Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Historic health care bill nears key Senate vote (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:28:21 GMT

AP - In a show of unity, Senate Democrats sealed a 60-vote majority needed to advance health care legislation Saturday ahead of an evening showdown with Republicans eager to doom the bill and inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama.

Restored machine to explore mysteries of Big Bang (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:06:46 GMT

AP - Scientists are preparing the world's largest atom smasher to explore the depths of matter after successfully restarting the $10 billion machine following more than a year of repairs.

Pope and Anglican leader agree on closer relations (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:29:41 GMT

AP - After offering a home in his church to disaffected Anglicans, Pope Benedict XVI assured the archbishop of Canterbury on Saturday that he is still committed to seeking closer relations between Catholics and Anglicans.

Obama trumpets Asia trip as boost to US economy (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:48:45 GMT

AP - President Barack Obama's eight-day trip to Asia produced no tangible wins for the United States, though he is citing talks with Asian allies that he says could help create thousands of job and open new markets for American goods in the future.

More Americans expected to travel for Thanksgiving (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:16:14 GMT

AP - The number of Americans traveling away from home for Thanksgiving will be up only slightly this year from 2008, according to a report from the AAA auto club.

Atlantis astronauts take 2nd spacewalk of mission (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:45:14 GMT

AP - A spacewalking astronaut put aside the impending birth of his daughter and blazed through his first-ever venture outside the International Space Station on Saturday.

Hackers leak e-mails, stoke climate debate (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:34:51 GMT

AP - Computer hackers have broken into a server at a well-respected climate change research center in Britain and posted hundreds of private e-mails and documents online — stoking debate over whether some scientists have overstated the case for man-made climate change.

A bad month in Afghanistan rippled across the US (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:03:14 GMT

AP - Every afternoon, seven days a week, Ed Epley has a 5 p.m. appointment with the war.

Michael Jackson glove among items at music auction (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:30:53 GMT

AP - A collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia, including the rhinestone-studded glove he wore when he unveiled the moonwalk in 1983, is being sold at auction.

No. 9 OSU tops Mich. 21-10 on 5 Forcier turnovers (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:51:35 GMT

AP - Tate Forcier threw four interceptions and fumbled in his end zone, and No. 9 Ohio State took advantage to beat Michigan 21-10 Saturday for its sixth straight win in the series.

Health bill poised to pass U.S. Senate test (Reuters)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:40:34 GMT

Reuters - A broad healthcare overhaul was poised to clear its first U.S. Senate hurdle on Saturday as the last wavering senators said they would vote to begin debate on the legislation, giving Democrats the 60 votes they need.

Obama asks for patience on economy (Reuters)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:02:34 GMT

Reuters - President Barack Obama on Saturday urged Americans to show patience over the economy and argued that his just-concluded Asia trip was critical for U.S. exports, countering criticism he had returned empty-handed.

Prosecutor seeks life for Knox in Italy murder trial (Reuters)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:31:53 GMT

Reuters - Italian prosecutors on Saturday called for a life sentence for American university student Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito for the 2007 murder of Briton Meredith Kercher.

NATO takes command of Afghan army, police training (Reuters)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:54:59 GMT

Reuters - NATO took command of the training of the Afghan army and police on Saturday to consolidate efforts on building an effective security force, a vital precondition for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Iraq parliament struggles over elusive vote deal (Reuters)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:04:31 GMT

Reuters - Iraq's parliament suspended efforts on Saturday to reach a deal on a law which is crucial for an election to take place in January and could affect the U.S. military' s plans for a partial withdrawal next year.

"Big Bang" experiment advancing fast (Reuters)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:39:04 GMT

Reuters - After a year's delay, scientists at the world's biggest accelerator have restarted an experiment to recreate "Big Bang" conditions that had sparked suggestions the earth would be sucked in by millions of black holes.

Iran to hold war games to protect nuclear facilities (Reuters)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:27:01 GMT

Reuters - Iran's military said it will begin large-scale air defense drills on Sunday, and a cleric in the Revolutionary Guards warned that the Islamic Republic would fire missiles at "the heart of Tel Aviv" if attacked.

China mine explosion kills 31, traps 78 (Reuters)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:02:54 GMT

Reuters - At least 31 miners were killed and 78 remain trapped 500 meters (yards) underground following a gas blast at a mine in China, state media said on Saturday.

Obama health drive set to clear first test (AFP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:34:12 GMT

AFP - President Barack Obama's signature drive to remake US health care was on track to clear a key Senate hurdle Saturday, as the last wavering Democrats agreed to vote to formally open debate on the bill.

Setting Afghan exit date defeatist: defense panel (AFP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:58:31 GMT

AFP - Despite fierce public pressure to end the war in Afghanistan eight years on, politicians and experts on Saturday decried calls for setting an exit date they say would embolden the Taliban.