UNICE, La. - Police in Louisiana said three people have been arrested after they allegedly planned to trade $175 cash and a $1,500 cockatoo for two children. Brandy Romero, 27, and Paul Romero, 46, were each charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping after they allegedly agreed to give up the money and the bird in exchange for a 4-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, the (Opelousas, La.) Daily World reported Friday. The Romeros were ... [full story]

BEIJING - The government of China has accused the United States of hypocrisy when it comes to pointing out the human rights violations of other countries. "The U.S. has turned a blind eye to its own violations on human rights," said the Information Office of the State Council in a document issued Friday, China's Xinhua news agency reported. It is the 10th consecutive year that China has issued a U.S. human rights report. As in ... [full story]

PEORIA, Ill. - The only "enemy combatant" being held without trial on U.S. soil has lost that status after being indicted on terror charges unsealed Friday in Illinois. Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri's case as an enemy combatant was scheduled to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in April, but the Obama administration said it would move to have that case dismissed. Al-Marri, a dual citizen of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, entered the United States ... [full story]

ORLANDO, Fla. - Casey Anthony's brother testified in a deposition Friday that a Florida woman wasn't Caylee Anthony's babysitter, lawyers said. Zenaida Gonzalez of Kissimmee, Fla., has sued Casey Anthony for defamation, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported. Anthony, now charged with killing her daughter, told police when she reported Caylee missing in July that she had been kidnapped by a babysitter named Zenaida Gonzalez. Lee Anthony spent about three hours answering questions but refused to ... [full story]

ORLANDO, Fla. - A manatee has been released into a Florida state park after almost 27 years at SeaWorld Orlando. The 12-foot-long marine mammal holds the record for time in captivity before release, Scott Gearhart, a SeaWorld veterinarian, told the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel. Rita, as she was named, lost a flipper in 1982 after getting tangled in fishing gear in Brevard County. "Every manatee that comes, it's our ultimate goal to have them released. We ... [full story]

After many billions in federal aid to the banks and two of Detroit's Big Three, it might be time for federal aid to residents who own the home they occupy. But hold the celebration. There are some devils in the details, and President Barack Obama is to release still more details next month. So far, Obama has tried to make the essential distinction between people who have hit an unexpected rough patch and, as he ... [full story]

To shore up a shaky structure, start with the foundation. That's one of the tenets of President Barack Obama's ambitious housing rescue plan, which aims to help 9 million homeowners. If it works, it could help many more people than that. The recession was triggered by the collapse of the housing market, and the economy likely won't revive until that market stabilizes. Obama's plan would provide $75 billion in direct payments as incentives to lenders ... [full story]

Deployment of 17,000 more U.S. combat troops to Afghanistan is "necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation," President Barack Obama said last week. If it works, it would be a first. Afghanistan is not now, and never has been, a stable country — at least not as the word is understood in most of the world. Nor will it be stabilized by the presence of 17,000 more foreign troops. The real challenge for the Obama administration, ... [full story]

"Two Lovers" is too good to be true. In a cinematic season when studios dump their leftovers from the year before, a salient picture like this one shows up with rich characters, a heartfelt story and fine performances from a trio of 30-something actors.   4 STARS - Excellent. 3 STARS - Worthy. 2 STARS - Mixed. 1 STAR - Poor. 0 - Forget It (a dog.)  Joaquin Phoenix plays Leonard, a damaged man living with his ... [full story]

Being French, "The Class" believes it has more class than it does. In fact, this pseudo-documentary doesn't have the originality of Israel's "Waltz With Bashir," the animated and horrifying memoir of that country's 1982 war with Lebanon.   4 STARS - Excellent. 3 STARS - Worthy. 2 STARS - Mixed. 1 STAR - Poor. 0 - Forget It (a dog.)  In "The Class," a middle-school teacher wars daily with his students, an undisciplined, confrontational bunch more interested ... [full story]