Brown says UK to maintain AAA credit rating (Reuters)

Reuters - Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday he believed Britain would maintain its coveted top credit rating and announced a pay freeze for senior civil servants and military officers to help tame a record deficit.

Cable, sat TV firms ask gov't to stop TV blackouts (AP)
AP - Cable, satellite TV and other video providers are seeking government intervention in ongoing disputes over the fees that they are charged by TV networks to carry local channels.

German Catholics to investigate abuse charges (AP)

AP - Catholic authorities in Germany announced two major abuse investigations Wednesday — one into the renowned choir once led by Pope Benedict XVI's brother and another more general look into what everyone, including the pope, knew about the sexual and physical abuse of students.

Charlie Sheen due back on `Two and a Half Men' (AP)

AP - A spokesman for Charlie Sheen says the actor will soon be back at "Two and a Half Men" after undergoing rehab that temporarily halted production of CBS' top-rated sitcom.

Iraq PM said to be ahead on eve of vote results (Reuters)

Reuters - Initial results from Iraq's national election are likely to be released by Thursday, Iraqi and U.N. officials said on Wednesday, as further signs emerged of a strong showing for Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Threatened Muhammad cartoonist has no regrets (AP)

AP - A Swedish artist who angered Muslims by drawing the Prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog said Wednesday he has no regrets and believes the suspects in an alleged plot to kill him were not professionals.

Another runaway Toyota Prius reported (Reuters)
Reuters - Federal regulators said they were looking into a report of another runaway Toyota Prius, this one in Westchester County, New York, where police said a woman pulling out of a driveway zoomed across a busy street and into a stone wall.

Pelosi faces biggest test on healthcare vote (Reuters)

Reuters - The leader of the House of Representatives -- a persuasive arm twister and deal maker -- faces her toughest challenge yet: getting 216 votes to pass final legislation revamping the U.S. healthcare system.

'Lost Boys' actor Corey Haim dead in Calif. at 38 (AP)

AP - Corey Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob whose career was blighted by drug abuse, has died. He was 38.

Obama pushing on health care end game (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is pushing a new anti-fraud plan and his top health official is challenging the nation's insurers as the administration cranks up the pressure for a sweeping overhaul of the nation's medical system.