Animal CSIs pinpoint IDs of birds that brought down plane on Hudson _ they weren’t locals

CHICAGO — When animals are the prime suspects in a whodunit, who gets on the case? In capers where feathers or fur are the smoking guns, the role of CSI is often played by top natural history museums.

Manatees can probably hear which directions boats approach from

WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have found that manatees can localize sounds, and probably hear which direction a boat is approaching from, which may help in development of manatee protection programmes.

No smoking, kids: Big anti-tobacco bill heads for Obama signature, aiming to cut teen smoking

WASHINGTON — No more “light” cigarettes or candy-flavored smokes. Bigger, scarier warning labels. Fewer ads featuring sexy young smokers.

1st civilian case against Guantanamo detainee to test US legal system, court of public opinion

NEW YORK — Ahmed Ghailani already was a terrorism suspect with an unusual resume — alleged aide to Osama bin Laden, suspected bomb maker, former prisoner of war.

Lethal warfare drove the evolution of selfless behaviour among ancient humans

LONDON - A new study, based on archaeological records and mathematical simulations, has claimed that lethal warfare drove the evolution of selfless behaviour among ancient humans.

Child’s body found near Michigan river; relative tells newspaper it’s remains of missing girl

RAISINVILLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Sherry Buchanan was clinging to hope that her missing 5-year-old granddaughter was still alive, despite the chilling discovery of a child’s body near a river in southeast Michigan.

‘One in ten Irish Catholic priest involved in sexual relationship’

SYDNEY - One in ten of the 5000 Catholic priests in Ireland are involved in clandestine affairs with women, says a rebel Bishop whose organization supports priests in forbidden relationships

Croatian opposition lawmaker convicted of war crimes; sentenced to 10 years in prison

ZAGREB, Croatia — A Croatian court has convicted an opposition lawmaker of war crimes, making him the first senior politician from the country to be held responsible for wartime atrocities against Serbs.

Goldfish’s 3-sec memory is just another animal myth

LONDON - Do you also believe that goldfish have a memory span of only three seconds, and that dogs fail to recognise colours other than white and black? Well, then you are certainly on the wrong side of the facts, for these ideas are just some of the myths recently exposed by an animal charity called People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).

Daily Horoscopes (November 12, 2008)

Aries : March 21- April 19
All of a sudden you will be ruled by spirituality. You will feel like meditating and spending more time on yourself. By doing this, you will realize what other important things you have to do, and you will immediately work on it. 

Labourers fight for Rs.60 a week (May 1 is International Labour Day)

RAIPUR - Workers around the world celebrated International Labour Day Friday, but Kesar Bai was not one of them. The 40-year-old daily wager continued to jostle with 500 others in a labourers’ mart in this Chhattisgarh capital to find work. She considers herself lucky if she is hired for a day in a week.

Defense: NYC socialite Brooke Astor wanted son Anthony Marshall to inherit her money

NEW YORK — Philanthropist Brooke Astor changed her will and left most of her $198 million estate to her only child rather than charity because her dislike of his third wife gradually softened, a defense lawyer said Tuesday.

Officer: Ex-soldier accused of Iraqi rape, killings was frustrated by combat deaths of friends

PADUCAH, Ky. — A former U.S. Army soldier accused of raping and killing a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and slaying her family was upset after losing several friends in combat but didn’t appear to struggle more than anyone else in his unit, one of his commanding officers testified.

How a wounded soldier got a new face, new confidence _ and what he wanted most: anonymity

SAN ANTONIO — His first glimpse in the mirror was largely a blur.

China’s campaign to wipe out Falun Gong drives tenacious movement underground

BEIJING — A musician dies in police custody, a lawyer is beaten, an aid worker abandons China after 10 years of persecution — the stories are the human toll behind China’s decade-long campaign to wipe out Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that the government calls an evil cult.

SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK: Justice Thomas tells how a bad fall kept him away from the court

WASHINGTON — Justice Clarence Thomas’ vote was not seriously in doubt when the Supreme Court took up the constitutionality of a ban on an abortion procedure in 2006. But Thomas did not attend the arguments on the issue and, other than a brief announcement that he was sick, his absence has not been explained until now.

Empty promises, as Gaya voters live in ‘lantern age’

GAYA - For 30 long years candidates kept promising that the power situation will improve in Bihar’s Gaya town. They no longer do so, knowing the empty promise will only irritate voters.

Randhawa falls one short, finishes second in Malaysian Open

KUALA LUMPUR - Jyoti Randhawa was unable to nail a 50-footer for an eagle and was left stranded one shot shy of the winner Anthony Kang at the Maybank Malaysian Open golf here Sunday.