Elsewhere
Germany drops attempt to ban Scientology (AP)
1 hour 12 sec agoAP - Germany is dropping its pursuit of a ban on Scientology after finding insufficient evidence of illegal activity, security officials said Friday.
Iraqi Shiites burn Bush effigy to protest US pact (AP)
1 hour 5 min agoAP - Thousands of followers of a radical Shiite cleric protested a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security deal Friday, burning an effigy of President George W. Bush in the same square where Iraqis beat a toppled Saddam Hussein statue five years ago. Chanting and waving flags, Muqtada al-Sadr's followers filled Firdous Square to protest the pact that would allow American troops to stay for three more years.
GM to extend holiday shutdown, will cut production (AP)
1 hour 6 min agoAP - General Motors Corp. will extend its holiday shutdown or make other production cuts at five factories at as it deals with a continued U.S. auto sales slump and fights to stay solvent.
Neb. lawmakers OK age limit for safe-haven law (AP)
1 hour 12 min agoAP - Nebraska lawmakers have approved adding a 30-day age limit to a safe-haven law that resulted in 35 children including teenagers as old as 17 being abandoned at state hospitals. Gov. Dave Heineman was expected to sign the bill later Friday, and the law would go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Nebraska will join 13 other states with a 30-day age cap. It has been the only state with a safe-haven law that lacks an age limit.
Madonna, Guy Granted Quickie Divorce (E! Online)
1 hour 38 min agoE! Online - On the off chance she wasn't already, Madonna was just given carte blanche—by the British courts, if not her now ex-hubby—to pursue Alex Rodriguez as blatantly as she wants.
Amsterdam moves to close a fifth of 'coffee shops' (AP)
1 hour 42 min agoAP - Amsterdam will close almost a fifth of its marijuana cafes to comply with a national ban on having them near schools, the mayor said Friday.
Mexico: Former drug czar took cartel money (AP)
2 hours 2 min agoAP - Mexico's former drug czar was accused Friday of taking $450,000 from a powerful cartel, the highest-ranking official implicated so far in a corruption scandal over efforts by drug gangs to buy protection from the government.
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Pete Wentz have baby boy (AP)
2 hours 4 min agoAP - Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz are the proud parents of a baby boy, and they're celebrating with some Bronx cheer this one is a good one.
Myanmar court hands comedian 45-year prison term (AP)
2 hours 19 min agoAP - Myanmar's courts continued a crackdown on activists Friday, handing out a 45-year prison sentence to a comedian who went to the delta to help cyclone victims and criticized the junta's slow relief response.
Stocks advance moderately after sell-off (AP)
2 hours 23 min agoAP - Wall Street moved cautiously higher Friday, with investors taking a breather from the heavy selling of recent days. Energy, utility and technology stocks showed some advances, but bank stocks declined sharply.
Mukasey feeling better, checks out of hospital (AP)
2 hours 26 min agoAP - Attorney General Michael Mukasey was given a "clean bill of health" and went back to work Friday after his harrowing collapse at a late-night dinner speech.
Rapper T.I. testifies in Ohio murder trial (AP)
2 hours 28 min agoAP - Rapper T.I. testified Friday that he believes the bullets fired at his entourage during a wild vehicle chase two years ago were meant for him.
Madonna, Ritchie granted preliminary divorce (AP)
2 hours 53 min agoAP - After the wedding in a Scottish castle, the mansion on a green English estate and the drinks in their own pub, Madonna and Guy Ritchie's eight-year marriage ended Friday in a dreary London courtroom.
Citigroup's options dwindle as shares under $4 (AP)
2 hours 59 min agoAP - Citigroup's options are dwindling along with its stock price as the credit landscape deteriorates and fears escalate about future loan losses at the company.
Bulgarian archaeologists unearth ancient chariot (AP)
3 hours 13 min agoAP - Archaeologists have unearthed an elaborately decorated 1,800-year-old chariot sheathed in bronze at an ancient Thracian tomb in southeastern Bulgaria, the head of the excavation said Friday.
Buffett says automakers need bailout or bankruptcy (AP)
3 hours 49 min agoAP - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says U.S. automakers need a new business model to better compete, whether it takes bankruptcy or a government bailout to achieve.
GM to return two leased jets amid criticism (Reuters)
3 hours 56 min agoReuters - General Motors Corp will return two of its leased corporate jets amid intense criticism in Washington this week on the luxury travel arrangements of its chief executive even as the company pleads for federal aid.
Americans still giving, despite economic meltdown (AP)
4 hours 2 min agoAP - As more Americans turn to charity amid worsening economic gloom, operators of food banks and other aid groups are relying on the surprisingly resilient generosity of their neighbors and finding that even when times are tough, people still give.
The 10 movies you shouldn't watch online (AP)
4 hours 51 min agoAP - Movies are increasingly creeping online, as video sites like YouTube and Hulu are adding feature films to their extensive libraries.
Wal-Mart names Duke to succeed Scott as CEO (AP)
5 hours 10 min agoAP - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, unexpectedly announced Friday that its chief executive will retire in February and be replaced by the head of its international division.
