Far and Wide

Hubble captures two galaxies interacting

(AP Photo/NASA-ESA)

A pair of interacting galaxies known as Arp 87 are shown in this photo released today by NASA and the European Space Agency. The Hubble Telescope captured the image of stars, gas and dust from the larger spiral galaxy on the right wrapping an arm around its smaller companion.

Arp 87 is located in the constellation of Leo, the Lion, and is about 300 million light-years away from Earth.  Arp 87 was first cataloged in the 1960s.

The images were taken in February 2007 with Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 with an exposure time of 6.3 hours. This image is roughly 2.3 arcminutes (203,000 light-years or 62 kiloparsecs) wide.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

A tropical storm, a college basketball program and some angry Chinese farmers are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/EyePress)
"No, this is not RoboCop."

That's how Michael Feldman, the AP's international photo editor, introduced this photo of a law enforcement officer in Zhengzhou, China. The officer was showing off body armor and a gun that shoots a net to catch dogs.

Meanwhile, a few hundred miles up the road, baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. has some fun during a clinic he's conducting for kids in Beijing.

(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
See below for more of Feldman's top photo picks.

-- Eric Carvin

Indian police lock landless protesters in fairgrounds

(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

Police in India chained the gates to vast fairgrounds today where some 27,000 landless demonstrators had gathered in New Delhi, barricading the protesters inside and preventing them from marching to the nation's capital.

Today was supposed to be the end of an 185-mile march north from the city of Gwalior to the nation's capital to highlight the plight of the masses who have been largely untouched by India's economic boom.

DID YOU KNOW?: Of India's 1.1 billion people about 450 million live on less than $1 a day, according to the World Bank.

For more on the demonstrations by the landless, read this report filed today from New Delhi by Gavin Rabinowitz.

--Paul Chavez

Yankees offer manager's job to Joe Girardi

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Looks like former Yankees star and bench coach Don Mattingly won't be in pinstripes next year. The popular, early favorite to replace longtime manager Joe Torre has been passed over in favor of Joe Girardi, who spent the past season as a Yankees TV announcer after being fired last year by the Florida Marlins.

"Don was extremely disappointed to learn today that he wasn't the organization's choice to fill the managerial vacancy," Mattingly's agent, Ray Schulte, said today in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Instead, he was informed the organization offered the position to Joe Girardi."

Girardi, 43, beat out Mattingly and first-base coach Tony Pena for the job. Mattingly told the Yankees he isn't interested in a coaching position next year and he also extended congratulations to Girardi and offered his best wishes, Schulte said.

Girardi, shown above before Saturday's World Series game, was the first person to interview to replace Torre, who managed the team to the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons.

For more on the Yankees, who also lost star player Alex Rodriguez to free agency, read this report by AP baseball writer Ronald Blum.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

Baseball, cardboard tubes and the anniversary of a journalist's death are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

Israeli PM Olmert discloses treatable prostate cancer

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Israelis today that he has a treatable form of prostate cancer. Watch the above AP video report for details and for the latest developments, read this story from Jerusalem by Matti Friedman.

--Paul Chavez

Fast Focus: Cristina Fernandez vs. Hillary Clinton

(AP Photos/Eduardo Di Baia/Charles Dharapak)

It's not an episode of "Wife Swap." It's Argentina's presidential election. Partial election results indicate that President Nestor Kirchner and first lady Cristina Fernandez will switch roles in December. That would make Fernandez the country's first elected female president. Sound sorta familiar?

In this audio clip, the AP's Niko Price discusses the comparisons between Fernandez and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Read Price's story about the election here.

-- Derrik J. Lang

Court to hear Exxon Valdez case

(AP Photo/John Gaps III, File)

Should Exxon Mobil Corp. have to pay $2.5 billion in punitive damages for the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill? 

The Supreme Court will decide.

Nearly 20 years after the Exxon Valdez tanker spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound and affected 1,200 miles of coastline, the nation's highest court will finally decide if the penalty is fair. In 1994, a federal court cut the $5 billion award in half.

AP Writer Mark Sherman reports the justices will consider if Exxon has to pay any punitive damages at all. The company is arguing that $2.5 billion is excessive under laws governing shipping. Exxon said it should not have to pay any further fines because it already has paid $3.4 billion in clean-up costs and other penalties resulting from the oil spill in 1989.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs said the damages awarded is "barely more than three weeks of Exxon's net profits."

