Machu Picchu ruins, Barcelona church, Conn. parkway’s bridges on list of endangered sites

NEW YORK — Peru’s Machu Picchu ancient ruins, Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona and a New Orleans elementary school are among the cultural heritage sites threatened by neglect or overdevelopment, a preservationist group said Tuesday.

Woman, 72, who was Tasered by constable, accepts Texas county’s $40,000 settlement offer

AUSTIN, Texas — A 72-year-old woman whose Tasering by a deputy constable was captured on video and shown nationwide has accepted a $40,000 settlement offer from a Texas county.

Gov’t says lower fuel costs will save households as much as $105 on natural gas this winter

WASHINGTON — People who heat their homes with natural gas should spend about $105 less this winter than last season. Those using fuel oil or electric heat also will save.

Swiss Justice Ministry rejects Roman Polanski’s appeal to be released from prison

BERN, Switzerland — The Swiss Justice Ministry says it has rejected an appeal from Roman Polanski to be released from prison pending his possible extradition to the United States.

Ohio ‘ghost walk’ tour concludes on a scary note as 2 hurt when log cabin floor collapses

GERMANTOWN, Ohio — Fire officials say a “ghost walk” tour had a scary ending in Ohio when the floor of a 164-year-old log cabin collapsed, injuring two people.

Study: NYC restaurant calorie postings don’t change eating habits in low-income neighborhoods

NEW YORK — A new study finds New York City’s law requiring restaurant chains to post calories on menus doesn’t change the eating habits of low-income people.

Human rights violation cases very high in Bihar jails

Madhulata

Patna, October 6

New find near Stonehenge believed to show religious significance of entire site

LONDON — Researchers say a new find near the famous Stonehenge monument shows the religious significance of the site.

Societe Generale becomes second French bank to repay emergency government funding early

PARIS — Societe Generale SA on Tuesday became the second French bank to say it is launching a rights issue to repay emergency funding from the French government early.

Police mobilize reinforcements from across the country to secure volatile Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — Israeli police have mobilized reinforcements from across the country to secure volatile Jerusalem after days of violent Palestinian protests.

Greek Socialist leader Papandreou sworn in as prime minister after landslide election win

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s new Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou has named his government, in which he will also be responsible for foreign affairs.

Swiss Justice Ministry to decide on Polanski release request this week, official says

GENEVA — The Swiss Justice Ministry says it will decide this week whether to grant a request from Roman Polanski to be released from prison.

Death penalty experts ponder US impact of Ohio rapist’s halted execution, killers’ reprieves

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The national impact of the unprecedented halting of a rapist’s execution after two hours and temporary reprieves for other condemned inmates likely will become clear over the next few months as courts examine the state’s lethal-injection procedures, experts say.

Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for deadly blast at UN food agency

ISLAMABAD — Taliban militants claimed responsibility Tuesday for the deadly suicide bombing at the U.N. food agency’s heavily fortified compound in Islamabad, saying international relief work in Pakistan was not in “the interest of Muslims.”

Pakistan interior minister blames Taliban for bombing offices of UN food agency

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan blamed Taliban militants Tuesday for the deadly suicide bombing at the U.N. food agency’s heavily fortified compound in the capital as authorities detained some of the guards posted outside to try to determine how the attacker gained entry.

Detroit man dies when his motorized wheelchair plunges 8 floors down open elevator shaft

DETROIT — Detroit police say a 58-year-old man died when his motorized wheelchair fell eight floors down an elevator shaft in a downtown building.

First ladies depend on staff for help with a range of White House responsibilities

First ladies are dogged by questions about why someone who isn’t elected or paid, or who isn’t routinely handling serious domestic and global issues, has a staff at all. But first ladies do more than just choose china patterns and plan White House social functions.

Kate Gosselin: Jon cleaned out joint account; kids ‘wailing and sobbing’ over stopping show

NEW YORK — Kate Gosselin says her estranged husband has withdrawn $230,000 from their joint bank account, leaving just $1,000 behind, and she can’t pay her bills.

Report: NKorea in final stage of restoring nuclear facilities

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea is in the final stage of restoring its nuclear facilities, a news report said Tuesday, as leader Kim Jong Il expressed a conditional willingness to end Pyongyang’s boycott of international nuclear talks.

Cabinet secretaries say sanctions push against Iran continues despite good outcome from talks

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton say last week’s historic joint talks with Iran were a limited success.

Secretaries Gates and Clinton say US goals hold steady in Afghanistan despite strategy review

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton say the U.S. goals in Afghanistan haven’t changed, despite the debate over what to do next.

Bankrupt Chicago Sun-Times left with just 1 suitor when no more bids come in before deadline

CHICAGO — No one else stepped forward with a bid for the bankrupt Chicago Sun-Times before a Monday evening deadline, leaving just one offer for the storied newspaper that’s rapidly running out of the cash it needs to stay in business.

Delta Air Lines extends lease agreement with world’s busiest airport through 2017

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines Inc. has reached a deal with the world’s busiest airport to extend its lease agreement there through 2017, culminating sometimes testy negotiations between the two parties.

Letterman apologizes to wife on Monday’s show as well as women who worked for him

NEW YORK — David Letterman apologized to his wife on Monday’s “Late Show,” saying she had been “horribly hurt by my behavior.”

AP Economic Stress Index shows the 20 most-stressed counties

A list of the 20 most economically stressed counties with populations larger than 25,000 residents and their August 2009 score, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:

Small Alaska town forecloses on most lots grabbed up in land giveaway

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Reality trumped the dream for most winners of a land giveaway in Alaska’s rugged interior.

‘Late Show’ audience members say Letterman speaks candidly about sex revelations on Monday

NEW YORK — Audience members who attended David Letterman’s taping of “Late Show” on Monday say the talk show host spoke at length about the revelations he made on the program last week about having sex with women on his staff.

Report: North Korea considers return to six-party talks on nuclear disarmament

BEIJING — North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, meeting Monday with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, has expressed the North’s willingness to hold multilateral dialogue, including six-party talks on nuclear disarmament, if its relations with the United States improve, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.

A look at the new and departing Chrysler executives

Chrysler Group LLC on Monday announced a shakeup of top management, as two brand CEOs left and the Dodge brand was split into car and truck operations. The following are key executives involved in the changes.

United Airlines offers $249 fee for travelers to check 2 bags every time they fly for a year

CHICAGO — United Airlines put a new twist on baggage fees Monday, introducing a sort of all-you-can-carry fee for luggage.