Malawi presidential critic hospitalized (AP)

Malawi presidential critic hospitalized (AP)
Japanese emperor's heart bypass operation a success (Reuters)
Dutch prince buried under avalanche
Japanese emperor's heart bypass operation a success
Polls open in historic Latvian language referendum (AP)
400 Iran exiles reluctantly move to new Iraq home (AP)
Chinese political scandal sees further twists (AP)
Thousands rally for West Bank hunger striker
The Fisker Karma Experience
UN calls for reforms after Honduras jail fire
VIDEO: Home town's tributes to Houston
The Mess in Angela Merkel's Own Backyard: Who Will Be Her Third President? (Time.com)
Thailand questions 'open door' after terror plot (AP)
Vatican Confidential: Why Are So Many Rumors Coming out of the Holy See? (Time.com)
Payroll Tax Cuts, Unemployment Benefits Extended (Finally)
China Agrees to Increased Access for U.S. Films
Prosecutor Seeks to Drop Charges Against Soldier
Chinese envoy to meet Syrian leader after U.N. condemnation (Reuters)
Panama Indians again blockade Pan-American Highway (AP)
China concert seating collapse injures 64 (AP)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:45 PM PST

AP - The lawyer for an outspoken opponent of Malawi's president says his client has been moved from jail to a hospital, where he is being treated under police guard for a heart ailment.

Japanese emperor's heart bypass operation a success (Reuters)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:51 PM PST

Reuters - Japan's Emperor Akihito had on Saturday a successful heart bypass operation, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Dutch prince buried under avalanche

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:26 PM PST

Prince Johan Friso in critical but stable condition after being buried by avalanche while skiing off piste in Austria.

Japanese emperor's heart bypass operation a success

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:57 PM PST

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Emperor Akihito had on Saturday a successful heart bypass operation, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Polls open in historic Latvian language referendum (AP)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:53 PM PST

AP - Voting stations in Latvia have opened in a historic referendum on whether to make Russian the nation's second national language.

400 Iran exiles reluctantly move to new Iraq home (AP)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:42 PM PST

AP - Lugging clothes, tables and whatever else they could carry, roughly 400 members of an Iranian exile group reluctantly moved Saturday from their camp in northwestern Iraq to a deserted military base outside the capital in what they called a show of good faith that they eventually will be allowed to leave the country peacefully.

Chinese political scandal sees further twists (AP)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:14 PM PST

AP - A city in southwest China at the center of a brewing political scandal has appointed a new police chief and renewed a controversial campaign against organized crime.

Thousands rally for West Bank hunger striker

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:56 PM PST

Massive show of support for jailed Palestinian Khader Adnan, who is "in immediate danger of death", medical NGO says.

The Fisker Karma Experience

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 08:11 PM PST

I counted seven sparkling silver, white and black Fisker Karmas allotted for test-driving at Mr. C's hotel parking lot in Beverly Hills. Turns out the shimmery sensation wasn't my imagination - Fisker calls it Diamond Dust, and no, it's not a new drug designed to sell more cars to wealthy do-gooders. Fisker worked with Dupont ...

UN calls for reforms after Honduras jail fire

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:39 PM PST

World body calls for major reforms to penal system and independent probe after deaths of 350 inmates.

VIDEO: Home town's tributes to Houston

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:18 PM PST

Residents of Newark, the town where Whitney Houston's body is resting before a funeral service on Saturday, pay their respects with flowers, candles and songs.

The Mess in Angela Merkel's Own Backyard: Who Will Be Her Third President? (Time.com)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:05 PM PST

Time.com - The ceremonial post of President of Germany has been tainted by allegations of financial impropriety. Now, the Chancellor has to find yet another person to fill the job

Thailand questions 'open door' after terror plot (AP)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:11 PM PST

AP - Unwinding at a beach town with bar girls came first. Building bombs was allegedly for later.

Vatican Confidential: Why Are So Many Rumors Coming out of the Holy See? (Time.com)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:05 PM PST

Time.com - Even as Pope Benedict XVI prepares to elevate more than a score of prelates into the College of Cardinals, the church's bureaucracy seems to be in disarray

Payroll Tax Cuts, Unemployment Benefits Extended (Finally)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 08:10 PM PST

It?s done. The Senate and the House both voted today to extend the payroll tax cuts for the rest of 2012. Also in the bill? An extension of those unemployment benefits and the so-called ?doc fix? for Medicare. In the Senate, the bill needed at least 50% support to pass; it got 60%. H.R. 3630, ...

China Agrees to Increased Access for U.S. Films

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:44 PM PST

China and the U.S. reached a deal that would make it easier and more profitable for Hollywood studios to show their films in China.

Prosecutor Seeks to Drop Charges Against Soldier

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 08:46 PM PST

Prosecutors have filed a motion to dismiss charges against a soldier accused of trying to bring military-grade explosives on a cross-country flight from Texas to North Carolina.

Chinese envoy to meet Syrian leader after U.N. condemnation (Reuters)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:40 PM PST

Reuters - Syrian government forces, disregarding U.N. condemnation, renewed their bombardment of the opposition stronghold of Homs as a Chinese minister arrived for talks with embattled President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday.

Panama Indians again blockade Pan-American Highway (AP)

Posted: 17 Feb 2012 07:55 PM PST

AP - Members of an Indian tribe in Panama are again blocking the Pan-American Highway after a breakdown in negotiations with the government over new dams.