BAGHDAD -- The overall U.S. death toll in Iraq rose to 4,000 after four soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing in Baghdad, a grim milestone that is likely to fuel calls for the withdrawal of American forces as the war enters its sixth year.

"Life-changing" is the term that both adults and students used when describing the Waubonsie Valley High School Mosaic Choir trip to South Africa in June. Choir director Mark Myers led a group of 14 students and 18 adults for the two-week experience.

The economy is broken, social cohesion non-existent and Wandsworth nick is safer than Wandsworth Common: welcome to New Labour's Britain, says Jeff Randall.

Far from heeding international calls for dialogue with the Dalai Lama, China has accused Tibet’s exiled god-king of colluding with Muslim terrorists to destabilise the country before the Olympic Games.

In Mexico, a spate of attacks by punks and other groups on the "emo" movement has thrown a spotlight on the rapid growth of "urban tribes" of disaffected, tech-savvy teens and young adults.