WASHINGTON – Rock star Bono had a working lunch at the White House today with… President Bush. Bono and the president had their lunch in the private dining room off the Oval Office. Bush was dressed in the classic presidential uniform of suit and red tie. He showed Bono, who …

BURBANK, Calif. – With his popularity at an all-time low, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (search) turned Monday to Republican Sen. John McCain (search) to help sell his November ballot proposals to a skeptical public. In appearances with the governor in Burbank and Oakland, the Arizona senator urged California voters to support …

CHICAGO – Not long ago, Jose Contreras, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Orlando Hernandez were all in the Yankees’ (search) rotation. Now they’re all in the World Series, ready to pitch without their pinstripes. Contreras has certainly become the dominant pitcher the Yankees paid for. He just didn’t do it …

LONDON – Britain confirmed its first case of bird flu since 1992, saying the virus that killed a parrot in quarantine is the same deadly strain that has plagued Asia and recently spread to Europe. Scientists determined the parrot, imported from South America, died of the H5N1 strain (search) that …

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan on Saturday welcomed an offer of earthquake assistance from Israel but said it would have to be channeled through the United Nations, the Red Cross (search) or donated to a relief fund. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam (search) said since Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations …

BUCHAREST, Romania – Authorities killed thousands of domestic fowl in eastern Romania (search) on Sunday seeking to prevent the spread of a deadly strain of bird flu that has decimated flocks and killed dozens of people in Asia. Officials said they were also awaiting test results from a British laboratory …

NEW YORK – U.S. factories ran at their strongest pace for over a year in September, registering large increases in new orders despite a sharp rise in the price of raw materials, according to a survey published on Monday. The Institute for Supply Management (search) said its index of national …

SRINAGAR, India – A female bomber blew herself up Thursday minutes before an army convoy was to pass on a key highway in Indian Kashmir (search), the first such attack by a woman in the region’s Islamic separatist conflict, police said. A militant group claimed five soldiers were killed in …

BOMBAY, India – A major Indian pharmaceutical company said Friday it plans to bring a generic version of the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu (search) into the market early next year, filling any potential shortages in event of a bird flu epidemic. The drug is already in short supply following fears of …

SAN FRANCISCO – Google Inc. (GOOG) and computer maker Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW) plan Tuesday to announce a “collaborative effort” in Silicon Valley. Sun issued a media advisory Monday saying that the two companies will hold a press conference hosted by Sun Chief Executive Scott McNealy (search) and Google Chief …