-- Howie Rumberg

Yankees win! Wait, Yankees win?

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Is there a reason to feel happy for these guys anymore?

When the Boston Red Sox won the World Series back in 2004, there was cause to celebrate outside of New England, too. Who doesn't want to see decades of misery washed away by a scruffy group of self-proclaimed "idiots," including one in blood-soaked hose?

But is the bloom off that rose, now that the high-priced Red Sox are looking less like an underdog and more like, well ... the Yankees? (And let's not forget that just about every team in Boston -- heck, even the Bruins have a winning record -- is enjoying a preposterous level of success right now.)

For some outside perspective, check out AP Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg's take (below).
--Josh L. Dickey

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
(AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)

Two of the images highlighted by AP International Photo Editor Michael Feldman at the AP global news meeting came from East Timor, where pilgrims traveled to a Christ statue on Matebian Mountain -- formerly the site of a rebel base.

Some claim that, in 1978, thousands of Timorese were killed at the base in fighting with Indonesia forces.

See below for more of the AP photos Feldman chose to highlight at the meeting. (Though Rockies fans might want to cover their eyes.)

-- Eric Carvin

Chargers treat fire-weary San Diego to rout

(AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

The San Diego Chargers helped bring some normalcy to a region that's been ravaged by deadly wildfires by whipping the Houston Texans today by a score of 35-10. Philip Rivers tossed three touchdown passes for the Chargers and cornerback Antonio Cromartie had a great game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown and two interceptions, one of which he returned 70 yards for another TD. Cromartie is shown above with the ball celebrating with teammate Barton Siler after recovering a bad snap in the end zone.

The game was played at Qualcomm Stadium just two days after the last fire evacuee left and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and firefighters were on hand for the game.

For more details on the Chargers, read this report by AP sports writer Bernie Wilson.

UNDEFEATED MATCHUP SET: In other developments, the New England Patriots won again, this time thoroughly dismantling the Washington Redskins, 52-7. The Indianapolis Colts also won today with Peyton Manning leading the way to a 31-7 win over the Carolina Panthers. The Colts and Patriots play each other next weekend in a battle of unbeaten teams.

--Paul Chavez

Exit polls show Argentine first lady winning

(AP Photo/Argentina's Presidency)

Exit polls suggest that first lady Cristina Fernandez won the presidential election by a large enough margin to avoid a runoff, which would make her the first woman in Argentina elected to the post.

Official results were due later today and none of the opposition candidates have conceded defeat. Some challengers complained of unprecedented fraud.

Fernandez is shown above, right, with her husband, President Nestor Kircher, after they voted and returned to the capital to await results. Her husband is widely credited for Argentina's rebound from a 2001 economic collapse and much of her support is due to her popularity.

For the latest on the Argentinean elections, read this report that will be updated with the latest results by Bill Cormier from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

--Paul Chavez .

7 college students killed in N.C. beach house fire

Seven college students died today after the North Carolina beach house they were staying in erupted in flames. Six survivors were hospitalized, including one student who jumped from the burning structure into a nearby canal.

Six of the students who died were from the University of South Carolina and the seventh victim was from Clemson University. The six who survived also were from USC.

Officials said the fire struck sometime before 7 a.m. and burned through the first and second floors, leaving only the frame intact. The waterfront home was built on stilts and firefighters had to climb a ladder onto the house's deck to reach the first floor.

In the accompanying AP photo by Logan Wallace, firefighters are seen lowering a body out of the burned out beach house.

For the latest information on this tragic story, read this report by Estes Thompson.

--Paul Chavez

8 dead in Iraq suicide bombing; sheiks kidnapped

Watch the above AP video for a report on a suicide bombing in Kirkuk, Iraq, that left eight dead and dozens wounded. For the latest developments in Iraq, read this dispatch from Baghdad by Kim Gamel, which has details on the broad daylight abduction today of 10 Sunni and Shiite tribal sheiks.

--Paul Chavez

Report: Gap uses child labor in India

(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

An investigation by a British newspaper found children as young as 10 making clothes for Gap Inc. in a sweatshop in New Delhi, India, and the good were destined for sale in the West.

