AP - Home prices tumbled by the steepest rate ever in May, according to a closely watched housing index released Tuesday, as the housing slump deepened nationwide.

AP - U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a new operation Tuesday aimed at clearing al-Qaida in Iraq from the volatile Diyala province, considered the last major insurgent safe haven near the capital.

AP - Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator and a figure in Alaska politics since before statehood, was indicted Tuesday on seven counts of failing to disclose thousands of dollars in services he received from a company that helped renovate his home.

AFP - China is using the Beijing Olympics as a pretext to pursue -- and in some cases tighten -- a crackdown on human rights, notably ridding the capital of "undesirables," Amnesty International charged Monday.

AFP - Negotiations in South Africa aimed at ending the political crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe are deadlocked, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's spokesman told AFP on Tuesday.

Reuters - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who has suffered from skin cancer in the past, said his doctor removed a spot from his face during a routine checkup in Phoenix on Monday.

Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co said on Monday it will take a $5.7 billion third-quarter write-down as it unloads huge amounts of risky debt, and will raise $8.5 billion by selling new stock.

Reuters - One man was killed and hundreds of people were stranded in the New Mexico mountain town of Ruidoso by flash floods triggered by the remnants of Hurricane Dolly.

Reuters - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet this week to work toward the long-shot U.S. goal of achieving a comprehensive peace deal this year that even Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says is out of reach.

Reuters - Talks to rescue a world trade deal will continue on Tuesday with players trying to avert a collapse over measures intended to help poor countries protect their farmers against import surges, ministers said.

Reuters - If Barack Obama wins November's election and becomes the first black president in U.S. history, will an older generation of civil rights leaders go out of business?

Reuters - Prosecutors in the trial of Osama bin Laden's driver unveiled a graphic video on Monday of the September 11 attacks and other al Qaeda operations that is likely to play a repeated role in pending war crimes cases.

AP - Casey Kotchman and Torii Hunter homered in a six-run sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels improved baseball's best record with a 7-5 win over Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.

AP - Amy Winehouse was hospitalized Monday night for a reaction to medication but was expected to be released by morning, representatives for the Grammy-winning singer said.