Beloved University of Georgia English bulldog mascot Uga VII dies, his owner says. Uga VII, the white English bulldog mascot for the University of Georgia's football team for almost two seasons, died Thursday of heart-related causes, the dog's owner said.

Head of Miss California pageant who fought with Prejean donates ad time to gay rights group. The Miss California USA pageant director who became embroiled in a war of words with former title holder Carrie Prejean has donated 30-seconds of free ad time to the state's largest gay rights group.

Influential US lawmakers on Thursday called for levying a new income tax to pay for the war in Afghanistan, warning its costs pose a mortal threat to efforts like a sweeping health care overhaul.

Mississippi toddler, 2, helps his mom give birth by getting towel, catching baby. A 2-year-old in north Mississippi has done something few toddlers can: He helped his mother give birth to his brother. Bobbye Favazza told The Commercial Appeal she went into labor this past Friday and gave birth on the family's living room couch in Olive Branch. She said her toddler, Jeremiha Taylor, got her a towel and caught the baby before firefighters arrived to cut the umbilical cord.

Closing arguments were to begin Friday in the trial of American student Amanda Knox for the 2007 murder of her British housemate in the Italian university town of Perugia.

Los Angeles man who claimed disability spotted on TV show, sentenced for tax, insurance fraud. California tax officials say an interior designer's false disability claim was uncovered when he was spotted on a home improvement television show.

The ancient hymns brought tears to the eyes of Solomon Ayeli, as well as memories of his native Ethiopia which he left two decades ago for Israel -- a country he loves but where he often feels rejected.

The ancient hymns brought tears to the eyes of Solomon Ayeli, as well as memories of his native Ethiopia which he left two decades ago for Israel -- a country he loves but where he often feels rejected.

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters Life!) - Moviergoers who tuck into a medium popcorn and a soft drink could be eating the equivalent of three McDonald's quarter-pounder burgers topped with a dozen scoops of butter, according to a U.S. study.

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Mass animal sacrifice festival to go ahead in southern Nepal despite protests. A Hindu festival in which hundreds of thousands of animals are expected to be sacrificed will go ahead as scheduled in southern Nepal despite protests, organizers said Friday.

TAIPEI (Reuters Life!) - Jade Mountain, northeast Asia's highest peak and Taiwan's sole finalist for a "New 7 Wonders of the World" award, remains an alluring mystery due to its remoteness and tough permitting rules.

ROME (Reuters) - Roman Catholics should look beyond the divisive issue of ordaining women to see how much they share with the world's Anglicans and work toward greater Christian unity, the head of the Anglican Communion said on Thursday.

ROME (Reuters) - Roman Catholics should look beyond the divisive issue of ordaining women to see how much they share with the world's Anglicans and work toward greater Christian unity, the head of the Anglican Communion said on Thursday.

Asia's airline industry is pulling out of a slump sparked by the global recession with signs passenger numbers are rising, a regional body said Friday, but there were warnings a rebound will be slow.

GM Daewoo Auto and Technology Co. said Friday it had started shipping new mini cars to Europe as the South Korean unit of US auto giant General Motors Co. seeks to expand global sales.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A masked gunman entered a church and shot dead a Russian Orthodox priest well-known for his missionary work among the young, investigators said Friday.

Top South Korean model found dead at Paris apartment; cause of death under investigation. A top South Korean model who was a fixture at fashion week in Paris and London was found dead at her apartment in Paris, an official said Friday.

Plan to use cruise ships for lodging at Vancouver Olympics is dead in the water. An Olympic housing plan in which thousands of visitors would have stayed on cruise ships has been called off because of the rough economy.