CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened on Thursday to punish European countries that apply strict new rules for deporting illegal immigrants by denying them oil and blocking their investments. The EU Parliament passed new guidelines Wednesday under which illegal migrants can be held in special detention centers — …
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JUNEAU, Alaska – Gov. Sarah Palin is proposing to give nearly every Alaska resident $1,200 to offset high energy costs. The $769 million energy relief plan released Friday also proposes suspending the state’s fuel tax of 8 cents a gallon for a year. Palin says the state can afford to …
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LITTLE FALLS, Minn. – Authorities say the suspect in a hostage situation at a county courthouse complex in Little Falls is dead. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office says Morrison County authorities are sending the man’s body for an autopsy. Don Gorrie, a spokesman for the medical examiner’s office, says …
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BEIRUT, Lebanon – The fugitive leader of the Al Qaeda-inspired group Fatah Islam lashed out at Lebanon’s Sunni politicians and Shiite Hezbollah militants and threatened suicide attacks in a new audio message Tuesday. Shaker Youssef al-Absi said that the time had come for revenge against the “enemies of God” and …
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WASHINGTON – The House on Wednesday narrowly defeated a Democratic attempt to give unemployed Americans an extra three months of jobless benefits after the White House threatened to veto the bill. But Democratic leaders said they will immediately bring the bill back for a second vote on Thursday. The bill …
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SAN ANTONIO – A van loaded with vacationers on their way to Mexico rolled over on a highway southwest of San Antonio, killing two people and injuring 13 others, police said. The right back tire of the 15-passenger van blew out and caused the 3 a.m. crash, said Lt. Steven …
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A Japanese man, almost fully paralyzed, can walk again — in the virtual world “Second Life.” Researchers led by Jun’ichi Ushiba of the Keio University created a brain-computer interface (BCI) that let the 41-year-old patient operate a PC using only his thoughts. • Click here to see video of the …
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WASHINGTON – Scientists in the U.S. are experimenting with new techniques to try to see breast X-rays in three dimensions. The goal: A better way to check for breast cancer in women with breasts too dense for today’s mammograms to give a clear picture. Radiologists donning special glasses is not …
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NORTH CAROLINA – AP-Wildfires-North Carolina NC wildlife refuge fire spreads smoke to Va. COLUMBIA, N.C. (AP) — Firefighters are working to contain a massive wildfire at a federal wildlife refuge in remote eastern North Carolina. The blaze is spreading smoke hundreds of miles into Virginia. A meteorologist in Wakefield, Virginia, …
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WIMBLEDON, England – Roger Federer continued his march toward a sixth straight Wimbledon title by beating Marc Gicquel in straight sets Friday, setting up a fourth-round matchup with the last man to win the championship before him. Two-time women’s champion Serena Williams dispatched 2006 winner Amelie Mauresmo 7-6 (5), 6-1, …
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