Up To Date Top News Stories from around the World

Iraqi PM starts laying groundwork for new govt (AP)

AP - The Iraqi prime minister's bloc said Friday it has started laying the groundwork to form a coalition government, signaling growing confidence after preliminary election results showed it winning in at least three provinces in the southern Shiite heartland.

Suicide bombs kill 43, wound 100 in Pakistani city (AP)

AP - A pair of suicide bombers targeting army vehicles detonated explosives within seconds of each other Friday, killing at least 43 people in this eastern city and wounding about 100, police said. It was the fourth major attack in Pakistan this week, indicating Islamist militants are stepping up violence after a period of relative calm.

Obama delays Pacific trip for healthcare (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama is delaying his trip to Indonesia and Australia next week to stay home and focus on his final push for a healthcare overhaul, White House officials said on Friday.

Pope meets German bishop over abuse scandal (AFP)

AFP - The head of Germany's Roman Catholic Church issued a new apology to victims of paedophile priests as he met the pope Friday and announced the creation of a watchdog to counter abuses.

Retail sales rise unexpectedly in February (AP)

AP - Retail sales posted a surprising increase in February as consumers did not let major snowstorms stop them from storming the malls. The advance, the biggest since November, provided hope that the recovery from the Great Recession is gaining momentum.

Obama delays Asia trip to deal with health care (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama has delayed his first international trip of the year, a three-country visit to Asia, to focus attention on the final push to salvage health care legislation after a year of contentious debate.

Democrats pare differences over health overhaul (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is postponing his long-scheduled Asian trip for a few days to make a final push for passage of historic legislation reinventing the health care system.

Head of German Church apologizes to abuse victims (Reuters)

Iraq's election race tight as results delayed again (Reuters)

Reuters - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had a narrow lead over rival Shi'ites, partial results in Iraq's tight election race showed on Friday, but a secularist challenger remained far ahead in minority Sunni areas.

Lesbian teen sues to force school to hold prom (AP)

AP - A lesbian student who wanted to take her girlfriend to her senior prom is asking a federal judge to force her Mississippi school district to reinstate the dance it canceled.

NY cashier, 91, punched trying to fend off thief (AP)

Old and new converge in rising British Conservative (Reuters)

Twin suicide attacks kill 45 in Pakistan's Lahore (AFP)

AFP - Twin suicide attacks seconds apart targeted the Pakistani military Friday, killing up to 45 people in the second attack to hit security forces in the country's cultural capital this week.

Obama to tap Yellen for Fed vice chair: source (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama plans to nominate San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen, a respected policy dove, to be vice chairman of the central bank, a source familiar with the process said on Thursday.

Twitter unveils tool to share tweeting locations (AP)

AP sources: Woods likely to return at Masters (AP)

AP - Tiger Woods intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters, two people with knowledge of his plans told The Associated Press.

'American Idol' pares down to 12 finalists (AP)

AP - Teen power won out on "American Idol" as Katie Stevens claimed a place in the top 12 while a more experienced singer got the ax.

Leave yuan to us, China tells Obama (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States should not make a political issue out of the yuan, a Chinese central banker said on Friday, as the two countries lurched toward a potential bust-up over Beijing's currency regime.

New York's "Ground Zero" workers reach deal on claims (Reuters)

Toyota discounts boost sales (Reuters)

Reuters - Unprecedented discounts after a series of damaging recalls boosted Toyota Motor Corp's U.S. sales in early March, as U.S. regulators weighed new auto safety measures.