PUTUMATALAN, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lankan soldiers are killing children as young as 11 years old conscripted by the Tamil Tigers in their last stand, a military commander said. "It's very difficult to shoot a child. But it does not matter what age, you have to shoot," said Jaggath Dias, a general officer commanding the 57th Division. The Tamil militants take boys and girls from their parents and then shoot the parents if they try ... [full story]

Steve Lopez is a gifted writer, a journalist with a rare eye for the human condition, its struggles and its bliss.   RATINGS GUIDE: 4 STARS - Excellent. 3 STARS - Worthy. 2 STARS - Mixed. 1 STAR - Poor. 0 - Forget It (a dog.)  As a high-profile columnist, he captured life as he saw it in California's Silicon Valley for the San Jose Mercury News, then at The Philadelphia Inquirer, and currently at the Los ... [full story]

2009-05-02 ALL MY CHILDREN: Opal is spooked by her vision of Annie and later experiences a disturbing image of a bloodied Tad. Ryan's caught off guard when he receives a package from Alexander Cambias Sr. containing a manuscript outlining the details of the Satin Slayer murders. Alexander takes credit for all the murders except Dixie's, claiming someone else killed her. JR asks Adam point blank if he killed Dixie. Tad vows to find out who ... [full story]

2009-05-03 The Mercury retrograde in the middle of this week presents an opportunity to communicate differently, as the same old channels may not work as well as they once did. This is a chance to notice details, address specifics and take extra precautions to be heard and understood. Consider what your message is, and pare down any superfluous information that might dilute or confuse it. Keep it simple and you'll be effective. ARIES (March 21-April ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has asked Congress to approve more than $1 billion in additional funds for Pakistan's war against the Taliban. Gates wants lawmakers to appropriate $400 million this year for a new Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund and an additional $700 million for 2010, The Washington Post reported Friday. The fund would be controlled by the Pentagon's Central Command and would be targeted for counterinsurgency training and equipment such as night-vision goggles, helicopters ... [full story]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- It could take another week for Pakistani government forces to push back Taliban insurgents in the country's northwest, a military spokesman says. Major Gen. Athar Abbas says government forces secured mountain passes to the west and south of the Buner district Thursday while helicopter gunships hit Taliban positions to the north, The New York Times reports. Abbas said it would take another week to clear Buner since government forces have to proceed slowly to ... [full story]

MEXICO CITY -- Forty more people have tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu virus in Mexico, bringing confirmed cases to 300 with 12 deaths, authorities say. Schools, businesses and non-essential government offices will be closed for five days in an effort to contain the outbreak. President Felipe Calderon urged people to stay home during the Cinco de Mayo holiday, the Voice of America reported. Meanwhile, the United States announced plans to purchase an additional 13 million ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- After 103 days in office, it appears President Barack Obama will have an opportunity to fill a vacancy on the United States Supreme Court. Word has leaked that Justice David Souter, 69, intends to retire at the end of the court's term in June leading to speculation about who will fill his seat, SCOTUSblog reported Friday. The last Democratic president to appoint a Supreme Court justice was Bill Clinton in 1994. There has been a ... [full story]

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- A wind-driven wildfire burned almost 1,000 acres in Halifax, Nova Scotia, early Friday, forcing some 1,200 people from their homes, authorities said. No injuries had been reported as the Canadian Red Cross mobilized to set up shelters and communications facilities. Late Thursday, Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said eight homes had been destroyed and an untold number of others badly damaged, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. "The fire is not under control," Kelly said. "We ... [full story]

BAGHDAD -- Two Marines and a sailor were killed in Iraq Thursday, running the U.S Iraqi military death toll to 18, making April the deadliest month of 2009, CNN reported. Sixteen of those troops died in combat. In March there were nine reported fatalities, the lowest monthly count of the year. April was also the deadliest month this year for Iraqi civilians. At least 290 Iraqi civilians died that month, compared to 185 in March, an Interior ... [full story]