PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia trial for five Muslim men accused of plotting an attack on Fort Dix, N.J., has been delayed based on their complaints of access to evidence.U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler heard defense lawyers complain Tuesday they haven't been given enough time in jail to review the voluminous evidence, including transcripts of about 200 hours of secretly recorded conversations, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday.The men were arrested in May and are being held ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- A survey of war correspondents working in Iraq suggests conditions are far worse than public perceptions among Americans indicate.The survey by the Project for Excellence in Journalism, a division of the Pew Research Center in Washington, says perilous conditions in Iraq affect their reporting more than any other factor.The majority of journalists surveyed said much of Iraq is unsafe, with 90 percent saying that includes half of Baghdad.U.S. journalists said they have to ... [full story]

DETROIT -- A body dressed only in underwear and missing its head, hands and feet was found in a sewer in Detroit.Investigators said the body appeared to have been stuffed through a manhole cover at least a week ago and that the person appears to have been killed elsewhere and transported to the area, The Detroit News reported."That is a good neighborhood where people have tried to take care of their property," said Police Chief ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- U.S. presidential candidates received more than $420 million in campaign contributions from dead people, a non-partisan analysis said.CQ MoneyLine collected federal campaign finance data indicating more than 160 dead people left large sums of money to political candidates and committees over the past eight years, USA Today said Wednesday.Federal law says such contributions are legal so long as the intentions of the deceased are known.Kent Cooper, a former election official, said the contributions ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union said it dislikes a U.S. Senate bill that would give immunity to communications firms for sharing private customer data.At issue is whether a new intelligence law will grant telecommunications companies immunity from prosecution retroactively to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, as well as future immunity for cooperating with federal intelligence agencies, USA Today reported.There are two versions of the bill awaiting the Senate's return next Monday. One ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's White House exodus expanded Wednesday with the resignation of National Economic Council chief Alan Hubbard.An unidentified senior administration official confirmed to ABC News that Hubbard, 60, was leaving after leading the council for three years.The Wall Street Journal said Hubbard worked on deregulation issues at the White House under President George H.W. Bush, and was an informal adviser and top fundraiser for the current president's bids for the White House ... [full story]

NEW YORK -- The only son of philanthropist and socialite Brooke Astor faced an 18-count indictment charging he exploited her frailty to better his fortunes.Anthony D. Marshall, 83, stands accused of various crimes involving Astor, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, including fraud and falsifying her signature on amendments to her will, The New York Times said Wednesday.Francis X. Morrissey Jr., a former lawyer for Astor, faces charges as well.Astor died in August at the age ... [full story]

ZAGREB, Croatia -- Police of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece have stopped an international ring that allegedly tried to smuggle 353 pounds of cocaine to Western Europe.A Croatian police spokesman told reporters in Zagreb Wednesday the cocaine was shipped from a Latin American port to Europe and en route to Bosnia and Croatia it was reportedly destined for the EU black market, where its value would reach about $9 million, Croatia's Nova TV said Wednesday.Police of ... [full story]

JERUSALEM -- Deadly rocket and airstrike exchanges were reported in the Gaza Strip Wednesday between Palestinian militants and Israeli armed forces.Hamas Radio reported an Israeli airstrike near Khan Yunis killed two Hamas naval police officers and injured 10 civilians. The Israeli military confirmed the strike and said it was in response to 11 mortar and rocket attacks on nearby Israeli towns, Haaretz reported.None of the Palestinian shells caused any injuries, but some caused structural damage, ... [full story]

BERGEN, Norway -- A Norwegian woman has discovered being 103 is not enough by itself to get her a bed in a nursing home.Thea Andersen, who is almost blind and deaf, applied for a place in a nursing home in September and was put on the waiting list, Bergens Tidende reported. While she waits, her two younger sisters and her two sons are taking care of her, with help from a nurse who visits twice ... [full story]