TIJUANA, Mexico - Modern new car dealerships have materialized here in a city where most buyers once shopped for used cars at tiny dirt lots bedecked with brightly colored, flapping plastic flags. "The market used to be used cars from the United States," said Roberto Gonzalez, manager of a Volkswagen dealership on Boulevard Sanchez Taboada. "In the last three years, it has become new cars." A few years ago, Gonzalez was one of the first ... [full story]

VAN, Turkey - Armenian officials came to Turkey for a ceremony marking the renovation of an 11-century-old church. Turkey and Armenia do not have diplomatic relations. But the reopening of the church as a museum is perceived as a fence-mending gesture by the Turkish government, the BBC reports. Patriarch Mesrob II, who heads the Armenian Orthodox Church in Turkey, said the government could improve relations by allowing religious services to be held in the church at ... [full story]

Sales representatives, teachers and mechanics are among the nation's most sought-after workers, according to survey findings released by Manpower Inc. The employment services company also found that 41 percent of U.S. employers are having difficulty filling positions because of a lack of available talent. The 10 hardest-to-fill jobs, as reported by U.S. employers, are: 1.      Sales representative (1)* 2.      Teacher 3.      Mechanic 4.      Technician (4)* 5.      Management/executive (10)* 6.      Truck driver (7)* 7.      Driver/delivery (7)* ... [full story]

JERUSALEM - The head of the Israeli missile defense agency says the country has the capability to destroy any missile in the Middle East. Arieh Herzog, in an interview with the Jerusalem Post, said Israel's Arrow has the capacity to intercept all the "currently operational" missiles in Iran. He said Iran and Syria are spending record amounts of money on long-range ballistic missile capabilities and have all but given up building modern air forces. "The Iranians ... [full story]

TIJUANA, Mexico - Airline passengers at Tijuana International Airport Wednesday were finding alternative ways to get to their destinations in Mexico after the government suspended operations Monday of Lineas Areas Azteca. "Other airlines are trying to help the passengers, but the airlines can't help unless they have a traditional paper ticket," said Diana Gonzalez, a representative of the Viajes Ancla travel agency in the airport. Three airlines - Avolar, Aviacsa and Alma - are offering ... [full story]

An estimated 39,300 farms is lowest mark in nine years After holding steady at an estimated 40,000 farms each year since 1999, the number of farms in Oregon dropped to 39,300 in 2006, according to new figures released this month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). While not a huge decrease, the latest statistic breaks a trend going back 16 years of either an increasing number or the same number ... [full story]

A striking off-road course made of 1,000 tons of dirt and 20 tons of gravel plus the presence of Toyota trucks invite no less than action pact driving adventure. Toyota will also make the test drive free of charge and get lots of excited enthusiasts.   Toyota FJ CruiserThe Toyota Motor Corp. is glad to announce that its Trucks Off Road On Site Adventure is back by popular demand. The adventure brought by Toyota will be ... [full story]

BEVERLY HILLS - Mark Wahlberg, the real-life ex-thug who plays a macho former Marine sniper in the new actioner "Shooter," started off this recent Sunday at home in a far more delicate role. "I changed a big poopie diaper this morning," gloats the father of two. In a sec, he proudly divulges diaper-changing details, blow-by-blow. "My son had woken up, so I went down to get him and smelled that big bomb ... "   Mark ... [full story]

LAHAINA, Hawaii - "All aboard!" When visitors come to Hawaii, they expect to sunbathe, swim with the dolphins, scuba dive, snorkel, body board and surf. But take a train? You betcha. My husband Carl, an avid train nut, used to half-joke that he would visit Hawaii with me if only there were a train excursion. So I found one on Maui. It's the 200-passenger LK&P - the Lahaina Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad, more fondly known ... [full story]

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - C.C. Sabathia threw a 52-pitch bullpen session Friday morning, then pronounced himself fit for Opening Day in Chicago. "It was just a normal bullpen," Sabathia said. "Especially given my history down here the last couple years, I dodged a bullet. I'm just anxious to get the season going." Sabathia, who had referred to "the Winter Haven curse" on Wednesday, missed a week with strep throat in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He ... [full story]