U.S. National - AFP

NEW YORK (AFP) - The uneasy relationship between the Kennedy clan and the Catholic Church turned into open warfare Monday after a bishop said he was refusing communion to Patrick Kennedy due to his pro-abortion stand.

MOBILE, Alabama (AFP) - An alleged Belgian arms dealer has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to export fighter jet engines and parts to Iran, US justice officials said.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A rush to cash in tax incentives helped boost sales of existing US homes 10.1 percent in October, according to data Monday showing fresh momentum for the sector at the heart of the economic crisis.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Astronauts from the US shuttle Atlantis Monday concluded the third and final spacewalk of their mission to maintain and install more high-tech equipment on the International Space Station.

NEW YORK (AFP) - US computer giant Hewlett-Packard posted a 14 percent rise in quarterly net profit Monday as slumping personal computer sales were offset by a solid performance in its services division.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Google is acquiring Web display advertising startup Teracent, the Internet giant announced on Monday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AFP) - Shaquille O'Neal has returned to practice with Cleveland, and hopes he can play in the Cavaliers' NBA clash at Detroit on Wednesday.

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - Rob Bironas booted a 53-yard field goal with less than a minute to play as the Tennessee Titans beat the Houston Texans 20-17 Monday for their fourth straight National Football League victory.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The daughter of former US presidential candidate John Kerry will not be charged after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Los Angeles prosecutors have said.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A survey published Monday of information technology managers at over 500 US-based companies has found that only about one in four has enabled more than half their workforce to work remotely.

NEW YORK (AFP) - Minnesota's Joe Mauer was named baseball's American League Most Valuable Player on Monday, becoming just the second catcher in 33 years to win the AL award.

CHICAGO (AFP) - Omar Vizquel agreed on Monday to a 1,375,000-dollar one-year contract with baseball's Chicago White Sox, where he'll play for fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The daughter of former US presidential candidate John Kerry will not be charged after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Los Angeles prosecutors said Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Key Democratic allies in the US health care battle warned Sunday that a Senate bill required major changes if it was to earn their support and give President Barack Obama a crucial victory on his top domestic priority.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A radiation leak at Three Mile Island, the site of the worst nuclear accident in US history, has sent home about 150 workers, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported Sunday.

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - French videogame powerhouse Ubisoft will have a virtual fitness coach whipping Wii users into shape starting Tuesday.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The "Twilight" vampire romance sequel "New Moon" took a record-breaking bite out of the North American box office this weekend, final figures showed Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The nephew of ex-president John F. Kennedy, a US lawmaker, has been barred from receiving communion at his Catholic church due to his support for abortion rights, a newspaper reported Sunday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US retailers are taking desperate measures to spark holiday sales in the face of what promises to be another troubled year-end shopping season.

NEW YORK (AFP) - The 20-year record high bankruptcy rate for US banks and businesses is giving regional banks on sound footing the opportunity to expand swiftly and on the cheap.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - With its deal to buy Revolution Money, American Express is taking aim at the growing market for online and alternative payments, in a challenge to recognized leader PayPal, analysts say.

BALTIMORE, Maryland (AFP) - Indianapolis eked out yet another narrow win on Sunday while New Orleans rolled past Tampa Bay as the Colts and Saints remained unbeaten in the National Football League.

MONTE CARLO (AFP) - Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt and Jamaican-born United States 400 metres runner Sanya Richards were named athletes of the year here on Sunday.

CHANTILLY, Virginia (AFP) - Recession-stoked fears of rising crime and tougher gun laws under a Democratic government are sending US gun sales sky high, and big crowds at the Chantilly Gun Show this weekend proved it once again.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AFP) - Cleveland coach Eric Mangini sparked the ire of Detroit coach Jim Schwartz when he suggested Lions players faked injuries Sunday as a delaying tactic in their 38-37 NFL win over the Browns.

CHICAGO (AFP) - Eight people face terrorism charges in the case of 20 young men missing from Minnesota after allegedly being recruited to fight for an Islamist militia in Somalia, officials said Monday.

CHICAGO (AFP) - New terrorism charges were expected Monday in the case of dozens of Somali-Americans, who disappeared from their homes in Minnesota and are believed to have joined an Islamist militia in Somalia.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The injury-hit Washington Redskins have lost two more players, Ladell Betts and guard Chad Rinehart, for the rest of the National Football League season.