DALLAS (Reuters) - Incumbent Rick Perry beat U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in a bruising primary election on Tuesday to decide the Republican candidate for Texas governor.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he would explore adding more Republican ideas to his healthcare plan, even as congressional Democrats prepared for a final push to pass the overhaul without Republican backing.

CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - Chilean rescue crews fanned out with sniffer dogs on Wednesday around quake-ravaged cities and villages, some still hoping to find survivors and others to begin the daunting task of recovering the bodies buried under mountains of rubble.

AP - Riding a wave of growing anti-Washington anger, Texas Gov. Rick Perry easily dispatched Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and a challenger backed by some in the tea party movement Tuesday to once again become the Republican nominee for the state's top office.

AP - Ruslan Fedotenko had a goal and an assist and Sidney Crosby — in his first game since winning the Olympics for Canada — set up Sergei Gonchar's 200th career goal to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Reuters - Incumbent Rick Perry beat U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in a bruising primary election on Tuesday to decide the Republican candidate for Texas governor.

Reuters - Chilean rescue crews fanned out with sniffer dogs on Wednesday around quake-ravaged cities and villages, some still hoping to find survivors and others to begin the daunting task of recovering the bodies buried under mountains of rubble.

AFP - Nissan Motor said Wednesday it will recall nearly 540,000 vehicles worldwide, most of them in the United States, due to brake pedal defects and faulty fuel gauges.

AP - Democratic congressional leaders hope President Barack Obama's unveiling of his final health care package Wednesday will help resuscitate an effort that seemed all but dead until recently.

AP - After buying time by resolving an impasse over jobless benefits and other programs that had briefly lapsed, the Senate is returning to a $100 billion-plus bill reviving popular tax breaks and extending longer and more generous jobless benefits through the end of the year.

AFP - Thousands more troops were deployed Wednesday across quake-ravaged Chile as armed vigilantes patrolled neighborhoods to ward off looters and soldiers distributed emergency aid to desperate survivors.

AFP - At least 80 people died and 400 were missing after a landslide triggered by torrential rain swept away entire villages in eastern Uganda, the Ugandan Red Cross said Wednesday.

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's cabinet approved a sweeping new austerity program on Wednesday, the third in as many months, in a drive to rein in a bulging budget deficit and secure European financial support, a government source said.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese leadership's efforts to engineer a trouble-free succession and push both economic growth and improved living standards in coming years move to the national parliament from Friday.

BERLIN (Reuters) - Icelanders are sure to vote against repaying $5 billion in 'Icesave' debts if a referendum goes ahead on Saturday, but conditions are good for reaching a revised deal with Britain and the Netherlands, Iceland's Foreign Minister was quoted on Wednesday as saying.

AP - A string of three deadly suicide bombings killed at least 30 people in the former insurgent stronghold of Baqouba on Wednesday, including a blast from a suicide bomber who rode in an ambulance with the wounded before blowing himself up at a hospital, police said.

AP - Texas Gov. Rick Perry tapped into a rising wave of anti-Washington ire and rode it to an easy Republican primary win over Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, once seen as the candidate who could block his march toward four more years in the state's highest office.

AP - The tsunami that hit this coastal city sent 50-ton fishing boats crashing onto land and demolished its port — wiping out the $40 million in business that courses through the local economy from the annual anchovy and sardine catch.

AP - New York Gov. David Paterson remains defiant in the midst of a rapidly growing domestic violence scandal that has now claimed two top law enforcement officials and threatens to take down his administration.

AP - Thousands of mourners walked the sidewalks of a wide avenue in silence, holding candles and tearfully embracing.

Reuters - Greece's cabinet approved a sweeping new austerity program on Wednesday, the third in as many months, in a drive to rein in a bulging budget deficit and secure European financial support, a government source said.

Reuters - The Chinese leadership's efforts to engineer a trouble-free succession and push both economic growth and improved living standards in coming years move to the national parliament from Friday.

Reuters - Icelanders are sure to vote against repaying $5 billion in 'Icesave' debts if a referendum goes ahead on Saturday, but conditions are good for reaching a revised deal with Britain and the Netherlands, Iceland's Foreign Minister was quoted on Wednesday as saying.

AFP - Three powerful co-ordinated suicide attacks in the central Iraq city of Baquba killed at least 33 people and wounded 55 on Wednesday, just days before nationwide parliamentary elections.

CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - Chilean rescue crews fanned out with sniffer dogs on Wednesday around quake-ravaged cities and villages, some still hoping to find survivors and others facing the daunting task of recovering bodies buried under mountains of rubble.

