MANILA (Reuters) - Two armed men took over a bus in the Philippine capital Manila on Wednesday and were holding 31 nursery school children and two teachers hostage, apparently to highlight corruption in the country.

AP - Volatile weather swept through Southern California on Tuesday, delivering downpours, hail, snow, and fierce winds that capsized boats and toppled power lines and trees. Nearly 185,000 customers lost power.

AP - FBI Director Robert Mueller struggled Tuesday to convince skeptical senators that — despite recent abuses — the FBI should retain Patriot Act authority to gather telephone, e-mail and financial records without a judge's approval.

AP - Toby, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saw his owner choking on a piece of fruit and began jumping up and down on the woman's chest. The dog's owner believes the dog was trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life.

AP - Ivory Latta snatched the rebound and immediately looked at the clock.

Reuters - Two armed men took over a bus in the Philippine capital Manila on Wednesday and were holding 31 nursery school children and two teachers hostage, apparently to highlight corruption in the country.

AFP - Gunmen holding 32 children hostage on a school bus in the Philippine capital Wednesday released a boy suffering from high fever, police said.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is expected to unveil evidence on Wednesday to show that 15 sailors and marines held for a week by Iran were captured in Iraqi waters, as tension in the Gulf causes turmoil in international oil markets.

RIYADH (Reuters) - Arab leaders will revive an Arab plan for peace with Israel when they open a summit in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, in an effort to end a conflict with Israel seen at the heart of the region's problems.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Women with cancer in one breast should get an MRI scan of the other breast to make sure the cancer is not there, too, the American Cancer Society recommended on Wednesday.

AP - A man with a history of attention-grabbing stunts took a busload of students and teachers hostage from his day-care center and drove them to City Hall Wednesday, keeping them onboard for hours and demanding better lives for the children.

AP - Off-duty Shiite policemen enraged by massive bombings in the northern town of Tal Afar went on a revenge killing spree there Wednesday, gunning down an unspecified number of Sunni residents, senior police officials said.

AP - Congressional Democrats are showing no signs of backing down on their rebuke of the Iraq war, insisting President Bush will have to accept some sort of legislative timetable in exchange for the billions of dollars needed to fund the war.

AP - Up to 1.4 million U.S. women — those with an unusually high risk of developing breast cancer — should get annual MRIs as well as mammograms, the American Cancer Society advises in new guidelines.

Reuters - Britain is expected to unveil evidence on Wednesday to show that 15 sailors and marines held for a week by Iran were captured in Iraqi waters, as tension in the Gulf causes turmoil in international oil markets.

AFP - Democrats have scored a victory in the Senate in the fight to withdraw US troops from Iraq, but the Congress majority still faces a long road ahead amid stiff opposition from President George W. Bush.

MANILA (Reuters) - A gunman who seized a bus full of children in the Philippine capital Manila agreed to surrender at 1100 GMT on Wednesday after reaching a deal, a police spokesman said.

LONDON (Reuters) - Global positioning data shows that 15 British sailors and marines were well inside Iraqi waters when they were captured by Iran last week, Britain's Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday.

RIYADH (Reuters) - Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh urged Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Riyadh on Wednesday not to compromise on the Palestinian refugees' right to return to their homes in what is now Israel.

AP - Two senior Justice Department aides who orchestrated the firings of eight U.S. attorneys could hold the key to embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' credibility with Congress as a growing number of lawmakers call for his ouster.

AP - Congressional Democrats are showing no signs of backing down on their rebuke of the Iraq war, insisting President Bush will have to accept some sort of legislative timetable in exchange for the billions of dollars needed to fund the war.

AP - Microsoft Corp. will sell a version of its Xbox 360 with a 120-gigabyte hard drive and a souped up high-definition video connection, in a bid to broaden the appeal of its popular console beyond video games.

AP - Up to 1.4 million U.S. women — those with an unusually high risk of developing breast cancer — should get annual MRIs as well as mammograms, the American Cancer Society advises in new guidelines.

AP - Forget who won this year's Oscars, Grammys and Emmys — there are millions of movie, music and TV fans out there just dying to learn which celebrity burps the loudest.

AP - Michael Phelps lowered his own world record in the 200-meter butterfly at the world swimming championships Wednesday night, his second world mark in as many nights.

