WASHINGTON – Cries of protest howled in Washington Wednesday as Republicans pounced on Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean’s (search) latest characterization of them while even a few Democrats distanced themselves from the remarks. Speaking at an engagement in San Francisco earlier this week, Dean took aim at the Republican …

Practice may make the brains of highly trained musicians and other skilled individuals different from the rest of us. Researchers found that hand movements of skilled violinists create different patterns of activity in the brain than those produced by nonmusicians. They say the results suggest that extensive practice may rewire …

High blood pressure pills and seizure medications may help people with uncontrollable shakes caused by essential tremor. New treatment guidelines released today show that commonly used drugs, and in some cases surgery, can provide significant relief from the symptoms caused by essential tremors. Often the condition can interfere with activities …

WASHINGTON – President Bush said Saturday that pulling out of Iraq now is not an option, rejecting calls by some lawmakers and many people asked in polls to start bringing U.S. troops (search) home. “The terrorists and insurgents are trying to get us to retreat. Their goal is to get …

KATMANDU, Nepal – Suspected rebels detonated a bomb beneath a crowded bus crossing a wooden bridge in Nepal‘s (search) rural south Monday, officials said, killing at least 38 people and wounding the other 71 passengers on board in one of the bloodiest attacks against civilians since an insurgency broke out …

CHICAGO – Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD), the No. 3 U.S. retailer formed from Kmart’s acquisition of Sears, Roebuck and Co., Tuesday reported a net loss as poor demand for spring merchandise hurt sales. The newly formed retailer, headed by hedge fund manager Edward Lampert (search), said it would keep a …

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Hurricane Katrina refugee attempted suicide aboard a flight bound for Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. The United Express flight originated in Houston, Texas, and was diverted to Nashville. A captain with the 118th Airlift Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard said the flight had eight evacuees …

SHANGHAI, China – China will no longer consider death tolls and other relevant information about natural disasters to be state secrets, an official said Monday, saying the move was aimed at boosting government transparency. “Declassification of these figures and materials is conducive to boosting our disaster prevention and relief work,” …

FORT HOOD, Texas – Army Pfc. Lynndie England’s (search) core defense in the Abu Ghraib (search) prison scandal is that she did what she was told by her soldier boyfriend, whom prosecutors have labeled the ringleader of detainee abuse. Robert Jones, now a policeman in Baltimore, and Pvt. Ivan Frederick …

Elderly people — especially those living on their own — get much less benefit from flu shots than previously thought, a new study shows. Whether this is good news or bad news depends on your point of view. The bad news for elderly people is that flu vaccination doesn’t work …