3/22 Yahoo! News: Top Stories

3 officers dead, suspect killed in Oakland, Calif. (AP) March 22, 2009 at 1:59 am AP - A man wanted for violating his parole killed three police officers and gravely wounded another in two shootings Saturday, the first after a routine traffic stop and the second after a massive manhunt ended in gunfire, authorities said. The gunman was also killed. Obama says treasury secretary's job is secure (AP) March 22, 2009 at 1:20 am AP - President Barack Obama says treasury secretary is one job that's not up for grabs. British singer Natasha Bedingfield weds in Malibu (AP) March 22, 2009 at 12:42 am AP - British singer Natasha Bedingfield has gotten married in Malibu. Pope urges Angolans to convert; stampede kills 2 (AP) March 22, 2009 at 12:34 am AP - Tens of thousands of Angola's Catholics lined the streets of the capital Saturday for a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI, who urged the country's faithful to reach out and convert people who believe in witchcraft. Gonzaga's last-second shot beats Western Ky. 83-81 (AP) March 22, 2009 at 12:25 am AP - Freshman Demetri Goodson streaked the length of the court and made a short, running bank shot with 0.9 seconds left, lifting fourth-seeded Gonzaga over Western Kentucky 83-81 Saturday in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Report: Richardson's casket taken to upstate home (AP) March 22, 2009 at 12:15 am AP - A mahogany casket bearing Natasha Richardson's body was taken Saturday to the country home where she married Liam Neeson in 1994, according to a published report. Protesters visit AIG officials' lavish Conn. homes (AP) March 22, 2009 at 12:00 am AP - A busload of activists representing working- and middle-class families paid visits Saturday to the lavish homes of American International Group executives to protest the tens of millions of dollars in bonuses awarded by the struggling insurance company after it received a massive federal bailout. Iran's response to US shows mind-set of leadership (AP) March 21, 2009 at 11:58 pm AP - The Iranian leader's rebuff on Saturday to President Barack Obama's offer for dialogue was swift and sweeping: Words from Washington ring hollow without deep policy changes. Macedonia holds polls crucial for EU bid (AFP) March 21, 2009 at 11:50 pm AFP - Macedonia votes Sunday in presidential and local elections seen as crucial for its EU membership bid amid tight security aimed at avoiding deadly incidents such those that marred previous votes. Henderson, No. 2 Duke hold off Longhorns 74-69 (AP) March 21, 2009 at 11:19 pm AP - Gerald Henderson finally will find out what the second weekend of the NCAA tournament is like. Obama pursues agenda despite bonus brouhaha (AP) March 21, 2009 at 10:51 pm AP - Knocked off balance by the bonuses brouhaha, President Barack Obama is relying on direct appeals to the public to refocus attention on his ambitious agenda and drive the debate. Pope to pay tribute to victims of deadly stampede (AFP) March 21, 2009 at 10:40 pm AFP - Pope Benedict XVI was to pay tribute to the victims of a deadly stampede when he holds an open-air mass Sunday, expected to draw 500,000 people in the biggest event of his week-long tour of Africa. Obama says would not accept Geithner resignation (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 8:58 pm Reuters - President Barack Obama on Saturday stepped up his weeklong defense of much-criticized Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, saying he would not accept his resignation even if it was tendered. Credit union victim of soured mortgage market (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 7:41 pm Reuters - Regulators worked on Saturday to assess troubles at the largest U.S. corporate credit union with the aim of keeping liquidity flowing through the nation's 7,800 credit unions. Iran's response to US shows mind-set of leadership (AP) March 21, 2009 at 4:36 pm AP - The Iranian leader's rebuff on Saturday to President Barack Obama's offer for dialogue was swift and sweeping: Words from Washington ring hollow without deep policy changes. Protesters march by Pentagon, call to end Iraq war (AP) March 21, 2009 at 4:35 pm AP - The throng of war protesters swelled Saturday as they marched across the Memorial Bridge into Virginia, by the Pentagon and to the offices of defense contractors to mark the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. 5,000 evacuated after hazardous acid spill in Pa. (AP) March 21, 2009 at 4:32 pm AP - Evacuation orders for about 5,000 people in northeastern Pennsylvania remain in effect even as authorities say the leak of a hazardous chemical has been contained. Treasury soon to unveil U.S. bank rescue bid (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 4:07 pm Reuters - The U.S. government will roll out next week a three-pronged bid to cleanse the U.S. financial system of "toxic" assets clogging banks' balance sheets, a source familiar with the plan said on Saturday. Astronauts go on 2nd spacewalk at space station (AP) March 21, 2009 at 3:06 pm AP - Astronauts took another spacewalk at the international space station Saturday, this time to lighten the workload for future crews. Used tires, beer kegs keep zoo animals healthy (AP) March 21, 2009 at 3:03 pm AP - A lion rips open a paper bag stuffed with hay and meat. Giraffes chew up old Christmas trees. Asian black bears claw on empty beer kegs. Obama sticks to budget, sees room for compromise (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 2:45 pm Reuters - President Barack Obama vowed on Saturday to stick to the big-ticket items in his budget proposal but acknowledged that dollar amounts would "undoubtedly change" as Congress prepared to take up his record spending plan. Madagascar's Rajoelina installed as president (AFP) March 21, 2009 at 2:29 pm AFP - Andry Rajoelina promised an end to dictatorship and a new era of good governance in Madagascar Saturday in an inaugural speech capping his internationally-condemned takeover of the island. Activists protest bonuses at AIG executives' homes (AP) March 21, 2009 at 2:27 pm AP - A busload of activists — outnumbered 2-to-1 by reporters and photographers — are paying visits to the homes of American International Group Inc. executives in Connecticut to protest tens of millions in bonuses awarded by the company. Washington Mutual sues FDIC for over $13 billion (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 1:49 pm Reuters - Washington Mutual Inc, the failed U.S. savings and loan, has sued the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp for well over $13 billion in connection with the loss of its banking operations, which was acquired by JPMorgan Chase & Co. U.S. backs Danish PM as next NATO chief: diplomats (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 1:48 pm Reuters - The United States has told NATO allies it will back Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the next head of the alliance, NATO diplomats and a U.S. source said on Saturday. Romania weighs decriminalizing consensual incest (AP) March 21, 2009 at 1:37 pm AP - Surprising as it may seem, incest is not always a crime in Europe. Details emerge of money to refund Madoff victims (AP) March 21, 2009 at 1:36 pm AP - A clearer picture is emerging of how much money might be available to pay back victims of the Bernard Madoff fraud, but while the pot is big it is nowhere near enough to repair all the damage. U.S. hands almost all Sunni guards to Iraqi control (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 12:36 pm Reuters - Almost 90 percent of the tens of thousands of U.S.-backed fighters who helped purge much of Iraq of al Qaeda have been transferred to Iraqi control, the U.S. commander in charge of their program said Saturday. AIG bonus payments $218 million (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 12:06 pm Reuters - Documents turned over to the Connecticut attorney general show that American International Group Inc paid out over $218 million in bonuses, more than the previously disclosed $165 million, published reports said on Saturday. U.S. plans major Afghan police boost: Holbrooke (Reuters) March 21, 2009 at 10:50 am Reuters - President Barack Obama plans a significant increase in the size of the Afghan police force, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke said on Saturday.