Poll: Bush's new Iraq strategy fails to rally public support  —  WASHINGTON — President Bush's address to the nation last week failed to move public opinion in support of his plan to increase U.S. troop levels in Iraq and left Americans more pessimistic about the likely outcome of the war.

Castro Reportedly in Grave Condition  —  MADRID, Spain (AP) — Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro is in "very grave" condition after three failed operations and complications from an intestinal infection, a Spanish newspaper said Tuesday.  —  The newspaper El Pais cited two unnamed sources …

Adultery could mean life, court finds  —  That's what the law says in sex-drug case Cox appealed  —  In a ruling sure to make philandering spouses squirm, Michigan's second-highest court says that anyone involved in an extramarital fling can be prosecuted for first-degree criminal sexual conduct …

A Rifle in Every Pot  —  IT'S a phenomenon that gives the term "gun control" a whole new meaning: community ordinances that encourage citizens to own guns.  —  Last month, Greenleaf, Idaho, adopted Ordinance 208, calling for its citizens to own guns and keep them ready in their homes in case of emergency.

Al Gore Says U.S. States May Force Change in Climate Policy  —  Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) — Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said many businesses and state governments ``embrace'' the aims of the Kyoto Protocol, which may force President George W. Bush to alter his opposition to the effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

UAE beats Americans' environmental harm  —  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - When it comes to squandering the earth's natural resources, residents of this desert land of chilled swimming pools, monster 4x4s and air-conditioned malls are on a par with even the ravenous consumption of Americans, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Secret understandings reached between representatives of Israel, Syria  —  In a series of secret meetings in Europe between September 2004 and July 2006, Syrians and Israelis formulated understandings for a peace agreement between Israel and Syria.  —  The main points of the understandings are as follows:

Allies 'go after' Iran as beefed-up naval force sails for Gulf  —  Region under pressure  —  Britain is joining an American military campaign to blunt Iranian influence in Iraq and the Gulf.  —  In a move likely to heighten tension in an already volatile part of the world …

Kucinich: Congress To Take On FCC  —  Over the weekend, the National Conference for Media Reform was held in Memphis, TN, with a number of notable speakers on hand for the event.  Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) made an surprise appearance at the convention to announce that he would be heading …

51% of Women Are Now Living Without Spouse  —  For what experts say is probably the first time, more American women are living without a husband than with one, according to a New York Times analysis of census results.  —  In 2005, 51 percent of women said they were living without a spouse …

Common sense in the warming debate  —  GLOBAL WARMING is the subject of intense debate.  But if ideology is getting in the way of science, maybe both sides of the debate are letting that happen.  —  While the evidence of global climate change is overwhelming, there are skeptics who challenge …

Despite Lessons on King, Some Unaware of His Dream  —  In a recent survey of college students on U.S. civic literacy, more than 81 percent knew that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was expressing hope for "racial justice and brotherhood" in his historic "I Have a Dream" speech.  —  That's the good news.