Museum displays famous Hope Diamond without its ornate setting for first timeWASHINGTON — For the first time, the famed and feared Hope Diamond is on display au naturel. Polar bear Knut’s female companion Giovanna steals the show in BerlinBERLIN — Giovanna, the new companion of Berlin’s favorite polar bear, Knut, has star quality as well. British, Indian skydivers claim highest landing near EverestKATMANDU, Nepal — Three skydivers claim to have made the highest parachute landing ever at a drop zone high in the Himalayas of Nepal, officials said Wednesday. Probable cause of racial discrimination found at swim club that asked children not to returnPHILADELPHIA — A state panel has found probable cause of racial discrimination at a suburban Philadelphia swim club that asked a day camp group of mostly black and Hispanic children not to return, a ruling the club’s lawyer blamed late Tuesday on the “media firestorm” that followed the incident. At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’ and other films this weekCapsule reviews of films opening this week: US postal museum in DC receives $8M for larger gallery; businessman also loans rare stampsWASHINGTON — The National Postal Museum has received an $8 million donation to build a new street-level gallery in Washington, D.C. Cleveland Orchestra to set up residency at New York’s Lincoln Center FestivalNEW YORK — Call it Cleveland on the Hudson: The Cleveland Orchestra is setting up a multiyear residency at the Lincoln Center Festival starting in 2011. AP Exclusive: Texas liquor board agents rarely disciplined, experts say probes are flawedDALLAS — The Texas alcohol agency under fire for its raid at a gay bar rarely punishes its officers for misconduct, and officers’ supervisors are usually the ones who conduct disciplinary investigations. Experts say that method increases the likelihood of flawed probes. Athens no longer a discount destination, but bargains still existATHENS, Greece — Athens is no longer a discount destination. Foliage from the water: Top viewing spots for boatersCHICAGO — If you enjoy fall foliage, consider doing some of your leaf-peeping from the water. Citing climate change, federal judge says grizzlies still threatenedBILLINGS, Mont. — Facing the combined pressures of climate change, hunters and lax protections, 600 grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park are going back on the threatened species list under a federal court order issued Monday. Bears, berries and beauty: Scenery abounds on Olympic National Park’s High Divide trailOLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, Wash. — “Did you see the bear?” the backpacker standing at the side of the trail asked. “He sure saw you.” Restored hotel penthouse is room with a view to San Francisco’s storied pastSAN FRANCISCO — JFK slept here. So did Prince Charles. Representatives of the Big Four presumably stayed awake as they worked on the United Nations Charter in 1945. Taiwan film festival Web site hacked ahead of screening of Uighur activist documentaryTAIPEI, Taiwan — Hackers on Monday posted vulgarities and pro-Chinese slogans on a Taiwanese film festival’s Web site to protest plans to screen a documentary about an exiled Uighur activist accused by Beijing of inciting recent ethnic violence in China’s west. Schizophrenic killer recaptured in Wash.; ditched mental institution staff at county fairSEATTLE — A schizophrenic killer who slipped away from the staff of a mental institution during a trip to a county fair has been recaptured after three days on the loose. Sheriff: Recaptured killer who escaped on trip from mental institution duped pal into helpingSEATTLE — An insane killer was recaptured Sunday, three days after he slipped away from the staff of a mental institution during a trip to a county fair more than 180 miles away from the side of a highway where he eventually was found. Insane killer who slipped away from staff of a mental institution during field trip recapturedSEATTLE — An insane killer was recaptured Sunday, three days after he slipped away from the staff of a mental institution during a trip to a county fair more than 180 miles away from the side of a highway where he eventually was found. Sheriff: Insane killer who vanished during field trip in Wash. duped friend into helping himSEATTLE — An insane killer was recaptured Sunday, three days after he slipped away from the staff of a mental institution during a trip to a county fair more than 180 miles away from the side of a highway where he eventually was found. As ice melts, as court briefs fly, the white bear will hold center stage in climate dramaTUKTOYAKTUK, Northwest Territories — Henry Jr. slept in the arms of his father the unhappy hunter, who pondered the future of the boy born last Arctic winter, in the depths of a polar bear season he’d rather forget. Iraq army arrests 3 men on charges of trafficking stolen antiquitiesBAGHDAD — Authorities in northern Iraq have arrested three men on charges they were trying to traffic stolen antiquities, including the bust of a Sumerian king, a local army commander said Saturday. Iraq army arrests three men on charges of trafficking stolen antiquitiesBAGHDAD — Authorities in northern Iraq have arrested three men on charges they were trying to traffic stolen antiquities, including the bust of a Sumerian king, a local army commander said Saturday. Officials at odds over historic designation for Badlands site where Roosevelt once ranchedBISMARCK, N.D. — Federal and state officials are at odds over listing about 12,000 acres of scenic North Dakota Badlands on the National Register of Historic Places to recognize an area that inspired Theodore Roosevelt. Roller coaster cable snaps at California’s Knott’s Berry Farm, injuring 12-year-old boy, manBUENA PARK, Calif. — An amusement park in Southern California says a cable snapped on a roller coaster, sending a 12-year-old boy and a man to hospitals with injuries. Manhattan Short Film Festival brings AIDS orphan’s work, 9 other short films, to worldLOS ANGELES — Writer-producer Neal Baer is accustomed to 12 million or so Americans flipping on their TV sets for an episode of his drama “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Insane killer escapes on field trip to county fair in Washington, has past history of fleeingSPOKANE, Wash. — A criminally insane killer from eastern Washington is on the run after escaping during a field trip to the county fair that his mental hospital organized. Director of ‘The Cove’ dolphin-killing film will risk arrest to attend Tokyo film festivalTOKYO — The director of an award-winning documentary about Japan’s dolphin slaughter said Friday that he plans to attend the screening of “The Cove” at the Tokyo film festival even though he could be arrested. Farmers plant tillage radishes to nourish, soften up fields; chance to cut fertilizer useANNA, Ohio — White radishes are taking root on Tony Luthman’s farm, the start of what he hopes will create a welcome mat for the corn he plants in the spring. Extensive flood damage will force Kentucky Derby Museum to remain closed for rest of yearLOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Derby Museum will remain closed for the rest of the year as the tourist attraction showcasing the world’s most famous horse race tries to recover from flood damage. Bulgaria launches probe as winning lottery numbers repeatedSOFIA, Bulgaria — Authorities have launched an investigation after the same winning numbers were produced on two consecutive draws of Bulgaria’s national lottery. Google acquires Carnegie Mellon’s Web anti-fraud tool also used to digitize booksPITTSBURGH — Google has acquired a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off that seeks to cut down on spam and fraud at Web sites while digitizing books. |