Up To Date Top News Stories from around the World

Astronauts inspect shuttle on way to space station (AP)

AP - Endeavour's astronauts inspected their ship early Tuesday for any launch damage as they raced toward a 200-mile-high rendezvous with the International Space Station.

Toyota: hybrids recalled in Japan over brakes (AFP)

AFP - Toyota announced Tuesday a recall of its popular Prius and two other hybrid models in Japan to fix faulty brakes, plunging the auto giant deeper into crisis as lawsuits in the United States piled up.

Toyota to recall 436,000 hybrids globally (Reuters)

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp will recall around 436,000 hybrid cars worldwide, including the 2010 Prius model, according to a document obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.

Rep. John Murtha, voice for veterans, dies at 77 (AP)

AP - Rep. John Murtha, the tall, gruff-mannered former Marine who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capitol Hill and later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq War, died Monday following complications from gallbladder surgery. He was 77.

Seats at a premium on planes, trains out of DC (AP)

AP - A $20 cab ride to the airport skyrocketed to the "snow rate" of $100 in the nation's capital, and those travelers who could get to the airport or train station still had to haggle or wait in long lines to escape the snowbound Mid-Atlantic.

Carter's 48 points help Magic beat Hornets (AP)

AP - Vince Carter had a season-high 48 points, leading the Orlando Magic back from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Hornets 123-117 on Monday night.

Obama's healthcare summit sets stage for end-game (Reuters)

Reuters - President Barack Obama's call for a healthcare summit including both his fellow Democrats and Republicans sets the stage for a final push to get stalled legislation through Congress, but skeptical Republicans said on Monday the only solution is to start over.

Iran moves closer to nuke warhead capacity (AP)

AP - Iran pressed ahead Monday with plans that will increase its ability to make nuclear weapons as it formally informed the U.N. nuclear agency of its intention to enrich uranium to higher levels.

Michael Jackson's doctor pleads not guilty (AP)

AP - Michael Jackson's doctor pleaded not guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop star at a brief hearing that had all the trappings of another sensational celebrity courtroom drama.

Key powers push for tougher sanctions against Iran (AFP)

AFP - The United States and France said they will push for "strong" new UN anti-nuclear sanctions against Iran after the Middle East state announced it was going to step up its uranium enrichment.

AP Interview: NY's Paterson lashes back at rumors (AP)

AP - New York Gov. David Paterson on Monday lashed back at what he called a "callous and sleazy" assault on his character in statehouse rumors and media reports that include accusations about womanizing and drug use, allegations he flatly denied.

Lawyer: Wife mulled extorting Ill. murder suspect (AP)

AP - Days before a former suburban Chicago police officer's fourth wife vanished in 2007, she told a divorce attorney that her husband thought she suspected he had killed his previous wife and suggested extorting money from him to keep quiet, the lawyer testified Monday.

World's tallest tower closed a month after opening (AP)

AP - The world's tallest skyscraper has unexpectedly closed to the public a month after its lavish opening, disappointing tourists headed for the observation deck and casting doubt over plans to welcome its first permanent occupants in the coming weeks.

Obama's health care summit: Just for show? (AP)

AP - Could this turn into something more than political theater? President Barack Obama's televised dialogue with Republican lawmakers on health care, promised for later this month, has the makings of an entertaining exchange. But the differences between the basic Democratic and GOP ideas are stark — and the two sides have increasingly hardened their positions in this election year.

Weather closes government offices a second day (Reuters)

Reuters - Federal government agencies in the capital region will remain closed for a second day on Tuesday as residents brace for another blizzard while trying to clean up from a weekend storm that paralyzed the area with two feet of snow.

Under fire, NY governor Paterson says he's not resigning (Reuters)

Reuters - New York Governor David Paterson on Monday restated his intention to run for governor and denied rumors he might resign over potentially scandalous allegations in a forthcoming news report that fueled new speculation about his political future.

John Murtha, defense appropriations chair, dies (Reuters)

Reuters - Democratic Representative John Murtha, chairman of the House of Representatives defense appropriations subcommittee who exercised enormous influence on defense issues, died on Monday.

Ukraine awaits Tymoshenko concession or legal fight (Reuters)

Reuters - Ukraine waited for Yulia Tymoshenko Tuesday to contest a weekend presidential election or concede defeat and allow the winner, Viktor Yanukovich, to start piecing together a governing coalition in parliament.

U.S. missionary in Haiti says trusts God to free her (Reuters)

Workers accounted for at Connecticut blast (Reuters)

Reuters - All workers at the Connecticut power plant construction site rocked by a massive explosion on Sunday have been accounted for, leaving the death toll at five, the town's mayor said on Monday.