Finance panel convenes to vote on health bill as chairman declares ‘time to get the job done’

WASHINGTON — Divided along partisan lines, a key Senate committee moved Tuesday toward a milestone vote on sweeping health care legislation that would fulfill President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority. Its ultimate fate remained far from certain.

California Republicans finish convention, look ahead to 2010 races for governor, US Senate

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — The Republican race to challenge liberal stalwart Barbara Boxer for her U.S. Senate seat next year is shaping up as a likely contest between a socially conservative state lawmaker and a former Silicon Valley chief executive whose views are barely known to GOP voters in the state.

City wants bridge collapse rubble removed from park; Minn. worries about ruining evidence

MINNEAPOLIS — Nearly two years after the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River, much of its twisted steel remnants sit rusting on a long swath of a leafy park just a half-mile from where the span fell.

‘Restricting H-1B visas is bad for business and the economy’

WASHINGTON - Asserting that ‘handcuffing’ employers from hiring talented workers will hurt the US economy, two experts have criticised proposals to limit hiring of holders of H-1B visas coveted by Indian technocrats as ‘misguided.’

Twins 9, Mariners 6

E_Beltre 2 (7). DP_Seattle 1, Minnesota 2. LOB_Seattle 5, Minnesota 6. 2B_Jo.Lopez (5), Beltre (9), Span (4), Mauer (3). HR_M.Sweeney (2), Beltre (1), Mauer (3), Morneau (8), Cuddyer (3). SB_Beltre (5). CS_Beltre (2), Span (1). SF_Span.

Senate defeats bid that would have let homeowners seek foreclosure relief in bankruptcy court

WASHINGTON — The Senate has defeated legislation that would have let hundreds of thousands of debt-ridden homeowners seek mortgage relief in bankruptcy court.

Part I of the text of President Barack Obama’s news conference on Wednesday

Text of President Barack Obama’s news conference on Wednesday at the White House, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions:

SC wildfire burns dozens of homes; hundreds flee as flames head for Myrtle Beach tourist spot

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A coastal wildfire spread early Thursday toward one of the busiest tourist stretches in South Carolina, burning dozens of homes and forcing hundreds to flee in the middle of the night. No injuries were reported.

AITA launches programme for coaches

NEW DELHI - The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has launched a certificate programme for the coaches across the country.

Pakistan urgently needs $4-5 bn, says US senator

WASHINGTON - The US and Europe must give Pakistan $4-5 billion in urgent aid or risk seeing the nuclear-armed country slip into chaos, two leading US foreign policy voices warned Tuesday.

Obama cultivating support across party lines

WASHINGTON - US president-elect Barack Obama spent the eve of his Tuesday inauguration dining with several top Republicans in the Democrat’s latest attempt to build bridges with the conservative opposition party.