Mandela "responding" to treatment for infection

JOHANNESBURG South Africa's presidency says former President Nelson Mandela is suffering from a recurring lung infection and is responding to treatment. The statement Tuesday from presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said the 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon is "receiving appropriate treatment and he is responding to the treatment." 34 PhotosNelson MandelaMandela was hospitalized Saturday at 1 Military...

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SEAL Killed in Rescue Mission Identified

The Pentagon has identified Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas Checque as the Navy SEAL who died of injuries sustained in the successful rescue of an American doctor from the Taliban over the weekend.Checque, who hailed from Monroeville, Pa., died of "combat related injuries," according to a Pentagon release. Though the release only said Checque was assigned to "an East Coast-based...

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Why the world is arguing over who runs the internet

The ethos of freedom from control that underpins the web is facing its first serious test, says Wendy M. Grossman WHO runs the internet? For the past 30 years, pretty much no one. Some governments might call this a bug, but to the engineers who designed the protocols, standards, naming and numbering systems...

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Greece extends debt buyback to Tuesday

ATHENS: Greece announced it had extended until Tuesday a debt buyback offer, the success of which is key for it to receive bailout funding from the EU and IMF without which it could soon go bankrupt."We have decided to extend the invitation to offer designated securities for exchange to 11 December 2012," the head of Greece's PDMA debt management agency, Stelios Papadopoulos, said in a...

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Obama, Boehner tackle fiscal cliff face-to-face

STORY HIGHLIGHTSPresident Obama and House Speaker Boehner meet at the White HouseTheir spokesmen issue identical statements about the first such talks in 23 daysDemocrats and the GOP have been sparring about efforts to avert the fiscal cliffSen. Corker joins some Republicans as open to hiking tax rates on the wealthy Washington (CNN) -- Twenty-three days since they last met face-to-face and 23 days...

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Boehner and Obama meet on "fiscal cliff"

President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, met at the White House Sunday for their first face-to-face meeting on the "fiscal cliff" in weeks, indicating that negotiations are continuing despite a public stalemate over the requirements for a deal. The two have spoken over the phone as recently as Wednesday but on Friday, Boehner held a news conference to announce that "no progress"...

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Fiscal Cliff Talks: Boehner, Obama Meet Face-to-Face

For the first time in more than three weeks, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner met face-to-face today at the White House to talk about avoiding the fiscal cliff.White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest would offer no details saying only, "The lines of communication remain open."Erskine Bowles, the co-creator of a debt reducing plan, who was pessimistic...

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Sweet scent doubles as repellent for flower eaters

A FLOWER'S delicate fragrance is not just a come-hither call to insect pollinators. Some scent molecules act as deterrents to drive away blossom-munching predators. Ian Baldwin of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in...

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HPB introduces first centre for promoting healthy lifestyles

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Health Promotion Board on Sunday introduced its first Healthy Lifestyle Centre (HLC) - aimed at making it easier to deliver healthy lifestyle messages to residents at the community level.Launched at Hong Kah North, the concept will be piloted in all 18 constituencies of the South-West district over the next three years before going islandwide. South West CDC Mayor...

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Chavez says his cancer is back, talks of a successor

From Patrick Oppmann, CNNupdated 12:56 AM EST, Sun December 9, 2012STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Parliament will convene special session over Chavez's trip to Cuba, an official says"An operation like this, an illness like this, always carries risk," says Hugo ChavezHe says his vice president should succeed him if his health worsensChavez, who won reelection this year, will return to Cuba for the operationHavana...

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