AP - A three-day strike by British Airways cabin crew affecting thousands of travelers began Saturday after last-ditch talks between the airline's management and union leaders collapsed.

AP - The first ticket to the round of 16 will be punched when second-seeded Villanova tussles with West Coast Conference champion Saint Mary's at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday. They'll be followed by a couple of upset-minded teams trying to keep the magic moving: 13th-seeded Murray State takes on fifth-seeded Butler, and 14th seed Ohio plays No. 6 seed Tennessee.

AFP - President Barack Obama Saturday subtly shifted US rhetoric on Iran, pledging to ensure Iranians could access the Internet without fear of censorship, and blaming Tehran for isolating itself.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian investigators will be given access to the Chicago man who pleaded guilty to helping plan the Mumbai attacks, but he won't be extradited to India on current charges, a U.S. official said on Saturday.

AP - Claiming unstoppable momentum but still short of the goal line, President Barack Obama is heading to Capitol Hill to rally House Democrats for a final push on landmark health care legislation.

AP - British Airways was scrambling Saturday to deal with the start of a three-day strike by its cabin crew that has thrown the plans of thousands of travelers into chaos.

AP - Almost a year after worried authorities went door to door warning residents to flee as water carved through a nearby dam, this tiny North Dakota town is facing the possibility of having to evacuate again because of flooding.

AP - Police say they have made an arrest in the case of a racial comment being made over the public-address system at a Walmart store in southern New Jersey.

AP - Protesters riding thousands of motorcycles and crammed into trucks and cars set off Saturday for a daylong caravan through the streets of the Thai capital, hoping to enlist residents in their 'class war' against the government.

AP - The tense atmosphere surrounding a California police department plagued by booby trap attacks has been stepped up a notch following the latest threat against officers.

AP - A federal judge rejected a multimillion dollar settlement for people sickened by ash and dust from the World Trade Center, saying the deal to compensate 10,000 police officers, firefighters and other laborers didn't contain enough money.

Reuters - Thousands of opposition activists fanned out across Thailand's capital on Saturday in a bid to win the hearts of Bangkok's middle classes and recruit them for their anti-government campaign.

Reuters - Indian investigators will be given access to the Chicago man who pleaded guilty to helping plan the Mumbai attacks, but he won't be extradited to India on current charges, a U.S. official said on Saturday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged lawmakers on Saturday to resist pressure to weaken a financial reform bill and called again for an independent consumer watchdog to help prevent future financial crises.

AP - Tens of thousands of protesters riding motorcycles and crammed into trucks and cars rolled through the streets of the Thai capital Saturday in a giant caravan to rally residents to their 'class war' against the government.

AP - Take your pick: Duke, California, Cornell or Wisconsin?

Reuters - President Barack Obama urged lawmakers on Saturday to resist pressure to weaken a financial reform bill and called again for an independent consumer watchdog to help prevent future financial crises.

AFP - US President Barack Obama was to meet key Democratic lawmakers Saturday to drum up support for his sweeping health care reform plan ahead of a decisive vote on it in the House of Representatives.

AFP - Pope Benedict XVI was preparing Saturday to issue a pastoral letter on the child abuse scandal in the Church in Ireland, amid growing anger about similar affairs in other countries.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Saturday apologized to victims of child sexual abuse by clergy in Ireland and announced a formal Vatican investigation of Irish Roman Catholic dioceses and seminaries hit by the abuse scandal.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama renewed his administration's offer of dialogue and diplomacy with Tehran on Saturday, a year after his offer of a new beginning with Iran failed to achieve concrete results.

AP - Pope Benedict XVI rebuked Irish bishops Saturday for 'grave errors of judgment' in handling clerical sex abuse and ordered a Vatican investigation into the Irish church to wipe out the scourge.

AP - President Barack Obama said Saturday that Congress needs to enact comprehensive financial reforms to protect consumers, keep banks strong and ensure the U.S. economy doesn't sink into another Great Depression.

AP - Israeli settlement building anywhere on occupied land is illegal and must be stopped, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said Saturday, after getting a closer look at some of the Israeli enclaves scattered across Palestinian-claimed territories.

AP - A crimson tide of protesters snaked its way through the streets of the Thai capital Saturday, traveling in a caravan of thousands of cars, trucks and motorbikes to drum up support for their campaign to oust a government they call illegitimate.

Reuters - Pope Benedict on Saturday apologized to victims of child sexual abuse by clergy in Ireland and announced a formal Vatican investigation of Irish Roman Catholic dioceses and seminaries hit by the abuse scandal.

Reuters - Thousands of Russians rallied against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's government on Saturday in a string of protests fueled by sharp falls in living standards since the economic crisis hit.

Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama renewed his administration's offer of dialogue and diplomacy with Tehran on Saturday, a year after his offer of a new beginning with Iran failed to achieve concrete results.

