British Opposed U.S. Threatening Flight Over Iran During Hostage Taking

U.S. Planned an Iran 'Air' Scare:

British authorities turned down an offer by the Pentagon to have warplanes fly over strategic Iranian bases during the tense hostage standoff, preferring a diplomatic route instead, a London newspaper said yesterday.

US delegation due in North Korea:

A high-level US delegation led by former UN ambassador Bill Richardson was due in North Korea on Sunday, days ahead of a key deadline under a six-party deal to dismantle Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

Iran bars Iraq PM from its airspace: Iraq official:

Iran refused to allow a plane carrying Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on a trip to Asia to cross its airspace overnight, a senior adviser to the Iraqi leader said on Sunday.

U.S. flight canceled after pilot's foul language:

Northwest Airlines canceled a flight set to leave from Las Vegas to Detroit after the captain cursed on a cell phone in a bathroom, then swore at one of the 180 passengers on the plane, officials said on Saturday.

Captors of Israeli soldier make demands:

Progress has been made toward an Israeli-Palestinian prisoner swap, an Israeli Cabinet minister said Sunday, after the captors of an Israeli soldier handed over the names of Palestinian prisoners they want freed in exchange for the hostage.

Pope presides over Easter Vigil Mass:

Pope Benedict XVI baptized eight people during a candlelit Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica early Sunday, opening the most important event of the Christian Church calendar.

Marchers protest Bush immigration plan:

Thousands of people marched through downtown on Saturday, demanding a way for the country's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to become citizens and condemning President Bush's latest proposal.Carrying signs saying "Amnesty Now!

Cold snap puts U.S. in deep freeze:

It may be two weeks into spring, but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.Cold temperatures in much of the country have those celebrating Easter this weekend swapping out frills, bonnets and sandals for coats, scarves and socks.

U.S. congressman meets with Mubarak's banned rival

A top U.S. Democratic congressman met a leader of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's most powerful rival, the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, U.S. officials and the Islamist group said Saturday.

Al-Sadr reportedly urges Iraqi forces to stop working with U.S. military:

Renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged Iraqi forces to stop cooperating with America and told his guerrilla fighters to concentrate their attacks on U.S. troops rather than Iraqis, according to a statement issued Sunday.

Iran investigates fate of missing former FBI agent:

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Sunday that his country has been searching for a former FBI agent missing in Iran for almost a month.

At least 80 immigrants found in home near Phoenix:

Authorities found at least 80 suspected illegal immigrants in a house west of Phoenix and arrested two suspected smugglers, a police official said.

Sharpton Rages Over Ignor-Imus:

After years of offending just about everybody, Don Imus - radio's original shock jock - may have finally gone too far by calling players for a beloved women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos."

Black leaders turned up the heat on Imus yesterday, dismissing his public apology for hurling the racial epithet at the mostly black basketball squad as tepid and vowing to picket his studio if he's not kicked off the airwaves this week.

Doc's Mistake Let Our Girl Die:

A Queens firefighter who raced home from Iraq to find his 2-year-old daughter in a coma blames her subsequent death on a hospital emergency room that sent the sick child home without tests or treatment a day before her condition became fatal.