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WASHINGTON – Americans’ approval of President Bush’s (search) handling of Iraq is at its lowest level yet, according to an AP-Ipsos poll that also found fewer than half now think he’s honest. A solid majority still see Bush as a strong and likable leader, though the president’s confidence is seen …

PITTSBURGH – Two women protesting the war in Iraq were taken to a hospital Saturday after police broke up an unauthorized march involving about five dozen people on a busy one-way street near an Army (search) recruiting station. David Meieran, who helped organize the protest, accused police of “inappropriate and …

WASHINGTON – Eight-term Democratic Sen. Robert C. Byrd (search) has responded to a Republican ad criticizing his record by putting out his own spot that says the GOP commercial is false and misleading. The West Virginia lawmaker has yet to announce that he will seek a ninth term in 2006. …

CRAWFORD, Texas – It’s not clear whether Lance Armstrong (search) will have to abide by the standard rules for biking with President Bush when the two famously competitive Texans take their first ride together Saturday. The first rule: Don’t pass the president. “Do not force the president too hard,” Bush …

Stop that crazy ice-cream jingle or I’ll … That’s essentially what West Hartford, Conn., police say a suburban homeowner told an ice-cream truck driver Sunday evening. To be more specific, the angry resident waved a pair of hedge clippers and threatened to quickly make the driver less of a man …

SPACE CENTER, Houston – As Discovery’s astronauts paused Thursday to honor their seven colleagues who died while returning to Earth in 2003, NASA (search) officials pondered whether another space walk was needed to fix a problem with the space shuttle. Mission Control is weighing whether a fourth spacewalk will be …

BIEL, Switzerland – The world’s largest watchmaker, Swatch Group AG (search), on Wednesday said first-half net profit surged 21 percent on strong sales growth. Net profit rose to 267 million Swiss francs ($210 million) in the first six months of the year from220 million francs in the year-ago period. Swatch …

BOSTON – Top advisers to President John F. Kennedy (search) warned him in 1963 that if he pledged to defend India against any attack by China, the United States would likely have to use nuclear weapons to enforce the commitment, according to a newly declassified tape recording. George Ball, undersecretary …

ROME – Italy’s Red Cross (search) treated four Iraqi insurgents with the knowledge of the Italian government last year and hid them from U.S. forces in exchange for the freedom of two kidnapped aid workers, a top Italian Red Cross official said in an interview published Thursday. Maurizio Scelli, the …

WASHINGTON – Beef banned under mad cow (search) disease rules was shipped to wholesalers in a half-dozen states and is now being recalled by a Wisconsin beef plant. The 1,856 pounds of beef included meat from a Canadian cow that inspectors in Canada determined was eligible for shipment to the …