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9/11 Defendants Will Explain Reasons For Attacks

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:42:06 GMT

The five men facing trial in the Sept. 11 attacks will plead not guilty so that they can air their criticisms of U.S. foreign policy, the lawyer for one of the defendants said Sunday. Scott Fenstermaker, the lawyer for accused terrorist Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, said the men would not deny their role in the 2001 attacks but "would explain what happened and why they did it."

Iran Begins War Games To Protect Nuclear Sites

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:41:10 GMT

Iran on Sunday began large-scale air defense war games aimed at protecting its nuclear facilities from attack, state TV reported, as an air force commander boasted the country could deter any military strike by Israel.

NRC: Three Mile Island Radiation Not Significant

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:37:00 GMT

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is sending investigators to the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant after a small amount of radiation was detected there. About 150 employees were sent home Saturday afternoon after the radiation was detected at the central Pennsylvania plant.

Survivors Recount China Mine Disaster; 104 Dead

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:26:37 GMT

When gas levels suddenly spiked deep in the Xinxing coal mine, Wang Jiguo grabbed two co-workers and they ran for their lives. Minutes later, there was a huge bang, a torrent of hot air and the earth shuddered. The death toll two days later was up to 104, with four still missing, the official Xinhua news agency said Monday.

Kennedy: I'm Barred From Communion Due To Abortion

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:44:32 GMT

Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving Communion, the central sacrament of the church, in Rhode Island because of the congressman's support for abortion rights, Kennedy said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.

Michael Jackson Wins 4 AMAs; Swift Top Artist

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:44:54 GMT

Michael Jackson was made history by winning four American Music Awards on Sunday night, but he couldn't beat Taylor Swift as the year's favorite artist and the evening's top winner. The 19-year-old took the evening's top award, giving Jackson his only loss of the night, and five trophies in all.

Senate Democrats At Odds Over Health Bill

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:44:29 GMT

Senate Democrats on Sunday sparred with each other over how to fix the nation's troubled health care system, the moderates threatening to scuttle legislation if their demands weren't met and the more liberal members warning their party leaders not to bend.

Judge: Alleged Ft. Hood Killer Held Until Trial

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:46:18 GMT

The Army psychiatrist charged with killing 13 people at Fort Hood will be confined until his military trial, initially staying in a hospital where he is recovering from gunshot wounds, his attorney said Saturday. During a hearing at Maj. Nidal Hasan's hospital room in San Antonio, a magistrate ruled that there was probable cause that Hasan committed the Nov. 5 shooting spree at the Army base, said his civilian attorney, John Galligan.

'New Moon' Sucks Up $140.7M In Opening Weekend

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:41:37 GMT

The vampire romance "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" sucked up $140.7 million in its first three days and pulled in a total of $258.8 million worldwide, according to studio estimates Sunday. The No. 1 domestic debut for Summit Entertainment's "New Moon" was more than twice the $69.6 million haul over the same weekend last year for "Twilight," the first in the franchise based on Stephenie Meyer's novels.

Dozens Killed When Ferry Sinks In Indonesia

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:41:49 GMT

Rescuers saved more than 240 people aboard an Indonesian passenger ferry that sank Sunday in rough waters off Sumatra island, but at least 25 people have died, officials said. Search operations were called off after nightfall for the unknown number of passengers still missing.