AP - A string of three deadly suicide bombings killed 30 people in the former insurgent stronghold of Baqouba on Wednesday, including a blast from a suicide bomber who rode in an ambulance with the wounded before blowing himself up at a hospital, police said.

AP - Prime Minister George Papandreou said Wednesday that Greece was now awaiting strong support from the European Union after ordering even more painful budget measures officials say will save the country an euro4.8 billion ($6.5 billion).

Reuters - Chilean rescue crews fanned out with sniffer dogs on Wednesday around quake-ravaged cities and villages, some still hoping to find survivors and others facing the daunting task of recovering bodies buried under mountains of rubble.

AFP - Spanish police said on Wednesday they colloborated with the FBI to smash the world's biggest network of virus-infected computers -- which hijacked over 13 million PCs -- and arrested three people.

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's cabinet approved a sweeping new austerity program on Wednesday, the third in as many months, intended to rein in a bulging budget deficit and secure European financial support.

DALLAS (Reuters) - Conservative incumbent Rick Perry rode strong anti-Washington rhetoric to a victory over a sitting U.S. senator for the Texas Republican gubernatorial nomination in a race that could be a model in this year's crucial U.S. mid-term congressional elections.

CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - Chilean rescue crews fanned out with sniffer dogs on Wednesday around quake-ravaged cities and villages, some still hoping to find survivors and others facing the daunting task of recovering bodies buried under mountains of rubble.

AP - Rep. Charles Rangel announced Wednesday he will temporarily step down as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, saying he didn't want his ethics controversy to jeopardize election prospects for fellow Democrats.

AP - Putting a lone senator's cantankerous challenge behind it, the Senate is back to work on a $100 billion-plus bill reviving popular tax breaks and extending longer and more generous jobless benefits through the end of the year.

AP - Greece announced painful new austerity measures Wednesday worth euro4.8 billion ($6.5 billion) to deal with a financial crisis that has hammered the euro and unsettled financial markets.

AP - Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, hitting 14 of 15 free throws, and the Los Angeles Lakers pulled away with a dominating third-quarter run for a 122-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.

Reuters - Greece's cabinet approved a sweeping new austerity program on Wednesday, the third in as many months, intended to rein in a bulging budget deficit and secure European financial support.

Reuters - Conservative incumbent Rick Perry rode strong anti-Washington rhetoric to a victory over a sitting U.S. senator for the Texas Republican gubernatorial nomination in a race that could be a model in this year's crucial U.S. mid-term congressional elections.

Reuters - Chilean rescue crews fanned out with sniffer dogs on Wednesday around quake-ravaged cities and villages, some still hoping to find survivors and others facing the daunting task of recovering bodies buried under mountains of rubble.

Reuters - President Barack Obama will usher in the last act of his push to overhaul the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system on Wednesday by arguing that his retooled plan, incorporating more ideas from rival Republicans, is essential for the good of the country.

AFP - Greece froze pensions and raised a string of taxes to cut spending by 4.8 billion euros on Wednesday in a frantic bid to persuade its EU partners and the markets that it can dodge bankruptcy.

CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - Rescue crews with sniffer dogs fanned out around Chile's earthquake-ravaged cities and villages on Wednesday, searching for survivors inside the mountains of rubble.

AP - A child apparently directed pilots last month from the air traffic control center at John F. Kennedy Airport, one of the nation's busiest airports, according to audio clips. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it was investigating.

AP - Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, who piloted a US Airways flight during its emergency water landing on the Hudson River in January of last year, is retiring.

AP - The American Cancer Society is urging doctors to make clearer to men that the test used to screen for prostate cancer has limits and may lead to unnecessary treatments that do more harm than good.

AP - A U.S. congressman from North Carolina wants the $50 bill redrawn to feature the face of former President Ronald Reagan.

AP - If the Academy Awards are like the Super Bowl of entertainment, then it's game week in Tinseltown.

AP - The head of the Russian Olympic Committee resigned Wednesday in the wake of the traditional powerhouse's worst performance at the Winter Games, news agencies reported.

Reuters - Conservative incumbent Rick Perry rode strong anti-Washington rhetoric to a victory over a sitting U.S. senator for the Texas Republican gubernatorial nomination in a race that could be a model in this year's crucial U.S. mid-term congressional elections.

Reuters - Rescue crews with sniffer dogs fanned out around Chile's earthquake-ravaged cities and villages on Wednesday, searching for survivors inside the mountains of rubble.

