3/9 Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Obama to reverse Bush-era stem cell policy (AP) March 8, 2009 at 10:04 pm AP - President Barack Obama's announcement Monday that he is overturning his predecessor's policies toward embryonic stem cells also will include a broad declaration that science — not political ideology — would guide his administration. Pa. liquor board will teach workers to be bubbly (AP) March 8, 2009 at 10:03 pm AP - Pennsylvania liquor store clerks need to be more bubbly when they're selling Champagne. 'Watchmen' conquers box office with $55.7 million (AP) March 8, 2009 at 10:01 pm AP - "Watchmen" clocked in with $55.7 million in ticket sales to claim the top spot at the box office, making director Zack Snyder's comic book adaptation about a team of twisted superheros the biggest opening of 2009 so far. Conn. man is cited for owning an endangered ape (AP) March 8, 2009 at 10:00 pm AP - A man already accused of keeping a collection of wild animals including a river otter and a two-toed sloth has been cited for owning an endangered ape. Police: Ill. pastor deflected gunshot with Bible (AP) March 8, 2009 at 9:57 pm AP - A pastor shot and killed during his Sunday sermon deflected the first of the gunman's four rounds with a Bible, sending a confetti-like spray of paper into the air in a horrifying scene that congregants initially thought was a skit, police said. Outside buyers drawn to Detroit's foreclosed homes (AP) March 8, 2009 at 9:50 pm AP - Welcome to Landlord Nation, where foreclosure notices are plentiful and for-sale signs offer at least 1,800 homes for under $10,000 that once were worth at least 10 times more. AG, Wallace's daughter observe Selma anniversary (AP) March 8, 2009 at 9:49 pm AP - The nation's first black attorney general and Gov. George C. Wallace's daughter celebrated the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march Sunday — 44 years after state troopers from her father's administration beat marchers as they started the landmark journey. Recession on track to be longest in postwar period (AP) March 8, 2009 at 9:47 pm AP - Factory jobs disappeared. Inflation soared. Unemployment climbed to alarming levels. The hungry lined up at soup kitchens. US says 12,000 troops to leave Iraq by September (AP) March 8, 2009 at 9:46 pm AP - About 12,000 U.S. soldiers will leave Iraq by September, officials said Sunday, hours after a Baghdad suicide bomber killed about 30 people in a chilling reminder of the nation's still-shaky security. Tension high on Korean peninsula as military drills begin (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 9:24 pm Reuters - U.S. and South Korean troops began annual military drills on Monday and North Korea said it had put its armed forces on full combat readiness in response to the exercises, heightening tensions on the Korean peninsula. Real IRA 'claims killing of British soldiers' in N Ireland (AFP) March 8, 2009 at 9:20 pm AFP - A dissident republican group opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process apparently said it shot dead two British soldiers at an army base, the first such killing in 12 years. Alex Rodriguez to have hip surgery, miss 6-9 weeks (AP) March 8, 2009 at 8:27 pm AP - Alex Rodriguez's spring training saga took another unexpected turn: He's headed for hip surgery Monday that will sideline him for six to nine weeks — and that's not all. Iran test-fires new missile: media (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 7:55 pm Reuters - Iran has test-fired a new air-to-surface missile, Iranian media reported Sunday, in the Islamic Republic's latest display of its military capability. White House names Treasury nominees, needs more (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 6:28 pm Reuters - The White House named three nominees on Sunday for senior jobs at the U.S. Treasury Department, which still is trying to fill out its top ranks while dealing with a financial crisis. Protesters target U.S. foreclosed-homes auctioneer (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 6:26 pm Reuters - An auction of foreclosed homes in New York City on Sunday drew protesters who blamed banks for an epidemic of home losses and called for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures. Police: Ill. pastor deflected gunshot with Bible (AP) March 8, 2009 at 4:57 pm AP - Illinois State Police say the pastor gunned down at a church in a St. Louis suburb used a Bible to deflect the first of four rounds fired during his Sunday sermon. NKorea orders military to be combat ready: state media (AFP) March 8, 2009 at 4:56 pm AFP - North Korea has ordered its military to be combat ready, state media said early Monday, ahead of joint US-South Korean manoeuvres that Pyongyang has characterised as a prelude to war. Recession on track to be longest in postwar period (AP) March 8, 2009 at 4:54 pm AP - Factory jobs disappeared. Inflation soared. Unemployment climbed to alarming levels. The hungry lined up at soup kitchens. Pa. liquor board will teach workers to be bubbly (AP) March 8, 2009 at 4:32 pm AP - Pennsylvania liquor store clerks need to be more bubbly when they're selling Champagne. 