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WASHINGTON – After discussing war and peace in the Middle East, President Bush squeezed in a 10-minute photo-op Friday with finalists in the hit television show “American Idol.” They got the photos. Bush got a harmonica engraved with “American Idol 2006.” The 10 finalists dropped into the Oval Office to …

PASADENA, Calif. – Chaka Khan, Clint Black and Michael Bolton are among the pop stars who will be part of “Celebrity Duets,” a new FOX TV show that pairs singers and celebrities trying to prove they can carry a tune. The series, debuting with a two-hour episode 8 p.m. EDT …

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for a cease-fire in Lebanon and criticized U.S. policy in the Middle East on Wednesday, saying Washington wants to “recarve the map” of the region with Israel’s help. Ahmadinejad’s nation is a major backer of Hezbollah and a sworn enemy of Israel, …

VERACRUZ, Mexico – Mel Gibson, about to wrap up the filming of his new movie “Apocalypto” in the jungles of Mexico’s Veracruz state, is donating money to build houses for poor people in the region to thank them for their help and hospitality, government officials announced. Gibson will give the …

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Tuesday’s session are Lowe’s Cos., Red Hat Inc. and PMC-Sierra Inc. Analogic Corp. (ALOG) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of 14 cents a share, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call. Dress Barn …

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – New charges were filed against a pastor on Monday amid the expansion of an investigation into allegations that leaders of two reclusive church communes sexually abused girls. George Otis Johnston, 63, was charged with nine counts of felony statutory sodomy on suspicion of molesting a girl from …

CAIRO, Egypt – The deputy leader of Al Qaeda called President Bush a failure and a liar in the war on terror in a video statement released Friday, and he compared Pope Benedict XVI to the 11th century pontiff who launched the First Crusade. “Can’t you be honest at least …

WASHINGTON – A House panel on Wednesday first rejected but then approved the Bush administration’s plan for prosecuting and interrogating high-value terror suspects while top Senate Republicans met with President Bush at the White House over a compromise plan for handling the detainees. The House Judiciary Committee first decided on …

DETROIT – Detroit Public Schools officials canceled classes until further notice Tuesday, the eighth day of a teachers strike. It was supposed to have been the first day of school for the district’s 130,000 students. But instead, students returning from summer vacation were greeted by teachers on picket lines instead …

LONEDELL, Mo. – State and federal investigators kept up the search Sunday for a woman who walked into a rural home, told a young mother “I’m here to take your child,” then slashed the mother’s throat and left with her 1-week-old baby. Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke said authorities had …