escort his daughter down the aisle at her wedding this weekend. more Obama gets big welcome, fresh support on Capitol tour 8 May 08, 20:06 ET AP - Sen. Barack Obama got a front-runner's welcome back at the Capitol Thursday, pressing congressional "superdelegates" to support him in a visit that had the look and feel of a campaign victory lap. more WORRIER CAN TURN DEAF EAR TO BARRAGE OF BAD NEWS 8 May 08, 19:59 ET Dear Abby - DEAR ABBY: I have been reading your column most of my adult life, but I don't ever remember seeing any letters from people who are just afraid of life. more Church records offer rare look inside polygamist families 8 May 08, 19:51 ET AP - Hand-scrawled records taken from a polygamist sect are helping untangle the spider-web network of family relationships at the Yearning For Zion ranch, where some husbands had more than a dozen wives. more Woman files claim, saying dog feces ruined family outing 8 May 08, 19:44 ET AP - A New York woman has filed a $100 claim against Norwalk saying a family outing to the Maritime Aquarium was ruined by dog feces. The woman claims her child's shoes, along with the entire outing, were ruined when her 1-year-old stepped in dog feces outside the Maritime Garage. more Migrant smuggler gets life for deadly U.S. crash 8 May 08, 19:23 ET Reuters - A Mexican smuggler responsible for an accident that killed 10 illegal immigrants in the Arizona desert two years ago was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison. more Clinton asks supers to commit in private 8 May 08, 19:10 ET Politico - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit to Capitol Hill this week may have been more about weighing her support than it was about wooing superdelegates. more Lost in the Holocaust: experts plumb newly opened archive 8 May 08, 19:03 ET AP - A mother and child separated. A father's war wound. An uncle's name on a list. more How Iron Man was trounced by a scruffy car thief 8 May 08, 18:54 ET AP - Niko Bellic is richer than Tony Stark. more Gorilla celebrates her 55th birthday with frozen cake 8 May 08, 18:26 ET AP - Jenny, recognized as the world's oldest living gorilla in captivity, celebrated her 55th birthday Thursday with a four-layer frozen fruit cake and banana leaf wrapped treats at her wooded home in the Dallas Zoo. more Obama open to Clinton as possible running mate 8 May 08, 18:12 ET Reuters - Democrat Barack Obama on Thursday did not rule out selecting rival Hillary Clinton as his vice presidential running mate if he ultimately defeats her in a race in which he has an almost insurmountable lead. more Israeli PM Olmert suspected of receiving funds 8 May 08, 18:06 ET AP - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, responding to fresh accusations that he illegally accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from a U.S. citizen, on Thursday said he will step down if he is indicted. more Adkins records opening song for 'Black Gold' TV series 8 May 08, 18:02 ET AP - Trace Adkins, a former oil roughneck, has written and recorded a song called "Black Gold" that will open an upcoming truTV series of the same name. more Kick the oil habit and make your own ethanol 8 May 08, 18:00 ET Reuters - A new company hopes drivers will kick the oil habit by brewing ethanol at home that won't spike food prices. more At 50, Alec Baldwin ponders political career 8 May 08, 17:53 ET Reuters - Alec Baldwin, who has played all kinds of heroes and villains on stage and screen, says he may be ready to take on a new role -- that of real-life politician. more Manta ray released from Bahamas resort 8 May 08, 17:48 ET AP - A 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) manta ray was returned to the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after three years as a research subject and tourist attraction at a Bahamian resort. more Why Clinton Stands to Lose Millions 8 May 08, 17:32 ET U.S. News & World Report - With rounds to fight running out, the self-described Rocky Balboa of politics will soon be forced to assess the damage sustained by the most expensive primary bout in history. Sen. Hillary Clinton doled out $6.4 million of her own money to her campaign since April, her campaign told reporters this week. That brings her total cash outlay to more than $11 million since January. And she's not ruling out spending more as she plans to compete in the six remaining contests. If she plans to knock out heavyweight fundraising champ, Sen. Barack Obama, she may