BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, has died at age 77, his family said on Wednesday.

SEOUL (Reuters) - Red Cross officials from North and South Korea begin three days of talks on Wednesday in a rare contact between the rivals to discuss the plight of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

AP - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal lion of the Senate and haunted bearer of the Camelot torch after two of his brothers fell to assassins' bullets, has died after battling a brain tumor. He was 77.

Reuters - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, has died, his family said. He was 77.

Reuters - Red Cross officials from North and South Korea begin three days of talks on Wednesday in a rare contact between the rivals to discuss the plight of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

AFP - US Senator Ted Kennedy, a lion of the American left and the last of the brothers who dominated US politics for years, has died of brain cancer, his family said Wednesday. He was 77.

AFP - The toll in a massive bombing that ripped through Afghanistan's troubled southern city of Kandahar has risen to at least 40, a senior police officer said Wednesday.

BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77, his family said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sleep deprivation, 'insult slaps,' water dousing and 'walling,' or slamming a detainee's head against a wall, were techniques used by CIA interrogators to break high-value detainees, according to an agency memo.

AP - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was a Democrat's Democrat, so much so that he became a rallying point for those in his party and an object of derision for Republican opponents.

AP - A sleepy Montana checkpoint along the Canadian border that sees about three travelers a day will get $15 million under President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan. A government priority list ranked the project as marginal, but two powerful Democratic senators persuaded the administration to make it happen.

AP - Jamie Auchincloss is well known and well liked in this storybook town for his longtime support of local theater, his videos of Democratic political events, and being the half brother to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

AP - Michael Young and the Texas Rangers chased Joba Chamberlain early, then hung on for a nail-biting win at noisy Yankee Stadium.

Reuters - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77, his family said.

Reuters - Sleep deprivation, 'insult slaps,' water dousing and 'walling,' or slamming a detainee's head against a wall, were techniques used by CIA interrogators to break high-value detainees, according to an agency memo.

AFP - US Senator Ted Kennedy, the last of the storied band of brothers who appeared born to rule, has died after losing a battle with brain cancer, his family said Wednesday. He was 77.

AFP - Rescue workers Wednesday sifted through the rubble of the deadliest bombing in Afghanistan for a year as signs of poor election turnout pointed to the success of Taliban intimidation.

KABUL (Reuters) - More results were expected to trickle out of Afghanistan's election counting house on Wednesday as officials raised the death toll from a truck bombing that highlighted the problems the eventual winner will face.

VIENNA (Reuters) - U.N. inspectors are set to report that Iran has slowed the expansion of its disputed nuclear program and is cooperating more with them just as major powers prepare to discuss harsh sanctions against Tehran.

SEOUL (Reuters) - Red Cross officials from South Korea arrived in the North for three days of talks on Wednesday in a rare meeting between the rivals to discuss the plight of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

AP - Israel and the U.S. are making headway in defusing an unusually public disagreement over West Bank settlements, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as he met a top American envoy in London on Wednesday.

Reuters - More results were expected to trickle out of Afghanistan's election counting house on Wednesday as officials raised the death toll from a truck bombing that highlighted the problems the eventual winner will face.

Reuters - U.N. inspectors are set to report that Iran has slowed the expansion of its disputed nuclear program and is cooperating more with them just as major powers prepare to discuss harsh sanctions against Tehran.

Reuters - Red Cross officials from South Korea arrived in the North for three days of talks on Wednesday in a rare meeting between the rivals to discuss the plight of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

AFP - Ted Kennedy, the last of the storied band of brothers whose triumphs and tragedies dominated a generation of American politics, has died at the age of 77 after losing a battle with brain cancer, his family said Wednesday.

AFP - Rescue workers Wednesday sifted through the rubble of the deadliest bombing in Afghanistan for a year as signs of poor election turnout pointed to the success of Taliban intimidation.

BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77, his family said.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Former President Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday trial confessions by moderates accused of fomenting post-election unrest were made under 'extraordinary conditions' and were invalid, the ILNA news agency reported.

AP - Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the scion of a revered clerical family who rode the rise of Shiite power in Iraq to become one of the country's most powerful political figures but was deeply distrusted by Sunni Muslims as an ally of Iran, died Wednesday at the age of 59.

AP - North and South Korea on Wednesday began their first talks in nearly two years aimed at reuniting families divided during the Korean War.

Reuters - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77, his family said.

Reuters - Former President Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday trial confessions by moderates accused of fomenting post-election unrest were made under 'extraordinary conditions' and were invalid, the ILNA news agency reported.

