MOSCOW – Russian lawmakers passed amendments Friday that would sharply curb news coverage of anti-terrorist operations and prohibit the media from carrying rebel statements — a legislative step officials called increasingly urgent in light of last week’s hostage crisis. The hostage-takers “had elaborated a media plan,” Press Minister Mikhail Lesin …

Key dates in the antitrust case against Microsoft Corp.: —1975: Microsoft founded by Paul Allen and Bill Gates. —July 1994: Microsoft, in a consent decree, agrees to change contracts with PC makers and eliminate some restrictions on other software makers, ending a Justice Department investigation. —August 1995: Microsoft launches Windows …

TRENTON, N.J. – The man held as a material witness in the sniper shootings case has been released from custody and is now living here with his mother and other relatives. Nathaniel O. Osbourne, 26, was arrested in Michigan on Oct. 26. He was not suspected of carrying out any …

WASHINGTON – Tickets to an inaugural ball: About $150. Cost of renting a tux: About $75. Watching President Bush’s (search) second inauguration in person: Priceless? Think again. Tickets to the president’s swearing-in, thousands of which were handed out free by congressional offices, are now commanding hundreds of dollars from scalpers …

This is a partial transcript from “The O’Reilly Factor,” Jan. 30, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. Watch “The O’Reilly Factor” weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET and listen to the “Radio Factor!” BILL O’REILLY, HOST: The successful vote in Iraq will be spun negative by anti-American …

NEW YORK – One of music’s harshest critics doesn’t think Beyonce (search) is so bootylicious. Simon Cowell (search), a judge on Fox television’s “American Idol,” has some choice words about the 23-year-old singer. “I find the whole Beyonce thing really mystifying,” Cowell says in Esquire magazine, on newsstands Friday. “She’s …

DAVISON, Mich. – Oscar on the shelf or not, Michael Moore (search) is not getting much respect at his old high school. Despite his fame and many honors, the filmmaker has been rejected all four times that he has been nominated for Davison High School’s Hall of Fame. “Would you …

PATONG BEACH, Thailand – Greg Ferrando glistened with sweat and sea water as he went for a barefoot jog up the immaculate white sand beach, where the tsunami has wiped away almost all signs of humanity. “This whole area was littered with commercialism,” said the 43-year-old from Maui, Hawaii. “There …

KIEV, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (search), in Moscow on what was considered a symbolic trip to mend relations with Russia, reportedly appointed top ally Yulia Tymoshenko (search) as prime minister Monday — a move likely to anger the Kremlin. Yushchenko, who was inaugurated Sunday, initially said he would …

This is a partial transcript of “Special Report With Brit Hume,” Jan. 24, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. Watch “Special Report With Brit Hume” weeknights at 6 p.m. ET (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ADEL AL LAMI, INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION, IRAQ: This election is very important because this election puts …