Record-breaking radio astronomy project to measure sky with extreme precision

WASHINGTON - Astronomers will tie together the largest collection of the world’s radio telescopes ever assembled to work as a single observing tool in a project aimed at improving the precision of the reference frame scientists use to measure positions in the sky.

Obama nominee would be his administration’s first openly gay ambassador

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Wednesday he planned to nominate an openly gay lawyer as the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. If confirmed by the Senate, David Huebner would become the third openly gay ambassador in U.S. history and the first pick by this administration. In a statement released from the White House, Obama said he looked forward to working with Huebner and is confident he will represent the United States well in the Pacific region.

Lingering ‘Hangover’ leads weekend box office with $32.8 million; ‘Up’ stays aloft with $30.8M

LOS ANGELES — “The Hangover” is not going away any time soon.

Remote Pacific archipelago Palau agrees to take Guantanamo’s Chinese Uighur detainees

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Palau agreed to accept 17 Chinese Muslims who have languished in legal limbo at Guantanamo Bay, indicating a resolution to one of the major obstacles to closing the U.S. prison camp.

India, US, Japan naval exercise kicks off Wednesday

NEW DELHI - The tri-nation naval exercise Malabar between Indian, US and Japanese navies will kick off Wednesday off the coast of Okinawa in Japan, a naval official said here Tuesday.

Duck coup! Anaheim ousts top-seeded Sharks with 4-1 win in fight-filled Game 6

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Although the San Jose Sharks wouldn’t go down without a fight or two, the Anaheim Ducks can take a punch as impressively as they took this playoff series from the NHL’s best regular-season team.

Mexico suspends schools nationwide as suspected swine flu death toll climbs to 149

MEXICO CITY — Mexico canceled school nationwide Monday and warned the death toll from a swine flu epidemic believed to have killed 149 people would keep rising before it can be contained.

US declares health emergency as world officials race to contain worrisome swine flu, panic

WASHINGTON — Governments are racing to find and contain pockets of swine flu around the globe, seeking to stem both the threat of a pandemic and public panic.

Obituaries in the news

Obituaries in the news

Al Alberts

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Veteran TV talent-show host Al Alberts, one in a long line of South Philadelphia crooners, died Friday in Florida, a son said. He was 87.

The Nation’s Weather

The nation’s weather

Messy winter weather was forecast to continue Tuesday over the Northern U.S. as a low pressure system tracked over the Pacific Northwest and into the Northern Plains. This system was expected to obtain ample moisture from the Pacific Ocean and continue spreading scattered rain showers with periods of heavy snow at higher elevations.

Prime Minister: New Zealand would consider peacekeeping troops for Fiji

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand would consider sending troops into Fiji if they were needed to provide stability as part of a multilateral peacekeeping action but would not act unilaterally, the prime minister said Monday.

Oil spill coats Australian beaches

SYDNEY - A clean-up was under way on Australia’s east coast Thursday after beaches were coated with oil that leaked from a container vessel damaged in rough seas.

Obama’s treasury pick learnt his Three Rs in India

WASHINGTON - The man President Barack Obama has picked to steer the US out of its worst financial crisis in decades learnt his three Rs in India.

Australian PM defers India trip

NEW DELHI - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Friday deferred his maiden visit to India, scheduled for Jan 27, after it became clear Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not be able to hold talks with him due to a heart ailment.

Cathay Pacific loses $13 mn case with cabin crew

HONG KONG - Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific was Tuesday facing a potential 13 million US dollar payout to its cabin crew after losing a court case over unpaid holiday pay.