Reuters - A gunman who seized a bus full of children in the Philippine capital Manila agreed to surrender at 1100 GMT on Wednesday after reaching a deal, a police spokesman said.

Reuters - Iran said it was not concerned about U.S. naval exercises in the Gulf on Wednesday as Britain increased pressure on Tehran over the capture of 15 military personnel in a crisis that has rattled global markets.

Reuters - Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh urged Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Riyadh on Wednesday not to compromise on the Palestinian refugees' right to return to their homes in what is now Israel.

AFP - Gunmen holding 31 pre-schoolers and two teachers inside a bus in the Philippines capital have agreed to free the hostages and surrender at 7:00pm (1100 GMT), police and negotiators said Wednesday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - The 15 British sailors and marines seized by Iran last week were 0.5 km inside Iranian waters at the time, Iran's embassy in London said in a statement on Wednesday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

MANILA (Reuters) - Gunmen freed 31 children and two teachers held hostage in a bus in the Philippine capital Manila for over nine hours on Wednesday and surrendered without violence.

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Insurgents with two chlorine truck bombs attacked a local government building in Falluja, western Iraq, on Wednesday and 15 Iraqi and U.S. security forces were injured, the U.S. military said.

BERLIN (Reuters) - A top U.S. general sought to ease Russian concerns about U.S. plans to deploy a missile shield in central Europe, saying it could help protect western Russia, a German newspaper reported on Wednesday.

AP - A day-care center owner armed with grenades and guns held more than 30 youngsters and teachers hostage on a bus Wednesday, then freed them after a 10-hour standoff that he used to denounce corruption and demand better lives for impoverished children.

AP - Shiite militants and police enraged by massive truck bombings in the northwestern town of Tal Afar went on a revenge spree against Sunni residents there Wednesday, killing as many as 60 people, officials said.

AP - Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday it was time to increase the pressure on Iran to free 15 Royal Navy crew members, and the British military released what it said was proof that their boats were within Iraqi territorial waters when they were seized.

AP - LG Electronics Inc. said Wednesday it has reached an agreement with Google Inc. to offer the leading online search engine's products on its mobile phones.

AP - The world's tallest man has married a woman who is more than 2 feet shorter than him, a Chinese newspaper reported Wednesday.

AP - Kobe Bryant followed up five sensational games with one of his worst performances in recent memory. Bryant, who scored at least 40 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' previous five games, including at least 50 in the first four, had only 23 Tuesday night in an embarrassing 88-86 loss to the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies.

Reuters - The 15 British sailors and marines seized by Iran last week were 0.5 km inside Iranian waters at the time, Iran's embassy in London said in a statement on Wednesday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Reuters - Gunmen freed 31 children and two teachers held hostage in a bus in the Philippine capital Manila for over nine hours on Wednesday and surrendered without violence.

Reuters - Insurgents with two chlorine truck bombs attacked a local government building in Falluja, western Iraq, on Wednesday and 15 Iraqi and U.S. security forces were injured, the U.S. military said.

Reuters - A top U.S. general sought to ease Russian concerns about U.S. plans to deploy a missile shield in central Europe, saying it could help protect western Russia, a German newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Reuters - San Francisco's city council voted on Tuesday to become the first U.S. city to ban plastic bags from large supermarkets to help promote recycling.

AFP - A Philippine pre-school headteacher surrendered to police on Wednesday after holding a busload of his own students hostage with a hand grenade and other weapons in what he said was an appeal to help them.

AFP - Prime Minister Tony Blair vowed Wednesday to intensify pressure on Iran over its seizure of 15 British naval personnel, saying Tehran faced "total isolation" in the increasingly tense stand-off.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain turned up the heat on Iran on Wednesday, releasing evidence it said showed 15 military personnel captured last week were operating in Iraqi waters and freezing bilateral contacts until the crisis is resolved.

MANILA (Reuters) - Gunmen freed dozens of children and three teachers held hostage for over nine hours in a bus in the Philippine capital on Wednesday and then surrendered without violence.

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah called on Wednesday for an end to the international blockade on the Palestinian people and told a summit of Arab leaders that sectarian violence was driving Iraq toward civil war.

