Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Appeals court lets government halt torture lawsuit (AP)

AP - A sharply divided federal appeals court on Wednesday threw out a lawsuit challenging a controversial post-Sept. 11 CIA program that flew terrorism suspects to secret prisons.

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Fla. minister determined to hold 9/11 Quran burn (AP)

AP - A top general, the secretary of state, the White House and political and religious leaders from around the world have decried a plan by the leader of a small Florida church to burn copies of Islam's holiest text to mark the 9/11 attacks. The Rev. Terry Jones is not backing down.

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Obama firm, won't yield on tax hike for wealthiest (AP)

AP - Politically weakened but refusing to bend, President Barack Obama insisted Wednesday that Bush-era tax cuts be cut off for the wealthiest Americans, joining battle with Republicans — and some fellow Democrats — just two months before bruising midterm elections.

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Colorado wildfire destroys more than 130 homes (AP)

AP - A wildfire burning in the canyons and steep mountainsides near Boulder became one of the most destructive blazes in Colorado history Wednesday as authorities determined it had destroyed at least 135 homes in just three days.

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BP report blames itself, others for oil spill (AP)

AP - BP took some of the blame for the Gulf oil disaster in an internal report issued Wednesday, acknowledging among other things that it misinterpreted a key pressure test of the well. But in a possible preview of its legal strategy, it also pointed the finger at its partners on the doomed rig.

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AP Exclusive: Backers of NYC mosque appear divided (AP)

AP - The group of Muslims planning to build a 13-story Islamic center and mosque near ground zero appears plagued by divisions that raise questions about the future of the project, with one major investor saying he is prepared to sell some or all of the site if the price is right.

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Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1950 (AP)

AP - The number of people dying on the nation's roads has fallen to its lowest level in six decades, helped by a combination of seat belts, safer cars and tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws.

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Google search accelerates with 'instant' results (AP)

AP - Google Inc. stepped on its Internet search accelerator Wednesday by adding a feature that displays results as soon as people begin typing their requests.

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Federer tops Soderling, reaches US Open semifinals (AP)

AP - For one match at least, Roger Federer was back to his old self.

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Spears' former bodyguard sues for sex harassment (AP)

AP - A former bodyguard sued Britney Spears on Wednesday, claiming the singer repeatedly subjected him to "repeated unwanted sexual advances" and harassment.

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