have no other choice. more Iraqi army says Iraqi al-Qaida leader arrested 8 May 08, 17:24 ET AP - The leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was arrested in the northern city of Mosul, the Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman said Thursday. more Deadly battles as Hezbollah says Lebanon 'declares war' 8 May 08, 17:16 ET AFP - Deadly gunbattles erupted in Beirut on Thursday after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah charged that a Lebanese government crackdown on his group was tantamount to a "declaration of war," stoking fears of a full-blown sectarian conflict. more Clinton presses on, urges supporters to ignore calls to quit 8 May 08, 17:04 ET AP - Her voice raspy, her tone determined, Hillary Rodham Clinton urged her supporters on Thursday to ignore the political pundits who have declared her toast. more Medical know-how raises suicide risk for doctors 8 May 08, 16:57 ET AP - There's a grim, rarely talked-about twist to all that medical know-how doctors learn to save lives: It makes them especially good at ending their own. An estimated 300 to 400 U.S. doctors kill themselves each year - a suicide rate thought to be higher than in the general population, although exact figures are hard to come by. more New rule would limit insurers contact with elderly, disabled 8 May 08, 16:57 ET AP - Agents selling private health insurance plans to the elderly and disabled would be barred from cold-calling, door-to-door solicitations and pitching their products outside hospital waiting rooms or pharmacies, under a federal rule proposed Thursday. more World to End in 2012 (Check Back for Updates) 8 May 08, 16:55 ET LiveScience.com - Three children were recently removed from a remote church compound called Strong City in New Mexico. There had been allegations that children at the cult may have been sexually abused, though the matter remains under investigation and charges have yet to be filed. more Obama accuses McCain of 'losing his bearings' with comment 8 May 08, 16:53 ET AP - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that Republican rival John McCain tried to smear him and was "losing his bearings" with the suggestion that Hamas preferred Obama for president. more Chilean troops force volcano evacuations 8 May 08, 16:47 ET AP - Police and soldiers cleared the last remaining people from the shadow of a Chilean volcano on Thursday after a strong, overnight explosion spewed glowing-hot rocks from its crater. more U.S. economic anxiety hits women harder: study 8 May 08, 16:39 ET Reuters - The U.S. economic downturn has spread personal financial worries far and wide, but women are more worried about paying bills, losing jobs, providing for children and saving for retirement, according to a study released on Thursday. more More than half of US diabetics have arthritis 8 May 08, 16:39 ET AP - More than half of U.S. adults with diabetes also have arthritis, raising a serious obstacle for diabetic patients urged to exercise, according to a government study. more House passes major housing rescue bill 8 May 08, 16:30 ET Reuters - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill to create a $300 billion mortgage-insurance fund and provide billions more in homeowner aid to stabilize a housing market shaken by a wave of foreclosures. more Study of 'Daily Show': It's a lot like O'Reilly 8 May 08, 16:10 ET AP - A journalism think tank studying "The Daily Show" doesn't believe many people get their news from Jon Stewart - because otherwise they wouldn't get the jokes. more Oil rallies to record $124 on strong diesel demand 8 May 08, 16:03 ET Reuters - Oil rallied back from early losses on Thursday to strike a fresh record above $124 a barrel as strong diesel demand outweighed signs of rising OPEC supplies. more Americans still unclear about stroke warning signs 8 May 08, 15:59 ET Reuters - Fewer than half of Americans can recognize the top five warning signs of stroke, information that could help save thousands of people from death and disability, the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention said on Thursday. more Bryant unanimous pick for All-NBA team 8 May 08, 15:55 ET AP - Kobe Bryant added another honor Thursday to go with his MVP award, becoming the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team. more Free software takes on Microsoft Office 8 May 08, 15:50 ET Reuters - Pierre Avignon is no pirate, but he does not believe in paying for software. His computer