The Observer reported today that the children said they had been sold to the sweatshop by their families and they could not leave until they had repaid that fee. The paper quoted on boy identified only as Jivas as saying that child employees who cried or did not work hard enough were hit with a rubber pipe or had oily cloths stuffed into their mouths.

Gap officials told The Associated Press today that the sweatshop was run by a subcontractor hired in violation of company policies and none of the goods made there will be sold in stores.

For more, read this report filed today out of London.

--Paul Chavez

Israel cuts fuel supplies to Gaza Strip

(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Israel promised to cut fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip if the area's Hamas rulers didn't put an end to months of Palestinian rocket attacks. They kept that promise today and ordered Dor Alon, the Israeli energy company that sells fuel to Gaza, to reduce shipments.

Palestinians in Gaza rely on Israel for nearly all their fuel and gasoline and more than half of their electricity. The Israeli plan has drawn harsh criticism from human rights groups and the international community, which believe the sanctions amount to collective punishment.

In the photo above, Palestinians examine the rubble of a house after an explosion yesterday in the southern Gaza Strip that killed two women and a 4-year-old girl. The Israeli military denies carrying out an operation in the area and Palestinian police believe explosives being handled by militants accidentally exploded.

For more on the fuel crunch in the Gaza Strip, read this report by Sarah El Deeb from Gaza City, Gaza Strip.

--Paul Chavez

In the news Sunday

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

California firefighters work to hold gains

Astronauts conduct second spacewalk

Vatican beatifies 498 martyrs

Report: 15 Kurds dead in clashes with Turkey

Rookies lead Red Sox to brink of sweep

Caption: Boston Red Sox player Jacoby Ellsbury watches his RBI double against the Colorado Rockies in the eighth inning in Game 3 of the baseball World Series Saturday at Coors Field in Denver. Boston's Julio Lugo scored on the hit.

--Paul Chavez

College football: No. 5 Oregon tops No. 9 USC

(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Oregon is still a contender for the national title after the fifth-ranked Ducks beat No. 9 USC 24-17 today in front of a raucous crowd at Autzen Stadium.

Southern California, ranked No. 1 in many polls before the season, suffered their second Pac-10 defeat with the loss and winning the conference will be a long shot at this point. Jonathan Stewart, shown above, ran for 103 yards and scored two touchdowns. Oregon's Dennis Dixon also passed for 157 yards and ran for another 76 yards and a touchdown. The Ducks (7-1) came into the game ranked second nationally in offense.

For more on the game, read this report by AP sports writer Anne M. Peterson.

--Paul Chavez

VIDEO: Astronomy village in Georgia

There's a simple rule at the astronomy village in eastern Georgia: now white light. Watch the AP video above for more details and for an even more on the village, read this report by Dorie Turner.

--Paul Chavez

Astronauts open new space station addition

(AP Photo/NASA TV)

Astronauts floated into the newest addition to the international space station today and formally christened the sparkling white room known as Harmony.

Space station commander Peggy Whitson and Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli -- shown above with an unidentified astronaut -- were the first ones in.

The chamber was named by schoolchildren in America and was made in Italy.

For more on the space station, read this report filed today by AP aerospace writer Marcia Dunn.

Chinese tech firm raises $1.5 billion in IPO

(AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Chinese technology company Alibaba.com Ltd. reached its goal today of raising $1.5 billion in its initial public offering, sources told The Associated Press.

The  e-commerce portal, sold 858.9 million shares, or a 17 percent stake, at roughly $1.75 each, a source told Dow Jones Newswires on condition of anonymity. The shares will debut on the Hong Kong stock market on Nov. 6.

Interested investors are shown above receiving copies of the prospectus and brochures for the IPO.

For more on Alibaba.com, read this report filed today from Hong Kong.

--Paul Chavez

Heavy fighting erupts in Somalia's capital

(AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor)

The heaviest fighting in months hit Somalia's capital today as insurgents and government-backed troops fired machine guns, mortars and rocket-proplled grenades, leaving at least seven dead and dozens wounded, officials told The Associated Press.

Islamic fighters briefly took over a police station in south Mogadishu and chanted "God is great" before heading back out of the area.

