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Obama faults McCain; Clinton mulls delegate fight
By BRENDAN FARRINGTONTAMPA, Fla. - Barack Obama criticized his likely general election rival John McCain on Wednesday where it could hurt most _ the Arizona senator's reputation as a champion of ethics. Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, raised the possibility she might carry her fight to the Democratic convention floor.
Big Oil defends profits before irate senators
By H. JOSEF HEBERTWASHINGTON - On a day oil prices leaped to unheard-of highs, senators lined up Big Oil's biggest executives and pummeled them with complaints that they're pretending to be "hapless victims" while raking in record profits.
McCain to host possible veeps at Ariz. home
By LIZ SIDOTICLEVELAND - The Memorial Day weekend guest list at Sen. John McCain's Arizona retreat runs to at least three Republicans mentioned as potential vice presidential running mates, but a top aide said Wednesday that vetting possible veeps is not on the agenda.
Business
Stocks tumble on $134 oil, Fed meeting minutes
NEW YORK - Wall Street pitched lower for the second straight session Wednesday as record-high oil prices and a bleak economic assessment from the Federal Reserve deepened investors' worry about rising costs and a shaky employment picture. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 227 points, logging its widest two-day loss since late February.
Entertainment
Saudi holds first film festival
DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia - It's a far cry from the glamour of Cannes: No celebrities strutting their stuff; an all-male audience drinking coffee and juice rather than champagne; and if any female spectators showed up _ well, no one knew. They came in through a back entrance into a separate hall, off-limits to the male organizers.
Health
Friends quit smoking? You probably will too
LOS ANGELES - The urge to smoke is contagious, but quitting apparently is, too. A team of researchers who showed that obesity can spread person-to-person has found a similar pattern with smoking cessation: A smoker is more likely to kick the habit if a spouse, friend, co-worker or sibling did.
International
Israel engages in indirect peace talks with Syria
JERUSALEM - Israel and Syria unexpectedly announced Wednesday the resumption of peace talks after an eight-year break, saying they have been speaking indirectly through Turkish mediators "in order to achieve the goal of comprehensive peace."
Politics
Obama faults McCain; Clinton mulls delegate fight
TAMPA, Fla. - Barack Obama criticized his likely general election rival John McCain on Wednesday where it could hurt most _ the Arizona senator's reputation as a champion of ethics. Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, raised the possibility she might carry her fight to the Democratic convention floor.
Religion
Nun who pressed church leaders on sex abuse dies
BOSTON - Sister Catherine Mulkerrin, who pressed Roman Catholic church leaders in Boston to warn parishioners about priests who had been accused of sexually abusing children, has died. She was 73.
Science
Calif. quake scientists detail impact of 'Big One'
LOS ANGELES - The "Big One," as earthquake scientists imagine it in a detailed, first-of-its-kind script, unzips California's mighty San Andreas Fault north of the Mexican border. In less than two minutes, Los Angeles and its sprawling suburbs are shaking like a bowl of jelly.
Sports
Manchester United wins European Champions League
MOSCOW - Manchester United beat Chelsea 6-5 in a rain-soaked penalty shootout to win the European Champions League title Wednesday night following a 1-1 tie.
Strange
Lost parrot tells veterinarian his address
TOKYO - When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught _ recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help.
Technology
Microsoft lures search traffic with cash rebates
REDMOND, Wash. - Microsoft Corp. is offering cash rebates when people make purchases after using its search engine as the software maker begins to reveal how it plans to take on Google Inc. following the failure of its $47.5 billion bid for Yahoo.
Washington
House overrides Bush veto on farm bill
WASHINGTON - The House quickly rejected George W. Bush's veto Wednesday of a $290 billion farm bill and the Senate was poised to follow suit, a stark rebuke of a president overridden only once in his two terms.
U.S
American Airlines to charge for first checked bag
NEW YORK - Never mind the free lunch. Almost nothing is complimentary on airlines anymore, not even what many passengers consider a simple necessity: a single checked bag.