Nov 18, 2008 10:53PM

Pirates anchor supertanker off Somalia

A hijacked supertanker carrying up to $100 million worth of crude oil -- the largest vessel seized to date in an escalating regional piracy crisis -- was believed to have anchored off Somalia Tuesday, its operator said.

Nov 18, 2008 11:27AM

Fifteen corpses found in Baghdad mass grave

Police in northern Baghdad found a mass grave Tuesday that contained the remains of 15 people, an Interior Ministry official said.

Nov 18, 2008 07:37PM

Taliban reject Afghan peace overture

A Taliban spokesman said Monday that Afghan President Hamid Karzai did not have the authority to make a peace offering to its reclusive leader, Mullah Omar.

Nov 18, 2008 03:26PM

Political prisoner returns home to Chile

A man who was detained during Chile's "dirty war" in 1973 and declared dead in 1995 showed up in his old hometown very much alive last week, a human rights group in Santiago has announced.

Nov 18, 2008 11:59PM

6.2-quake strikes Panama, Costa Rica

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook coastal Panama early Wednesday, near the border with Costa Rica, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Nov 18, 2008 07:44AM

Gaffe-prone president embarrasses Poles

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Nov 18, 2008 06:15AM

Boyfriend's trial opens in triple slaying

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Nov 19, 2008 10:20PM

Arraignment set for Cheney, Gonzales in Texas (AP)

AP - A Texas judge has set a Friday arraignment for Vice President Dick Cheney, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and others named in indictments accusing them of responsibility for prisoner abuse in a federal detention center.

Nov 19, 2008 10:16PM

Finger-pointing begins as Senate nixes auto vote (AP)

AP - A Democratic Congress, unwilling or unable to approve a $25 billion bailout for Detroit's Big Three, appears ready to punt the automakers' fate to a lame-duck Republican president.

Nov 20, 2008 03:24PM

Scientists say Copernicus' remains, grave found (AP)

AP - Researchers said Thursday they have identified the remains of Nicolaus Copernicus by comparing DNA from a skeleton and hair retrieved from one of the 16th-century astronomer's books. The findings could put an end to centuries of speculation about the exact resting spot of Copernicus, a priest and astronomer whose theories identified the Sun, not the Earth, as the center of the universe.

Nov 19, 2008 07:03PM

Rapper gets 20 years after writing shooting song (AP)

AP - He shot a man twice and felt so good about it, police said, a rapper wrote a song describing the shooting and calling out the victim by name. A judge sentenced 25-year-old Rico Todriquez Wright Monday to spend the next 20 years in prison after his victim mentioned the hip hop confession to police.

Nov 20, 2008 03:26PM

Dems delay auto bailout vote, seek plan from Big 3 (AP)

AP - Democratic leaders in Congress sidetracked legislation to bail out the auto industry Thursday and demanded the Big Three develop a plan assuring the money would make them economically viable. "Until they show us the plan, we cannot show them the money," Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said at a hastily called news conference in the Capitol.

Nov 20, 2008 04:57AM

Dems look to stop endangered species rule changes (AP)

AP - With the Bush administration on the verge of relaxing regulations protecting endangered species, Democratic leaders are looking at ways to overturn any last-minute rule changes.

Nov 19, 2008 07:03PM

Mass. woman's 1 cent debt paid in full (AP)

AP - A 74-year-old blind woman's 1 cent debt to a Massachusetts city has been settled. People from across the country called Attleboro City Hall on Tuesday offering to pay the 1 cent balance owed by Eileen Wilbur for an overdue water and sewer bill.

Nov 20, 2008 02:34PM

RBS boss apologises over losses

Royal Bank of Scotland's chairman says he is 'profoundly sorry' for the financial and human cost that the bank's troubles have caused.

Nov 20, 2008 09:13AM

Oil price goes below $50 a barrel

Oil prices have fallen below $50 a barrel amid growing fears over a global recession and lower demand for oil.

Nov 20, 2008 01:48PM

Madonna and Ritchie begin divorce

Singer Madonna and film director Guy Ritchie are to start divorce proceedings at the High Court on Friday, according to court lists.

Nov 20, 2008 03:30PM

No agreement for US car bail-out

US carmakers are given a deadline to produce a viable recovery plan if they want a $25bn government bail-out.

Nov 20, 2008 11:32AM

'Experts' lead Saudi tanker talks

Talks between Somali pirates and owners of a Saudi tanker are being conducted by specialists, shipping sources tell the BBC.

Nov 20, 2008 02:20PM

Pc on BNP member list suspended

Merseyside Police suspend an officer after he is named on a list of British National Party (BNP) members.

Nov 20, 2008 09:13AM

'Ugly' author a 'liar and thief'

The mother of barrister who wrote a book detailing childhood abuse brands her daughter a "wicked thief and a liar".