Aaron's Daily WWW Newspaper

WASHINGTON - The government on Monday provided new financial assistance to troubled insurance giant American International Group, including pouring $40 billion into the company in return for partial ownership.

NEW ORLEANS - Have a pacemaker or an implanted defibrillator? Don't keep your iPod earbuds in your shirt pocket or draped around your neck — even when they're disconnected. A study finds that some headphones can interfere with heart devices if held very close to them.

LOS ANGELES - Families herded into movie theaters for another trek with stranded zoo animals as the animated sequel "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" led the weekend with a $63.5 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.

DALLAS - Dallas Councilman Dwaine Caraway is on a mission: He wants those wearing low-hanging, baggy pants to pull them up.

The status quo remained unchanged. The surging Tennessee Titans keep winning, and the listless Detroit Lions keep losing. Kerry Collins threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, and Tennessee beat the Chicago Bears 21-14 Sunday to stay perfect through nine games — despite rushing for just 20 yards, a franchise-low for a team that had been third in the league.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Circuit City Stores Inc, the No. 2 U.S. consumer electronics retailer, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, falling victim to tighter credit terms from vendors and a loss of market share to Best Buy Co, Wal-Mart Stores Inc and other rivals.

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve hiked its support for insurer American International Group Inc to about $150 billion on Monday after an initial bailout attempt failed to stem massive losses.

LONDON (Reuters) - Economic gloom swept through Japan and emerging nations on Monday and U.S. authorities upped support for struggling insurer AIG to about $150 billion to prevent its collapse.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Less than one week after his historic victory, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama heads to Washington on Monday to learn firsthand from President George W. Bush about the challenges that await him on January 20.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two car bombs exploded in central Baghdad on Monday and a suicide bomber blew himself up among police and civilians who rushed to help the wounded, a triple strike that killed 28 people and wounded 68.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Since 2004, the Pentagon has used broad, secret authority to carry out about 12 attacks against al Qaeda and other militants in Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere, The New York Times reported on its Web site on Sunday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There were fresh calls on Sunday for the Bush administration to help stalled U.S. automakers, but Democratic and Republican officials said taxpayers cannot repeatedly support business rescues.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed on Monday comments by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama about Tehran's disputed nuclear ambitions and said it did not expect any major change in the policies of its old foe.

BAGHDAD (AFP) - At least 28 people, including women and children, were killed and scores wounded in a double bombing in a Baghdad market on Monday, the deadliest attack to rock the Iraqi capital in months, security officials said.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Barack Obama is to hold his first post-election meeting with President George W. Bush on Monday even as aides said he would reverse current White House policy on oil drilling and stem cell research.

TOKYO (AFP) - Stock markets surged Monday after China unveiled a huge economic stimulus plan, as incoming US president Barack Obama prepared to discuss the global financial crisis with the outgoing George W. Bush.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Zimbabwe's feuding politicians must form a government of national unity "immediately" if they want the support of the SADC, a leading official of the regional bloc warned Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - MP3 player headphones placed within an inch of pacemakers or implantable defibrillators may interfere with the operation of the lifesaving cardiac devices, as study has found.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US government Monday announced a dramatic boost in a restructured aid package for insurer American International Group, taking the total from 85 billion dollars to more than 150 billion.

LONDON (AFP) - Global banking giant HSBC said on Monday that its pre-tax profits had risen in the third-quarter despite loan write-offs in the United States rising to 4.3 billion dollars (3.3 billion euros).