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Peer pressure might help smokers kick the habit
LOS ANGELES – The urge to smoke is contagious, but quitting apparently is, too. A team of researchers who showed that obesity can spread person-to-person has found a similar pattern with smoking cessation: A smoker is more likely to kick the habit if a spouse, friend, co-worker or sibling did.
- PUBLIC EYE
Cook pulls off 'idol' upset
Cue the confetti! And the shock waves! Your new “American Idol” is David Cook. In a bit of an upset, the genial 25-year-old rocker from Blue Springs, Mo., piled up enough viewer votes to slip past presumptive winner David Archuleta last night to become the seventh winner of the Fox-TV singing contest.
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Syria, Israel say talks have begun for peace treaty
JERUSALEM – Israel and Syria announced yesterday that they were engaged in negotiations for a comprehensive peace treaty through Turkish mediators, a sign that Israel is hoping to halt the growing influence of Iran, Syria's most important ally, which sponsors the anti-Israel groups Hezbollah and Hamas.
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Kennedy returns home to recuperate
BOSTON – Sen. Edward Kennedy gave a thumbs up to well-wishers and kisses to relatives as he walked out of the hospital yesterday, a day after learning he has a cancerous brain tumor.
- McCain invites three possible running mates to ranch visit
Sen. John McCain is set to meet with at least three potential running mates at a gathering at his ranch this weekend in Arizona, suggesting that he is stepping up his search for a vice presidential candidate as the Democratic contest heads toward a conclusion, according to Republicans familiar with McCain's plans.
- Most e-mailed U-T stories
- USDA to halt surveys of food crop pesticides despite wide opposition
Consumers lost a key source of information about what's sprayed on their food yesterday, the last day the government published a long-standing national survey that tracks the amount of pesticides used on everything from corn to apples.
- NATION UPDATE
Error in farm bill to prompt new vote
WASHINGTON – The House overwhelmingly rejected President Bush's veto yesterday of a $290 billion farm bill, but what should have been a stinging defeat for the president became an embarrassment for Democrats.
- Obama snipes at major role of lobbyists in McCain camp
TAMPA, Fla. – Barack Obama criticized likely general election rival John McCain yesterday where it could hurt most – the Arizona senator's reputation as a champion of ethics. Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, raised the possibility she might carry her fight to the Democratic convention floor.
- 2 held in suspected plot at Swedish nuclear plant
STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Police arrested two maintenance workers on suspicion of plotting sabotage after they tried to enter a nuclear power plant yesterday with traces of a powerful explosive like that used in the 2005 London transit bombings, officials said.
- Congress OKs more money to help find missing kids
WASHINGTON – Congress has renewed and approved a bigger budget for a joint private-public program that has helped rescue more than 100,000 missing children since it was created in 1984.
- WORLD UPDATE
U.S. won't expand Afghan command
WASHINGTON – The Defense Department said yesterday it has shelved a plan to take greater control in parts of Afghanistan where NATO is in charge, after the Dutch and British agreed to extend their commands.
- Accord reached in Lebanon could end political deadlock
BEIRUT, Lebanon – An agreement reached early yesterday by Lebanese political factions amounts to a significant shift of power in favor of the militant Shiite group Hezbollah and its allies in the opposition, who won the power to veto any Cabinet decision, officials said yesterday.
- Remote primary school largely spared in quake
CHENGDU, China – When the earth finally stopped bucking, the Yinxing Township Central Primary School was the only building left standing in its vicinity.
- U.N.'s top leader to push for aid to reach Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Myanmar today on a diplomatic mission to persuade the ruling generals to let in a torrent of foreign assistance for millions of cyclone victims.
- Sadr City calm amid Iraqi troop presence
BAGHDAD – With not a Shiite fighter in sight, shoppers crowded into markets and cars packed the streets in Baghdad's Sadr City yesterday – a positive early sign for Iraqi forces in their bid to impose control after a truce with the militia in its stronghold.
- Symphony orchestra performs rare concert, hoping to unify Iraqis
BAGHDAD – The national symphony orchestra hoped music would bring Iraqis into harmony in a concert yesterday that highlighted sectarian violence that has killed tens of thousands of people, including some of its members.
- Attacks in Mosul are down, official says
BAGHDAD – The number of daily attacks in Mosul has dropped at least 85 percent since U.S.-Iraqi forces began an offensive against Sunni insurgents in the city earlier this month, the top U.S. commander in northern Iraq said yesterday.
- Possible loss of intimacy worries wounded vets
WASHINGTON – When B.J. Jackson lost both legs below the knee to an Iraq war wound, his doctors talked about a lot of things, but they didn't mention how it might affect his sex life.
- Daily developments
The Senate plans to vote today on providing $165 billion to fund Pentagon operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until the new administration takes over next year. A plan announced last night by Senate leaders probably would doom billions of dollars in domestic programs sought by Democrats.
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