Yahoo! News: World News

Fiery plane crash at Madrid airport kills 153 (AP)
AP - A jetliner heading to the popular Canary Islands vacation resort crashed during takeoff Wednesday, turning a wooded area off the end of a runway into a hellish scene of charred bodies and smoldering wreckage. Some 153 were believed dead — Spain's worst air disaster in nearly 25 years.

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US, Poland OK missile defense base, riling Moscow (AP)
AP - The United States and Poland signed a deal Wednesday to place a U.S. missile defense base just 115 miles from Russia — a move followed swiftly by a new warning from Moscow of a possible military response.

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In Georgia, Russia digs in as pullback date nears (AP)
AP - Russian forces dug trenches and built sentry posts deep inside Georgia on Wednesday, showing few signs they would pull back later this week as promised.

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Yahoo! Sports

Bolt sets 200m mark to cap sprint double (AP)
Usain Bolt's eyes darted to check the numbers on the trackside clock once, twice, three times, more. For the only time in eight races at these Olympics, Bolt was really trying -- gritting his teeth, pumping his arms, churning his golden spikes with those long, long legs. In the closing steps of the 200-meter final Wednesday night, with no other runner nearby, Bolt trained those mischief-loving eyes...

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US pulls away from Aussies, makes semis (AP)
Don't doubt this U.S. men's basketball team -- and sure don't challenge them, either. Especially if it's going to make Kobe Bryant flash his NBA MVP form. Bryant scored 25 points in his best game in Beijing, and the men's U.S. Olympic team advanced to the semifinals by beating Australia 116-85 on Wednesday night.

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JGR, Stewart, Logano get harsh penalties (AP)
NASCAR's latest attempt to reel in the rule-breakers aimed at an unfamiliar target: the normally squeaky-clean Joe Gibbs Racing.

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Yahoo! News: Business

Fannie, Freddie shares dive on bailout fears, bonds up (Reuters)
Reuters - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shares plunged to their lowest levels in almost 20 years on Wednesday, while the mortgage companies' bonds rallied on the belief that an increasingly likely government bailout would wipe out shareholders but secure their massive debt.

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California mulls probing senator over IndyMac crash (Reuters)
Reuters - California's attorney general is reviewing a request by former employees of IndyMac Bancorp Inc to investigate whether a New York senator triggered the bank's collapse by releasing confidential information.

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Wall St rises as bank, energy shares rebound (Reuters)
Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as bank and energy shares rebounded even as investors dumped Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on fears of an imminent government bailout of the housing finance companies.

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Yahoo! News: Most Viewed

Biden is Democratic favorite for Obama's No. 2 (AP)
AP - Sen. Joe Biden has emerged as the clear favorite among Democrats to be Barack Obama's running mate for his understanding of foreign policy in grave global times and his fighting spirit against the rival Republican ticket.

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Matt Damon's wife Luciana gives birth to girl (AP)
AP - Matt Damon's wife Luciana gave birth to a baby girl Wednesday, his spokeswoman said. The baby's name is Gia Zavala Damon, spokeswoman Jennifer Allen told The Associated Press, adding: "Everyone is great and she is a healthy, beautiful baby girl."

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Fiery plane crash at Madrid airport kills 153 (AP)
AP - A jetliner heading to the popular Canary Islands vacation resort crashed during takeoff Wednesday, turning a wooded area off the end of a runway into a hellish scene of charred bodies and smoldering wreckage. Some 153 were believed dead — Spain's worst air disaster in nearly 25 years.

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