is filled with programs like Symphony -- a free suite that he downloaded from an International Business Machines Corp website (http://symphony.lotus.com). more Georgia warns of war risk with Russia 8 May 08, 15:46 ET AFP - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili warned Thursday of a risk of war with Russia amid tension over a separatist region, as Moscow began dual leadership under President Dmitry Medvedev and his mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. more Malaria, diarrhea reported after storm hits Myanmar 8 May 08, 15:44 ET AP - Health experts are scrambling to prevent widespread illness after reports of malaria outbreaks and diarrhea surfaced in areas of Myanmar hardest hit by a cyclone, U.N. health officials said Thursday. more Minn. driver kills dog, then sues owners for damage 8 May 08, 15:42 ET AP - The driver of a 1997 Honda Civic that struck and killed a dog near Cloquet is suing the dog's owners for damage done to his vehicle. Jeffery Ely was driving on the night of Jan. 4 when Fester, a miniature pinscher, squeezed past owner Nikki Munthe as she was letting in her other dog and ran out onto the road. Ely's car struck Fester, killing the 13-pound dog instantly. more Federal judge orders Vick to pay Canadian bank $2.4M 8 May 08, 15:37 ET AP - A federal judge ordered imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than $2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan. The Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in September, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge - and the resulting impact on his career - prevented him from repaying the loan. more Acting Mexican police chief killed 8 May 08, 15:26 ET AP - Mexico's acting federal police chief was shot dead Thursday outside his home - a brazen attack that comes as drug traffickers increasingly lash back at a nationwide crackdown on organized crime. more Mother Nature Still in Charge 8 May 08, 15:25 ET LiveScience.com - The Myanmar cyclone. The earthquake off the coast of Japan. The Chilean volcano. Has Earth gone bonkers? more AP IMPACT: The people in Obama's army of small donors 8 May 08, 15:12 ET AP - Kriss Riggs isn't one to spend her money on politicians. more Underground sport: Saudi women shed veils to play basketball 8 May 08, 15:02 ET AP - The players bounded into the gym, shedding their long black cloaks and veils to take to the basketball court. Up this night: Jeddah United against the Jaguars, as 30 women spectators hooted and hollered from the stands. more New idea in mortuary science: Dissolving bodies with lye 8 May 08, 14:46 ET AP - Since they first walked the planet, humans have either buried or burned their dead. Now a new option is generating interest - dissolving bodies in lye and flushing the brownish, syrupy residue down the drain. more Facebook, states set bullying, predator safeguards 8 May 08, 14:36 ET AP - Facebook, the world's second-largest social networking Web site, is adding more than 40 new safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyberbullies, attorneys general from several states said Thursday. more Ancient seaweed chews confirm age of Chilean site 8 May 08, 14:34 ET Reuters - Bits of chewed-up or burned seaweed discarded more than 14,000 years ago confirm that people were in Chile at least that long ago and shed light on what their culture was like, researchers reported on Thursday. more Ne-Yo bringing awareness to foster care system 8 May 08, 14:18 ET AP - When he was younger, Ne-Yo watched from afar as his friends hugged their fathers - and he wondered where his dad might be. more `CSI' star Gary Dourdan charged with felony drug possession 8 May 08, 14:05 ET AP - "CSI" co-star Gary Dourdan has been charged with felony possession of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy stemming from his arrest last month, prosecutors said. more Mental Illness Costs U.S. Billions in Lost Earnings 8 May 08, 14:02 ET HealthDay - THURSDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Serious mental illness costs Americans at least $193 billion a year in lost earnings alone, a new report shows. more Cyclone Nargis had all the makings of `a perfect storm' 8 May 08, 14:01 ET AP - It was Asia's answer to Hurricane Katrina. Packing winds upwards of 120 mph, Cyclone Nargis became one of Asia's deadliest storms by hitting land at one of the lowest points in Myanmar and setting off a storm surge that reached 25 miles inland. more Seaweed provides clues