For the first time, Ireland admits it needs foreign bailout money
Irish officials acknowledged for the first time Thursday that Ireland was seeking aid from international lenders.
Republicans have a change of heart about earmarks
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans opened the lame-duck session of Congress on Monday by signaling their commitment to the antispending posture that fueled their big gains Election Day, underscoring the Tea Party movement’s influence on the Republican leadership.
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For the next generation of Beatles fans, the wait could soon be over.
Fire destroys apartment tower in Shanghai, over 53 dead
SHANGHAI — Fire engulfed a high-rise apartment building undergoing renovations in the center of this city Monday afternoon, killing at least 53 people and injuring at least 90 others in one of the deadliest fires here in years, according to Xinhua, the official news agency.
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A year after it began reviewing whether energy drinks that combine alcohol and caffeine are safe or legal, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to take a stand on the drinks as soon as Wednesday, according to law enforcement officials in several states.
Facebook offers new unified messaging system for all users
SAN FRANCISCO — Since the heyday of AOL’s cheery “You’ve got mail” greeting, e-mail has been central to the online experience for millions of people.
Inquiry finds evidence against Rangel
The House ethics committee ruled Monday that there was evidence to support 13 counts of misconduct by Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., and began considering whether to formally convict and recommend punishment against him.
Ready your rain gear!
The gorgeous weather this past weekend was displaced by a weak cold front that crossed the area Sunday and Monday. Low level easterly flow yesterday brought moisture off of the Atlantic, causing there to be low clouds throughout the day.
Obama’s economic view raises hackles of many major US allies
SEOUL, South Korea — President Barack Obama’s hopes of emerging from his Asia trip with the twin victories of a free trade agreement with South Korea and a unified approach to spurring global economic growth ran into resistance on all fronts Thursday, putting Obama at odds with his key allies and largest trading partners.
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WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday that it was investigating whether Google had violated laws when it collected Wi-Fi data as part of its Street View photo project.
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Fox News host Glenn Beck was criticized by the Anti-Defamation League, a leading Jewish advocacy organization, on Thursday in response to a televised segment about financier George Soros and the Holocaust.
Little harm found if gay ban is lifted, Pentagon report says
WASHINGTON — The draft of a new Pentagon report concluded that repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law would not cause overall harm to the military but might cause temporary disruptions, people familiar with the report said Thursday.
‘Palin’s Alaska’: fishing, climbing and feeding a following on TV
Sarah Palin says her new series on TLC is not a reality show, and she has a point. The show is not an outdoorsy version of celebrity-dysfunction shows like “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” or “The Hasselhoffs.”
Hoping for magic, start-ups follow Twitter into the building
SAN FRANCISCO — When Joe Fernandez, a tech entrepreneur, moved his start-up here last spring, a big goal, he said, was “to be best friends with the Twitter guys.” His theory was that by hanging around with executives at one of the hottest tech companies today, some of the magic could rub off.
Thanks to a very warm fall, first snow yet to come
New students awaiting their first Boston snowfall will not see it too soon. While November often means the start of snow season in New England, this fall has on average been unseasonably warm so far. This pattern will continue this weekend, as high pressure over will make for clear, dry conditions. In fact, a beautiful weekend is in store for most of the eastern United States, as a large frontal boundary will remain stationary over the Midwest, leaving warm temperatures and calm winds to its east. This pleasant weather won’t last forever, though, as the cold front will finally reach us on Sunday, making things a bit colder and cloudier for the start of the week.
Repeal of policy on gay military service faces struggle
WASHINGTON — Prospects for Congress to authorize repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy face new uncertainties as time runs out for the Senate to act and strong objections remain among Republicans and the most senior ranks of the military.
Connecticut jury imposes death penalty for a killer of three
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A jury voted Monday to impose the death penalty on a habitual criminal who took part in a home invasion in Cheshire, Conn., that left a woman and her two daughters dead, a crime of such inexplicable cruelty and randomness — the family was apparently chosen after being spotted in a shopping center parking lot — that it upended a debate about capital punishment.
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In the 10 years they have been together, Charissa Benjamin and her Serbian husband have always flown from their home in Washington to spend the winter holidays in the warmth of her native Antigua.
Gloomy weather until Veterans Day
A pesky low pressure, still lurking off the coast of Cape Cod, will maintain cloudy skies over the region. Northerly winds will also continue, ushering in some cool air from Canada. This will keep highs near 50°F and lows near 40°F. Along with the cloudiness, some spotty showers will persist through Wednesday, but daily rainfall amounts should remain under 1/4 of an inch. The low pressure will slowly move off into the Atlantic. In its wake, sunny weather will return for Veterans Day along with a gradual warm-up into this weekend.
At legal fringe in Florida, empty houses go to the needy
NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Save Florida Homes Inc. and its owner, Mark Guerette, have found foreclosed homes for several needy families here in Broward County, and his tenants could not be more pleased. Fabian Ferguson, his wife and two children now live a two-bedroom home they have transformed from damaged and abandoned to full and cozy.