ATLANTA (Reuters) - Defending champion Florida and Ohio State will slug it out for the college basketball championship after winning their NCAA Tournament semi-finals on Saturday.

AP - At least 25 bombers being escorted by the Tuskegee Airmen over Europe during World War II were shot down by enemy aircraft, according to a new Air Force report.

Reuters - Defending champion Florida and Ohio State will slug it out for the college basketball championship after winning their NCAA Tournament semi-finals on Saturday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said it was waiting for Britain to change its behavior over the detention of 15 British sailors and marines, state television reported on Sunday.

BAGDHAD (Reuters) - Iraq's cabinet has decided to pay compensation to Arab families forced by Saddam Hussein to move to Kirkuk if they leave the northern oil-rich city voluntarily, government sources said on Saturday.

AP - Now we'll see who's really No. 1.

AP - A small brushfire erupted into a blaze that burned 1,400 acres, prompting the evacuation of 200 homes for several hours, fire officials said.

AP - The United States and South Korea struggled to save a proposed free trade agreement in extended high-level talks on Sunday, after failing to conclude the deal by an original U.S.-imposed deadline.

AP - Justin Timberlake gave up his burping title, but took home a trophy as favorite male singer Saturday night in a raucous, slime-drenched 20th Annual Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.

Reuters - Iran said it was waiting for Britain to change its behavior over the detention of 15 British sailors and marines, state television reported on Sunday.

AFP - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad slammed "arrogant" Britain over Iran's seizure of 15 British sailors even as both sides sought a diplomatic solution and US President George W. Bush urged Tehran to back down.

AFP - Heavy weapons fire rattled the Somali capital for a fourth day on Sunday but with much less intensity, allowing residents who had been trapped since Thursday by the pitched battles to flee.

OSLO (Reuters) - Global warming could cause more hunger in Africa and melt most Himalayan glaciers by the 2030s, according to a draft U.N. report due on Friday which also warns that the poorest nations are likely to suffer most.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict commemorated Palm Sunday with a call for people not to let their day-to-day lives get in the way of a search for God.

AP - Britain examined options Sunday for new dialogue with Tehran over the seized crew of 15 sailors and marines, as a poll suggested most Britons back the government's goal of resolving the standoff through diplomacy.

AP - A British resident released from Guantanamo Bay after nearly five years in captivity said Sunday his detention at the U.S. prison camp was 'profoundly difficult' to endure, his first comments since his release.

AP - Pope Benedict XVI, in his Palm Sunday Mass, opened the Roman Catholic Church's most solemn week by urging young people to live pure, innocent lives.

AP - Mogadishu's dominant clan said Sunday it has brokered a truce with Ethiopian military officials who are supporting Somalia's government, even as mortar shells continued slamming into the capital for a fourth day.

AP - Michael Phelps equaled the most hallowed mark in swimming, winning his seventh gold medal at the world championships Sunday night with his fifth world record.

Reuters - Global warming could cause more hunger in Africa and melt most Himalayan glaciers by the 2030s, according to a draft U.N. report due on Friday which also warns that the poorest nations are likely to suffer most.

Reuters - Pope Benedict commemorated Palm Sunday with a call for people not to let their day-to-day lives get in the way of a search for God.

AFP - Nepal's Maoists were sworn into a new interim government on Sunday, witnesses said, in a major step forward for a peace process that ended a decade of civil war in the nation.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran ignored growing international pressure on Sunday to release 15 British sailors and marines, saying London should change its behavior over the nine-day-old stand-off.

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. and South Korean negotiators on Sunday struggled to seal a major trade deal, with a deadline just hours away and neither side daring to predict the outcome.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - About half of the nearly 30,000 additional U.S. troops being sent to Iraq in a new effort to stabilize the country have now been deployed, a senior U.S. military official said on Sunday.

AP - About 200 students threw rocks and firecrackers at the British Embassy on Sunday, calling for the expulsion of the country's ambassador because of the standoff over Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines.

AP - Authorities were searching Sunday for three suspects after three people were shot during an attempted robbery at a shopping mall, police said.

Reuters - U.S. and South Korean negotiators on Sunday struggled to seal a major trade deal, with a deadline just hours away and neither side daring to predict the outcome.

