Coordinated blasts hit Baghdad; kill at least 103
BAGHDAD (AP) — A series of coordinated attacks struck Baghdad Tuesday, including three car bombs that blew up near government sites. At least 103 were killed and 197 wounded in the worst wave of violence in the capital in more than a month, authorities said. A total of four attacks, which also included a suicide car bomb on a police patrol, showed the ability of insurgents to strike high-profile targets in the heart of Baghdad and marked the third time since August that government buildings were targeted with multiple blasts that brought massive bloodshed.
Obama looks at highways, small biz in jobs plan
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is promoting help for highways and small businesses, bridges and energy-efficient homes in a broad pitch to get Americans back to work and roll back the double-digit unemployment that's approaching a quarter-century high, an administration official said Tuesday. In a speech prepared for delivery Tuesday, Obama plans to talk about what he wants to see in the coming weeks and months — chiefly, more Americans in the workplace and fewer on unemployment, which now stands at 10 percent. The White House worked around the clock in recent days to pull together the president's speech.
Afghan leader: Help needed to pay for larger army
KABUL (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday it will be at least 15 years before his government can bankroll a security force strong enough to protect the country from the threat of insurgency. Speaking at a news conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Karzai repeated his claim that Afghan security forces would take the lead in securing the nation within five years, but said his nation would need financial help to pay the salaries and equip the growing army and police force.
UN: 2000-2009 likely warmest decade on record
COPENHAGEN (AP) — This decade is very likely to be the warmest since record keeping began in 1850, and 2009 could rank among the top-five warmest years, the U.N. weather agency reported Tuesday on the second day of a pivotal 192-nation climate conference. In some areas — parts of Africa and central Asia — this will probably be the warmest year, but overall 2009 "is likely to be about the fifth-warmest year on record," said Michel Jarraud, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization.
Police: Attack on Pakistan intel office kills 12
MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — A team of militants launched a gun, rocket and suicide attack on an intelligence office in central Pakistan on Tuesday, killing 12 people in a strike that showed the insurgents can hit deep in the heart of the country. The raid in Multan signaled the relentless determination of militants, despite being pressured by a major army offensive in one of their Afghan border havens. It came a day after twin bombings at a market in the eastern city of Lahore killed 49.
Ohio killer awaits 1st one-drug lethal injection
LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Witnesses to the scheduled execution of a killer who scattered a woman's remains across two states could have an even more somber experience than those who watched previously when Ohio put nearly three dozen other inmates to death. Inmate Kenneth Biros, if executed as planned Tuesday morning, would become the first person in the U.S. to die by lethal injection with a single drug, a process most death penalty experts agree will take longer than the old method. Biros' procedure would be the first lethal injection since the state's switch from using a three-drug combination.
Obama envoy begins rare trip to NKorea
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Barack Obama's envoy began a rare trip to North Korea Tuesday for the highest-level talks with the communist nation in more than a year as a senior U.S. official warned of strong sanctions against Pyongyang unless it rejoins international nuclear talks. Envoy Stephen Bosworth's mission is to find out whether North Korea will return to the stalled international talks on ending its nuclear programs after carrying out an atomic test blast in May and quitting the six-nation negotiations.
Watered-down 'public plan' emerges in Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — They may still call it a "public plan," but private insurers — not the government — would offer coverage under a compromise Democrats are considering to win Senate passage of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The latest idea bears little resemblance to the original vision outlined by liberals, and embraced by Obama, during the 2008 presidential campaign. That called for the government to sell insurance to workers and their families in competition with industry giants like UnitedHealthcare.
Letterman jokes about Tiger on the'Late Show'
NEW YORK (AP) — David Letterman, after a week off, dived right into material about Tiger Woods on the "Late Show" on Monday, joking that he wishes the golfer would stop calling him to ask for advice. Even though the CBS late night host is only weeks removed from his own scandal, he kicked off his monologue with the subject of Woods, who has been hounded by claims from several women that they had affairs with him.
Rodgers throws 3 TDs as Packers beat Ravens 27-14
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The standings say the Green Bay Packers are in good shape for the playoffs. But Monday night's victory over the Baltimore Ravens showed they still have some work to do to be taken seriously once they get there. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, including two to tight end Jermichael Finley, and the Packers beat the Ravens 27-14 in a penalty-filled game Monday night.
This comment has been deleted.