Army Historian Cites  Lack of Postwar Plan

Historian says the high-level failure continues to undercut what has been a "mediocre" Army effort in Iraq.


Michigan court orders halt to Manor Care sale

A Michigan court ordered a temporary halt on Thursday to the $4.9 billion sale of Manor Care Inc  to private equity firm Carlyle Group , according to an Ingham County Circuit Court order.


Prince Charles is expected to publicly deny that he believes Britain's "learning culture" gives people false hope of success, the BBC reported Sunday.


Japan police raid Kansai Elec over nuke accident

TOKYO - Japanese police on Saturday searched a Kansai Electric Power Co 9503.T nuclear plant for evidence of any negligence that might have led to a deadly accident there last month, public broadcaster NHK said.


The British and Irish Governments are considering tabling their own proposals to break the power-sharing deadlock.


Survival School Will Allow Water Bottles

By ED WHITE  SALT LAKE CITY - A wilderness-survival school where a hiker died of thirst is now allowing campers to carry a 32-ounce water bottle instead of a smaller cup during a grueling course in the Utah desert.


Iraq summit offers U.S., Iran icebreaker

Washington is sending a veteran Middle East hand. Tehran's envoy is a British-educated diplomat considered one of Iran's top analysts of the West. Combine that with a flexible agenda and a matchmaking Iraqi host — and the international gathering Saturday to help steer Iraq's future also appears as a prime opportunity for some icebreaking overtures between Iran and the United States.


Softbank unveils 13 new cell phones for year-end

Japan's Softbank Corp. 9984.T unveiled   13 new cell phone models for the year-end shopping season on   Thursday, including three made by Sharp Corp. 6753.T and two   by South Korea's Samsung Electronics 005930.KS.


Mosca, 14:54 - CALCIO, RUSSIA: GIOCATORE SALE IN TRIBUNA E LITIGA CON TIFOSI

Alexander Shirko, 29enne attaccante russo dello Shinnik, è venuto alle mani con alcuni tifosi...


Apple defends iTunes in Berlin, Brussels

Apple President Steve Jobs  reiterated his commitment to charging the same price for iTunes  downloads across Europe as his lawyers defended the company on  Wednesday against allegations its prices are not uniform.


HarperCollins Will Post Free Books on the Web

In an attempt to increase book sales, HarperCollins Publishers will begin offering free electronic editions of some of its books on its Web site on Monday.


Swilley Resigns As Church's Pastor: Has Headed North Highland Flock for More Than 20 Years

By Allison Kennedy, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.  Feb. 5--With much fanfare but not much surprise to the congregation, the Rev. Jim Swilley of North Highland Assembly of God resigned as senior pastor of the church during the Sunday service yesterday.


Pinochet charged in human rights abuse case

A Chilean judge has formally charged former dictator Agusto Pinochet with homicide and kidnapping in one of many pending cases related to human rights abuses committed during his 17-year rule.


Merrill Lynch confirms that it has sold shares worth $4.4bn (Â£2.2bn) to the Singapore's investment arm.


Dixie Chicks documentary to hatch at Toronto fest

A documentary about the  firestorm that greeted the Dixie Chicks' anti-Bush comments  will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film  Festival in September, organizers said Thursday.


French PM to visit Japan for nuclear talks: official

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon will visit Japan in April for talks on issues including civilian nuclear cooperation, a French embassy spokesman said Thursday.


WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry will probably avoid the "Will it Float?" routine but might opt to deliver the "Top 10 List" when he appears on the "The Late Show with David Letterman" on Monday...


Senate OKs bill ending import of Myanmar gems

The Senate unanimously approved a  bill on Wednesday blocking imports of Myanmar rubies and  timber, and lawmakers stepped up calls for a U.N. arms embargo  on the military-ruled Southeast Asian country.


Wide U.S. Inquiry Into Purchasing for Health Care

The case appears to be focused on whether hospitals are fraudulently overcharging Medicare and other programs for goods.


Activision to stick to "Guitar Hero" song price

Activision Inc. said  on Thursday it had sold more than 300,000 downloadable song  packs for its hit "Guitar Hero II" music game, giving it  confidence it will not have to lower prices despite outrage at  the cost among some game fans.


On Sunday, Bode Miller won the combined title for the slalom and Saturdayâs downhill, which means he is now the most successful American skier ever with 28 World Cup wins, overtaking Phil Mahre.


Mattel announces third Chinese toy recall

Toymaker Mattel Inc on Tuesday announced a third recall of Chinese-made toys, saying it would take back more than 800,000 units globally with "impermissible" levels of lead.


The head of Nigeria's main labor union said Tuesday the group would decide over the next 24 hours whether to restart a four-day strike that crippled business throughout Africa's most populous nation earlier this month.


Spain to face England in friendly at the Bernabeu

Spain will play England in a friendly international at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on November 17, the Spanish Football Federation announced on Tuesday.


Igor-style human, animal parts assembly on horizon

Kit-form Lurch servants/monkey butlers for all Topflight Mancunian scientists believe they will soon pioneer an improved technique for splicing together human nerves. This could offer a range of benefits, not least the ability to assemble huge, powerful bodies out of miscellaneous human parts and implanted brains harvested from condemned criminal maniacs.â¦


New server is designed to run AMD's upcoming Opteron chips.


UBS Not Willing to Talk About Departure of Chief

UBS, based in Zurich, refused to explain the reason for the sudden departure of Peter A. Wuffli, its chief executive.


Controversial French Author Francoise Sagan Dies

French author Francoise Sagan, who shot to fame with her first novel "Bonjour Tristesse" at the age of 18 and courted controversy throughout her life, died on Friday, a hospital spokesman said.


During the years I spent as a firefighter/paramedic I became familiar with the term âdeath rattle.â This term refers to a sound a mortally wounded patient makes signaling to the emergency


Tokyo's Nikkei average edged down 0.18 percent at the opening on Tuesday as its biggest one-day rise in four months in the previous session prompted profit-taking on recent gainers, such as banks and brokers.


EDITORIAL: Get Serious: Redeveloping Nassau's Hub Holds Great Promise for for the County. Here's What the Region's Leadership Must Do to Make It Happen.

By Newsday, Melville, N.Y.  Dec. 17--Political, civic and business leaders who care about Long Island should have the same New Year's resolution at the top of their lists: launching the redevelopment of the Nassau County Hub.


Colts doubters, cynics, critics shut out

That wasn't Coach Spock standing up there at the microphone, the Colts' logo hanging in the background. Because that person -- that impostor, whoever he was -- was smiling broadly, almost giddy about the team's performance against the Oakland Raiders.


Fed Hints Will Stick to Small Rate Hikes

More U.S. interest rate increases  lie ahead, but they would likely not need to be at a faster  pace because inflation is contained, Federal Reserve officials  said on Friday.


Study Cites Problems of Indian Auto Industry

Indian automakers are plagued by a shortage of skilled workers, inferior product quality and deficient highway infrastructure, among other challenges.