'Watchmen' conquers box office with $55.7 million (AP) March 8, 2009 at 3:40 pm AP - "Watchmen" clocked in with $55.7 million in ticket sales to claim the top spot at the box office, making director Zack Snyder's comic book adaptation about a team of twisted superheros the biggest opening of 2009 so far. Outside buyers drawn to Detroit's foreclosed homes (AP) March 8, 2009 at 3:35 pm AP - Welcome to Landlord Nation, where foreclosure notices are plentiful and for-sale signs offer at least 1,800 homes for under $10,000 that once were worth at least 10 times more. A-Rod to have hip surgery, will miss 6-9 weeks (AP) March 8, 2009 at 3:28 pm AP - Alex Rodriguez will have arthroscopic hip surgery Monday and is expected to miss six to nine weeks. The Yankees slugger will need further surgery after the season. Chinese bronzes, Gandhi's glasses in art tussle (AP) March 8, 2009 at 1:57 pm AP - A bronze rabbit's head was the first to go under the hammer, then came Mohandas Gandhi's glasses and sandals. U.S. meetings industry fights back against critics (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 1:48 pm Reuters - The $175 billion U.S. corporate meetings industry is fighting back against a torrent of negative publicity and cancellations that has cost it billions of dollars, industry leaders said on Sunday. US accelerates troop withdrawal from Iraq (AFP/File) March 8, 2009 at 11:59 am AFP/File - Iraq and the United States announced on Sunday that 12,000 US troops will go home by the end of September, as a suicide bomber killed 28 people outside a Baghdad police academy. GOP tussles over leadership, party's future path (AP) March 8, 2009 at 11:04 am AP - Rush Limbaugh has been Topic A in the political world, with Republicans debating his influence on their party and Democrats trying to elevate the conservative radio host to the GOP's de facto spokesman. Sometimes even St. Bernards need rescuing (AP) March 8, 2009 at 10:23 am AP - There was a rescue involving a St. Bernard in Billings, Mont., but this time it was the humans who saved the day. Pope to visit Holy Land in May (AP) March 8, 2009 at 10:08 am AP - Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday he would visit the Holy Land from May 8-15 in the first papal trip to the area since 2000. US says 12,000 US troops to leave Iraq by Sept. (AP) March 8, 2009 at 9:34 am AP - The U.S. military announced Sunday that 12,000 American and 4,000 British troops will leave Iraq by September — hours after a suicide bomber struck police and recruits lined up at the entrance of Baghdad's main academy, killing 32 people. U.S. to cut Iraq troop force by 12,000 (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 9:20 am Reuters - The United States will reduce the number of troops in Iraq by around 12,000 in the next six months, the U.S. military said on Sunday, a step in President Barack Obama's plan to end combat operations in August 2010. 2 British soldiers killed in N. Ireland gun ambush (AP) March 8, 2009 at 8:54 am AP - Suspected IRA dissidents opened fire on British troops and pizza delivery men outside a Northern Ireland army base, killing two soldiers and wounding four other people. Police said Sunday the attackers fired on their victims again as they lay wounded on the ground. British PM condemns N.Ireland killings (AFP) March 8, 2009 at 8:52 am AFP - British forces went on alert in Northern Ireland on Sunday after two soldiers were killed in a barracks attack, but British Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed the deaths would not drag the province back into sectarian strife. Karzai welcomes Obama call to reach out to Taliban (AP) March 8, 2009 at 8:24 am AP - President Hamid Karzai on Sunday welcomed President Barack Obama's call to identify moderate elements of the Taliban and encourage them to reconcile with the Afghan government. Iraq suicide cyclist kills 28 in Baghdad (AFP) March 8, 2009 at 8:21 am AFP - A suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up killing at least 28 people and wounding 58 more outside a police academy in the Iraqi capital on Sunday in the bloodiest attack in weeks, officials said. Madoff investors prepare for court confrontation (AP) March 8, 2009 at 8:06 am AP - Bernard Madoff has yet to face the many investors he is accused of ripping off in a jaw-dropping Ponzi scheme that amounted to one of the biggest financial frauds in history. Tsvangirai leaves Zimbabwe for rest, treatment (AP) March 8, 2009 at 8:05 am AP - Zimbabwe's prime minister has left the country for medical treatment after he was injured in a car crash that killed his wife, state media reported Sunday. A party official said Morgan Tsvangirai was in Botswana. Obama nominates 3 to key Treasury Department posts (AP) March 8, 2009 at 8:03 am AP - President Barack Obama has chosen three people to join the senior ranks of the Treasury Department, where a slow pace of hiring has put the agency on the defensive. Millionaire leaves estate to Calif. university (AP) March 8, 2009 at 7:37 am AP - Bruce Lindsay left behind a tip officials at Vanguard University won't soon forget. Afghan leader Karzai backs Obama's call on Taliban (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 5:49 am Reuters - With violence in Afghanistan at its highest since the Taliban was ousted, Afghan President Hamid Karzai Sunday welcomed U.S. counterpart Barack Obama's openness to adapting tactics used to deal with moderate elements in Iraq. Clinton rolls out foreign policy approach in trip (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 5:37 am Reuters - Six weeks into the job, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is starting to roll out the Obama administration's approach to the most prickly foreign policy challenges from Arab-Israeli peace to Russia. Pakistan frees 12 Taliban militants in Swat valley (Reuters) March 8, 2009 at 3:07 am Reuters - Pakistani authorities have released 12 Taliban militants in a bid to consolidate a pact struck last month with Islamists in the troubled northwestern Swat valley, a senior government official said Sunday.