KABUL (Reuters) - Partial results from last week's election put Afghan President Hamid Karzai ahead of main rival Abdullah Abdullah, but not by enough to avoid a second round run-off in October, figures released on Wednesday showed.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Former President Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday trial confessions by moderates accused of fomenting post-election unrest were made under 'extraordinary conditions' and were invalid, an Iranian news agency reported.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A surge in demand for aircraft pushed new orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods up at their fastest pace in two years in July, the government said on Wednesday, hinting a modest economic recovery was taking shape.

AP - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the last surviving brother in an enduring political dynasty and one of the most influential senators in history, died Tuesday night at his home on Cape Cod after a yearlong struggle with brain cancer. He was 77.

AP - A grieving President Barack Obama paid tribute to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Wednesday, calling him a colleague, counselor and friend who etched his place in history as a 'singular figure' on the American political landscape.

AP - New U.S. home sales surged 9.6 percent in July, rising for the fourth straight month and beating expectations as the housing market marches steadily back from its historic downturn.

AP - Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the scion of a revered clerical family who channeled rising Shiite Muslim power after the fall of Saddam Hussein to become one of Iraq's most influential politicians, died Wednesday in Iran, the country that was long his key ally. He was 59.

AP - President Hamid Karzai widened his lead over his top challenger Wednesday after Afghan officials released more partial vote results. The president's new total pushed him closer to the 50 percent threshold that would allow him to avoid a two-man runoff.

AP - The majority of transplanted organs in China come from executed prisoners, state media reported Wednesday in a rare disclosure about an industry often criticized for being opaque and unethical.

AP - Tens of thousands of revelers pelted each other with tons of ripe tomatoes in a good-natured battle that filled the streets of a Spanish town with rivers of red pulp.

AP - ABC is adding Kate Gosselin (GAHS'-lihn) to the list of guest co-hosts for 'The View.'

AP - It's 9 1/2 feet wide and 42 feet long and is billed as the narrowest house in New York City. But there's nothing small about its asking price: $2.7 million.

AP - Rookie Mark Sanchez was named the New York Jets' starting quarterback Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the decision.

Reuters - Partial results from last week's election put Afghan President Hamid Karzai ahead of main rival Abdullah Abdullah, but not by enough to avoid a second round run-off in October, figures released on Wednesday showed.

Reuters - Former President Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday trial confessions by moderates accused of fomenting post-election unrest were made under 'extraordinary conditions' and were invalid, an Iranian news agency reported.

Reuters - A surge in demand for aircraft pushed new orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods up at their fastest pace in two years in July, the government said on Wednesday, hinting a modest economic recovery was taking shape.

AFP - Ted Kennedy, the last of the storied band of brothers whose triumphs and tragedies dominated a generation of American politics, has died after losing a battle with brain cancer.

SEOUL (Reuters) - The rival Koreas neared a deal to resume reunions of families separated by the Korean War at a rare meeting on Wednesday that follows conciliatory moves made by the North after it was hit by sanctions, reports said.

AP - A grieving President Barack Obama paid tribute to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Wednesday, calling him a colleague, counselor and friend who etched his place in history as a 'singular figure' on the American political landscape.

AP - President Hamid Karzai widened his lead over his top challenger Wednesday as Afghan officials released more partial vote results. The president's new total pushed him closer to the 50 percent threshold that would allow him to avoid a two-man runoff.

AP - Cash for Clunkers generated nearly 700,000 new car sales and ended under its $3 billion budget, the Transportation Department said Wednesday.

AP - China has launched a national organ donation system to try to reduce its dependence on body parts harvested from executed prisoners, who make up the majority of donors, state media reported Wednesday.

Reuters - Sales of newly built U.S. single-family homes rose in July to their fastest pace in 10 months, while orders for long-lasting manufactured goods surged, hinting a modest economic recovery was taking shape.

Reuters - The rival Koreas neared a deal to resume reunions of families separated by the Korean War at a rare meeting on Wednesday that follows conciliatory moves made by the North after it was hit by sanctions, reports said.

AFP - Edward Kennedy, the last of the storied band of brothers whose triumphs and tragedies dominated a generation of US politics, has died after losing his year-long battle with brain cancer.

AFP - Incumbent Hamid Karzai widened his lead in the race for the Afghan presidency in new results unveiled Wednesday from an election marked by fraud and Taliban intimidation.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales of newly built U.S. single-family homes rose in July to their fastest pace in 10 months, while orders for long-lasting manufactured goods surged, hinting a modest economic recovery was taking shape.

AP - A grieving President Barack Obama paid tribute to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Wednesday, calling him a colleague, counselor and friend who etched his place in history as a 'singular figure' on the American political landscape.

AP - Sales of new homes surged 9.6 percent in July, another sign the housing market is climbing back from the historic bottom it reached early this year. Driven by falling prices, the fourth-straight monthly increase was greater than expected.

