Stingray kills 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin  —  CAIRNS, Australia - Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef.  He was 44.

G.O.P. Seen to Be in Peril of Losing House  —  After a year of political turmoil, Republicans enter the fall campaign with their control of the House in serious jeopardy, the possibility of major losses in the Senate, and a national mood so unsettled that districts once considered safely Republican …

A Different Face of Iran  —  Despite the Politics, an American Finds Hope in a Forbidden Land  —  As a journalist, I've spent considerable time over the years in places where America was not always popular.  In the bad old days, that meant Russia, China and Vietnam; more recently I've reported …

Attacking Inequality  —  Tax Reform Has the Greatest Potential To Narrow the Gap  —  By now almost everyone agrees that inequality is serious.  Economic growth no longer seems to help the majority of workers; the proceeds flow to the top fifth or so of the workforce, and the top within the top has done especially handsomely.

Barzani Threatens Secession;  —  Sistani Aide Assassinated;  —  4 GIs Killed  —  Massoud Barzani reacted angrily to criticisms of him by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and many other Iraqi politicians for his call that the Iraqi flag not be flown in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Caine hits out against today's 'banal' films  —  FILMS made today pale against cinema classics of the past because they are so lacking in dialogue, character and plot, Sir Michael Caine told The Times yesterday.  —  The Oscar-winning star has lost count of the number of times he has seen films …

US Muslims plagued by discrimination after 9/11 attacks  —  DEARBORN, United States (AFP) - Discrimination and harassment by law enforcement have come to plague American Muslims in the years since the terrorist attacks of September 11.  —  There have been suspicious looks, slurs …

On America Working The war on workers  —  U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige labeled one "a terrorist organization."  Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, called them "a clear and present danger to the security of the United States."  And U.S. Rep. Charles Norwood, R-Ga. …

Olmert: Unaware of deal to free Shalit  —  PM denies Arab reports of agreement to release kidnapped soldier within two days in exchange for 1,400 Palestinian prisoners  —  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denied at the opening of hid briefing to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday reports …

200 Taliban Killed In Fighting  —  4 Canadian Troops Also Killed In Major Operation By NATO, Afghan Forces  —  (CBS/AP) Warplanes and artillery pounded Taliban fighters hiding in orchards Sunday during a big Afghan-NATO offensive that the alliance said killed more than 200 militants in its first two days.

Al-Qaeda calls on US to convert  —  Al-Qaeda has urged non-Muslims - especially in the US - to convert to Islam, according to a new videotape.  —  The call is made by a man identified on the film as "Azzam the American", a convert also known as Adam Gadahn who is wanted for questioning by the FBI.

Prescott's ethics fiasco 'hampering democracy'  —  Councillors have been banned from discussing local park-and-ride schemes if they own a car under an ethical watchdog created by John Prescott.  —  The Deputy Prime Minister is accused today of undermining local democracy and stifling free speech by imposing …