Train crash in Argentina kills 49

Train crash in Argentina kills 49

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

A train packed with morning commuters slammed into a downtown station Wednesday, killing 49 people and injuring hundreds as passenger cars crumpled and windows exploded around them. It was Argentina’s worst train accident in decades.

The cause wasn’t immediately determined, but many pointed to a deteriorating rail system. Some passengers reported signs the conductor was struggling with the brakes before the crash, saying he kept overshooting platforms and missed one entirely.

Ex-lacrosse player guilty of murder

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.

Jurors in the trial of a former University of Virginia lacrosse player have found him guilty of second-degree murder in the slaying of his ex-girlfriend.

A jury returned the verdict Wednesday in the trial of George Huguely V, 24, for the May 3, 2010, beating death of Yeardley Love, a 22-year-old suburban Baltimore woman who had a volatile relationship with the Chevy Chase, Md., defendant.

Huguely could be sentenced to five to 40 years on the guilty verdict, returned after nine hours of deliberations.

Prosecutors said Huguely killed Love in a drunken, jealous rage fueled by her relationship with a North Carolina lacrosse player.

24 donors give $33M to campaigns

WASHINGTON

Just two dozen ultra-wealthy donors are behind a surge of million-dollar contributions to the new breed of political committees during the presidential campaign.

Millionaire and billionaire executives have unlocked their personal bank vaults to write seven-figure checks to support the campaigns of Democratic President Barack Obama and the Republicans vying to oppose him: Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.

More than half of the $60 million collected so far by the new group of independently run super-political- action committees supporting presidential candidates came from just 24 wealthy Americans, according to an Associated Press review of financial reports filed by the campaigns.

The super-sized checks amount to $33 million.

7 die in clashes over burning of Quran

KABUL

Clashes between Afghan troops and protesters angry over the burning of Muslim holy books at a U.S. military base left at least seven people dead and dozens wounded Wednesday as anger spread despite U.S. apologies over what it said was a mistake.

The demonstrations across four eastern provinces illustrated the intensity of Afghans’ anger at what they saw as foreign forces flouting their laws and insulting their culture.

The violence also was a reminder of how easily Afghan-U.S. relations can deteriorate as the two countries work to forge a long-term partnership ahead of the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2014.

Study: Colonoscopy halves cancer risk

LOS ANGELES

Millions of people have endured a colonoscopy, believing the dreaded exam may help keep them from dying of colon cancer. For the first time, a major study offers clear evidence that it does.

Removing precancerous growths spotted during the test can cut the risk of dying from colon cancer in half, the study suggests. Doctors long have assumed a benefit, but research hasn’t shown before that removing polyps would improve survival — the key measure of any cancer screening’s worth.

Associated Press