DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – On his last visit to Iran, Canadian-based blogger Hossein Derakhshan was detained and interrogated, then forced to sign a letter of apology for his blog writings before being allowed to leave the country. Compared to others, Derakhshan is lucky. Dozens of Iranian bloggers have faced …

NEW YORK – Oil prices fell nearly 4 percent on Monday as dealers shifted their focus from shaky geopolitics to brimming U.S. stockpiles and took profits from last week’s sharp gains. U.S. light, sweet crude for April delivery settled down $2.35 to $60.42 a barrel on the New York Mercantile …

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The body of the only American among four Christian peace activists kidnapped late last year was found in west Baghdad with gunshots to his head and chest, Iraqi police said Saturday. Tom Fox, 54, from Clear Brook, Va., was the fifth American hostage killed in Iraq. There …

June 6, 2004. That was the last time anyone saw an original episode of “The Sopranos.” The HBO series returns Sunday for its sixth and final season, and promises to go out with a bang. Why the nearly two-year hiatus? An HBO spokesperson says it was a “collaborative decision” — …

TORONTO – Actress Pamela Anderson has added her name to the growing list of celebrities speaking out against Canada’s annual seal hunt, which just got under way. The former “Baywatch” star asked for a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss the issue, following her hosting duties at Sunday’s …

WASHINGTON – New York Gov. George Pataki on Monday called for tax credits for fuel-efficient cars and development of alternative fuels as he offered a national energy plan — and revved up his own presidential ambitions for 2008. The three-term Republican governor, bemoaning the high price of gasoline and its …

Google has been toying with the idea of implementing free municipal Wi-Fi. I’ve always believed that it began as a whim, but became a subtle threat aimed at the major carriers who are saber-rattling over tiered service, threatening to charge Google (GOOG) more for its supposed free ride on their …

NEW ORLEANS – A grand jury investigation into deaths at a hospital during the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will not begin for at least a month. Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan said Thursday it would take that long for the coroner’s office to present its findings, including autopsy …

BEIRUT, Lebanon – The Israeli army began handing over positions to the U.N. early Thursday, stepping up its withdrawal from southern Lebanon after the Lebanese government agreed to deploy troops near Israel’s border for the first time in nearly 40 years. The Lebanese Cabinet decision fell short of agreement on …

BEIJING – A reporter accused of spying for Taiwan was put on trial in China’s capital Tuesday, Hong Kong television and a human rights activist said in reporting the latest in a string of espionage cases against people with overseas ties. Ching Cheong, a correspondent for Singapore’s main English language …