US News

Program Will Pay Homeowners to Sell at a Loss

March 8, 2010

In an effort to end the foreclosure crisis, the Obama administration has been trying to keep defaulting owners in their homes. Now it will take a new approach: paying some of them to leave. This latest program, which will allow owners to sell for less than they owe and will give them a little cash to speed them on their way, is one of the administration’s most aggressive attempts to grapple with a problem that has defied solutions. More than five million households are behind on their mortgages and risk foreclosure. The government’s $75 billion mortgage modification plan has helped only a small... [Read the full story]

International

As Iraq Tallies Vote, U.S. Says Pullout Plans Are ‘on Track’

March 8, 2010

As Iraq tallied the votes from Sunday’s nationwide elections to choose a new Parliament, the top American military commander in Iraq on Monday praised the Iraqi military’s performance during the vote and said the United States would proceed with plans to withdraw troops from the country. “I think we’re on track,” the commander, Gen. Ray Odierno, said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “I believe the Iraqi security forces are on track to assume more and more control.” Iraqis defied a barrage of mortars, rockets and other bombs to show up to the polls in strength on Sunday, in elections... [Read the full story]

Politics

Arkansas’s Senator in Middle, Hit on All Sides

March 8, 2010

When the subject of Senator Blanche Lincoln came up at a women’s luncheon last week at the historic Pillow-Thompson House in this Mississippi River town, there was an awkward pause in the chatter. “We’ve known Blanche all her life, and we love her,” one woman explained delicately while Mrs. Lincoln’s mother, a town fixture beloved for her pimento cheese sandwiches and homemade cookies, ate at a nearby table. “We just don’t think she’s been making very good decisions lately.” In a state where voters are known for valuing personal relationships over ideology, Mrs. Lincoln, a moderate... [Read the full story]

Science + Technology

Why Do Lizards Have Ears? To Eavesdrop, Perhaps

March 5, 2010

Lizards are not the most loquacious of animals. Aside from the geckos, which make chirping noises to communicate among themselves, they don’t vocalize. Yet most lizards have well-developed ears. So that raises the obvious question: if they don’t use sounds to communicate, what do they use the ears for? Ryo Ito and Akira Mori of Kyoto University in Japan supply one answer: to eavesdrop on other animals. Writing in The Proceedings of the Royal Society B, they describe how the Madagascan spiny-tailed iguana overhears the alarm calls of nearby birds to protect itself from predators. The researchers... [Read the full story]

Entertainment

Live Blogging the Oscars

March 7, 2010

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker “The Hurt Locker” wins for best picture, its sixth Oscar of the night. Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow Kathryn Bigelow, the director of “The Hurt Locker,” becomes the first woman to win an Oscar for best director. Best Actress: Sandra Bullock Sandra Bullock wins her first Oscar, for best actress in “The Blind Side,” beating out the other co-favorite, Meryl Streep. Ms. Bullock now has achieved a Hollywood first: she become the first actor to win an Oscar and a Razzie in the same year. Best Actor: Jeff Bridges Jeff Bridges wins for his performance in “Crazy... [Read the full story]

Sports

Comeback Falls Short as U.S. Men’s National Team Defeated 2-1 to the Netherlands

March 4, 2010

The U.S. pressured the Netherlands late with three chances to tie the game in the closing minutes, but could not get the equalizer, falling 2-1 at Amsterdam ArenA in the final match before Bob Bradley selects his roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. After falling behind 2-0 in the 73rd minute, Carlos Bocanegra’s 12th career goal in the 88th minute provided the U.S. with its first-ever score against the Dutch, who had shut out the U.S. in three previous meetings. DaMarcus Beasley, who came on in the 34th minute for an injured Stuart Holden, assisted on the set piece goal after drawing... [Read the full story]

International

As Iraq Tallies Vote, U.S. Says Pullout Plans Are ‘on Track’

Explosions Hit Baghdad as Iraqis Vote in Pivotal Election

A concerted wave of attacks struck Baghdad and other cities across the country on Sunday as Iraqis voted to elect a new parliament and possibly a new prime minister. Explosions reverberated across the capital moments before the polls opened and continued through the morning haze for the first hours of voting. At least 38 people were killed and dozens... Read more of this article

Strong Aftershocks Strike Chile

Two strong offshore tremors jolted the coastline of southern Chile on Friday morning striking close to the epicenter of the earthquake that devastated the country a week ago. The United States Geological Survey reported that the quakes — the latest of scores of aftershocks to rattle Chile — each occurred within 25 miles of Concepción, Chile’s... Read more of this article

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