AP - An executive for an anti-animal cruelty group says her 16-year-old blind and deaf dog died after she accidentally left him in her hot car for four hours.

AP - ABC is adding Kate Gosselin (GAHS'-lihn) to the list of guest co-hosts for 'The View.'

Reuters - New U.S. home sales hit their highest level in 10 months in July and orders for long-lasting manufactured goods surged, fresh evidence a modest economic recovery was taking shape.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. home sales hit their highest level in 10 months in July and orders for long-lasting manufactured goods surged, fresh evidence a modest economic recovery was taking shape.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp is recalling about 95,700 Toyota and Scion vehicles sold in the United States because ice could accumulate on their braking systems and make it harder for drivers to slow down.

LONDON (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday his government was making progress toward reopening peace talks with the Palestinians and hoped to be able to do so shortly.

AP - Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, last surviving brother in an American political dynasty and one of the most influential senators in history, died at his home on Cape Cod after a yearlong struggle with brain cancer. He was 77.

AP - Edward M. Kennedy was much more than just former Senate colleague and influential legislator to Barack Obama, evident in the president's personal, mournful tribute on Wednesday.

AP - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he appreciates the lieutenant governor's offer to take over, but he plans to stay in office.

AP - Government health officials are urging people not to panic over estimates of 90,000 people dying from swine flu this fall.

AP - The popular Cash for Clunkers program generated nearly 700,000 new car sales during the past month, giving the U.S. auto industry a badly needed jolt of activity during the deepest decline in auto sales in two decades.

AP - Chris Brown likely will spend the next year in group counseling sessions learning about control and other relationship issues as part of his court-ordered treatment for beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

AP - Ellie Greenwich, who co-wrote some of pop music's most enduring songs, including 'Chapel of Love,' 'Be My Baby' and 'Leader of the Pack,' died Wednesday, according to her niece. She was 68.

AP - The future is now for the new face of the New York Jets, Mark Sanchez.

AP - He lived 15 months with an incurable brain tumor, a little longer than usual for a patient in his late 70s. Perhaps equally important is that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy lived those months well — able to work almost to the end, to sail the choppy New England waters he adored, to help elect a president he supported, and even to give him a dog.

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp is recalling about 95,700 Toyota and Scion vehicles sold in the United States because ice could accumulate on their braking systems and make it harder for drivers to slow down.

Reuters - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday his government was making progress toward reopening peace talks with the Palestinians and hoped to be able to do so shortly.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader said on Wednesday he did not believe the leaders of opposition protests that erupted after the country's June presidential vote were agents of foreigners.

AP - HYANNIS PORT, Mass. AP) — The greatest heights eluded Ted Kennedy over a lifetime of achievement and pain. No presidency. No universal health care, chief among his causes.

AP - Mexico now has one of the world's most liberal laws for drug users after eliminating jail time for small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and even heroin, LSD and methamphetamine.

AP - Special forces have recovered a stolen Picasso and arrested a man planning to sell the painting during a raid of his house in southern Iraq, Iraqi police said Wednesday.

AP - Author Dominick Dunne, who told stories of shocking crimes among the rich and famous through his magazine articles and best-selling novels such as 'The Two Mrs. Grenvilles,' died Wednesday in his home at age 83.

Reuters - Iran's supreme leader said on Wednesday he did not believe the leaders of opposition protests that erupted after the country's June presidential vote were agents of foreigners.

AP - The White House is asking doctors to help promote its drive to overhaul health care, marking an effort by President Barack Obama to regain momentum on the issue.

AP - Police say a car found in West Hollywood belonged to an ex-model who police suspect was killed by a former reality show contestant.

AP - Police are looking for three suspects in the burglary of Lindsay Lohan's home.

HYANNIS PORT, Massachusetts (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77.

AP - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford rebuffed his lieutenant governor's call to resign Wednesday, two months after he admitted an affair, saying he will not be 'railroaded' out of office.

AP - Taiwan said Thursday it has agreed to let the Dalai Lama visit the island to comfort survivors of a devastating typhoon, a decision that could anger China.

Reuters - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77.

AFP - The United States has been mourning and paying tribute as the family of Edward Kennedy prepared to accompany the liberal lion's body on its final journey.

AP - Taiwan's leader said Thursday he has agreed to let the Dalai Lama visit the island to comfort survivors of a devastating typhoon, in a surprising move that could anger China.

AFP - The first detailed picture of how so-called high value detainees spent their days inside secret Central Intelligence Agency-run prisons overseas has emerged in dozens of previously classified documents released this week. And the picture is chilling.