Kim Jong Il, a Cold War-era leader in modern times
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Even as the world changed around him, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il remained firmly in control, ruling absolutely at home and keeping the rest of the world on edge through a nuclear weapons program….
Woman gets back stolen urn with mother’s ashes
ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire woman who took an urn of her mother’s ashes to bingo games for good luck until it was stolen has gotten it back. Diane Bozzi says the urn was stolen from her vehicle…
Lady Gaga voted AP Entertainer of the Year
NEW YORK (AP) — You might say that Lady Gaga’s year really began in an egg. That’s how she arrived at the Grammys in February, encased in a large, translucent pod carried by scantily clad dancers. When she “hatched” onstage,…
Life rafts spotted near capsized rig
MOSCOW (AP) — Rafts carrying people have been spotted off Russia’s east coast where a floating oil rig sank in remote, freezing waters, the owner said Monday, but the government would not confirm the report and it was not clear…
With morgues full, Philippine flood victims buried
ILIGAN, Philippines (AP) — With funeral parlors overwhelmed, authorities in a flood-stricken southern Philippine city on Monday organized the first mass burial of some of nearly 700 people who were swept to their deaths in one of worst calamities to…
Italian appeals court says why it cleared Knox
MILAN, Italy (AP) — No murder weapon. Faulty DNA. No motive. Even the time of death was wrong by nearly an hour. The Italian appeals court that cleared Amanda Knox in the killing of her roommate explained its ruling on…
World’s shortest woman wants to be Bollywood star
NAGPUR, India (AP) — A high school student in central India was recognised as the world’s shortest woman by Guinness World Records on Friday as she turned 18 and said she hopes to earn a degree and make it in…
Russian fishing ship lists badly near Antarctica
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A Russian fishing vessel with 32 crew members was taking on water near Antarctica on Friday. Heavy sea ice was hampering rescue efforts, and officials said it could be four or five days before anybody…
MTV names Katy Perry its first artist of the year
NEW YORK (AP) — Katy Perry’s run of No. 1 singles has earned her the distinction of becoming MTV’s first artist of the year. Perry topped Adele after a spirited discussion among MTV’s internal panel of experts, the network said…
Jackson daughter tells ‘Ellen’ about acting dreams
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson’s daughter says she was inspired to be an actress after seeing her father in the film “Moonwalker.” “My dad was in the movie ‘Moonwalker’ and I knew he could sing really well, but I…