TUSKEGEE, Alabama (Reuters) - The first black U.S. Air Force unit will finally receive national recognition this week for fighting a double war -- one against the Nazis abroad, the other against racial segregation at home.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's presidential guard eligible for U.S.-funded training and equipment will be screened in advance for militant ties, U.S. documents showed on Wednesday.

AP - Iran said a female British sailor seized with 14 other crewmembers would be released Wednesday or Thursday, softening Tehran's position by suggesting their boats' alleged entry into Iranian waters may have been a mistake.

AP - Orders to factories for big-ticket manufactured goods rose modestly in February, helped by a rebound in sales of commercial aircraft and autos.

AP - Flowing hair and a precious smile have their rewards. Especially if you're Sanjaya Malakar, who is considered one of the weakest performers on 'American Idol' but has a fan base that has helped him survive multiple rounds of viewer elimination.

Reuters - Britain turned up the heat on Iran on Wednesday, releasing evidence it said showed 15 military personnel captured last week were operating in Iraqi waters and freezing bilateral contacts until the crisis is resolved.

Reuters - Gunmen freed dozens of children and three teachers held hostage for over nine hours in a bus in the Philippine capital on Wednesday and then surrendered without violence.

Reuters - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah called on Wednesday for an end to the international blockade on the Palestinian people and told a summit of Arab leaders that sectarian violence was driving Iraq toward civil war.

Reuters - The first black U.S. Air Force unit will finally receive national recognition this week for fighting a double war -- one against the Nazis abroad, the other against racial segregation at home.

Reuters - Members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's presidential guard eligible for U.S.-funded training and equipment will be screened in advance for militant ties, U.S. documents showed on Wednesday.

AFP - Iran said on Wednesday it will release "within a day or two" a British servicewoman whose detention along with 14 male colleagues has set off a major diplomatic row with London.

LONDON (Reuters) - Iran said it would free a woman among 15 British sailors held since last week after Britain presented data it said showed they were captured in Iraqi waters and turned up the heat by halting official contacts with Iran.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday uncertainties surrounding the U.S. economic outlook had increased recently, and that future interest-rate decisions by the Fed would depend on how the economy evolves.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Bush on Wednesday told Russia's Vladimir Putin he was ready to discuss his plans for an anti-missile shield in Europe and Moscow said it had received the offer 'with satisfaction'.

AP - Shiite militants and police enraged by massive truck bombings in Tal Afar went on a revenge spree against Sunni residents in the northwestern town Wednesday, killing as many as 60 people, officials said.

AP - Iran said a female British sailor seized with 14 other crew members would be released Wednesday or Thursday, softening Tehran's position by suggesting their boats' alleged entry into Iranian waters may have been a mistake.

AP - President Bush accused congressional Democrats Wednesday of meddling in Iraq war policy and setting a deadline for a U.S. pullout that would have disastrous repercussions for both countries.

AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Wednesday he doesn't believe the economy will slip into a recession and rejected the notion raised by his predecessor, Alan Greenspan, that the economic expansion, which started in late 2001, could be running out of steam.

AP - European countries and Singapore have surpassed the United States in their ability to exploit information and communication technology, according to a new survey.

AP - Former Major League baseball pitcher Ugueth Urbina was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the attempted murder of five workers on his family's ranch, the Attorney General's Office announced Wednesday.

Reuters - Iran said it would free a woman among 15 British sailors held since last week after Britain presented data it said showed they were captured in Iraqi waters and turned up the heat by halting official contacts with Iran.

Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday uncertainties surrounding the U.S. economic outlook had increased recently, and that future interest-rate decisions by the Fed would depend on how the economy evolves.

Reuters - President Bush on Wednesday told Russia's Vladimir Putin he was ready to discuss his plans for an anti-missile shield in Europe and Moscow said it had received the offer "with satisfaction."

AFP - Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested for the second time this month in a raid at the headquarters of his Movement for Democratic Change, a party spokesman said Wednesday.

LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian television showed off on Wednesday some of 15 British sailors and marines detained at sea last week, upping the ante after Britain halted official contacts with Iran.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday that housing market turmoil has clouded the outlook for the U.S. economy but that the central bank remains focused on ensuring core inflation moves lower.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Bush offered on Wednesday to give Moscow a detailed explanation of his plans for an anti-missile shield in Europe, the Kremlin said, as Washington tried to cool Russian anger over the scheme.

