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WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (search), the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, submitted a letter of retirement to President Bush on Friday, setting the stage for a contentious battle over her replacement. O’Connor — who often provided the deciding, or swing, vote in …

DUBLIN, Ireland – A former stylist for Irish rock band U2 (search) must return to lead singer Bono a range of clothes, including a cowboy hat and earrings, and nearly 200 backstage photographs, a judge ruled Tuesday. Dublin Circuit Court Justice Matthew Deery said he didn’t accept Lola Cashman’s (search) …

The FDA has given a thumbs-down on a bid to label green tea as a cancer fighter. Current scientific evidence from human studies doesn’t support the claim, says the FDA’s Michael Landa. Landa is the deputy director for regulations at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. He wrote …

ATLANTA – Appliance maker Maytag Corp. (MYG), the focus of a blossoming takeover battle, reported lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday as sales gains were offset by higher steel and energy-related costs. The company, which has agreed to be acquired by a private equity group but has a higher offer from …

FOLSOM, Calif. – Randel Davis fidgeted in his prison blues, savoring one of his final hand-rolled cigarettes for some time before a ban on tobacco in California (search) prisons kicked in Friday. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” said Davis, 44, who is serving the last six months …

WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans will push for a vote this week on permanently repealing the estate tax (search) even though the GOP appears to lack enough support to get past Democrats’ objections. The tax has fallen as a result of gradually escalating exemptions and decreasing rates since President Bush’s tax …

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Yum Brands Inc. (YUM) on Wednesday reported that its second-quarter profit rose as the operator of the KFC (search) and Taco Bell (search) fast-food chains continued to see its international business propel sales. But the company lowered its third and fourth quarter guidance, while raising its full-year …

McLEAN, Va. – A mother has been charged with felony child abuse and child cruelty after she allegedly forced two of her children to take turns riding in the trunk of a car on an eight-hour drive from Alabama to Virginia. Cheryl Ann Schoonmaker, 38, forced the two girls, ages …

DALLAS – 7-Eleven Inc. (SE), the world’s largest convenience store operator, said Tuesday that its second-quarter profit jumped 22 percent as a result of higher sales and cost controls. The company earned $57.2 million, or 45 cents per share, in the three months ended June 30, up from $47 million, …

BOMBAY, India – A record 37 inches of rain shut down the financial hub of Bombay (search), snapping communication lines and forcing thousands of people to sleep in offices or walk home during the night. Troops were deployed Wednesday after the sudden monsoons stranded tens of thousands of people. There …