U.S. National - AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Astronauts from the US space shuttle Atlantis ventured into open space early Monday on the third and final spacewalk of their mission to maintain and install more high-tech equipment on the International Space Station.

CHICAGO (AFP) - New terrorism charges were expected Monday in the case of dozens of Somali-Americans, who disappeared from their homes in Minnesota and are believed to have joined an Islamist militia in Somalia.

NEW YORK (AFP) - The uneasy relationship between the Kennedy clan and the Catholic Church turned into open warfare Monday after a bishop said he was refusing communion to Patrick Kennedy due to his pro-abortion stand.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A survey published Monday of information technology managers at over 500 US-based companies has found that only about one in four has enabled more than half their workforce to work remotely.

MUMBAI (AFP) - Shares in Indian giant Reliance Industries rose nearly four percent Monday after it announced a cash bid to buy a controlling stake in bankrupt petrochemicals firm LyondellBasell Industries.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Google is acquiring Web display advertising startup Teracent, the Internet giant announced on Monday.

NEW YORK (AFP) - Minnesota's Joe Mauer was named baseball's American League Most Valuable Player on Monday, becoming just the second catcher in 33 years to win the AL award.

CHICAGO (AFP) - Omar Vizquel agreed on Monday to a 1,375,000-dollar one-year contract with baseball's Chicago White Sox, where he'll play for fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen.

PARIS (AFP) - Carla Bruni, the supermodel wife of President Nicolas Sarkozy, and US crooner Harry Connick Junior reunite Monday on French television for a duet of the Beatles' song "And I Love Her."

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Key Democratic allies in the US health care battle warned Sunday that a Senate bill required major changes if it was to earn their support and give President Barack Obama a crucial victory on his top domestic priority.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A radiation leak at Three Mile Island, the site of the worst nuclear accident in US history, has sent home about 150 workers, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported Sunday.

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - French videogame powerhouse Ubisoft will have a virtual fitness coach whipping Wii users into shape starting Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The "Twilight" vampire romance sequel "New Moon" raked in 140.7 million dollars in its premiere weekend, a spectacular showing for the cult series, Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The nephew of ex-president John F. Kennedy, a US lawmaker, has been barred from receiving communion at his Catholic church due to his support for abortion rights, a newspaper reported Sunday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US retailers are taking desperate measures to spark holiday sales in the face of what promises to be another troubled year-end shopping season.

NEW YORK (AFP) - The 20-year record high bankruptcy rate for US banks and businesses is giving regional banks on sound footing the opportunity to expand swiftly and on the cheap.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - With its deal to buy Revolution Money, American Express is taking aim at the growing market for online and alternative payments, in a challenge to recognized leader PayPal, analysts say.

BALTIMORE, Maryland (AFP) - Indianapolis eked out yet another narrow win on Sunday while New Orleans rolled past Tampa Bay as the Colts and Saints remained unbeaten in the National Football League.

MONTE CARLO (AFP) - Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt and Jamaican-born United States 400 metres runner Sanya Richards were named athletes of the year here on Sunday.

CHANTILLY, Virginia (AFP) - Recession-stoked fears of rising crime and tougher gun laws under a Democratic government are sending US gun sales sky high, and big crowds at the Chantilly Gun Show this weekend proved it once again.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's signature drive to remake US health care was on track to clear a key Senate hurdle Saturday, as the last wavering Democrats agreed to vote to formally open debate on the bill.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Shuttle Atlantis astronauts on Saturday completed the second of their mission's three spacewalks to maintain and install more high-tech gadgets on the International Space Station.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Army Major Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, intensified contacts with a radical Yemeni American cleric just months before the shootings and began discussing surreptitious financial transfers, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - An elderly US couple charged with spying for Cuba for almost 30 years has pleaded guilty in the conspiracy, with the husband agreeing to serve a life sentence, the US Justice Department said.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - All the hype surrounding the "Twilight" vampire romance sequel is scoring big at the box office, with industry reports estimating Saturday it took in the largest opening-day receipts on record.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Back from an Asia tour, President Barack Obama called Saturday for the United States to produce more goods to sell across the Pacific, touting trade as a way to revive the troubled US economy.

NEW YORK (AFP) - Key housing sector data may provide direction for Wall Street in the coming week as the market looks for confirmation of economic recovery and girds for the year-end holiday period.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AFP) - The New Jersey Nets continued to slide toward the NBA record of 17 straight defeats to start a season on Saturday, dropping their 13th straight to the New York Knicks.