WASHINGTON – The U.S. government at the highest levels is sending out word that the world is watching Iran as it proceeds with its nuclear program. “The Iranians just need to know that the free world is working together to send a very clear message: ‘Don’t develop a nuclear weapon,'” …

NEW YORK – SBC Communications Inc. (SBC) said Tuesday it expects to eliminate about 13,000 jobs after its $16 billion acquisition of AT&T Corp. (T) closes, but the telephone company emphasized that many of those positions can be cut through attrition rather than layoffs. The projection came during an occasionally …

WASHINGTON – The House on Wednesday urged the federal government to contest a court decision that would allow colleges to limit the activities of military recruiters on their campuses because of the military’s ban on openly gay people. The nonbinding resolution, approved 327-84, expresses support for a 1995 law that …

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon (search) is investigating eight additional Air Force (search) contracts to determine whether they were manipulated or influenced illegally by Darleen Druyun, a former Air Force official who was convicted last year of giving Boeing Co. (search) special treatment on a tanker lease deal. The eight contracts …

In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on Congress to pass a “comprehensive” health care plan, including caps on malpractice awards against doctors and legal changes allowing small businesses or individuals to band together to buy insurance. The president also voiced his continued support for tax credits …

BUELLTON, Calif. – Frank Ostini can’t seem to keep his cocktail napkins in stock. The owner of the Hitching Post II (search) restaurant, featured in the Oscar-nominated film “Sideways”, is on pace to blow through a three-year supply of 50,000 in the next few months. Customers, it appears, are plucking …

VATICAN CITY – Pope John Paul II’s spokesman has hinted that the ailing pontiff might be discharged soon from the hospital, saying he hopes the next scheduled medical bulletin will be the last. Weakened by years of battling Parkinson’s disease (search), the 84-year-old pontiff was rushed by ambulance late night …

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to block a New Mexico church from using hallucinogenic tea that the government contends is illegal and potentially dangerous. The appeal from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (search) argues that a lower court was wrong to allow the Brazil-based O …

MOSCOW – Tens of thousands of Russians protested across the country Saturday against a law replacing transportation and medical benefits for pensioners with cash payments, but were countered by massive rival demonstrations organized by pro-Kremlin forces. The Communist-backed protest calling for the government’s ouster was the most widespread in President …

A tracheotomy (search) is a surgical procedure during which doctors cut a hole through the throat into the windpipe, or trachea, in order to help someone breathe. It’s performed when the windpipe gets blocked. How could the windpipe get blocked? — The larynx, or voicebox, could become so swollen that …