Hail, rain pound metro Minneapolis

I'm in Minneapolis and yesterday's downpour was pretty intense.  Lots of us were worried about flying out but things generally cleared up by the evening."The metro area endured its second hailstorm in five days Thursday, this one peppered with lightning strikes and heavy...

Cherie Blair strikes £1m deal for autobiography

"Cherie Blair has struck a deal to publish a "warts and all" autobiography in a deal reported to be worth £1m. Her memoirs will be published in October next year and will be awaited nervously by Gordon Brown and his allies. Although Tony Blair is now said to be on good terms...

Nigerians Vote, Nervously Await Results

"A European Union observer team said it was very concerned by the late start of voting and missing ballot papers for legislative elections in many areas, and missing serial numbers on many of the ballot papers that did turn up."

Mind over matter

Come New Year, thousands of people try to quit smoking. Some fail, some succeed. Having tried giving up with will power, nicotine gum and reading lots of books, feature writer Amy Thurston gives it one last shot with hypnotherapy. CONCERNED I might leave the room clucking...