AFP - Greece froze pensions and raised a string of taxes to save 4.8 billion euros on Wednesday in a last ditch bid to persuade its EU partners and the markets that it can avoid bankruptcy.

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece targeted civil servants, the rich and the church on Wednesday in a sweeping new 4.8 billion euro ($6.5 billion) austerity program designed to secure European help to tackle its crippling debt burden.

AP - Declaring the nation is 'waiting for us to act' after a year of debate, President Barack Obama urged Congress Wednesday to enact his signature health care legislation swiftly. He said it now contains the best ideas from both political parties.

AP - New York Rep. Charles Rangel temporarily stepped aside as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday as he struggled with mounting ethics woes that left his political future uncertain at best.

AP - With creditors demanding solutions to the Greek debt crisis and the financial world increasingly on edge, Athens on Wednesday froze pensions, cut civil service salaries and slapped new taxes on everything from cigarettes and alcohol to fuel and precious gems.

AP - San Diego police say the mother of a man suspected of killing 17-year-old Chelsea King had a message spray-painted on her garage saying the girl's blood is on her hands.

AP - Continental Airlines will begin charging coach customers extra if they want a seat with more legroom.

Reuters - Greece targeted civil servants, the rich and the church on Wednesday in a sweeping new 4.8 billion euro ($6.5 billion) austerity program designed to secure European help to tackle its crippling debt burden.

AFP - Greece launched a fresh round of draconian austerity measures on Wednesday, winning a welcome on the markets and setting the scene for crucial European support that analysts say could come soon.

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece targeted civil servants, the rich and the church Wednesday in a sweeping new 4.8 billion euro ($6.5 billion) austerity program designed to secure European help to tackle its crippling debt burden.

CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called on Chileans on Wednesday to rally around relief and reconstruction efforts, deflecting criticism that her government was slow to respond to one of the most powerful earthquakes in a century.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday it is time to pass his sweeping healthcare overhaul using only a slim Democratic majority in Congress if necessary, saying the issue is too important to be delayed by politics after a year of debate.

AP - President Barack Obama urged Congress Wednesday to vote 'up or down' on sweeping health care legislation in the next few weeks, endorsing a plan that denies Senate Republicans the right to kill the bill by stalling with a filibuster.

AP - An air traffic controller at New York's Kennedy Airport was suspended for allowing his young son to radio instructions to several pilots.

AP - The economy continues to grow slowly even though harsh snowstorms crimped activity in some parts of the country last month.

AP - A strong aftershock to Chile's deadly earthquake provoked a brief panic in the city of Concepcion, but no tsunami warning was issued and no injuries or damage have been reported.

AP - The head of the Russian Olympic Committee resigned on Wednesday in the wake of the nation's worst performance at the Winter Games, news agencies said, citing the committee's spokesman.

Reuters - Greece targeted civil servants, the rich and the church Wednesday in a sweeping new 4.8 billion euro ($6.5 billion) austerity program designed to secure European help to tackle its crippling debt burden.

Reuters - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called on Chileans on Wednesday to rally around relief and reconstruction efforts, deflecting criticism that her government was slow to respond to one of the most powerful earthquakes in a century.

Reuters - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday it is time to pass his sweeping healthcare overhaul using only a slim Democratic majority in Congress if necessary, saying the issue is too important to be delayed by politics after a year of debate.

AFP - A new tsunami alert was briefly sounded along part of the quake-hit Chilean coast Wednesday just four days after monster waves ravaged towns and villages, witnesses said.

AFP - US President Barack Obama on Wednesday pressed Congress to 'finish its work' on far-reaching legislation to remake US health care, his top domestic goal, after a bitter year-long political fight.

CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called on Chileans on Wednesday to rally around relief and reconstruction efforts, deflecting criticism that her government was slow to respond to one of the world's most powerful earthquakes in a century.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Already caught up in a scandal involving a close aide, embattled New York Governor David Paterson was charged on Wednesday by the state's ethics watchdog for unlawfully taking free baseball tickets to the 2009 World Series.

AP - The end game at hand, President Barack Obama took command Wednesday of one final attempt by Democrats to enact bitterly contested health care legislation, calling for an 'up or down vote' within weeks under rules denying Republicans the ability to kill the bill with mere talk.

AP - Buffeted by ethics inquiries, 20-term Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York stepped down Wednesday as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, delivering a heavy new political jolt to a Democratic Party already facing angry voters.

AP - The Pentagon's upcoming study on gays in the military is biased, some GOP lawmakers already contend, because it assumes Congress will repeal the 1993 law known as 'don't ask, don't tell.'

