Noose, torture chamber, bodies found in mosque
The Baghdad mosque is a grotesque scene. Blood is on the walls and a noose dangles from the ceiling. "Here is a chain we found tied to an old man's body," an official says. A father mourns the loss of his son: "His hands and legs were amputated and his head was decapitated."
Gore backs Obama, rips Bush for 'failure'
Former Vice President Al Gore endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday, urging Americans to reject what he called the Bush administration's legacy of "incompetence, negligence and failure."
New DVDs: `Journey to the Center of the Earth' (AP)
AP - Selected home-video releases:
Obama's ex-pastor: I'm descriptive, not divisive
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the outspoken former pastor of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, delivered a fiery message to an NAACP audience Sunday, saying he is descriptive, not divisive, when he speaks about racial injustices.
John Woo goes into battle with epic "Red Cliff" (Reuters)
Reuters - As the first film to
re-create the Battle of Chibi in 208 A.D., the most famous
military feat in Chinese history, John Woo's "Red Cliff" is a
Pan-Asian project with the word "monumental" written all over
it.
Mayor fears New Orleans too weary to flee Ike
Residents of Galveston, Texas, should buy in supplies before Hurricane Ike moves into the Gulf of Mexico, the city's mayor urged tonight. The storm was downgraded after it hit Cuba but is expected to strengthen on its way toward the United States. A hurricane watch for the Florida Keys has been lifted, but the storm could still hit anywhere from Louisiana to Mexico.
Police: Man locked kin in filthy trailer for 3 years
A Georgia man is accused of holding his wife and children captive in a trash-filled mobile home for three years, police said Wednesday.
Earthquake rattles L.A.
A moderate, magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck just east of Los Angeles, the U.S. Geological Survey says. The epicenter was about 2 miles southwest of Chino Hills. No serious injuries or damage were reported. But residents were warned to check homes for gas leaks and to be on alert for more aftershocks. "Everything was moving," said iReporter Danny Casler.
Mattel wins $100 million Bratz suit
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Cops in 6 states haul in gang members, Harleys
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Kazakh comedy wins movie award (Reuters)
Reuters - A Kazakh comedy about a family coping with the harsh life of sheep and goat herding on a barren landscape took top honors at the second annual Asia-Pacific Screen Awards on Tuesday.
Will economy make crowds shun gloomy Oscar flicks? (AP)
AP - Not long before he's assassinated, Sean Penn's Harvey Milk proclaims his key precept for social change: "You gotta give 'em hope."
Church hits natural gas in urban drilling frenzy
Bishop Kenneth Spears always thought gifts from God came from above. He never imagined that the gifts would be hiding under his church in Fort Worth, Texas -- in the form of natural gas. There's an urban drilling bonanza here. Many are cashing in; others say it should never be allowed in cities: "We're guinea pigs."
Collecting with the stars: celeb trading cards (AP)
AP - These days, most celebrities trade on their fame for fashion lines, fragrances, reality shows and blogs. Now, some 40 famous folks from Scarlett Johansson to Jared Leto will be able to trade their fame with each other.
Obama 'unaware' of aunt's immigration status
Sen. Barack Obama didn't know his aunt might be living illegally in the United States, as media outlets are reporting, his campaign said Saturday.
'Golden Girls' actress Estelle Getty dies
Actress Estelle Getty has died at the age of 84.
Man gets 4 months for noose incident
A Louisiana man was sentenced to four months Friday for using hangman's nooses to threaten and intimidate civil rights marchers near Jena, Louisiana, officials said Friday.
Crime pays for Samuel L. Jackson at box office (Reuters)
Reuters - Samuel L. Jackson ruled the North American box office for the second time this year, while moviegoers largely ignored three other new releases as overall weekend sales resumed their downward spiral.
U.S. hostages home after 5 years in jungle
Three Americans wake up to their first morning of freedom in five years today after being rescued from the Colombian jungle. A daring mission tricked rebels into handing over the contractors, former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 11 other hostages.
Mega-preacher's wife sued over loss of faith
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"Best Friend's Girl" fails to deliver on promise (Reuters)
Reuters - Dane Cook is never quite as convincing as when he's playing a total jerk, and the comedian gets to do so in spades in "My Best Friend's Girl."