MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The leaders of France and Germany hoped to rally fellow European conservatives today around their latest bid to save the euro currency from collapsing under the weight of huge state debt. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were meeting with heads of state and government from the centerright […]

Russian PM Putin blasts U.S. secretary MOSCOW ( AP) — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin blasted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today for encouraging and supporting the election protesters and warned of a wider Russian crackdown on unrest. By describing Russia’s parliamentary election as rigged, Putin said Clinton “gave a signal” to his opponents. […]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A Palestinian health official says an Israeli missile strike has killed two suspected Islamic militants in Gaza. The official says the two were killed as the strike hit their vehicle near a crowded public park in Gaza City shortly after noon today. Adham Abu Salima, an official in the […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s the morning after and the controversy over how to sell emergency contraception still looms. The Obama administration’s top health official stopped plans Wednesday to let the Plan B morning- after pill move onto drugstore shelves next to the condoms. Overruling scientists at the Food and Drug Administration, Health and Human Services […]

CHICAGO ( AP) — Rod Blagojevich starts today facing a bleak countdown — 71 days before the twice-elected Illinois governor must say goodbye to his family and begin serving a 14-year sentence for corruption. During those days, he will scramble to get his financial affairs in order and spend a final birthday and Christmas at […]

Survey: Mainers want Postal Service saved PORTLAND (AP) — A new survey shows most Mainers want the U.S. Postal Service saved and are willing to go along with cost-cutting measures in order to keep it going. Market Decisions of Portland surveyed 400 Mainers 18 or older between Oct. 5 and 25. The poll was done […]

PORTLAND Despite overwhelming support for the camp voiced by members of the public during its Wednesday night meeting, the City Council voted 8-1 to deny a request by Occupy Maine to remain in Lincoln Park for at least six more months. Only David Marshall voted to support the petition, and said he did so because […]

TOPSHAM The Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee seeks public feedback on proposed changes to the town’s subdivision ordinance before finalizing amendment language scheduled to go to the May 2012 town meeting. Townspeople are invited to share thoughts at the CPIC meeting at 6:30 p.m. today in the municipal building, 100 Main St. The proposed changes stem […]

HARPSWELL The School Administrative District 75 board of directors is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. today at Harpswell Community School on Mountain Road. Board members will be served dinner at 5:30 p.m., and enjoy a “brief musical interlude,” as the meal is served. The business meeting will start with a presentation by Kerry Bailey, […]

FREEPORT A new ice skating rink will come to downtown Freeport around the Christmas holiday. A Town Council vote Tuesday paved the way for the outdoor skating area. The Town Council approved a $3,000 expenditure from Freeport’s Village Open Space fund to order a rink that will be located in a parking lot along Depot […]