BAGHDAD, Iraq – A third set of allegations that U.S. troops have deliberately killed civilians is fueling a furor in Iraq and drawing strong condemnations from government and human rights officials. “It looks like the killing of Iraqi civilians is becoming a daily phenomenon,” the chairman of the Iraqi Human …

NEW YORK – Brad Pitt was named one of “15 People Who Make America Great” by Newsweek magazine for using his megawatt star power to shine some light on some often neglected causes in Africa. Pitt, a constant target of the paparazzi, told the magazine that he figured if the …

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A man stabbed his two young sons and dragged them into a lake, leaving one dead, hours after taking them from his father-in-law’s house at knifepoint, police say. Police with search dogs were combing Dean’s Lake for Katron Walker on Tuesday night when he ran out …

WASHINGTON – Half a million times a year — about once every minute — ambulances carrying sick patients are turned away from full emergency rooms and sent to others farther away. It’s a sobering symptom of how the nation’s emergency-care system is overcrowded and overwhelmed, “at its breaking point,” concludes …

WARRI, Nigeria – Militants launched attacks across Nigeria‘s troubled delta region Saturday, blowing up oil installations and seizing nine foreigners, including three Americans. The violence cut the West African nation’s crude oil exports by 20 percent. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which claims to be fighting …

BALI, Indonesia – Two Australians were sentenced Tuesday to death by firing squad for leading a drug smuggling ring on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, verdicts that could strain ties between the countries. Andrew Chan, 22, and Myuran Sukumaran, 24 — who masterminded the trafficking of 18 pounds of heroin …

RENO, Nev. – Parents of a Reno eighth-grader are ready to sue the school district, claiming a spelling bee judge unjustly ousted their daughter from a competition. Sara Beckman spelled “discernible” correctly during a spelling bee yesterday at the University of Nevada, Reno. But the judge rang the bell anyway. …

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Steve Fossett’s bony-looking experimental airplane lifted off about 1,500 feet farther down the runway than it should have. Then it hit two birds. The temperature in the cockpit soared to 130 degrees, causing instruments to temporarily stop working before it cooled off. Despite some hair-raising moments, …

CHICAGO – The goose liver delicacy foie gras was banned from restaurants Wednesday in a measure approved by the Chicago City Council after members decided it was inhumane to force-feed the birds. “Our city is better for taking a stance against the cruelty of foie gras,” said Alderman Joe Moore, …

WASHINGTON – Lobbying legislation is heading to a House vote this week without provisions requiring lobbyists to keep track of their contacts with lawmakers and report fundraising activities. Democrats and activist groups say the bill is now too weak to change the money culture in Washington. “They took an already …