Reuters - About half of the nearly 30,000 additional U.S. troops being sent to Iraq in a new effort to stabilize the country have now been deployed, a senior U.S. military official said on Sunday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Several small blasts rocked the British embassy in Iran and smoke rose from inside the compound in central Tehran on Sunday during a protest over 15 detained sailors and marines, but no one was hurt.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chief strategist of U.S. President George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign said he had lost faith in the president over Iraq and other issues, in one of the highest-level ruptures of Bush's inner circle.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Iran is making defensive preparations for what it fears will be a U.S. military attack this summer, Israel's military intelligence chief said on Sunday.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The United States and Egypt are urging Israel to agree to quickly start talks with a committee of Arab states on how to move the peace process forward, diplomats involved in the matter said on Sunday.

KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - Arabs forced to move to Kirkuk decades ago by Saddam Hussein expressed dismay on Sunday at the Iraqi government's plan to encourage them to leave the oil-rich northern city and return to their original homes.

AP - A British resident released from Guantanamo Bay after nearly five years in captivity said Sunday his detention at the U.S. prison camp was 'profoundly difficult' to endure, his first comments since his release.

AP - Sen. John McCain criticized reports out of Iraq he said focused unfairly on violence, saying Sunday that Americans were not getting a 'full picture' of progress in the security crackdown in the capital.

Reuters - Several small blasts rocked the British embassy in Iran and smoke rose from inside the compound in central Tehran on Sunday during a protest over 15 detained sailors and marines, but no one was hurt.

Reuters - The chief strategist of U.S. President George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign said he had lost faith in the president over Iraq and other issues, in one of the highest-level ruptures of Bush's inner circle.

Reuters - Iran is making defensive preparations for what it fears will be a U.S. military attack this summer, Israel's military intelligence chief said on Sunday.

Reuters - The United States and Egypt are urging Israel to agree to quickly start talks with a committee of Arab states on how to move the peace process forward, diplomats involved in the matter said on Sunday.

AFP - Islamist students threw rocks and firecrackers at Britain's embassy in Tehran on Sunday after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad slammed "arrogant" Britain over Iran's seizure of 15 British sailors.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is in 'direct bilateral communication' with Iran as it tries to win the release of 15 detained sailors and marines, Defense Secretary Des Browne said on Sunday.

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. and South Korean negotiators on Monday missed their deadline to agree a major trade deal but talks continued into the early hours of the morning.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain toured a Baghdad market on Sunday and said afterwards the American people were not being told the 'good news' about the war in Iraq.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The United States and Egypt are urging Israel to agree to quickly start talks with a committee of Arab states on how to move the peace process forward, diplomats involved in the matter said on Sunday.

AP - About 200 Iranian youths threw rocks and firecrackers at the British Embassy on Sunday, as the British government said it was in direct contact with Iran over the capture of 15 British sailors and marines.

AP - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will convey an Israeli message to Syria that the country must stop supporting Palestinian militants before Israel will engage in peace talks, Israel said Sunday.

AP - Sen. John McCain criticized reports out of Iraq he said focused unfairly on violence, saying Sunday that Americans were not getting a 'full picture' of progress in the security crackdown in the capital.

AP - An Illinois woman mourns her two young daughters, swept to their deaths in Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters. It's a tragic and terrifying story. It's also a lie.

AP - Bowls of piping hot barracuda soup were the much-anticipated treat when the Roa family gathered for a casual and relaxing Sunday meal.

Reuters - Britain is in "direct bilateral communication" with Iran as it tries to win the release of 15 detained sailors and marines, Defense Secretary Des Browne said on Sunday.

Reuters - U.S. and South Korean negotiators on Monday missed their deadline to agree a major trade deal but talks continued into the early hours of the morning.

Reuters - Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain toured a Baghdad market on Sunday and said afterwards the American people were not being told the "good news" about the war in Iraq.

AFP - Britain is in "direct bilateral communication" with Iran over the detention of 15 British naval personnel, Defence Secretary Des Browne told BBC television Sunday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House dismissed on Sunday a possible U.S. Senate compromise to allow testimony by officials over the firing of federal prosecutors, which has embroiled President George W. Bush's administration in controversy and led to calls for his attorney general to quit.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's acting president defended on Sunday U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's planned visit to Syria, a trip the White House described as a bad idea.

