Google Wave Set To Invite 100,000 Volunteers

According to the sources, in a well put up strategic policy, Google has decided to send as many as 1,00,000 invitations to developers all across the world in order to preview “Google Wave“, the new communication and collaboration tool that the company plans to officially launch sometime next year. This unusual but yet speculated to be effective move draws top notch developers all across the world to come and test the yet-to-be-released Google Wave and give their expert reviews and views over the tool. “In addition to the developers already using Wave, we will invite groups of users from the hundreds of thousands who offered to help report bugs when the signed up,” said Google Wave Project Manager Dan Peterson.

Powerful earthquake in South Pacific hurls massive tsunami at Samoas, killing nearly 100

APIA, Samoa — Federal disaster officials say “tens of thousands” of people on American Samoa and Samoa will need their help after a lethal tsunami in the South Pacific.

Census data show a widening income gap in US as poor people take bigger hit in recession

WASHINGTON — The recession has hit middle-income and poor families hardest, widening the economic gap between the richest and poorest Americans as rippling job layoffs ravaged household budgets.

Asian stocks rebound on yen fall, big takeover deals in US; Europe opens lower

TOKYO — Asian stocks bounced back Tuesday as big corporate takeovers in the U.S. gave investors a new shot of confidence and the yen retreated from a nine-month high against the dollar.

Asian markets bounce back as European rally stalls; Wall Street poised to pare gains

LONDON — European stock markets fell modestly Tuesday, taking a breather after the previous day’s rally, while investors in Asia warmed to a brace of deals that had boosted confidence in U.S. and European stock markets.

Swedish journalist stopped at Cairo airport and to be ejected from country

CAIRO — A Swedish journalist and blogger specializing in Egyptian labor issues was stopped by security at Cairo airport early Tuesday and was set to be deported from the country, his girlfriend and the Swedish embassy said.

Tsunami hits American Samoa, no injuries reported

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — A tsunami swept into Pago Pago (Pan-go, pan-go) in American Samoa shortly after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 shook the Pacific area.

Airlines are charging for second bag on flights to Europe; what’s their next stop?

MINNEAPOLIS — You can leave the U.S., but it’s getting harder to leave behind baggage fees.

EU steps up Georgia patrols before war report, but says region looks quiet

MOSCOW — On the eve of a European Union report on who started the Russia-Georgia war, EU monitors have stepped up their patrols in Georgia to try to keep tensions from boiling over into violence, an official said Tuesday.

A glance at the colorful few who have taken the ultimate vacation, in space

As Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte prepares for his trip to the International Space Station, here’s a look at the colorful men and one woman who have purchased seats on Russian space flights.

Strong quake strikes between Samoa and American Samoa, causing residents to flee from Tsunami

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — A powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck in the South Pacific between Samoa and American Samoa around dawn Tuesday, sending terrified residents fleeing for higher ground as a tsunami swept ashore, flattening at least one village. There were no immediate reports of fatalities.

Ex-Panama president who replaced Noriega after US invasion, led transition to democracy, dies

PANAMA CITY — Former President Guillermo Endara, who led Panama to democracy after the U.S. invasion that toppled dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega, died Monday. He was 73.

AP News in Brief

Obama says he’ll accept Nobel Peace Prize as ‘call to action’ toward peace and prosperity

A look at economic developments and activity in stock markets around the world Wednesday

A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Friday:

Pakistan arrests nine suspected terrorists

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani police captured nine people they accused of being involved in a string of bombings, including last year’s suicide attack on the Danish embassy in Islamabad, for which Al Qaeda claimed responsibility, media reports said Friday.

Cold wave claims 22 lives in Bihar

PATNA - At least 22 people have died in Bihar in the past two days as temperatures dipped drastically due to an intense cold wave sweeping the plains of north India, officials said Sunday.