AFP - Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict apologized on Saturday to victims of child sex abuse by clergy in Ireland and ordered an official inquiry there to try to stem a scandal gripping the Catholic Church which has swept across Europe.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel and the Palestinians on Saturday to restart negotiations as world powers stepped up diplomatic efforts to push the peace process forward.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Secularist Iyad Allawi edged ahead of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Saturday in a neck-and-neck election race that has laid bare the ethnic and sectarian divisions threatening Iraq's fragile stability.

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) - Thousands of Russians rallied against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's government on Saturday in a string of protests fueled by sharp falls in living standards since the economic crisis hit.

AP - Pope Benedict XVI rebuked Irish bishops Saturday for 'grave errors of judgment' in handling clerical sex abuse cases and ordered an investigation into the Irish church. But he laid no blame for the problem on the Vatican's policies of keeping such cases secret.

AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke made a fresh pitch Saturday to retain oversight of small banks, contending that what the Fed learns from that role helps it assess the overall health of the entire U.S. financial system.

Reuters - Pope Benedict apologized on Saturday to victims of child sex abuse by clergy in Ireland and ordered an official inquiry there to try to stem a scandal gripping the Catholic Church which has swept across Europe.

Reuters - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel and the Palestinians on Saturday to restart negotiations as world powers stepped up diplomatic efforts to push the peace process forward.

Reuters - Secularist Iyad Allawi edged ahead of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Saturday in a neck-and-neck election race that has laid bare the ethnic and sectarian divisions threatening Iraq's fragile stability.

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict apologized on Saturday to victims of child sex abuse by clergy in Ireland and ordered an official inquiry there to try to stem a scandal gripping the Catholic Church which has swept across Europe.

NABLUS, West Bank (Reuters) - A Palestinian youth was killed by Israel troops and another was seriously wounded on Saturday during a clash in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian hospital officials said.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian investigators will get access to the Chicago man who pleaded guilty to helping plan the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but he will not be extradited to India on current charges, a U.S. official said on Saturday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police broke up an opposition demonstration in Moscow on Saturday, one of around 50 rallies across the country with thousands protesting falling living standards under Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

AP - President Barack Obama set his sights on Capitol Hill, ready to rally House Democrats on Saturday for a final health care push as party leaders appeared confident they had overcome a flare-up within their ranks over abortion funding restrictions in the legislation.

AP - Palestinian medical officials say a Palestinian teenager was killed during clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank.

AP - The tense atmosphere surrounding a California police department plagued by booby trap attacks has been stepped up a notch following the latest threat against officers.

AP - A city used to fighting floods was confident Saturday that it had done enough to hold back the swelling Red River — even as the water inched higher — but officials stressed that it was too early to celebrate.

Reuters - Pope Benedict apologized on Saturday to victims of child sex abuse by clergy in Ireland and ordered an official inquiry there to try to stem a scandal gripping the Catholic Church which has swept across Europe.

Reuters - A Palestinian youth was killed by Israel troops and another was seriously wounded on Saturday during a clash in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian hospital officials said.

AFP - Pope Benedict XVI apologised on Saturday for child sex abuse by Irish priests in a letter with far-reaching implications, but victims criticised it for falling short.

AFP - President Barack Obama looked to energize his Democratic allies with an in-person appeal for his historic health care overhaul Saturday, the eve of a cliffhanger vote on the sweeping legislation.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has suggested holding a referendum to approve subsidy cuts that the Islamic Republic's parliament has repeatedly blocked, a news agency said Saturday.

AP - A 16-year-old boy patronizing a Walmart store in southern New Jersey took over the public-address system and ordered black people to leave, angering customers and prompting company leaders to apologize, police said Saturday.

AP - Halftime here winding to an end in the first game in the round of 32. Saint Mary's leads 38-31, down from a 12-point lead. Omar Samhan is the story with 15 points and six rebounds. He also has two fouls, and coach Randy Bennett has been moving him in and out of the lineup to keep him out of more serious foul trouble.

Reuters - Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has suggested holding a referendum to approve subsidy cuts that the Islamic Republic's parliament has repeatedly blocked, a news agency said Saturday.

AFP - UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Saturday said the international community 'strongly supports' Palestinian efforts to build a state as he kicked off a regional tour aimed at reviving peace talks.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama planned a Capitol Hill visit on Saturday to rally support on healthcare as Democrats in the House of Representatives tried to nail down the last votes to pass his sweeping overhaul.

HAVANA (Reuters) - A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck near the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo in eastern Cuba, on Saturday and was felt in the island's second city of Santiago de Cuba.

AP - Victory within reach, President Barack Obama rallied House Democrats on Saturday for a final health care push, and party leaders appeared confident they had overcome a flare-up over abortion funding restrictions in the legislation.

AP - Pope Benedict XVI's unprecedented letter to Ireland apologizing for chronic child abuse within the Catholic Church failed Saturday to calm the anger of many victims, who accused the Vatican of ducking its own responsibility in promoting a worldwide culture of cover-up.

