Possible talks with Afghan insurgents draw closer

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — In a further step toward reconciling with insurgents, President Hamid Karzai said Saturday he will soon name the members of a council tasked with pursuing peace talks with rebels willing to break with al-Qaeda and recognize the government in Kabul. Karzai’s announcement was given added poignancy by comments from the outgoing deputy commander of NATO forces in the country that commanders promised too much when they predicted quick success taking the key Taliban-held town of Marjah last winter. While British Lt. Gen. Nick Parker now sees signs of a turnaround in the turbulent area, he said the military will be more restrained in forecasting success in the future. The …

WWE hopes for ‘Legendary’ entrance into indie film market

NEW ORLEANS — When it comes to low-key independent movies, professional wrestlers are hardly the first names on anyone’s go-to casting list. But World Wrestling Entertainment wants to change that. WWE Films is producing nine low-budget PG movies starring such indie stalwarts as Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover, Parker Posey and Ed Harris, and some of the most popular wrestling superstars on their roster. The wrestlers do not stomp or smack down. They act — in small, medium and large roles. Legendary , the first of these movies, opens Friday and WWE officials hope the 16 million weekly U.S. viewers of their various TV shows will head to …

Powerful 7.1 quake hits New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake damaged buildings, cut power and knocked fleeing residents off their feet on New Zealand’s South Island early Saturday, but there were so far no deaths and only two injuries reported. Panicked residents in their pajamas ran into the streets of the southern city of Christchurch after the pre-dawn quake, residents said. There were reports of some people trapped in damaged buildings — though none appeared to be crushed by rubble — and a few looters broke into some of the damaged shops in the city of 400,000, authorities said. A state of emergency was declared and army troops were on standby to assist after the quake, which hit 19 miles west of …

10 great ziplines across the USA

As leaves begin to change color, it’s the perfect time to glide through treetops on a zipline. Part thrill ride, part eco-adventure, ziplines have taken off in the past decade, says Michael R. Smith , creator of ZiplineNirvana.com, a social media website for zipline lovers. Tours generally run from $80 to $180 for a three-hour experience. Smith says a good tour provides a sense of place, exploration and entertainment. He shares some of his favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY. Hocking Hills Canopy Tours Rockbridge, Ohio This course about an hour southeast of Columbus is one of the busiest in the country, attracting…

Labor Secretary: ‘There are jobs out there’

As the nation’s Secretary of Labor, I have a unique opportunity to meet many of the men and women who truly make America run. I am, of course, referring to our workers. In small towns and large cities alike, I’ve heard the concerns of many of these remarkable people — the electrician who was laid off when the housing market collapsed; the seamstress who is making half as much as she used to although she now works twice as hard; the recent college graduate who can’t find a job and is running up against student loan payments; …

Ariz. immigration law’s legal costs could top $1 million

PHOENIX — Defending the state against lawsuits related to its tough new immigration law has cost more than $440,000 to date, and outstanding bills could easily add up to an excess of $1 million or more. The bills so far cover work and charges incurred only through the end of June, which doesn’t include any costs related to a U.S. Department of Justice suit filed in July. “The fees incurred have been, and will continue to be, sizeable as the governor’s counsel responds to the massive number of filings in these lawsuits and prepares her filings before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,” Paul…

Fewer illegal immigrants entering USA

The number of immigrants coming to the USA illegally since 2007 has plummeted — the first significant decline in two decades, according to a Pew Hispanic Center report out Thursday. The total number of illegal immigrants in the country is down from a peak of 12 million in 2007 to 11.1 million in 2009, the report says. The annual inflow of about 300,000 illegal immigrants from 2007 to 2009 was almost two-thirds smaller than it had been from 2000 to 2005, when it reached an average 850,000 a year. “These are very sizable drops,” says Jeffrey Passel, senior demographer at the non-partisan Pew Hispanic Center. “Over the last four years, they’ve …

Alaska Republican’s win encourages outsiders

WASHINGTON — The upset victory by conservative Republican Joe Miller in Alaska, who beat Sen. Lisa Murkowski in a primary election, provides renewed momentum to insurgent candidates across the country. Miller, a Yale-educated lawyer and Persian Gulf War veteran, became the seventh candidate to knock off a more seasoned incumbent in this year’s tumultuous primaries, underscoring the anti-Washington sentiment that has defined the 2010 election season. Groups such as the Tea Party Express are shifting focus to the seven states holding primaries Sept. 14, including Delaware, where conservative Christine…

Could investors fleeing stocks become a lost generation?

NEW YORK — There are no visible picket signs on Wall Street. The U.S. stock market— the world’s biggest when measured by the market value of the companies that trade here — still opens for business every trading day. And the 6 o’clock news still lets everyone know if the Dow finishes the day up or down. Yet, increasingly, investors on Main Street are not playing the stock market game with confidence like they used to, mainly because the game of making money has gotten tougher and more volatile …

Number of illegal immigrants in USA down

The number of immigrants coming to the USA illegally every year has plummeted — the first significant decline in two decades, according to a Pew Hispanic Center report out today. The total number of illegal immigrants in the country is down from a peak of 12 million in 2007 to 11.1 million in 2009, the report says. The annual inflow of about 300,000 illegal immigrants from 2007 to 2009 was almost two-thirds smaller than it had been from 2000 to 2005, when it reached an average 850,000 a …

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