At least 35 people, including the woman shown above, were being treated at Mogadishu's Medina Hospital.

MORE HARDSHIP: Some 1.5 million Somalis are now in need of food and protection -- 50 percent more than at the start of the year -- due to inadequate rains, continuing internal displacement and a potential cholera epidemic, the U.N. says.

For more on the fighting in Somalia, read this report by from Mogadishu by Salad Duhul.

--Paul Chavez

In the news Saturday

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SoCal wildfire pollution poses health threat

Auto workers OK 4-year pact with Chrysler

Democrats lash out at GOP over children's health program

Turkish prime minister vows fight with Kurds 'when needed'

Red Sox a mile high in Denver with 2-0 lead

Caption:The Colorado Rockies take batting practice at Coors Field in Denver on Friday The Rockies will face the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 today of baseball's World Series. Boston leads the best-of-seven games series 2-0.

--Paul Chavez

Wildfire headlines

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

From phony press conferences to evacuees returning home, there was plenty of news today about the wildfires in Southern California. Here's a round-up of the latest headlines from the AP:

• Some Calif. Fire Evacuees Return Home
• FEMA Workers Play Role of Reporters
• Chargers to Play Sunday in San Diego
• Bush Visits California Wildfire Victims
• As Calif. Fires Burned, Copters Grounded
• Evacuees Return to Ashes, Uncertainty

-- Derrik J. Lang

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

The latest reports on the California wildfires -- including an AP story on the impact of red tape on response times -- are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

NowPublic contributors are also debating the new route for the next Tour de France, and some are salivating over a new Honda motorcycle.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

NowPublic contributors are also debating the new route for the next Tour de France, and some are salivating over a new Honda motorcycle.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

This photo, of a child at play -- with a toy rocket-propelled grenade launcher -- is one of several images highlighted at this morning's AP global news meeting by AP Photo Supervisor Jim Collins.

The picture was taken in Sadr City, a Shiite enclave of Baghdad.

Collins also pointed out the photo below, shot outside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters in the West Bank City of Ramallah. The boy in the image is holding up a portrait of relatives jailed by Israel, as part of a demonstration calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
(AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
See below for more of Collins' top-photo picks of the moment.

-- Eric Carvin

High price of oil

Crude oil prices spiked above $92 a barrel Friday.

Why? Tensions in the Middle East and renewed concerns about supply.

The United States announced new sanctions against Iran on Thursday, and a confrontation between the world's largest oil consumer and its fourth largest oil producer could upend markets.

Also, a threatened incursion by Turkish armed forces into Iraq would cut oil supplies out of northern Iraq. Turkey has warned it will decide whether to cross into Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish guerrillas regardless of U.S. objections.

On Thursday, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Secretary General Abdalla el-Badri told The Wall Street Journal Asia the cartel is not in discussions to boost production by 500,000 barrels.

For more, check out this AP story by Pablo Gorondi.

-- Jaime Holguin

Fashion designer charged

(AP Photo/Tina Fineberg, File)

He made the rounds at parties and fashion events, working with celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Michelle Rodriguez and Mary J. Blige. He was even deemed an up-and-coming industry player by Newsweek in 2003.

But today, celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander is being held without bail in Los Angeles, charged with  sexually assaulting 20 teenage girls and young women allegedly lured with promises of modeling jobs.

Alexander has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

For more, check out this AP story.

-- Jaime Holguin

Che's tress

(AP Photo/Amy Conn-Gutierrez)

A Houston-area collector became the proud owner of a 3-inch hair lock that was snipped from Ernesto "Che" Guevara before his burial in 1967.

Bill Butler, who bid over the phone, said he was a collector of 1960s items and the hair lock would fit in well.

Butler paid $100,000 for the tress, which sold at auction Thursday.

To find out the story behind the lock of hair, check out this AP story by Paul J. Weber.

For a look at Guevara's final days, check out this asap audio slideshow by yours truly highlighting some post-mortem photographs of the revolutionary.

-- Jaime Holguin

In the news Friday

(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Straight from the AP wires:

Fire evacuees seek return to normal
Astronauts begin first spacewalk
Fight over child health care persists
Mideast leaders work on joint statement
Fenway happy as Red Sox lead series 2-0

-- Jaime Holguin

Fire update

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Four charred bodies were found at what appeared to be a migrant camp burned by one of the wildfires raging across Southern California, authorities said.