AP - Iranian state TV showed video Wednesday of the 15 British sailors and marines who were seized last week, including a female captive who wore a white tunic and a black head scarf and said the British boats 'had trespassed' in Iranian waters.

AP - President Bush accused congressional Democrats Wednesday of meddling in Iraq war policy and setting a deadline for a U.S. pullout that would have disastrous repercussions for both countries.

Reuters - Iranian television showed off on Wednesday some of 15 British sailors and marines detained at sea last week, upping the ante after Britain halted official contacts with Iran.

Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday that housing market turmoil has clouded the outlook for the U.S. economy but that the central bank remains focused on ensuring core inflation moves lower.

Reuters - President Bush offered on Wednesday to give Moscow a detailed explanation of his plans for an anti-missile shield in Europe, the Kremlin said, as Washington tried to cool Russian anger over the scheme.

AFP - Britain froze official contacts with Iran on Wednesday in an escalating dispute over 15 detained naval personnel, as Tehran said it would soon release the only woman among the captives.

AFP - US President George W. Bush warned lawmakers Wednesday that he would veto any timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq, a move he said would have "disastrous" consequences.

GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - Australian David Hicks could cash in on his notoriety in his homeland as the only prisoner convicted in the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals, a unique status he is expected to hold for the near future.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Testimony by the two top U.S. economic officials on Wednesday raised fresh concerns in financial markets about the deteriorating housing market, despite their view that subprime mortgage problems are 'contained.'

AP - Iranian state TV showed video Wednesday of 15 British sailors and marines who were seized last week, including a female captive in a white tunic and a black head scarf who said the British boats had 'trespassed' in Iranian waters.

AP - A young girl waved a Barbie doll in the air while a boy licked an ice cream cone. Another girl casually finished a bottle of water while chatting with a classmate.

AP - The red line lapped at Michael Phelps' feet, as if pushing him to another world record. A superimposed TV gizmo that demonstrates just how close swimmers are to record pace, the red line was actually moving along BEHIND Phelps as he approached the wall. He wasn't chasing the mark. It was chasing him.

Reuters - Australian David Hicks could cash in on his notoriety in his homeland as the only prisoner convicted in the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals, a unique status he is expected to hold for the near future.

Reuters - Testimony by the two top U.S. economic officials on Wednesday raised fresh concerns in financial markets about the deteriorating housing market, despite their view that subprime mortgage problems are "contained."

AFP - Iran on Wednesday showed the first pictures of 15 detained British navy personnel after Britain froze contacts between the two in an escalating dispute over the captives.

AFP - Emboldened by a stunning victory in the Senate affirming a timeline for leaving Iraq, Democrats pressed forward Wednesday with their bid to bring most US troops home within the next 12 months.

LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian television on Wednesday displayed some of 15 British sailors and marines detained at sea last week, and included the only woman crew member saying they had 'trespassed' into Iranian waters.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Congress, flexing their muscles after only three months in power, predicted on Wednesday President George W. Bush will have to accept new limits on the war if he wants the money to wage it.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In an unusual step, President George W. Bush cited a pair of Iraqi bloggers on Wednesday to try to bolster his case that his troop buildup in Iraq is making progress.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Plans by environment crusader Al Gore for a climate change rock concert at the U.S. Capitol are running into some Republican opposition.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Bush offered on Wednesday to give Moscow a detailed explanation of his plans for an anti-missile shield in Europe, the Kremlin said, as Washington tried to cool Russian anger over the scheme.

AP - Shiite militants and police enraged by deadly truck bombings went on a shooting rampage against Sunnis in a northwestern Iraqi city Wednesday, killing as many as 70 men execution-style and prompting fears that sectarian violence was spreading outside the capital.

AP - President Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress lurched toward a veto showdown over Iraq on Wednesday, the commander in chief demanding a replenishment of war funding with no strings and Speaker Nancy Pelosi counseling him, 'Calm down with the threats.'

AP - Eight federal prosecutors were fired last year because they did not sufficiently support President Bush's priorities, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' former chief of staff says in remarks prepared for delivery Thursday to Congress.

AP - A new plan for layoffs at Circuit City is openly targeting better-paid workers, risking a public backlash by implying that its wages are as subject to discounts as its flat-screen TVs.

