Over the past two weeks, Japanese government officials and Tokyo Electric Power executives have repeatedly described the deadly combination of the most powerful quake in Japan's history and the massive tsunami that followed as "soteigai," or beyond expectations.When Tokyo Electric President Masataka Shimizu apologized to the people of Japan for the continuing crisis at the…

A group of U.S. Army soldiers accused of slaying unarmed Afghan civilians in cold blood did not act clandestinely as the Pentagon has implied but in plain view of their combat unit, Rolling Stone magazine reported on Monday.The magazine said a review of Army investigative files showed the civilian killings were common knowledge among the…

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) – Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost his spot on the pole for Sunday's Daytona 500 when he crashed during a practice session Wednesday.Earnhardt, who captured the pole three days ago, was forced to go to a backup car and will have to start from the back of the pack in NASCAR's most…

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2011 – HAF and HRB launch program to educate Spanish-speaking taxpayersWASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hispanic Access Foundation has announced it has partnered with H&R Block, the world's largest tax services provider, to educate Spanish-speaking taxpayers about tax issues affecting where they live, work and play. (Logo:)HAF and H&R Block…

TORONTO – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama will discuss bilateral efforts on climate change, trade and security among other things during his visit to the White House Friday, a senior official said.The official spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak about it publicly.When Obama visited…

BANGKOK – World stock markets sank Monday as investors sought less risky investments amid anti-government riots in Egypt that are damaging the economy of the Arab world's most populous country and threaten to spread instability elsewhere in region.Oil prices rose to near $90 a barrel as fears escalated that protests in the city of Suez…

WASHINGTON (AFP) – People who are genetically predisposed to produce lower amounts of a certain brain chemical that regulates appetite and stress may be at higher risk of severe depression, researchers said Monday.The findings should shed more light on how depression affects certain people more than others, and could help lead the way toward developing…

Google made waves in the Web geek community last month when it announced that it would bein its Chrome Web browser. While some supported the move, others were concerned that it . But Microsoft hasthat will give you H.264 video support even after Google pulls the plug.The , as Microsoft calls it, will work with…

DALLAS – Michael Vick took a most unusual path to The Associated Press 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award he received Saturday night.In the 12-year history of the honor, no player has returned from jail to earn it.After missing two seasons serving a federal sentence for dogfighting, then spending most of the previous…

UnitedV.I. Plumbing, a locally-owned San Francisco Bay Area plumbing company, is offering homeowners two ways to save 15% of installation of a tankless hot water heater or any other plumbing service.Nocato, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) February 05, 2011 United V.I. Plumbing of Novato, a well-respected , is offering homeowners savings on services. Through the end of June,…