Skywatchers are gathering from parking lots in western India to music festivals on remote Japanese islands to witness what NASA describes as an "exceptionally long" total solar eclipse that will cross half the planet on Wednesday. "This eclipse has the potential to be observed by more people than any eclipse in all of history," said MIT astronomer Richard Binzel, who will be in Shanghai leading an expedition of observers and a group of eclipse chasers. "Essentially, every inhabitant ...

Many saw the renaissance of American golfer Tom Watson at the recent British Open in Turnberry, as clear evidence that romance is alive and kicking in one of the world's most ancient of games. Little over a month shy of his 60th birthday, the winner of eight career majors defied the odds and the skeptics, to not only lead the championship for much of the duration, but to obdurately defy his advancing years and effects of a hip-replacement to come ...

NASA will give the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour another try Monday, after having been repeatedly thwarted by the weather and technical malfunctions. Monday's attempt is scheduled for 6:51 p.m. Weather forced the cancellation of launch attempts Saturday and Sunday. And last month, two launch attempts were scrubbed because of a hydrogen leak. On Sunday, lightning and cumulus clouds violated guidelines in case of an emergency landing and sent astronauts back to their quarters for the night. Cumulus clouds ...

The imprisoned leader of the Nigerian militant group MEND has accepted an unconditional amnesty offer from the government, his lawyer said Friday. All 228 people aboard the plane were killed in the June 1 crash. The flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as black boxes, stop giving out acoustic broadcasts after 30 days. But investigators decided to continue listening for the "pings" for 10 days after that. Now, the two U.S. naval vessels and a French ...

Eight children were found in the Florida home of their slain parents, who apparently were the victims of a home invasion, police confirmed to CNN Friday. All 228 people aboard the plane were killed in the June 1 crash. The flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as black boxes, stop giving out acoustic broadcasts after 30 days. But investigators decided to continue listening for the "pings" for 10 days after that. Now, the two U.S. naval ...

American Ricky Barnes leads the field after the second round of the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, after carding a five-under-par 65 for a 132 (-8) total -- a 36-hole record for the tournament. The former U.S. amateur champion -- who does not have a PGA tournament win to his name since turning professional in 2003 -- is one stroke clear of compatriot Lucas Glover, and two ahead of 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir of Canada. "Obviously at the beginning ...

"Refugees are the most vulnerable people on Earth. They are fighting to survive." -- Angelina Jolie, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees goodwill ambassador The world's population at the end of last year included 42 million displaced people, 80 percent of them in developing nations, according to a report this week by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Many of these refugees are living in minimal standards for shelter and are exposed daily to the harshest ...

Like all sports organizations, the United States Golf Association, overlords of the U.S. Open championship, has been crushed by the recession. For example, there are 54 cozy, steak-and-shrimp-filled corporate hospitality tents, going for about $240,000 a pop, at this year's Open at the Bethpage Black golf course in Farmingdale, N.Y. Back in 2002, the last time the Open was held at Bethpage, there were 78. The financial-services companies, knowing the government will pounce on an unnecessary golf junket, ...

Their timing was a little off. In January, the New York Dolls arrived in Hawaii to record their new album, "'Cause I Sez So" (Atco), with producer Todd Rundgren. The producer, who has a setup on the island of Kauai, assured the band that the weather would be beautiful. Not quite. "It rained every day," said guitarist and singer David Johansen in Atlanta's Center Stage theater Friday, where the band was scheduled to play later that day. "It rained just ...

There should be no assumed link between on-board speed sensors and the crash of Air France Flight 447 into the Atlantic Ocean last week, the airline's chief executive said Thursday. "I am not convinced that the sensors are the cause of the accident," said Air France Chief Executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon. Still, he said, the airline will continue with a program, begun just days before the crash, to replace the sensors on its Airbus A330s, the same type of plane that ...