CURRENT NEWS ITEM: OFFICIALS SAY BONFIRE SPARKED THE 'TEA FIRE'

TOP - 50 RELEVANT BREAKING NEWS

1. Bonfire Sparked 1 of 3 Calif. Wildfires

   Sheriff: Blaze that destroyed 210 homes was caused by a group of young adults.

2. Santa Barbara wildfire accidentally sparked by bonfire: sheriff

   A California wildfire that engulfed 210 homes and injured more than two dozen people began as a bonfire built by several young adults.

3. Santa Barbara Wildfire Sparked by Bonfire

   A group of college students who lit a ridge-top bonfire is being blamed for accidentally sparking one of three ferocious wildfires that collectively destroyed about 1,000 homes and blacked more than 65 square miles.

4. G7 finance officials pledge action to stem financial crisis

   Finance officials from the G7 countries have announced a series of measures to try to slow the effects of a financial crisis that is crippling markets around the globe.

5. Oconee officials ask SLED to investigate county treasurer

   Administrator, finance director cite sloppy bookkeeping

6. Nigeria: EFCC Re-Arrests Nahco Boss, 2 Other Officials

   Freed Managing Director of the NigerianAviation Handling Company(NAHCO) Plc, Mr Sule Bates, was yesterday re-arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) at the headquarters of the company yesterday in Ikeja. Three other officials of the organisation

7. G7 finance officials pledge action to end financial crisis

   Finance officials from the G7 countries have announced a series of measures to try to slow the effects of a financial crisis that is crippling markets around the globe.

8. U.S. dropping North Korea from terror list, officials say

   The United States is trying to salvage a nuclear disarmament deal before President George W. Bush's term ends in January.

9. Afghan officials: Taliban jailbreak thwarted

10. Officials: 3 killed in missile strike in Pakistan

    DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) -- A suspected U.S. missile strike killed three people late Saturday in a town near the Afghan border, the latest in a series of attacks in a region where top al-Qaida leaders are believed to be living, two intelligence officials said....

11. Finance officials meet

    The world's biggest economic powers meet in Washington. CNN's Maggie Lake reports

12. AFGHANISTAN: Scores of Taliban militants killed in Afghan raids, officials say

    Afghan and NATO forces have killed at least 60 militants they say were massing for an attack on Laskar Gah in the southern Helmand province.

13. U.S. Officials Said to Offer Protection to Japan Investors

    The investment in Morgan Stanley by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group could be a crucial step in the strategy for revitalizing the American financial system.

14. Officials fear winds will spread L.A. wildfire

    A wildfire north of Los Angeles was only smoldering early Monday, but worries were rampant as several hours of severe winds were expected to hit the region later in the day.

15. EU eases sanctions against top Belarus officials

    LUXEMBOURG (AP) -- The European Union has temporarily lifted a travel ban on the president of Belarus, a country regarded as Europe's last dictatorship, as relations start to thaw....

16. EU drops travel ban on Uzbek officials

    The European Union said Monday it had dropped a travel ban on Uzbek officials imposed after a bloody crackdown on an uprising in 2005, saying the central Asian country had made some progress in improving human rights.

17. Wash. officials predict 83 percent will vote

    OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Secretary of State Sam Reed is predicting 83 percent voter turnout in November....

18. Officials: Financial crisis can lead to violence

    An out-of-work money manager in California loses a fortune and wipes out his family in a murder-suicide. A 90-year-old Ohio widow shoots herself in the chest as authorities arrive to evict her from the modest house she called home for 38 years....

19. Officials watching tropical depression

    A tropical depression that formed Monday in the Caribbean Sea is expected to strengthen before turning northeast and making landfall in Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

20. Ukrainian officials participate in events to mark Ukrainian Cossacks Day

21. Officials Say Child at Play Caused Fire That Killed 5

    It was not clear which of the children in the apartment was playing with a lighter or with matches, resulting in the city’s deadliest fire since March 2007.

22. GOP Officials Assail Community Group

    ACORN, a community organizing group that has operated for nearly 40 years outside the national spotlight, suddenly finds itself a central issue in the presidential campaign.

23. Iraqi officials to probe attacks on Christians

    MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's government pledged on Tuesday to send senior officials to northern Iraq to tackle violence against Christians which has led thousands to flee their homes fearing for their lives.

24. Saint John officials probing complaints of illegal rooming house

    City officials in Saint John are investigating complaints from residents in an eastern neighbourhood that a house has been converted into an illegal rooming house.

25. Iraqi Officials Meet to Discuss U.S. Security Pact

    Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met Tuesday with the nation's president and two vice presidents to review a "final draft" of the security pact with the United States.

26. Senior Ukraine officials to be under tighter security

27. Virginia officials ban campaign clothing at polls

    Virginia voters won't be allowed to wear clothing featuring John McCain or Barack Obama when they head to the polls on Nov. 4.

28. Nigeria: Lagosians Stranded As BRT Officials Down Tools

    Thousands of Lagosians were on Monday stranded as officials of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) embarked on a warning strike to press home their demand for better remuneration and conditions of service.

29. Fed officials see recession risk but no rate cut need

    PALO ALTO, California/MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Reuters) - A pair of top Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday highlighted risks to the U.S. economy from the global credit crisis and liquidity squeeze, but did not hint at more interest rate cuts as a solution.

30. Officials Say Retired Officer Lied About 9/11 Injuries

    The U.S. military granted Navy Cmdr. Charles E. Coughlin a Purple Heart and the government awarded him $331,000 for neck and other injuries he claimed to have suffered when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

31. Officials close to lifting wildfire evacuations

    Two major wildfires, pushed by strong Santa Ana winds, raged through the San Fernando Valley on Tuesday morning on a path that has already forced thousands of families from their homes.

32. Nigeria: NPL Suspend Players, Officials

    Bayelsa United head coach Monday Odigie, his assistant Daniel Obiri and Welfare officer Kakain have been suspended from all Nigeria Premier League matches pending when the Disciplinary Committee will meet to take final decision on their matter.

33. Sri Lankan officials warn of possible landslides

    Oct 15, Colombo: National Building Research Organization in Sri Lanka today warned if the monsoon rains continue further, there will be possible landslides in some parts of the country.

34. Heavy rains may spread epidemic diseases in Sri Lanka, health officials warn

    Oct 15, Colombo: Sri Lankan health officials say there is a possibility for epidemic diseases to spread in the country due to the prevailing rainy situation in various parts of the island.

35. No quick fix for U.S. economy, top officials say

    The U.S. economy will not bounce back quickly even if badly needed confidence in the financial system returns and jittery markets finally calm down, U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke cautioned Wednesday.