U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. is committed to Afghanistan for the long haul.
Gates met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul Tuesday. Finding ways to strengthen and increase recruiting in the Afghan National Army was among the topics they discussed.
At a news conference with Gates, Karzai said it …
For many of the 75 guests attending the cocktail party announcingplans for the Merit Music Program's 1997 gala, it was their firstglimpse of the stunning new quarters of the Attic Club atop theLaSalle Bank building.
And it was the first notice of the individual who will receivethe group's Alice S. Pfaelzer Award, presented annually fordistinguished service to the arts.
Harrison Steans will receive his much-deserved honor at ablack-tie fund-raiser to be held at the Hotel Inter-Continental onMay 31. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, a silentauction and dancing to the music of the Dick Judson orchestra.Steans said he was "thrilled and honored to have …
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Striking civil servants occupied the Transport Ministry building in Athens early Friday, forcing international debt inspectors to reschedule a meeting where they were to discuss reforms, including new licensing laws for taxis.
Transport Minister Yannis Ragoussis's morning meeting was delayed to the evening after the debt inspectors, collectively known as the troika, arrived to find the building under occupation and protesting employees in the courtyard.
A similar meeting Thursday with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos was moved to a different government building in central Athens due to an occupation of that ministry.
"This is our answer to those …
The Netherlands has woken to a World Cup hangover following its 1-0 extra time loss to Spain in Johannesburg.
Among the headlines in Dutch newspapers Monday was "Not Again" above pictures of dejected Dutch players following the final whistle. The Netherlands also lost to hosts West Germany and Argentina in 1974 and …
WASHINGTON - An elderly woman who looks like Nancy Reagan at aMary Kay party is cooing over romance novel covers stapled onto avast display board. Wearing gold pins, pink ribbons and agrandmotherly smile, the romance fiction writer turns, looks at thereporter and says: "Young man, trash us and we'll find you. Thenwe'll kill you. OK, dear?" Another woman - who had been comparingthe covers of "The Cowboy and the Virgin" and "The Pregnant Virgin"on the display - chimes in: "Yeah - use the phrase 'bodice-ripper'and your life won't be worth a nickel."
They are among 2,000 female publishers, agents, writers and would-be writers wafting through the check-in at the 20th Annual …
Tracy Pawelski, 38
Director, Office of Communications
Department of Public Welfare
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Tracy Pawelski directs the office of communications at the state Department of Public Welfare. Inspired by the opportunity to help people who need help the most, Pawelski oversees information about adoption, children's health care, child care, welfare reform and mental illness.
Through television and radio advertisements and Web sites, Pawelski helped reach out to more adoptive families, resulting in a record number of successful adoptions.
The …
Israel will push forward with its offensive in the Gaza Strip until it "destroys completely" the ruling Hamas militant group, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations said Monday, saying that the operation will continue as long as necessary to reach that goal.
Ambassador Gabriela Shalev also played down international criticism of the offensive and ruled out a return to the terms of a recent cease-fire with Hamas that collapsed in violence over the weekend.
Israel launched the surprise offensive on Saturday after more than a week of intense Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza. More than 360 Palestinians have been killed, including at least women and …