If the fires were at fault, that brings the death toll to seven.

Read more in this story, by the AP's Elliot Spagat.

In the photo: Mark Wery, right, turns away after looking at his home for the first time.

-- Hillary Rhodes

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

Arson in California, Turks and Armenians fighting in Belgium and the first passenger flight of the superjumbo A380 are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

Iran is sanctioned

The Bush administration is cracking down on Iran.

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the harshest sanctions against Iran since the takeover of the U.S. embassy in 1979. The charge: Tehran is supporting terrorism in the Middle East, exports missiles and is engaging in a nuclear  buildup.

Rice said the unilateral sanctions are not an indication that the United States is heading toward an armed conflict with Iran. AP Writer Matthew Lee reports administration officials hope the sanctions will pressure Iran into agreeing to a deal that would give it economic incentive to drop its nuclear program.

The sanctions:

• Will cut off more than 20 Iranian entities, including individuals and companies owned or controlled by the Revolutionary Guard, from the American financial system.

• Iran's Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics were designated proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile technology. This means that any assets found in the United States belonging to the designated groups must be frozen. Americans are also forbidden from doing business with the designated organizations.

• Companies outside the United States are put on notice that doing business with the designated groups could put them at risk of U.S. financial penalty.

-- Howie Rumberg

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
"The Red Sox did a lot of this last night."

That's how Madge Stager, the AP's chief picture editor in New York, introduced this photo of Boston's Kevin Youkilis sliding into home plate at the World Series opener -- one of several images she highlighted at this morning's AP global news meeting.

"And the Rockies," she said, moving on to a photo of Colorado pitcher Franklin Morales, "did a lot of that."

See below for other AP photos Stager showcased at the meeting.

-- Eric Carvin

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Brew ha-ha: Sam Adams vs. Sam Adams

In one corner of the ring we have the Boston brewers of Sam Adams beer. In the other, Sam Adams, the mild-mannered bicycle rider who wants to be Portland's next mayor.

The slogan "Sam Adams for Portland Mayor" is already on his Web site (www.samforpdx.com) and soon may grace yard signs and bumper stickers for the 2008 election.

"They say they've been using this trademark since 1984," Adams said. "I've been using it since 1963."

Game on.

For more, check out this AP story.

-- Jaime Holguin

Blast in Pakistan

A wave of violence that has undermined the Pakistani government's control of a swath of territory along the northwestern border -- where sympathizers of Taliban and al-Qaida hold sway -- claimed more lives Thursday.

The Associated Press reports at least 18 people were killed and 30 wounded, when a suspected suicide bomber attacked a truck carrying troops.   

New troops have been deployed to Swat, a mountain valley popular with tourists until violence flared there this summer, to quell Maulana Fazlullah, who has called for Taliban-style rule and holy war against Pakistani authorities.

For more, check out this AP story by Riaz Khan.

-- Jaime Holguin

In the news Thursday

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Straight from the AP wires:

Calif. fires may be at a turning point
Military may get control of contractors
Iraqi delegation to visit Turkey
Looking for an excuse? Company has many
Red Sox cool off Rockies 13-1 in Game 1

-- Jaime Holguin

Wars may cost U.S. $2.4 trillion over decade

(AP Photo/Sgt. Timothy Kingston, U.S. Army)

The number crunchers at the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office have tallied how much the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will cost over the next decade: $2.4 trillion.

Just to be clear, that's $2,400,000,000,000.

WHITE HOUSE REACTION:

"It's just a ton of speculation," said White House press secretary Dana Perino. "We don't know how much the war is going to cost in the future."

SPENDING SO FAR: According to the analysis, the U.S. has spent about $604 billion on the wars, including $39 billion in diplomatic operations and foreign aid.

For more on the spending forecast, read this report filed today out of Washington by Anne Flaherty.

Caption: Two U.S. Army soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division dismount from the back of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle earlier this month to conduct a cordon and search at a brick factory in Narahwan, Iraq.

--Paul Chavez

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

More fires in California, and a citizen journalism experiment in Canada.