AP - The United States wrapped up a massive military exercise in the Persian Gulf Wednesday, putting on a show of strength for Iran even as the United Arab Emirates became the second Gulf nation to declare it would not take part in any attack on the Islamic Republic.

Reuters - Iranian television on Wednesday displayed some of 15 British sailors and marines detained at sea last week, and included the only woman crew member saying they had "trespassed" into Iranian waters.

Reuters - Democrats in the U.S. Congress, flexing their muscles after only three months in power, predicted on Wednesday President George W. Bush will have to accept new limits on the war if he wants the money to wage it.

Reuters - In an unusual step, President George W. Bush cited a pair of Iraqi bloggers on Wednesday to try to bolster his case that his troop buildup in Iraq is making progress.

Reuters - Plans by environment crusader Al Gore for a climate change rock concert at the U.S. Capitol are running into some Republican opposition.

LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian television on Wednesday displayed some of 15 British sailors and marines detained at sea last week and showed the only woman crew member saying they had 'trespassed' into Iranian waters.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The firings of eight federal prosecutors 'were properly made, but poorly explained,' U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' former chief of staff said in testimony prepared for delivery to Congress.

RIYADH (Reuters) - Arab leaders will formally relaunch a five-year-old initiative on Thursday to trade peace for land and end the Arab-Israeli conflict which is at the heart of the region's problems.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As U.S. legislators consider a bill to force China to raise the value of its currency, a China trade expert and former International Monetary Fund economist warned that being confrontational would cause more harm than good.

AP - Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that Britain must admit that its 15 sailors and marines entered Iranian waters in order to resolve a standoff over their capture by the Mideast nation.

AP - President Bush and the Democratic-controlled Congress lurched toward a veto showdown over Iraq on Wednesday, the commander in chief demanding a replenishment of war funding with no strings and Speaker Nancy Pelosi counseling him, 'Calm down with the threats.'

AP - Eight federal prosecutors were fired last year because they did not sufficiently support President Bush's priorities, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' former chief of staff says in remarks prepared for delivery to Congress on Thursday.

AP - Chicago Bears fan Scott Wiese is no Peyton Manning after all.

Reuters - Iranian television on Wednesday displayed some of 15 British sailors and marines detained at sea last week and showed the only woman crew member saying they had "trespassed" into Iranian waters.

Reuters - The firings of eight federal prosecutors "were properly made, but poorly explained," U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' former chief of staff said in testimony prepared for delivery to Congress.

Reuters - Arab leaders will formally relaunch a five-year-old initiative on Thursday to trade peace for land and end the Arab-Israeli conflict which is at the heart of the region's problems.

Reuters - As U.S. legislators consider a bill to force China to raise the value of its currency, a China trade expert and former International Monetary Fund economist warned that being confrontational would cause more harm than good.

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A Texas-sized piece of the Antarctic ice sheet is thinning, possibly due to global warming, and could cause the world's oceans to rise significantly, polar ice experts said on Wednesday.

AP - Fire broke out in a six-story office building Wednesday, killing three people and injuring at least six as those inside climbed down to safety on ladders, fire officials said.

AP - It's over for Chris Sligh. Sligh, the curly-haired jokester who once claimed he was 'bringing chubby back,' said goodbye to 'American Idol' on Wednesday, becoming the latest singer bounced in viewer voting.

AP - Chris Bosh became Toronto's career leader in double-doubles when he had 13 points and 17 rebounds in the Raptors' 96-83 victory Wednesday night that moved them ahead of the Miami Heat for third place in the Eastern Conference.

Reuters - A Texas-sized piece of the Antarctic ice sheet is thinning, possibly due to global warming, and could cause the world's oceans to rise significantly, polar ice experts said on Wednesday.

AP - Fire broke out in a six-story office building Wednesday, killing three people and injuring at least six, while many others inside climbed down to safety on ladders, fire officials said.

AP - At least 45.7 million credit and debit card numbers of TJX Cos. customers were stolen from the discount retailer's computer system over several years, according to a regulatory filing by the company Wednesday.

AP - After the first 6-0 road trip ever, the Dallas Mavericks got home to set another franchise record — even without Dirk Nowitzki. With their star out after hurting his left ankle in the first half, Jason Terry had 27 points with a couple of key late baskets and the go-ahead free throw in the Mavericks' 105-103 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night for their 60th victory.