Catwalk hikes planned for New River Gorge this springFAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — New River Gorge visitors will be able to walk directly across the canyon on a 30-inch-wide steel span 850 feet above the river starting in the spring. Starbucks releases Via instant coffee nationwide, stocks store shelves and other retailersCaffeine addicts nationwide got first tastes of Starbucks Corp.’s newest offering as the coffee giant blanketed the nation with tens of thousands of free samples of its instant coffee called Via. Communist China at 60: Each family in richest village has house and car awarded by communityHUAXI, China — Public loudspeakers in the central square blare the village anthem hourly: “If you want to see a miracle, come to Huaxi.” Not that any reminders are needed. Israel shuts down for Yom Kippur, amid fears of perceived Iranian nuclear threatJERUSALEM — The start of the Jewish Day of Atonement at sundown Sunday marked the beginning of a day like no other in Israel, on which even Israelis with no connection to religion tend to put their normal lives on hold. High costs force some people to roll the dice on health care coverage, opt out of insuranceNEW YORK — Call it a health care gamble: the decision by some people to opt out of health insurance, paying cash for routine care while playing the odds that an accident or catastrophic illness won’t plunge them into financial ruin. Korean families separated by war bid farewell to each other after temporary reunionSEOUL, South Korea — Hundreds of family members separated for half a century by the Korean War bade tearful farewell to each other Monday after briefly reuniting under a program resumed amid warming ties between the North and South. Libya’s Gadhafi goes window shopping in Venezuelan resort following summit hosted by ChavezPORLAMAR, Venezuela — Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi took a break from railing against colonialism at a summit in Venezuela to go window shopping, buy jewelry and mingle with stunned tourists at a Caribbean resort. Moose declining in Minnesota’s northwoods, among their few strongholds in lower 48 statesBOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA, Minn. — Researchers say climate change is threatening moose in Minnesota’s northwoods. At least 23 dead as Typhoon Ketsana roars into Vietnam after deadly path in PhilippinesHANOI, Vietnam — Typhoon Ketsana roared into central Vietnam on Tuesday, killing at least 23 people as it brought flooding and winds of up to 90 mph (144 kph), disaster officials said. Some 170,000 were evacuated from its path. Iran fires longest-range missile in third round of testsTEHRAN, Iran — Iran said it successfully test-fired the longest-range missiles in its arsenal on Monday, weapons capable of carrying a warhead and striking Israel, U.S. military bases in the Middle East, and parts of Europe. A glance at the colorful few who have taken the ultimate vacation, in spaceAs Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte prepares for his trip to the International Space Station, here’s a look at the colorful men and one woman who have purchased seats on Russian space flights. Michael Jackson’s crystal-studded boots fetch €10,000 at event chaired by sister JanetMILAN — Crystal-studded boots that Michael Jackson intended to wear on his planned comeback tour fetched euro10,000 ($14,650) at a celebrity fundraiser chaired by his sister, Janet. Transportation Dept. kicks off meeting on texting, mobile use by driversWASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called distracted driving a “menace to society” Wednesday, kicking off a two-day meeting on preventing drivers from using mobile devices behind the wheel. South Carolina Preservation Society offers home toursCHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina’s oldest city is preparing to open its most beautiful homes to visitors. S&P index shows home prices post third-straight monthly gain in JulyNEW YORK — Home prices rose for the third month in a row in July, new data Tuesday showed, more proof a fragile housing recover is underway. Munich police: 2 suspected of ties to Islamic extremists detained; Oktoberfest security uppedMUNICH — Munich police say two men are in preventative custody for suspected links to Islamic extremists and officials are increasing security at the ongoing Oktoberfest beer festival. 30 Afghan civilians killed after bus hits roadside bomb near KandaharKABUL — Officials say the civilian death toll in a roadside bomb blast in southern Afghanistan has reached 30. Ban, Clinton urge UN to tackle hunger, ensure global food securityUNITED NATIONS — U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday led calls for quick action to ensure global food security as millions suffer from hunger due to the economic crisis and climate change. Husband of NY congresswoman Carolyn Maloney dies on mountain climbing expedition in HimalayasNEW YORK — The husband of U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney has died on a mountain climbing expedition in the Himalayas, aides to the congresswoman said Saturday. ‘The money made it worse:’ Some find new suffering comes with clergy abuse settlement checksLOS ANGELES — David Guerrero lies curled like a small child in bed, his teeth chattering and his fever spiked at 104 degrees. He has left his room only once since he crawled home from his latest crystal meth binge three days ago, to let his mother drive him to the emergency room for his soaring temperature. Maine, Wash., Mich. voters to weigh in on gay rights, ranging from marriage to discriminationOLYMPIA, Wash. — Nearly a year after California voters overturned same-sex marriage, voters in three other states will weigh in this fall on whether to reverse gay rights initiatives ranging from anti-discrimination measures to marriage benefits. ‘City of Life and Death’ by Chinese director Lu Chuan wins Spain’s top film awardSAN SEBASTIAN, Spain — Chinese director Lu Chuan’s film “City of Life and Death” has won the top prize at Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival. Nostalgia for an unknown past: Red Guard look popular for some Chinese wedding photosHANGZHOU, China — Sun Fengqing is not getting married in a white dress, or even a traditional cheongsam. She’s going to wear a green military outfit with a Red Star on her hat and a Mao Zedong badge — the uniform of the young Red Guard from China’s Cultural Revolution. What can $1 million buy? A Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., starter home or a palace in Saginaw, Mich.A million dollars doesn’t buy you what it once did. In most U.S. neighborhoods, it now gets you a lot more. Germany bans flights over Munich’s Oktoberfest following terror threatsBERLIN — German authorities banned all flights over Munich’s annual Oktoberfest beer festival on Saturday after a series of Islamic terror threats targeted Germany for its role in Afghanistan. Koreans separated for more than 50 years hold reunions amid signs of thaw on peninsulaSEOUL, South Korea — Lee Dong-un cried and held the hands of his 60-year-old North Korean daughter Saturday during their first meeting in more than half a century. They were one of hundreds of families reuniting as part of a program revived by Pyongyang in an effort to ease tensions with South Korea. Wyoming, snowmobile groups, want courts to block Yellowstone snowmobile planLARAMIE, Wyo. — The state of Wyoming has asked a federal appeals court to give a judge authority to block a proposal reducing the number of snowmobiles allowed in Yellowstone National Park. US woman presumed dead after jumping from Alaska cruise ship off British ColumbiaBELLA BELLA, British Columbia — Police believe an elderly U.S. woman who disappeared from an Alaskan cruise off the coast of British Columbia jumped from the ship and drowned. Mrs. Obama leads G-20 spouses on tour of Pittsburgh performing arts school, Warhol museumPITTSBURGH — First lady Michelle Obama, a supporter of arts education, says the arts are a form of diplomacy that challenges assumptions and helps people learn from and inspire each other. GM’s Lutz says automaker may extend money-back guarantee program due to successful resultsNEW YORK — General Motors Co. may extend its money-back guarantee program after the much-touted promotion wraps up in November, the company’s vice chairman said Friday. |