AP - Iran's Arabic-language channel said Sunday it planned to air 'confessions' from two of the 15 British sailors seized by Iran 10 days ago, as the British government said it was in direct contact with Iran over the captive crew.

AP - In a dramatic response to an Arab peace initiative, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday invited Arab leaders to a regional peace conference to discuss their ideas for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.

AP - Shattering previous records, Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton collected $26 million for her presidential campaign during the first three months of the year and transferred an additional $10 million from her Senate fundraising account, aides said Sunday.

AP - After a heavily guarded trip to a Baghdad market, Sen. John McCain insisted Sunday that a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in the capital was working and said Americans lacked a 'full picture' of the progress being made.

AP - Catholic Church officials reach a key milestone in the drive to make Pope John Paul II a saint Monday, closing an investigation into his life and handing over a dossier detailing the purported miraculous cure of a nun who prayed to him.

AP - Dwyane Wade is ready to begin his comeback. Nearly six weeks after dislocating his left shoulder, the reigning NBA finals MVP will attempt to practice with the Miami Heat on Monday, his first attempt at a full workout since suffering the injury.

Reuters - The White House dismissed on Sunday a possible U.S. Senate compromise to allow testimony by officials over the firing of federal prosecutors, which has embroiled President George W. Bush's administration in controversy and led to calls for his attorney general to quit.

Reuters - Israel's acting president defended on Sunday U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's planned visit to Syria, a trip the White House described as a bad idea.

Reuters - The United States and Egypt are urging Israel to agree to quickly start talks with a committee of Arab states on how to move the peace process forward, diplomats involved in the matter said on Sunday.

AFP - The foreign ministers of Britain and Iran have been in touch over the detention of 15 British naval personnel, a Foreign Office spokeswoman told AFP Sunday.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Six U.S. soldiers were killed in roadside bombings southwest of Baghdad over the weekend, marking one of the deadliest periods for American troops since a new security crackdown was launched in the Iraqi capital.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House accused Democrats on Sunday of taking a chance on worsening the hardship facing U.S. troops in Iraq by delaying passage of a bill to fund the unpopular war.

AP - Iran's official Arabic language television channel aired short video clips Sunday showing what it said were two of the 15 captured British sailors pointing to a map of the Persian Gulf.

AP - After a heavily guarded trip to a Baghdad market, Sen. John McCain insisted Sunday that a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in the capital was working and said Americans lacked a 'full picture' of the progress. The U.S. military later reported six soldiers were killed in roadside bombings southwest of Baghdad.

AP - Catholic Church officials reach a key milestone in the drive to make Pope John Paul II a saint Monday, closing an investigation into his life and handing over a dossier detailing the purported miraculous cure of a nun who prayed to him.

AP - The lone woman on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list was captured and charged with one count of second-degree murder, authorities said.

AP - Stars-on-ice Will Ferrell and Jon Heder took the box office gold for the weekend. Paramount and DreamWorks' 'Blades of Glory,' with Ferrell and Heder playing figure-skating rivals who become the sport's first men's pair, debuted as the No. 1 movie with $33 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Reuters - Six U.S. soldiers were killed in roadside bombings southwest of Baghdad over the weekend, marking one of the deadliest periods for American troops since a new security crackdown was launched in the Iraqi capital.

Reuters - The White House accused Democrats on Sunday of taking a chance on worsening the hardship facing U.S. troops in Iraq by delaying passage of a bill to fund the unpopular war.

AFP - Britain and Iran were engaged in direct talks over 15 detained British naval personnel, both sides said Sunday, but high emotions threatened to derail diplomatic efforts as Tehran showed new television footage of the captives.

AFP - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday that he was ready to attend a summit with Arab leaders to discuss a Saudi-drafted peace plan and called on Arab nations to convene such a meeting.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian television on Sunday showed pictures of two of the 15 British sailors and marines held in Iran, the men saying they were captured after entering Iranian waters.

AP - A powerful magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands on Monday, sending a tsunami wave crashing into the country's west coast and prompting region-wide disaster warnings, officials said.

AP - Iranian state television aired new video Sunday showing two of the 15 captured British sailors pointing to a spot on a map of the Persian Gulf where they were seized and acknowledging it was in Iranian territorial waters.

