Even with a New Government, Conditions in Zimbabwe Worsen

Tatenda Majiri, 22, hoists a calabash of home-brewed beer with some authority while discussing news of the day. But he has no confidence in the future. The social work student says he has lost hope of going back to school because the government-owned University of Zimbabwe has been closed since last year.

Will Swine Flu Panic Spread Beyond Mexico?

Fernando Navarette fingers his blue mouth mask and eyes other customers suspiciously at the juice stand as he orders a special anti-flu cocktail of pineapple, guava and honey. “I want to get the vitamins in me and then get back home,” says the 37-year-old graphic designer, carefully keeping his distance. “I don’t want to be in the street any longer than necessary and risk bringing the virus into my house.

Eliminated contestants discuss ‘American Idol’

Anoop Desai says he was comfortable with his "geeky" image on "American Idol." Lil Rounds says her soulful singing is what made her unique — that and her name, of course. Desai and Rounds were eliminated from “Idol” on Wednesday. The judges used the save option last week to keep Matt Giraud in the competition, so the contestants with the two lowest vote totals this week were sent packing.

Man kills family, self in Maryland town, authorities say

A Maryland man apparently killed his wife and three young children, then shot and killed himself at the foot of the bed where his wife and 2-year-old daughter’s bodies lay, authorities said Saturday. Christopher Wood, 34, may have slashed at least some of his family members in the killings in Middletown. Frederick County (Md.) Sheriff Charles Jenkins said some of the victims had “severe lacerations and cut wounds.” “These are horrific incidents,” said Jenkins, who said he couldn’t remember another homicide in the past 20 years in the small town northwest of Baltimore