3/21 Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Pope condemns sorcery, urges Angolans to convert (AP) March 21, 2009 at 7:22 am AP - Pope Benedict XVI appealed to the Catholics of Angola on Saturday to reach out to and convert believers in witchcraft who feel threatened by "spirits" and "evil powers" of sorcery. Doctor: Lack of medical helicopter cost actress (AP) March 21, 2009 at 7:18 am AP - As a steady stream of celebrities pay their last respects to Natasha Richardson, questions are arising over whether a medical helicopter might have been able to save the ailing actress. Iran's supreme leader dismisses Obama overtures (AP) March 21, 2009 at 7:16 am AP - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed overtures from President Barack Obama on Saturday, saying Tehran does not see any change in U.S. policy under its new administration. Mexico captures "drug lord" accused of U.S. attack (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 6:32 am Reuters - Soldiers on Friday captured a man Mexico calls a drug kingpin who is accused of attacking a U.S. consulate and killing nine soldiers, in the second major arrest this week in the country's drug war. North Korea says holding 2 Americans (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 6:18 am Reuters - North Korea reopened a military hotline with the South on Saturday, a day after Washington and Seoul ended annual defense drills Pyongyang had called preparations for an invasion. Obama makes pitch for budget priorities (AP) March 21, 2009 at 6:11 am AP - President Barack Obama says that while the details may change, any budget passed by Congress must cut the deficit, reform health care, invest in education and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Iran to U.S.: "You change, our behavior will change" (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 6:10 am Reuters - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday U.S. President Barack Obama's offer of better ties was just a "slogan," but pledged Tehran would respond to any real policy shift by Washington. Iran ready to change if US leads way: Khamenei (AFP) March 21, 2009 at 6:07 am AFP - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that the Islamic republic is ready to change if US President Barack Obama leads the way by changing American attitude towards his country. Siena beats Ohio State in double overtime, 74-72 (AP) March 21, 2009 at 5:39 am AP - Siena strikes again. Ronald Moore hit a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in the second overtime — from the identical spot he made one at the end of the first OT — as the Saints beat eighth-seeded Ohio State 74-72 on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament. No. 13 Cleveland St. shocks Wake Forest 84-69 (AP) March 21, 2009 at 5:39 am AP - Some 23 years later, Cleveland State still has a knack for first-round shockers in the NCAA tournament. Alaska and Florida consider bans on bestiality (AP) March 21, 2009 at 5:38 am AP - It's a subject that can cause nervous snickering, a little uneasiness and even a few bad jokes. NKorea says 2 US reporters detained, investigated (AP) March 21, 2009 at 5:35 am AP - North Korea detained two Americans for illegally crossing its border and is investigating them, the communist country's official news agency said Saturday. US Post Service looks for new ways to cut losses (AP) March 21, 2009 at 5:32 am AP - The U.S. Postal Service has already suggested dropping a day of mail delivery to save money. Now, with economic gloom everywhere, it's turning to early retirements, management cutbacks and office closings. Toxic asset plan expected to be unveiled soon (AP) March 21, 2009 at 5:30 am AP - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is putting the finishing touches on a plan to get toxic assets off the books of the country's struggling banks, according to administration and industry officials. The plan could be announced as soon as Monday, they said. North Korea confirms two Americans detained (AFP) March 21, 2009 at 3:22 am AFP - North Korea on Saturday confirmed that it had detained two American journalists along the border with China earlier this week, amid tensions in the region over Pyongyang's plans for a rocket launch. U.S. close to announcing bank rescue plan: report (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 10:20 pm Reuters - The U.S. government will announce as soon as Monday a long-awaited plan to try to get bad assets off the books of banks, a cornerstone of its efforts to tackle the credit crisis, The Wall Street Journal reported. WH: Agenda on track despite worsening deficits (AP) March 20, 2009 at 6:25 pm AP - President Barack Obama's budget would produce $9.3 trillion in deficits over the next decade, more than four times the deficits of Republican George