U.S. National - AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The world's leading powers pledged to band together to tackle the financial crisis at an emergency meeting Saturday after a warning from the IMF that the global system was on the brink of meltdown.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A Japanese businessman hanged himself in a Los Angeles jail cell where he was awaiting trial for plotting his wife's murder here in 1981, prosecutors said Saturday.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AFP) - Republican Sarah Palin, who has a baby with Downs Syndrome, Saturday spoke out publicly about her stand against abortion saying she believed in "the potential of every human life."

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AFP) - American millionaire Richard Garriott followed in his astronaut father's footsteps Sunday, blasting off aboard a Russian rocket to become the world's sixth space tourist.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Dire predictions about its future have swirled around the International Herald Tribune ever since The New York Times became the sole owner of the iconic English-language newspaper five years ago.

DETROIT, Michigan (AFP) - US automaker Chrysler considered several new partnership options Sunday, including mergers with Renault-Nissan and General Motors, industry and union officials said.

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AFP) - BJ Upton's 11th-inning sacrifice fly lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 9-8 victory over the Boston Red Sox Saturday in a marathon game two of the American League Championship Series.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - DaMarcus Beasley scored two goals and the United States clinched a berth in next year's six-team World Cup 2010 regional qualifying tournament Saturday with a 6-1 romp over political rival Cuba.

NEW YORK (AFP) - She was plucked from obscurity to become the most watched woman in America, but now vice presidential pick Sarah Palin's very image is at risk of being hijacked by a hugely successful impersonator.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AFP) - Vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin denied wrongdoing Saturday after a probe found she had abused voters' trust as Alaska governor, in a new blow to John McCain's trailing White House campaign.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said Saturday the world's richest economies were united on a "serious global response" to the financial meltdown, as the eurozone countries prepared for a crisis summit.

BALTIMORE, Maryland (AFP) - Two Roman Catholic nuns whose non-violent action against nuclear weapons landed them with prison sentences returned home to Baltimore to learn they had been listed as terrorists, they said Friday.

TOKYO (AFP) - US giant Ford Motor Co. plans to sell most of its shares in Japan's Mazda to raise badly needed cash amid the current global financial crisis, press reports said on Saturday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Even the giants of technology did not emerge unscathed from the bloodbath this week on Wall Street.

SAN JOSE, California (AFP) - The Los Angeles Kings Saturday signed All-Star center Anze Kopitar to a seven-year contract extension worth a reported 46.7 million dollars.

OAKLAND, California (AFP) - Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, already nursing a torn ankle ligament from a moped mishap, learned Saturday the accident will be even more costly.

MADRID (AFP) - "Surveillance", a thriller by Jennifer Lynch, daughter of legendary filmmaker David Lynch, Saturday won the top prize at the 41st International Film Festival of Catalonia, the organisers announced.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democrat Barack Obama on Friday soared 11 points ahead of Republican rival John McCain taking a double digit lead for the first time in a Newsweek poll amid deep concerns about the economy.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AFP) - The report into abuse of power allegations against Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin is poised to be released Friday after Alaska lawmakers review findings of the probe.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Ohio's high court on Friday rejected an appeal by a death row inmate -- convicted of the rape and murder of two young girls and due to be executed Tuesday -- saying his obesity did not complicate the lethal injection technique used by the state.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Oscar-winner Tim Robbins became the 2,371st celebrity to be immortalized on the "Walk of Fame" here Friday, the star-studded stretch of sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US space agency NASA said Friday it still plans to launch an ambitious mission to Mars late next year despite technical hurdles and budget difficulties.

NEW YORK (AFP) - Shares in General Motors recovered slightly Friday a day after plunging to their lowest levels since the 1950s on concerns the giant automaker will struggle to fund its operations.

NEW YORK (AFP) - US investment bank Morgan Stanley was again under fire on Wall Street on Friday, making it a candidate for a recapitalization from the US government, analysts said.

PARIS (AFP) - Former three-time yellow jersey champion Greg Lemond has played down the anti-doping efficiency of self-policing by cycling teams - and says Lance Armstrong must do more if he is to prove he is 100 percent clean.

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AFP) - Philadelphia Eagles star running back Brian Westbrook will not play Sunday at San Francisco after suffering two broken ribs in last week's loss to Washington.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Former National Basketball Association star Magic Johnson was outraged Friday after two Minnesota radio talk show hosts accused him of faking that he had contracted HIV, which can lead to AIDS.

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AFP) - American millionaire Richard Garriott followed in his astronaut father's footsteps Sunday, blasting off aboard a Russian rocket to become the world's sixth space tourist.