to earliest inhabitants of Americas 8 May 08, 14:00 ET AP - Remains of meals that included seaweed are helping confirm the date of a settlement in southern Chile that may offer the earliest evidence of humans in the Americas. more Gas tax battle was a political gift to Obama 8 May 08, 13:35 ET Reuters - The heated presidential campaign battle over a federal gas tax holiday turned out to be a much needed gift for Barack Obama -- and he can thank Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. more Clinton Rejects Latest Michigan Delegate Plan 8 May 08, 13:29 ET CQPolitics.com - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday rejected a compromise plan to seat Michigan's delegates to the national convention that would give 69 delegates to Clinton and 59 to Barack Obama. more Half of diabetics in U.S. have arthritis, CDC says 8 May 08, 13:09 ET Reuters - People with diabetes are twice as likely to have arthritis, putting them in a double bind as the pain in their joints keeps them from getting the exercise they need to keep both diseases at bay, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday. more Top lawmaker reprimands drugmakers over ads 8 May 08, 13:09 ET Reuters - Pharmaceutical companies need to be more responsible in touting their products to consumers or else face tighter controls from Congress, a top U.S. Democratic lawmaker said on Thursday. more Overlooked in the global food crisis: A problem with dirt 8 May 08, 13:09 ET AP - Science has provided the souped-up seeds to feed the world, through biotechnology and old-fashioned crossbreeding. Now the problem is the dirt they're planted in. more Cindy McCain says she'll never release her tax returns 8 May 08, 13:02 ET AP - Cindy McCain says she will never make her tax returns public even if her husband wins the White House and she becomes the first lady. more Canadian teen makes sticky molecule in bid to diagnose, prevent flu 8 May 08, 12:50 ET AFP - A Canadian high school student has won a national science competition for her new molecule that binds to flu viruses, which may eventually be used to diagnose or prevent flu infections. more Sexy orchids do more than embarrass wasps? 8 May 08, 12:47 ET Reuters - Orchids that mimic female wasps may not only waste the time of the male wasps they lure into spreading their pollen -- they also seduce them into wasting valuable sperm, Australian researchers reported on Wednesday. more You want fries with that? YES!!!! 8 May 08, 12:47 ET Reuters - The Swiss government has agreed to ease restrictions on the importation of potatoes following fears that Euro 2008 soccer fans could face a shortage of French fries next month. more Woman fired for giving 16-cent treat to toddler 8 May 08, 12:46 ET Reuters - An attendant at a Canadian restaurant who was sacked for giving a bite-sized doughnut, worth 16 cents, to an agitated toddler was given her job back on Thursday after the case received wide media attention. more Portrait of Heath Ledger wins Australian art award 8 May 08, 12:34 ET AP - A portrait of Hollywood star Heath Ledger painted weeks before his death has won an Australian art award. more Pelvic floor maladies can impact women's sex life 8 May 08, 12:15 ET Reuters - Incontinence and other disorders of the pelvic organs can take a toll on a woman's sex life, a new study suggests. more Detained Reuters photographer released in Zimbabwe 8 May 08, 12:11 ET Reuters - A Reuters photographer detained for three days in Zimbabwe for allegedly using a satellite phone to send pictures was released on bail on Thursday. more Beirut gunbattles as Hezbollah says govt 'declares war' 8 May 08, 11:59 ET AFP - Fierce gunbattles erupted in Beirut on Thursday after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah charged that a Lebanese government crackdown on his group's activities was tantamount to a "declaration of war." more Clashes erupt for second day in Lebanon 8 May 08, 11:40 ET AP - Witnesses and security officials say Shiite supporters of Hezbollah and Sunni backers of Lebanon's U.S.