W. Bush's presidency, congressional auditors said Friday. Sloppy top-seeded Pitt escapes East Tenn. 72-62 (AP) March 20, 2009 at 6:15 pm AP - Pittsburgh had an ugly — and scary — first game as a No. 1. Pitt's massive center DeJuan Blair bullied his way inside for 27 points and 16 rebounds as the Panthers, playing their first game as a top seed in the NCAA tournament, survived a frightful 40 minutes from No. 16 seed East Tennessee State and advanced with a 72-62 win on Friday in the East Regional. AU suspends Madagascar, U.S. to halt aid (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 6:09 pm Reuters - The African Union suspended Madagascar on Friday and the United States said it planned to halt all but emergency aid, increasing pressure after the opposition took power with the support of the army. 4 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan bombings (AP) March 20, 2009 at 5:58 pm AP - Four Canadian soldiers were killed and eight others were injured Friday in two separate bombings in Afghanistan, Canada's top general in the country said. Surprising marriage ends in bizarre Ohio killing (AP) March 20, 2009 at 5:46 pm AP - James M. Mason knew his wife since she was born a boy. The janitor and former military man was a boarder in the child's home and was treated like family. Family, friends gather for Natasha Richardson (AP) March 20, 2009 at 5:45 pm AP - Liam Neeson looked distraught as he greeted grieving family members and friends who attended a private viewing for wife Natasha Richardson on Friday. Senate Republicans brake rush to tax AIG bonuses (AP) March 20, 2009 at 5:23 pm AP - Senate Republicans are drawing out a flap that has made the Obama administration squirm, applying the brakes to Democratic attempts to quickly tax away most of the bonuses at troubled insurance giant AIG and other bailed-out companies. U.S. Budget Office offers darker economic and deficit outlook (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 2:49 pm Reuters - U.S. congressional budget experts on Friday offered a darker economic and budget outlook, which could complicate President Barack Obama's efforts to convince lawmakers to pass his $3.55 trillion budget plan for 2010. Madoff stays jailed as appeal denied (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 2:32 pm Reuters - Bernard Madoff lost his bid on Friday to be released from jail until his June sentencing for Wall Street's largest-ever investment fraud. NATO commander sees Afghan security gains in 2010 (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 2:24 pm Reuters - The arrival of 12,000 extra U.S. combat troops in southern Afghanistan this summer is not likely to bring major security gains to the volatile region until 2010, a top NATO commander said on Friday. U.S. Postal Service to cut 1,400 jobs (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 2:13 pm Reuters - The U.S. Postal Service said on Friday it is closing six of its 80 district offices. In addition, administrative staff positions at district level nationwide are being reduced by 15 percent and nearly 150,000 employees nationwide being given opportunity to take an early retirement. Afghanistan unrest kills 70: officials (AFP) March 20, 2009 at 2:10 pm AFP - A wave of clashes in Afghanistan killed 70 people, including nearly 20 police Friday, officials said, as the country welcomed in its New Year amid alarm about a mounting Taliban-led insurgency. Bernanke says Fed has exit strategy from credit policy (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 1:58 pm Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday said the Fed's buying of longer-dated U.S. Treasuries would "taper off" when the economy no longer needed help, allowing the Fed to cease its emergency support. U.S. nuclear submarine collides in strait near Iran (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 12:06 pm Reuters - A nuclear-powered U.S. submarine and another U.S. vessel collided Friday in the Strait of Hormuz bordering Iran, but there was no damage to the atomic propulsion unit, the U.S. Navy said. US Navy: 2 vessels collide in Strait of Hormuz (AP) March 20, 2009 at 9:48 am AP - Two U.S. Navy vessels — a submarine and an amphibious ship — collided early Friday in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the Arabian peninsula, the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet reported. Stock open higher ahead of Bernanke speech (AP) March 20, 2009 at 9:47 am AP - Wall Street is modestly higher as investors set aside their inflation concerns and go back to buying as they await a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. 