SPORTS
Obama to reverse Bush-era stem cell policy
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's announcement Monday that he is overturning his predecessor's policies toward embryonic stem cells also will include a broad declaration that science — not political ideology — would guide his administration. Obama planned to reverse President George W. Bush's limits on federally funded stem cell research and direct the National Institutes of Health to put in place safeguards so science is protected from political interference. The moves would fulfill a campaign promise. "We've got eight years of science to make up for," said Dr. Curt Civin, whose research allowed scientists to isolate stem cells and who now serves as the founding director of the University of Maryland Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. "Now, the silly restrictions are lifted." ...MORE
World Bank says global economy will shrink in 2009
NEW YORK – The World Bank predicts the global economy will shrink this year for the first time since World War II, and sees trade at its lowest point in 80 years. The World Bank also said Sunday the growing global financial crisis will create a multibillion-dollar financing shortfall for poor and developing nations. A group of 129 countries face a shortfall of $270 to $700 billion this year, the World Bank says. ...MORE
Police: Ill. pastor deflected gunshot with Bible MARYVILLE, Ill. – A pastor shot and killed during his Sunday sermon deflected the first of the gunman's four rounds with a Bible, sending a confetti-like spray of paper into the air in a horrifying scene that congregants initially thought was a skit, police said. ...MORE
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- Columbus, Ohio
GM CEO Wagoner to step down at White House request
DETROIT – General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will step down immediately at the request of the White House, administration officials said Sunday. The news comes as President Obama prepares to unveil additional restructuring efforts designed to save the domestic auto industry. The officials asked not to be identified because details of the restructuring plan have not yet been made public. On Monday, Obama is to announce measures to restructure GM and Chrysler LLC in exchange for additional government loans. The companies have been living on $17.4 billion in government aid and have requested $21.6 billion more. ...MOREPalestinian orchestra shut after Holocaust concert
JENIN, West Bank – Authorities in an impoverished Palestinian refugee camp have shut down a youth orchestra, boarded up its rehearsal studio and banned its conductor from the camp after she took 13 young musicians to perform for Holocaust survivors in Israel, an official said Sunday. Conductor Wafa Younes took the children from her Strings of Freedom orchestra to sing songs of peace last week as part of an annual Good Deeds Day organized by Israel's richest woman. But once parents and leaders back in West Bank's Jenin refugee camp realized where the group had been, they shut down the program, saying Younes had dragged the children into a political issue. ...MORENKorea orders military to be combat ready: state media
SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea has ordered its military to be combat ready, state media said early Monday, ahead of joint US-South Korean manoeuvres that Pyongyang has characterised as a prelude to war. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, the Korean People's Army (KPA) described the exercises starting Monday as "unprecedented in the number of the aggressor forces involved and in their duration." "The KPA Supreme Command issued an order to all service persons to be fully combat ready," the statement said. "This is a just measure for self-defence for protecting the sovereignty and dignity of the nation." ...MOREChavez says US, Brazil free to discuss Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has given Brazil's president the green light to talk about Venezuela with President Barack Obama. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva plans to meet Obama on March 14 in Washington, and Chavez said the Brazilian leader told him by phone that "he would like to talk with the president of the United States about the case of Venezuela." U.S.-Venezuelan relations remain prickly despite the change of administrations in Washington, while Brazil's left-leaning president has maintained friendly relations both with the U.S. and the socialist Chavez. "We don't need any intermediary to speak with any government on the planet, but since it's Lula and in good faith, I told him yes, that I gave him the green light," ....MORE
- Columbus, Ohio