Man Arrested After Putting 2-year-old in Dryer

A Texas man is accused of putting a child he was babysitting in the dryer. He says the girl threw a fit, and he wasn't in the right frame of mind. He faces a felony charge. Bond is set at $150,000.

Racism debate after mob attack

Following a fair in the town of Muegeln in eastern Germany, the Indians were chased by a mob shouting racist insults. Around 70 police were required to disperse the mob of 50 people who had besieged the Indians in a pizzeria. One of the victims says he's still afraid and accuses police of not doing enough to help following the incident.

Success formula for whiz kid

In the fierce battle for precious university places, it's brains that count and not age. That's at least the case for one 9-year-old Hong Kong maths prodigy who has just become the youngest university entrant in the territory.

Egypt's Copts retrace Jesus' desert odyssey

Hundreds of thousands of poor Coptic pilgrims and a handful of Muslims converged on the southern Egyptian village of Dronka on Wednesday where they believe the Holy Family stayed 2,000 years ago. The pilgrimage to the cave overlooking the Nile where Copts believe Jesus, Mary and Joseph once sheltered is an opportunity to express their faith and for the Copt community to come together.

Half a century of separation

A German woman hopes to be reunited with the man she married - 46 years after he was forced to return to North Korea. Renate Kleinle has been visiting Seoul in the hope that her presence at a rare summit between North and South Korea in October will lead to a reunion with the North Korean husband she has not been able to see for nearly half a century.

New Concerns About Pet Foods

The Food and Drug Administration is looking into Wal-Mart's decision to pull two Chinese-made dog treats off its shelves.

House Explodes in Ohio

One person suffered minor injuries when a townhouse exploded Wednesday in Ohio.

The Liberation of Paris, 63 years on

France will celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the liberation of Paris on Saturday. Fred Moore, now 87, will be among those invited to mark the moment when Allied Troops wrested control of the capital from the Germans. Moore's battalion secured bridges outside the city before storming the history Military School building.

German hostage in video plea

A German engineer kidnapped by Taliban guerrillas with five Afghan colleagues appears in a video. Rudolph Blechschmidt and his colleagues were abducted a month ago with a second German hostage who died from heart problems.

Fuel leak suspected in airline fire

Japanese investigators have been joined by a five-strong group of U.S. aviation experts to find out why the Boeing 737-800 exploded shortly after landing at Naha Airport in Japan on Monday.

How Smart's the Smart Car?

WSJ's Matt Vella finds a tiny vehicle parked in front of the New York Stock Exchange and solicits feedback from passersby.

Dolphins slaughtered in Brazil

Brazil's environmental agency has revealed, what it calls the illegal slaughter of dolphins off the country's northern coast. Many dolphins are sold to other fishermen even before the boats return to land -- the meat is typically used as bait for sharks. In some Brazilian towns, the dolphin's eyes and teeth are sold as lucky charms and jewelry on the marketplace.

Colbert, Branson in On-air Water Fight

Billionaire Richard Branson ended up throwing a cup of water on Stephen Colbert during an interview segment that aired Wednesday night. Colbert retaliated. Rumors about the exchange have been popular on the internet.

Rocking out in Iran

For Iran's aspiring rockers, holding a concert is a feat in itself. The culture ministry hands out the authorizations to hold them, and does not often look kindly upon alternative music like hard rock and electronica. But musicians, faithful to their rebellious image, have managed to be heard, sometimes by bucking the rules.

Are you my wife?

Disillusioned with the dating scene in London and looking for adventure, 30-year-old Canadian-born Allan Wills set up a website called "Are you my Wife". It took him on a year-long adventure around the world.

Obama on 'Daily Show,' Talks Clinton, GOP

During an appearance on the 'Daily Show with Jon Stewart' Wednesday night, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama discussed rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, and said some of the Republican candidates were 'decent.'

AP Top Stories for Thursday, August 23

Here's the latest news for Wednesday, August 22, 2007: Last attempt for trapped miners; Waters on the rise in northern Utah; More toy recalls from China; New record for Texas Rangers.

Best Boost? States Take on Energy Drinks

They promise a boost, but state attorneys general say some energy drinks mixing alcohol and caffeine target underage teenagers who buy nonalcoholic drinks.

Falling Behind in Life Expectancy

Dr. Robert Butler, CEO of the Longevity Institute, speaks with Marketwatch's Marshall Loeb about a new longevity study, and its impact not only on society but also the economy.

Dell's Weak Small Business Reach

Personal Technology columnist Walt Mossberg reviews a new line of computers called Vostro, aimed at small businesses without IT departments, which falls short, he says.

Caught on Tape: Officer Kicks Teen During Arrest

An Indianapolis police officer is charged with battery after kicking a teenager while trying to arrest the 17-year-old. The police department captured the arrest and officers explaining their actions on videotape.

Raw Video: Bolivian Lawmakers Throw Punches

A fistfight broke out Wednesday in Bolivia's Congress. Lawmakers came to blows as a long-simmering fight for control of the country's judicial branch boiled over.

Government Pushes Ignition Locks for Drunken Drivers

The government says technology that prevents a drunken driver from starting a vehicle holds the promise of greatly reducing alcohol-related deaths.

Seniors Still Enjoying Sex, Survey Finds

An unprecedented study of sex and seniors in the U.S. finds that many older people are surprisingly frisky - willing to do, and talk about, intimate acts that would make their grandchildren blush.

Could He Be the Next Sanjaya?

Check out 'American Idol' auditions in Miami, Florida. Will one of these hopefuls be crowned the winner?

Pitt Brings Eco-friendly Homes to New Orleans

Actor Brad Pitt talks about progress made on his project to bring eco-friendly homes to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina devastated his adopted city two years ago.

TV Movie Chronicles Diana's Final Days

'Diana: The Last Days of a Princess,' airing on The Learning Channel, mixes real-life interviews and dramatizations to chronicle the final twelve weeks of Diana's life. August 31 will mark the tenth anniversary of Diana's death.

DNA Confirms Another James Brown Child

Another woman has reportedly proved through DNA testing that she is another child of the late James Brown.

Media Indifference Towards Rocker

Rock 'n' Roll hall of famer Steve Nieve expands into opera with his album "Welcome to the Voice", but the critics aren't paying attention. Jon Friedman calls out the critics for their apathy.

Making movies against faking movies

Students in China battle it out in a contest to make movies putting across an anti-piracy message. More than 100 young film fans from across the country submitted short one-minute entries for the competition aimed at helping to stamp out China's huge counterfeiting industry.

PGA Hopes Playoff Boots Fan Interest

The PGA Tour created a playoff system in an effort to spur fan interest late in the season. The AP's Doug Ferguson reports many fans turned away from golf to watch football in the fall.

Second Chance for Small Cars

A crop of new, small luxury cars will soon be hitting streets in the United States. WSJ.com's Matt Vella has a preview.

Blind ambition on the golf course

A blind woman made the hole-in-one on a 144 yard, par 3 hole - known for being one of the toughest on the course.

Did You Know That Buildings Are More Responsible For CO2 Emissions Than Cars?

While most people think global warming is primarily caused by traffic, the fact is buildings - from skyscrapers to the family home are responsible for more CO2 emissions than automobiles. More than twice as much.