AP - Record company EMI Group PLC said Sunday it planned to unveil 'an exciting new digital offering' with computer company Apple Inc., raising expectations that The Beatles' music catalog is about to be made available through Apple's iTunes online music store.

AP - The lone woman on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list was captured and charged with one count of second-degree murder, authorities said.

AP - Morgan Pressel became the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history Sunday with a game well beyond her 18 years, closing with a 3-under 69 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship as everyone around her self-destructed.

Reuters - Iranian television on Sunday showed pictures of two of the 15 British sailors and marines held in Iran, the men saying they were captured after entering Iranian waters.

AFP - A tsunami swept ashore causing damage to towns and villages in the Solomon Islands Monday following a powerful earthquake but there were no early reports of casualties, police said.

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Several people were feared dead on Monday after a powerful earthquake in the South Pacific sent a tsunami wave into the Solomon Islands, officials said.

AP - A powerful earthquake struck in the South Pacific Monday off the Solomon Islands, triggering a tsunami several yards high that destroyed a village and left at least four people missing, officials and residents said.

AP - Two Democratic presidential candidates broke previous fundraising records during the first three months of the year, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton setting a high bar of $26 million in new contributions for the quarter.

AP - After a heavily guarded trip to a Baghdad market, Sen. John McCain insisted Sunday that a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in the capital was working and said Americans lacked a 'full picture' of the progress. The U.S. military later reported six soldiers were killed in roadside bombings southwest of Baghdad.

AP - An Illinois woman mourns her two young daughters, swept to their deaths in Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters. It's a tragic and terrifying story. It's also a lie.

AP - Catholic Church officials reach a key milestone in the drive to make Pope John Paul II a saint Monday, closing an investigation into his life and handing over a dossier detailing the purported miraculous cure of a nun who prayed to him.

AP - Record company EMI Group PLC said Sunday it planned to unveil 'an exciting new digital offering' with computer company Apple Inc., raising expectations that The Beatles' music catalog is about to be made available through Apple's iTunes online music store.

AP - Rutgers' improbable run isn't over. The Scarlet Knights earned their first trip to the national championship behind Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer with another unlikely scenario — dominating the LSU Lady Tigers from the opening tip.

Reuters - Several people were feared dead on Monday after a powerful earthquake in the South Pacific sent a tsunami wave into the Solomon Islands, officials said.

AFP - At least three people died Monday after a tsunami hit the Solomon Islands following a powerful earthquake, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported, quoting a local official in the affected area.

AFP - Tehran broadcast new television footage of detained British naval personnel on Sunday as high emotions threatened to derail diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the 15 sailors and marines.

AP - A powerful undersea earthquake Monday in the South Pacific sent a tsunami several yards high crashing into the Solomon Islands, devastating at least one village, officials and residents said.

AP - A volunteer search team found the bodies of two young brothers encased in ice on the Red Lake Indian Reservation Sunday, more than four months after they disappeared, authorities said.

AP - Iranian state television aired new video Sunday showing two of the 15 captured British sailors pointing to a spot on a map of the Persian Gulf where they were seized and acknowledging it was in Iranian territorial waters.

AP - Two Democratic presidential candidates broke previous fundraising records during the first three months of the year, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton setting a high bar of $26 million in new contributions for the quarter.

AP - After a heavily guarded trip to a Baghdad market, Sen. John McCain insisted Sunday that a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in the capital was working and said Americans lacked a 'full picture' of the progress. The U.S. military later reported six soldiers were killed in roadside bombings southwest of Baghdad.

AP - The St. Louis Cardinals' World Series celebration lasted until the game started. Then it was the Mets' turn. Tom Glavine got his 291st win and Carlos Delgado put the Mets ahead with an early two-run double off Chris Carpenter, leading New York to a 6-1 victory Sunday night in the major league season opener.

AP - One of the world's most famous 'do's — considered by many to be a fashion don't — remains intact after its owner, Donald Trump, prevailed in Sunday night's 'hair match' at Wrestlemania.

Reuters - Iranian television on Sunday showed pictures of two of the 15 British sailors and marines held in Iran, the men saying they were captured after entering Iranian waters.