-allied government are clashing with automatic rifles and grenades. more Country music legend Eddy Arnold dead at 89 8 May 08, 11:35 ET Reuters - Eddy Arnold, country music's "Tennessee Plowboy" whose rendition of "Make the World Go Away" was an international hit in the 1960s, died on Thursday at age 89 in Nashville after a lengthy illness. more Obama doing a victory lap on House floor 8 May 08, 11:35 ET Politico - Talk about a good place to do some superdelegate lobbying. more Jammys bring Phish together again; awards show to end 8 May 08, 11:34 ET AP - Though the Jammy Awards were able to bring together the members of Phish for the first time since they broke up four years ago, the reunion may not have been everything Phish-heads had hoped for. more US diplomat receives key North Korean nuclear documents 8 May 08, 11:33 ET AP - North Korea turned over key nuclear weapons documents to a visiting U.S. diplomat Thursday, a senior State Department official said. It was a step toward the Bush administration's goal of a full accounting of the isolated regime's nuclear past. more OBAMA: THE OTHER WHITE MEAT 8 May 08, 11:10 ET Ted Rall - NEW YORK--I argue with my friends. Some of them thought invading Iraq was a good idea. more AMERICANS' GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS 8 May 08, 11:10 ET Maggie Gallagher - You'd never guess it listening to Obama or Hillary talk, but Americans are among the happiest people on Earth. more ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO 8 May 08, 11:10 ET Ann Coulter - Well, it looks like it's the end of the road for Hillary. Time for her to pack up her pantsuits and go back to ... wherever it is she's pretending to be living these days. Now we just have to get rid of the other two. Perhaps if I endorse Obama ... more Experts check to see if tornadoes caused damage in Oklahoma 8 May 08, 10:51 ET AP - Experts picked through debris and damage Thursday to determine whether tornadoes touched down after severe storms moved through the state, toppling trees and knocking out power to thousands of people. more Interpol says suspected pedophile caught in New Jersey 8 May 08, 10:33 ET AP - Interpol says U.S. authorities have detained a suspected pedophile in New Jersey two days after the international police agency called for public help to catch him. more Biographer: Country superstar Eddy Arnold dies at 89 8 May 08, 10:24 ET AP - Eddy Arnold, whose mellow baritone on songs like "Make the World Go Away" made him one of the most successful country singers in history, died Thursday morning, days short of his 90th birthday. more 'Crimeserver' Discovered with Treasure Trove of Stolen Data 8 May 08, 10:23 ET NewsFactor - Cybercriminals collect a treasure trove of data from Web surfers whose computers are infected with Trojans. That's all-too-common news these days, but a recent case shows that the problem is getting worse. Finjan Inc., which makes secure Web gateway products, discovered a server in Malaysia being used by hackers to store more than 1.4 gigabytes of stolen data. What surprised the Finjan researchers was that the data was stolen from businesses as well as individuals -- and it was amassed in just three weeks. more Russian parliament confirms Putin as prime minister 8 May 08, 10:10 ET AP - Vladimir Putin was named prime minister of Russia Thursday after a fervent speech full of ambitious plans that overshadowed his low-key successor and suggested that he will keep a strong hand in ruling the country. more Ex-Patriots employee sends league eight tapes 8 May 08, 10:08 ET Reuters - Videotapes to be sent to the NFL by a former New England Patriots employee will show the team violated league rules by recording coaches' signals from opposing teams between 2000 and 2002, the NFL said Thursday. more Clinton aide predicts race will be over by June 8 May 08, 09:54 ET Reuters - Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman said on Thursday he believes the Democrats will have a presidential nominee in June and that if it is not Clinton, she will campaign for rival Barack Obama. more US the main obstacle to Mideast peace: Iran leader 8 May 08, 09:52 ET AFP - Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran's arch-foe the United States was the main obstacle to resolving both the crisis in Iraq and the Palestinian question. more US, Russia trade diplomatic expulsions 8 May 08, 09:41 ET AP - U.S. officials say Russia has ordered two American military attaches at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to leave the country following the expulsion of a pair of Russian diplomats from Washington. more Israel celebrates its 60th with pride, but also uncertainty 8 May 08, 09:25 ET AP - Israel staged its 60th birthday bash with fireworks, air force flyovers and a great sense of pride Thursday, but also with uncertainty about its future and doubts about prospects for peace with the Palestinians.