Photographers recall Chernobyl's first days

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- Wearing a lead protective suit and placing his cameras in lead boxes, photographer Igor Kostin made a terrifying and unauthorized trip to the Chernobyl danger zone just a few days after a nuclear power plant reactor exploded in the world's worst atomic accident.

He came back home with nothing to show for his determination to document the crisis - the radiation was so high that all his shots turned out black.

But Kostin returned, and his work along with that of a handful of other daring photographers was critical to the world's understanding of a catastrophe that Soviet authorities were reluctant to admit.

Agreement near in sex lawsuit involving Ga. pastor

LITHONIA, Ga. (AP) -- A judge says a lawsuit involving four young men and the Georgia megachurch pastor they accused of sexual misconduct is near a resolution.

Judge Johnny Panos said Friday that lengthy negotiations might soon bring an end to the lawsuit involving Bishop Eddie Long. The pastor has denied the allegations.

Panos said lawyers for both sides began meeting Monday and have spent more than 60 hours in negotiations.

The young men claimed in a September lawsuit that Long coerced them into sexual relationships. The men say Long abused his spiritual authority to lure them into trysts with cars, jewelry and cash when they were 17 and 18.

Apple slammed over iPhone, iPad location tracking

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Privacy watchdogs are demanding answers from Apple Inc. about why iPhones and iPads are secretly collecting location data on users - records that cellular service providers routinely keep but require a court order to disgorge.

It's not clear if other smartphones and tablet computers are logging such information on their users. And this week's revelation that the Apple devices do wasn't even new - some security experts began warning about the issue a year ago.

But the worry prompted by a report from researchers Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden at a technology conference in Santa Clara, Calif., raises questions about how much privacy you implicitly surrender by carrying around a smartphone and the responsibility of the smartphone makers to protect sensitive data that flows through their devices.

BP sues rig owner for $40B; blames it for disaster

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- BP on Wednesday sued the maker of the device that failed to stop last year's calamitous Gulf oil spill and the owner of the rig that exploded, alleging that negligence by both helped cause the disaster.

The British company said in papers filed in federal court in New Orleans that it is suing rig owner Transocean for at least $40 billion in damages, accusing it of causing last year's deadly blowout in the Gulf of Mexico that led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. BP says every single safety system and device and well control procedure on the Deepwater Horizon rig failed.

How Health Insurance Can Help You

Health insurance plans may seem like an added expenses that you might not actually need. Nevertheless, health insurance might be helpful for a number of reasons. You can research through health insurance plans to find the best one for you, whether it is something that only covers the a few and far-between doctor's visits you may need throughout the year, or disability coverage that takes into account any serious health issues that you may have. Health insurance, if it is the right plan, can serve as a hugely beneficial part of keeping you healthy.

Oops: An open microphone night for the president

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Now that the reporters were gone, President Barack Obama had some private thoughts to share with about 50 donors.

His recollections of the recent spending negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner. His tough assessment about his main budget antagonist in Congress. His desire for "cooler phones" in the White House and better information technology.

The late evening exchange at a Chicago restaurant did not stay private for long.

A Consumer's Guidebook to Health Care Modernise

The six-month day of remembrance] of the personation of the health care modernise, several of the law's preparations will be effective. Most consumers, however, won't see any changes until after Jan. 1, when their new health insurance plan year begins.

Meanwhile, employees will be coming ready for drops "open registration" point, once they choice their health coverage for the coming class. Additionally, folks who purchase their ain health insurance will be exploring their choices. Medicare benefactive roles will be able to alter their coverage after this year if they need.