WASHINGTON (AFP) – President Barack Obama’s daughters might be growing up in White House, but that does not mean they have to miss out on a rite of passage for American girls — a babysitting job. Obama, who has the headache of stewarding the slowly mending US economy, said in a television interview that he [...]

BERLIN – Germany’s autobahns are renowned for average speeds well in excess of 80 miles (130 kilometers) an hour. But the average dropped near zero Sunday as tens of thousands of people sat at a 37-mile table for a cultural celebration titled, appropriately enough, “Still Life.” Cars were strictly verboten. “Attention on the A40,” a [...]

CUPERTINO, California (Reuters) – A defiant Steve Jobs on Friday rejected any suggestion the iPhone 4′s design was flawed, but offered consumers free phone cases to address reception complaints that have hurt Apple Inc’s image and shares. At a rare, 90-minute press conference, the Apple chief executive asserted that reception issues were a problem shared [...]

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom (AFP) – Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner jet, whose delivery to clients likely faces fresh delay, landed here Sunday after its first flight outside of the United States ahead of a major airshow. The test plane touched ground at Farnborough airport at 9:08 am (0808 GMT), watched by journalists from around the world, a [...]

NEW YORK – Thierry Henry is retiring from the French national team. The 32-year-old forward announced his decision Thursday at the offices of The Associated Press before a news conference to discuss his signing with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls. A member of France’s 1998 world championship and 2000 European champion teams, Henry [...]

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AFP) – BP halted the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico leak for the first time in three months, raising hopes Friday the worst oil disaster in US history may finally be over. While President Barack Obama and BP warned against celebrating before tests are completed, news that engineers had shut all three valves [...]

Mel Gibson’s estranged wife defended him in court yesterday (15.07.10), claiming he had never been abusive to her or their seven children during their 28-year marriage. Mel Gibson’s ex-wife defended him in court yesterday (15.07.10). Robyn Moore Gibson – who married the actor in 1980, has seven children with him and filed for divorce in [...]

NEW YORK – After sitting stuffed and mounted for more than 40 years in a museum, Roy Rogers’ horse Trigger and dog Bullet will be TV stars once more. Rural cable network RFD-TV bought Bullet for $35,000 on Thursday and Trigger for $266,000 a day earlier at an auction in New York City. RFD-TV owner [...]

NEW YORK – The ship was buried as junk two centuries ago — landfill to expand a bustling little island of commerce called Manhattan. When it re-emerged this week, surrounded by skyscrapers, it was an instant treasure that popped up from the mud near ground zero. A 32-foot piece of the vessel was found in [...]

WASHINGTON – Calling the Declaration of Independence more than words on an aging parchment, President Barack Obama marked the Fourth of July on Sunday by urging Americans to live the principles that founded the nation as well as celebrate them. “This is the day when we celebrate the very essence of America and the spirit [...]