Aaron's Daily WWW Newspaper

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration, trying to crack down on abuses exposed by the financial crisis, is considering creation of a regulatory commission to protect consumers of financial products such as credit cards and mortgages, according to administration and industry officials.

MAGETAN, Indonesia - An Indonesian military plane carrying troops and their families crashed into a row of houses and burst into flames Wednesday, killing at least 98 people, the latest in a string of accidents plaguing the beleaguered air force.

DUBLIN - A commission report into the abuse of thousands of Irish children in Roman Catholic institutions is published Wednesday after a nine-year investigation repeatedly delayed by church lawsuits, missing documentation and alleged government obstruction.

LOS ANGELES - Shawn Johnson is adding a mirrorball trophy to her collection of Olympic medals. After all, the two glittering prizes seem to go very well together. The 17-year-old gymnast was named "Dancing With the Stars" champion Tuesday during the season finale of the hit ABC show, the third Olympian in eight seasons to win.

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, including six free throws in the final 30 seconds, to lift Los Angeles to a 105-103 victory over the Nuggets on Tuesday night after the Lakers trailed most of the game in game 1 of the NBA Western Conference finals.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A high-level panel of experts that has been helping to shape President Barack Obama's response to the economic crisis will step into the public view on Wednesday at a meeting to discuss energy issues and job creation.

MAGETAN, Indonesia (Reuters) - An Indonesian military transport plane carrying 110 passengers and crew crashed and burst into flames in East Java on Wednesday, killing at least 98 people on board and on the ground, officials said.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers will likely face the arduous task of closing a state budget gap in excess of $21 billion with a clutch of ballot measures aimed at bolstering the state's finances poised for defeat.

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co and several other banks eager to escape the restrictions and stigma linked to government bailout funds may get the chance to do so in the next few weeks.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States must allay Russian concerns over its planned anti-missile system in Europe if the two sides are to achieve a breakthrough on cutting nuclear weapons, Russia's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran launched a missile with a range of close to 2,000 km (1,200 miles) on Wednesday and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Islamic state could send any attacker "to hell," official media reported.

LONDON (Reuters) - Reformists called for a fundamental shakeup of Britain's political system on Wednesday, saying the first ousting of a parliamentary speaker in 300 years was not enough to still public anger over an expenses scandal.

YANGON (Reuters) - Army-ruled Myanmar opened the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday in an apparent bid to calm growing international outrage at the regime and its latest crackdown on the Nobel Peace laureate.

MAGETAN, Indonesia (AFP) - An Indonesian military transport plane carrying soldiers and their families crashed into homes and erupted in flames on Wednesday, killing at least 98 people, the air force spokesman said.

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi said she hoped for "better days" Wednesday as the ruling junta unexpectedly allowed diplomats and reporters to attend her trial.

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's economy suffered its worst contraction on record in the first quarter as a deepening global recession crushed demand for its cars, electronic gadgets and other goods, data showed Wednesday.

SEMNAN, Iran (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that Iran has test-fired a new medium-range surface-to-surface missile and again insisted there will be no climbdown over Iran's nuclear programme.

GENEVA (AFP) - The global swine flu caseload surged past the 10,000 mark on Wednesday with the crisis escalating in Asia despite stringent efforts to contain the virus.

FRANKFURT (AFP) - Stricken US auto giant General Motors said Wednesday it expected at least three bidders for a stake in its European Opel unit to hand over plans to the German government ahead of a 1600 GMT deadline.

NEW YORK (AFP) - Bank of America Corporation has said it has raised some 13.5 billion dollars in an offering of its common stock, as the company seeks to raise capital to weather the financial crisis.