10 reported hurt in French nursery school shooting (AP) March 20, 2009 at 9:45 am AP - A gunman shot at people near a nursery school in the French city of Lyon on Friday, injuring 10 adults but no children, authorities said. Obama apologizes for Special Olympics gaffe (AP) March 20, 2009 at 9:40 am AP - President Barack Obama has apologized to the chairman of the Special Olympics for his late-night talk show quip equating his bowling skills to those of athletes with disabilities. Pope takes African pilgrimage to Angola (AP) March 20, 2009 at 9:36 am AP - Pope Benedict XVI urged Angolans on Friday to continue on the path of reconciliation after nearly three decades of civil war, saying dialogue could overcome all conflict and tension. EU agrees new IMF loans, eastern aid top-up (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 9:32 am Reuters - European Union leaders agreed on Friday to provide 75 billion euros ($103 billion) in new loans to the International Monetary Fund as part of a G20 effort to boost the lender's firepower for fighting global recession. Former AIG head denies he started exec bonuses (AP) March 20, 2009 at 9:31 am AP - Former AIG chief executive officer Hank Greenberg said the company under his leadership never had the kind of retention bonus system that has subjected it to withering criticism. Obama reaches out to Iran with video message (AP) March 20, 2009 at 8:58 am AP - President Barack Obama is reaching out to the Iranian people in a new video with Farsi subtitles, saying the U.S. is prepared to end years of strained relations if Tehran tones down its bellicose rhetoric. Citigroup CFO to run troubled bank unit (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 8:50 am Reuters - Citigroup Inc named Chief Financial Officer Gary Crittenden as chairman of troubled banking unit Citi Holdings on Friday, and elevated Edward Kelly to replace him as CFO. African Union suspends Madagascar (AFP) March 20, 2009 at 8:38 am AFP - Madagascar was suspended from the African Union and threatened with sanctions Friday, days after the army-backed toppling of the president, as the new government insisted no coup had taken place. Western Kentucky provides 1st big upset of NCAAs (AP) March 20, 2009 at 8:06 am AP - An upset? Western Kentucky looked and acted like it was business as usual. Yes, these Hilltoppers are no one-year wonders. The party crashers of last year's NCAA tournament did it again late Thursday night. Scoffing at another No. 12 seeding, Western Kentucky booted fifth-seeded Illinois 76-72 behind 17 points from Steffphon Pettigrew and the workmanlike confidence of a major power. Private inspections of food companies seen as weak (AP) March 20, 2009 at 8:01 am AP - The mortgage meltdown exposed the weakness of self-regulation in financial markets. Now the salmonella outbreak is doing the same for the food industry. Dodd's political stock tumbles in Connecticut (AP) March 20, 2009 at 7:59 am AP - Democrats may want to start thinking about a bailout for Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, whose political stock has slipped amid the financial meltdown. Anti-AIG demonstrations draw small, animated crowds (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 7:59 am Reuters - Small crowds of protesters angered by the government's $180 billion bailout of AIG marched in cities across the United States on Thursday, mocking bonuses paid to employees who helped push the company to the brink of collapse. Netanyahu, seeking consensus, gets extension on government (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 7:49 am Reuters - Israel's right-wing Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu was given two more weeks on Friday to form a government, allowing further time to try to balance his coalition by including the center-left Labor party. Obama seeks new beginnings with Iran (AFP) March 20, 2009 at 7:39 am AFP - US President Barack Obama launched an historic direct appeal to the Iranian people on Friday, urging an end to decades of animosity and offering "honest" engagement with the Islamic Republic. Taliban chief Omar "not in Pakistan's Baluchistan" (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 7:30 am Reuters - Taliban leader Mullah Omar is not hiding in Pakistan's Baluchistan province whose people will resist any U.S. attempt to extend its war against militancy there, the province's chief minister said on Friday. Obama offers new start with Iran (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 6:21 am Reuters - President Barack Obama issued an unprecedented videotaped appeal to Iran on Friday offering a "new beginning" of diplomatic engagement to turn the page on decades of U.S. policy toward America's longtime foe. FTC to curb mortgage-lending abuse: report (Reuters) March 20, 2009 at 5:21 am Reuters - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will use new authority to bar lending practices by mortgage brokers who have deceived borrowers, Bloomberg said, citing the FTC's chairman.