South African governing party wants Semenya to compete as a woman regardless of gender tests

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s governing party wants champion runner Caster Semenya to compete as a woman regardless of any gender tests.

Pitching health care overhaul, Obama packs Rose Garden with doctors in white medical coats

WASHINGTON — On the cusp of a key legislative push, President Barack Obama on Monday filled the Rose Garden with doctors supportive of his health care overhaul, saying “nobody has more credibility with the American people on this issue than you do.”

Health care issues: Are insurance market changes enough to fix the health care system?

A look at key issues in the health care debate:

1 in 100 US children has Autism : Government Study

Government finds higher autism figure: 1 in 100

US nursing homes pushed to brink: fund cuts, recession force layoffs, cutbacks, closings

HARTFORD, Conn. — The nation’s nursing homes are perilously close to laying off workers, cutting services — possibly even closing — because of a perfect storm wallop from the recession and deep federal and state government spending cuts, industry experts say.

Heavy rains hamper search for bodies in Indonesia’s quake-destroyed hamlets

Heavy rains hold up search for bodies in Indonesia

Indonesian villagers use bare hands to dig out corpses in four quake-destroyed hamlets

JUMANAK, Indonesia — With no outside help in sight, villagers used their bare hands Sunday to dig out rotting corpses, four days after landslides triggered by a huge earthquake obliterated four hamlets in western Indonesia.

Indonesian quake death toll likely to double after devastated hillside communities reached

PADANG, Indonesia — The death toll from Indonesia’s massive earthquake will likely double as officials on Saturday reached rural communities wiped out by landslides that buried more than 600 people under mountains of mud, most of them guests at a wedding celebration.

Cuba says civil defense system, free health care _ not vaccine _ keys to containing swine flu

HAVANA — Cuba is ready to use just about everything at its disposal, from its well-oiled civil defense system to the soldiers of a totalitarian government, to keep swine flu cases to a minimum.

Even with health overhaul, insurance premiums could be a stretch for middle-class Americans

WASHINGTON — Many middle-class Americans would still struggle to pay for health insurance despite efforts by President Barack Obama and Democrats to make coverage more affordable.

Senate health care bill could lead to higher Medicare prescription drug costs for seniors

WASHINGTON — Medicare recipients could see higher premiums for prescription drug coverage as a result of changes to complex provisions in a Senate health care bill, a senior Republican said Friday.

Congress to look at head injuries among NFL players

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee says he will hold hearings on head injuries among NFL players.

Marek Edelman, last surviving leader of WWII Warsaw Ghetto uprising dies at 90, friend says

WARSAW, Poland — Marek Edelman, the last surviving leader of the ill-fated 1943 Warsaw ghetto revolt against the Nazis, died Friday at the age of 90.

Colorado man accused of standing naked on a highway and pounding on passing cars

GREELEY, Colo. — A man who told officers he was a medical marijuana provider has been arrested for allegedly standing naked in a Colorado highway, pounding on passing cars and spitting at a state trooper. Dustin Robbins, 27, of Westminster, faces 13 counts including indecent exposure, assault and driving under the influence of marijuana.

Seniors want to know: What would health care overhaul do to Medicare?

CHICAGO — Businessman Stewart Grill, 75, believes there’s waste in Medicare. He’s just skeptical Congress can find and eliminate it without touching what he likes about his government health care plan.

Health bill’s progress is historic _ but opposition shows it’s still a long way from passage

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama has pushed closer than any president in generations to creating a basic health care safety net for most Americans, yet the fate of legislation delivering on his promise is far from certain.

Conn. officials demand to know if insurers discussed proposed health reform with policyholders

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut officials demanded to know Friday if the state’s five largest insurance companies have sent policyholders information about a possible impact on Medicare of health care changes debated in Washington.

Allergan suing US regulators, saying off-label marketing policy violates free-speech rights

NEW YORK — Allergan Inc., the maker of the Botox wrinkle treatment, challenged the government’s ban on off-label drug marketing to doctors, saying it violates the company’s right to freedom of speech.

List of countries that have sent aid to help Indonesia cope with Sumatra earthquake

List of donors and the aid material they have sent or pledged to Indonesia to help it cope with Wednesday’s 7.6-magnitude earthquake on Sumatra island.

Teenager, teacher pulled alive from rubble 2 days after Indonesia quake killed at least 715

2 rescued days after Indonesia quake kills 715

PADANG, Indonesia — Rescuers pulled two women alive from their collapsed college, nearly two days after a powerful earthquake devastated western Indonesia, as cries for help from a flattened hotel spurred the frantic search for more survivors Friday.

Gov’t: Nearly 3,000 people may still be trapped under Indonesian earthquake rubble

PADANG, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Health Ministry says nearly 3,000 people may still be trapped under rubble after a powerful earthquake two days ago.

Teenager pulled alive from rubble 40 hours after Indonesia quake that killed at least 715

PADANG, Indonesia — Rescuers pulled a teenager alive from her collapsed college 40 hours after a powerful earthquake devastated western Indonesia, while cries for help Friday from beneath a flattened hotel spurred the frantic search for more survivors.

Democratic liberals and moderates in key Senate committee close ranks

WASHINGTON — Health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama all but cleared a major hurdle in the Senate early Friday as Democratic liberals and moderates on a key committee closed ranks behind the most sweeping set of changes in a half-century.

Amid criticism of Democrats, Republicans gamble by not offering their own health care plan

WASHINGTON — Even as Republicans pummel President Barack Obama’s health care proposals, some GOP leaders worry their party is being hurt by a Democratic counterattack: Where is your plan?

Teenager pulled out alive from rubble 40 hours after Indonesia quake that killed 715

PADANG, Indonesia — Rescuers pulled a teenager alive from her collapsed college about 40 hours after a powerful earthquake devastated western Indonesia, while elsewhere they heard cries for help Friday from people trapped under a collapsed hotel.

Frantic rescue effort in Indonesia after major earthquake kills hundreds

PADANG, Indonesia — Medical teams, search dogs, backhoes and emergency supplies were flown into the devastated western coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island Friday to bolster frantic rescue attempts for thousands buried by a powerful earthquake.

Study: Half of drug addicts quit after 6 months of treatment, but long-term care needed

LONDON — About half of heroin and crack cocaine addicts in England’s treatment programs quit the drugs after six months, a new study says.

Health overhaul just a step away from Senate floor, Dems ease impact on working-class families

WASHINGTON — Capping months of struggle, Democrats pushed health care legislation atop President Barack Obama’s agenda to the brink of a major Senate advance early Friday after last-minute changes to ease the impact on working-class families. The most far-reaching overhaul in decades aims to protect millions who have unreliable insurance coverage or none at all.

Military searches for bodies, brings aid to tsunami-stricken Samoas, death toll rises

LALOMANU, Samoa — The relief effort in the tsunami-stricken Samoas entered its fourth day Friday as medical teams gave tetanus shots and antibiotics to survivors with infected wounds and some frightened residents who fled to the hills after the disaster vowed never to return to their decimated seaside villages.

Finance Committee senators agree to let states negotiate health plans for the poor

WASHINGTON — Senators trying to make health care more affordable want to let state governments negotiate basic coverage plans for some lower-income people.