AP - A 26-foot wave smashed into a cruise ship carrying nearly 2,000 people in the Mediterranean on Wednesday, smashing glass windshields and killing two passengers, according to officials and news reports.

AP - Outfielder Justin Upton and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $51.25 million, six-year contract.

Reuters - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet called on Chileans on Wednesday to rally around relief and reconstruction efforts, deflecting criticism that her government was slow to respond to one of the world's most powerful earthquakes in a century.

Reuters - Already caught up in a scandal involving a close aide, embattled New York Governor David Paterson was charged on Wednesday by the state's ethics watchdog for unlawfully taking free baseball tickets to the 2009 World Series.

AFP - A tsunami alert sent terrified Chileans running for coastal hills Wednesday, while a surge of troops finally brought order to the quake-hit second city of Concepcion after rampant looting.

AFP - US President Barack Obama pushed Congress Wednesday to pass his historic health care overhaul by a party-line vote if needed, calling for action in the coming weeks after a bitter year-long debate.

CONCEPCION, Chile (Reuters) - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet pleaded with Chileans on Wednesday to stop hoarding supplies and help with relief efforts, deflecting criticism that her government was slow to respond to one of the world's most powerful earthquakes in a century.

AP - At least 15 Toyota drivers have complained to U.S. safety officials that their cars sped up by themselves even after being fixed under recalls for sticky gas pedals or floor mat problems, according to an Associated Press analysis.

AP - Rep. Eric Massa, a freshman Democrat from New York, said Wednesday that he will not seek a second term after a recurrence of cancer late last year, dismissing a report that he had been accused of harassing a staffer.

AP - As planes waited to take off from Kennedy Airport, the jargon-packed radio chatter between controllers and pilots was interrupted by a young boy's voice: 'JetBlue 171, cleared for takeoff.'

AP - Months after experts discounted the importance of routine mammograms and Pap smears for many women, the American Cancer Society is warning more explicitly than ever that regular testing for prostate cancer is of questionable value too, and can do men more harm than good.

AP - Omir Santos tried on his new batting gloves, said to slow the impact of a harmful fastball down to the mere annoyance of a junkball, and voiced excitement. 'I think it's going to help,' the New York Mets catcher said. 'It sounds like it's going to work.'

Reuters - Chilean President Michelle Bachelet pleaded with Chileans on Wednesday to stop hoarding supplies and help with relief efforts, deflecting criticism that her government was slow to respond to one of the world's most powerful earthquakes in a century.

AP - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says he received a report last month of allegations of misconduct against a New York congressman who has announced he will not seek a second term.

AP - Mosab Hassan Yousef, who helped Israel's security forces kill and arrest members of the Islamic militant group Hamas, is probably marked for death. He should be keeping silent. But he's got a story to tell, one he delivers in his new book published this week, 'Son of Hamas.'

AP - As planes waited to take off from Kennedy Airport, the jargon-packed radio chatter between controllers and pilots was interrupted by a young boy's voice: 'JetBlue 171, cleared for takeoff.'

AP - Patients of a northern Kentucky psychiatrist jailed on a charge he stabbed a woman with a sword have tried to keep appointments with him in jail. Kenton County jail Chief Deputy Scott Colvin said deputies have had to turn away several patients of Douglas Rank, charged last month with first-degree assault in an attack on 32-year-old woman.

AP - Jack Nicklaus is going to appear at next month's Masters. He thinks Tiger Woods will as well. Nicklaus said Wednesday that 'it would surprise me' if Woods did not return to competitive golf in time for the Masters, a tournament the embattled world No. 1 has won four times in his career.

AFP - A powerful quake struck southern Taiwan on Thursday, causing panic among residents as buildings shook violently, and triggering power blackouts and halting train services.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Relatives of a California state trooper and three family members whose fatal car wreck helped spark Toyota's wide-ranging safety recall have sued the automaker for defects they say caused the vehicle to speed out of control and crash.

AP - A freshman congressman from New York who cited health reasons in announcing his retirement Wednesday is facing allegations of misconduct, a top House Democrat confirmed.

AP - Sherron Collins had 17 points in his final game at Allen Fieldhouse and No. 2 Kansas beat No. 5 Kansas State 82-65 Wednesday night to clinch its sixth straight Big 12 regular-season title outright.

Reuters - Relatives of a California state trooper and three family members whose fatal car wreck helped spark Toyota's wide-ranging safety recall have sued the automaker for defects they say caused the vehicle to speed out of control and crash.