That's what's dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

Top photos from The Associated Press

The following are some of the top photos today from The Associated Press:

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)


(AP Photo/Sang Tan)


(AP Photo)


(AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

From top to bottom:

• Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, is confronted by CodePink member Desiree Sairooz, her hands painted red, as she arrives to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the House Foreign Relations Committee hearing regarding US policy in the Middle East. Rice spoke about Iraq, Iran, and the Israel-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
• Campaigners wearing masks of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrate outside the Chinese Embassy in London to mark her 12th anniversary of house detention by the Myanmar ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
• A Belarusian soldier of the Interior Ministry special unit negotiates an obstacle course during training near the village of Volovshchina, west of Minsk, Belarus. (AP Photo)
• The first visitors walk in the famous Rococo hall of the historical Duchess Anna Amalia library after the re-consecration ceremony  in Weimar, Germany. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

-- Bernadette Tuazon

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The California wildfires are dominating the top images in the AP photo report at the moment, according to AP International Photo Editor Michael Feldman, who highlighted some of the best pictures at this morning's AP global news meeting.

The photo above shows a back fire on a hillside in Jamul, Calif., while the one below was shot in the Santiago Canyon hills in Silverado.
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
See below for more of Feldman's top photos picks.

-- Eric Carvin

"CDC considers climate change a serious public health concern"

To be clear, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the government's premier disease monitoring agency.

Its director, Dr. Julie Gerberding,  testified before a Senate hearing yesterday on the impact of climate change on health.

What she'd planned on saying was this:

" ... scientific evidence supports the view that the earth's climate is changing" and that many groups are working to address climate change. "Despite this extensive activity, the public health effects of climate change remain largely unaddressed. CDC considers climate change a serious public health concern."

But after she submitted her draft for White House review, the paragraph was axed.  In all, six pages of details about specific disease and other health problems that might flourish if the Earth warms, were never delivered at the hearing, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

The White House on Wednesday denied that it had "watered down" her congressional testimony.

For more, check out this AP story by H. Josef Hebert.

-- Jaime Holguin

Home sales plunge

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

It's a buyer's market!

Real estate sales are falling by record amounts. Sales of existing homes fell 8 percent in September, according to National Association of Realtors. That's the largest drop to show up in records since 1999. AP Economics Writer Martin Crutsinger said analysts expected a 4.5 percent drop in sales. The turmoil in the mortgage and credit markets is being blamed for the bigger drop.

More bad news:

• The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 5.04 million existing homes was also the slowest pace on record.
• The median price -- the point at which half the homes sold for more and half for less -- fell to $211,700 in September, down by 4.2 percent from the sales price a year ago. It marked the 13th time out of the past 14 months that the year-over-year sales price has decreased.
• Lawrence Yun, senior economist for the Realtors, forecast that prices will decline by about 1.5 percent this year.

-- Howie Rumberg

China steps up its space game

(AP Photo/Greg Baker)

One down, two to go.

China launched its first lunar probe Wednesday, marking the first step of a three-stage moon mission.

The Associated Press reports the Chang'e 1, named after a legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, is expected to transmit its first photo back to China in late November, and to conduct explorations of the moon for a year.

In the second phase of China's moon mission there will be a moon landing with a moon rover in 2012. About five years later, another rover will land on the moon and return to Earth with soil and rock samples.

For more, check out this AP story by Audra Ang.

-- Jaime Holguin

Did you just grope me? Shall we head to the police?

More Japanese women are turning to a cell phone application to ward off wandering hands in the country's congested commuter  trains.

"Anti-Groping Appli" flashes increasingly threatening messages in bold print on the phone's screen to show to the offender: "Excuse me, did you just grope me?" "Groping is a crime," and finally, "Shall we head to the police?"

It was released in late 2005, but has only recently climbed up popularity rankings.

Find out more in this story by AP's Hiroko Tabuchi.

-- Jaime Holguin

In the news Wednesday

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Straight from the AP wires:

Calif. firefighters hope winds slacken
Rice says Iran an obstacle to U.S. goals
Bush touting Cuban life after Castro
Turkey shells Kurd rebels in Iraq
World Series opens tonight in Boston

-- Jaime Holguin

San Diego fire refugees find home at Qualcomm