AP - Seven protesters, including activist Cindy Sheehan, have been arrested at an anti-war rally and march in Washington.

AP - A powerful storm began blowing through Oklahoma and the southern Plains on the first day of spring Saturday, bringing heavy snow and strong winds a day after temperatures reached into the 70s.

AP - A 16-year-old boy who police said made an announcement at Walmart ordering all black people in the southern New Jersey store to leave was charged with harassment and bias intimidation, authorities said Saturday.

AP - Vols coach Bruce Pearl has advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament twice in the past three years, but Ohio isn't making it easy this time. The 14th-seeded Bobcats were within 19-18 with 9 1/2 minutes remaining in the first half.

Reuters - President Barack Obama planned a Capitol Hill visit on Saturday to rally support on healthcare as Democrats in the House of Representatives tried to nail down the last votes to pass his sweeping overhaul.

Reuters - A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck near the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo in eastern Cuba, on Saturday and was felt in the island's second city of Santiago de Cuba.

AFP - UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday that the international community 'strongly supports' Palestinian efforts to build a state and branded all Israeli settlement activity illegal.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Democrat in the House of Representatives said on Saturday, 'We have the votes' to pass President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul as Democrats dropped a much-criticized plan to approve the Senate's bill without a direct ballot.

HAVANA (Reuters) - A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Guantanamo city in eastern Cuba on Saturday, sending residents fleeing into the streets but a local government official said there were no casualties.

AP - Victory within reach, President Barack Obama exhorted House Democrats on Saturday to stay true to their party's legacy and make history by bringing health insurance to millions of struggling families now left out. Leaders exuded confidence as they defused thorny problems in the countdown to a landmark vote.

AP - They passed out cigars in Fargo on Saturday, but no matches just yet, as a flood-weary city that's spent the last week getting ready to hold back the Red River cautiously prepared to celebrate what appeared to be a successful defense against the swollen waterway.

AP - The killing of a veteran radio reporter by a motorcycle gunman in a northwestern state capital reignited concerns Saturday about the safety of journalists in Colombia.

AP - Authorities will search once again for a missing U.S. teen after an American couple took an underwater picture of what they believe might be Natalee Holloway's remains, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors' office told The Associated Press on Saturday.

AP - New Mexico and Washington have tipped off from the Shark Tank in San Jose, where Steve Alford's Lobos are trying to match Murray State with its 31st win.

Reuters - A top Democrat in the House of Representatives said on Saturday, 'We have the votes' to pass President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul as Democrats dropped a much-criticized plan to approve the Senate's bill without a direct ballot.

Reuters - A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Guantanamo city in eastern Cuba on Saturday, sending residents fleeing into the streets but a local government official said there were no casualties.

AFP - US President Barack Obama led Democrats in a triumphant, fist-pumping rally Saturday and confidently predicted Congress would rise to a century-old challenge and pass his health care overhaul.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the House of Representatives said on Saturday they had secured enough support to pass a sweeping healthcare overhaul and would dump a controversial plan to avoid a direct vote on the Senate bill.

NABLUS, West Bank (Reuters) - A Palestinian youth was killed by Israel troops and another was seriously wounded on Saturday during a clash in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian hospital officials said.

AP - Thousands of protesters — many directing their anger squarely at President Barack Obama — marched through the nation's capital Saturday to urge immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

AP - A powerful storm began blowing through Oklahoma and the southern Plains on the first day of spring Saturday, bringing heavy snow and strong winds a day after temperatures reached into the 70s.

AP - Washington apparently decided it had heard enough about how bad the Pac-10 was this season, how good New Mexico had been, how the Huskies' star players never showed up when it mattered the most.

Reuters - Democrats in the House of Representatives said on Saturday they had secured enough support to pass a sweeping healthcare overhaul and would dump a controversial plan to avoid a direct vote on the Senate bill.

Reuters - A Palestinian youth was killed by Israel troops and another was seriously wounded on Saturday during a clash in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian hospital officials said.

AP - Jacob Pullen's physical defense against BYU's Jimmer Fredette has landed him on the bench with four fouls with 6:20 left. He's held Fredette in check, though, with 13 points on 4-for-12 shooting.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Opposition activists prepared for talks with Thailand's government on Sunday to seek a way out of an intractable political conflict, but with neither side willing to budge, a resolution seems far from likely.

AP - Authorities evacuated hundreds of people after a volcano erupted beneath a glacier in southern Iceland, Iceland's civil protection agency said Sunday.

AP - Leading by one against the colossus of the bracket, Ali Farokhmanesh stood at the 3-point line, no one around. The prudent play? Pull it out, burn some clock.

Reuters - Opposition activists prepared for talks with Thailand's government on Sunday to seek a way out of an intractable political conflict, but with neither side willing to budge, a resolution seems far from likely.