3/10 Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Ford workers approve union contract that freezes wages (AP) March 9, 2009 at 6:29 pm AP - Unionized workers at Ford Motor Co. have approved contract changes that include freezing wages and cutting benefits in a move aimed at helping the automaker remain competitive. The United Auto Workers said Monday a majority of hourly workers voted in favor of modifications to the 2007 contract with Ford, eliminating cost-of-living increases and cash bonuses. Obama orders review of Bush's signing statements (AP) March 9, 2009 at 6:29 pm AP - President Barack Obama on Monday ordered a review of George W. Bush's guidelines for implementing legislation passed by Congress, at the same time saying that he would employ his own version of how he wants the government to follow the law. Blagojevich fails to get prosecutors off his case (AP) March 9, 2009 at 6:06 pm AP - A federal judge has turned down a request from impeached former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to have Chicago's top federal prosecutor and his staff thrown off the corruption case against him. U.S. says Chinese vessels harassed Navy ship (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 5:16 pm Reuters - The United States Monday urged China to observe international maritime rules after the Pentagon said five Chinese ships, including a naval vessel, harassed a U.S. Navy ship in international waters. Lawyers seek global forum to handle Madoff cases (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 4:13 pm Reuters - A coalition of lawyers called for a new international forum on Monday to handle legal issues spurred by the purported $50 billion fraud of once-respected Wall Street trader Bernard Madoff. Study: Belligerent chimp proves animals make plans (AP) March 9, 2009 at 3:45 pm AP - A canny chimpanzee who calmly collected a stash of rocks and then hurled them at zoo visitors in fits of rage has confirmed that apes can plan ahead just like humans, a Swedish study said Monday. Santino the chimpanzee's anti-social behavior stunned both visitors and keepers at the Furuvik Zoo but fascinated researchers because it was so carefully prepared. Police: Man offers $69 for Klondike bar down pants (AP) March 9, 2009 at 3:42 pm AP - What would you do for a Klondike bar? Authorities said a man shoved an ice cream bar down his pants and then offered a Texaco station store owner $69 not to turn him in for shoplifting. The owner told police that a 65-year-old man tried to sneak the Klondike bar, along with packages of Ramen noodles and Famous Amos cookies, out of the store without paying Tuesday night. Swiss man jailed for sex blackmail of BMW heiress (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 3:00 pm Reuters - A former Swiss investment banker was jailed for six years on Monday for trying to blackmail Germany's wealthiest woman, heiress to the BMW car empire, with secret video of their lovemaking. U.S. sees only modest troop cuts in Iraq this year (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 2:34 pm Reuters - A top U.S. commander said on Monday he did not foresee any additional troop cuts in Iraq in 2009, noting that a strong force would be needed to secure national elections expected at the end of the year. Stocks fluctuate as investors battle uncertainty (AP) March 9, 2009 at 11:53 am AP - Wall Street is struggling to find a direction as investors vacillate between hopes for the financial sector and pessimism about the broader economy's slide. Obama to lift stem cell restrictions (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 11:47 am Reuters - President Barack Obama will lift controversial restrictions on human stem cell research on Monday and sign a pledge to take politics out of science, the White House says, a clear repudiation of the approach taken by his predecessor George W. Bush. Iran says U.S. failing in Afghanistan (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 11:36 am Reuters - Iran said on Monday the United States was failing in Afghanistan and should recognize a new approach is needed, four days after Washington said it would invite Tehran to a conference to discuss its neighbor. Buffett says economy fell off cliff (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 11:27 am Reuters - Warren Buffett said on Monday the U.S. economy had "fallen off a cliff" but would eventually recover, although a rebound could kindle inflation worse than that experienced in the late 1970s. Merck buying Schering-Plough in a $41.1B deal (AP) March 9, 2009 at 11:22 am AP - Merck & Co. is buying Schering-Plough Corp. for $41.1 billion in a deal that gives Merck key new businesses, access to a promising pipeline of new products and the chance to cut costs by $3.5 billion more per year, including eliminating about 16,000 jobs. Warren Buffett says economy fell off a cliff (AP) March 9, 2009 at 11:20 am AP - Billionaire Warren Buffett said unemployment will likely climb a lot higher depending upon how effective the nation's policies are, but he remains optimistic over the long term. Court refuses to expand minority voting rights (AP) March 9, 2009 at 11:15 am AP - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that electoral districts must have a majority of African-Americans or other minorities to be protected by a provision of the Voting Rights Act. Pentagon: Chinese vessels harassed unarmed ship (AP) March 9, 2009 at 11:10 am AP - The Pentagon charged Monday that five Chinese ships shadowed and maneuvered dangerously close to a U.S. Navy vessel in an apparent attempt to harass the American crew. U2 announces concert dates for European tour (AP) March 9, 2009 at 10:57 am AP - Irish rock band U2 has announced concert dates for a European tour. U.S. public transit 2008 ridership highest in 52 years (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 10:31 am Reuters - Facing volatile energy prices and a major economic downturn, Americans turned to public transportation more in 2008 than they have in over 50 years, a transit group said on Monday. Obama to reverse Bush limits on stem cell research (AFP) March 9, 2009 at 10:30 am AFP - US President Barack Obama was Monday to wipe out another contentious aspect of his predecessor George W. Bush's legacy by removing curbs on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Tsvangirai rules out foul play in car crash (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 9:42 am Reuters - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday ruled out foul play as the cause of a car crash that injured him and killed his wife, easing concerns that it would increase tensions in the new government. Merck to buy Schering-Plough for $41.1 billion (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 9:21 am Reuters - Merck & Co Inc said on Monday that it would acquire Schering-Plough Corp for $41.1 billion, uniting the makers of cholesterol drugs Zetia and Vytorin in the second megadeal for Big Pharma in weeks. N. Korea threatens war if satellite shot down (AP) March 9, 2009 at 9:10 am AP - North Korea put its armed forces on standby Monday and threatened "a war" if anyone tries to shoot down what regional powers suspect is an imminent test-firing of a long-range missile. Obama's call on moderate Taliban useless: analysts (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 8:47 am Reuters - President Barack Obama's proposal to reach out to moderate Taliban will fail to end the Afghan insurgency as it is inflexible Taliban leaders who are orchestrating the war, not moderates, analysts said. NKorea puts military on full combat alert (AFP) March 9, 2009 at 8:17 am AFP - North Korea put its military on full combat alert as US and South Korean troops began a major joint exercise on Monday. 16 arrested in fight at nonviolence concert (AP) March 9, 2009 at 7:17 am AP - Montgomery County police say 16 people were arrested after a fight broke out during a concert held to promote nonviolence and to remember a Silver Spring teen killed last year. AIG warned of global turmoil before rescue: report (Reuters) March 9, 2009 at 5:20 am Reuters - American International Group Inc had warned of turmoil around the globe if the government allowed the insurer to fail when it appealed to U.S. regulators for its latest rescue, Bloomberg said citing an AIG presentation dated February 26.