Iraq invites Russian oil major back

An Iraqi Cabinet minister invited Russia's Lukoil on Wednesday to renew its bid on the lucrative West Qurna-2 oil field and urged Russian companies to seek roles rebuilding dilapidated power plants as Iraq searches for foreign investment to revive its oil industry and infrastructure.

"I hope Russia companies will take part in the bidding," Iraqi Electricity Minister Karim Wahid told a news conference in Moscow. "Lukoil is welcome to bid for the service contract at the second or third stage of the tender in March or September."

Lukoil signed a contract for West Qurna-2, one of the largest oil fields in the world, in 1997. Former Iraqi …

Colorado open to all dates in effort to rebuild: ; Once a prominent

MORGANTOWN - A lot of college football teams play a lot of gameson days other than Saturday. It's just the nature of the beast in anera when television dictates almost everything in the sport.

But not a lot of Big 12 Conference teams play the kind ofschedule Colorado is facing this season.

If Texas or Oklahoma or Nebraska play on a day other thanSaturday, it's usually a Thanksgiving weekend thing or somethingequally as special. They're in a position of being able to dictateterms in many instances.

Not so the Buffaloes, who are scratching and clawing to becomerelevant once again. And if that means playing on a Thursday or aSunday or a Friday, so be …

Astronaut Charged With Kidnap Attempt

ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida prosecutors charged an astronaut Friday with trying to kidnap a romantic rival, but they declined to file an attempted murder charge recommended by police. Lisa Nowak, 43, was formally charged almost a month after she was arrested at an Orlando airport parking lot.

Police have said the mother of three had raced 900 miles in her car from Houston to Orlando on Feb. 5 to confront a woman she viewed as a rival for a space shuttle pilot's affection. Nowak donned a wig and trench coat, then sprayed a chemical into the woman's car when she wouldn't let Nowak in, police said.

Officers found a BB-gun, a new steel mallet, knife and rubber tubing in Nowak's …

Ronaldo scores first goal since return

Ronaldo scored his first goal since returning to football more than a year after knee surgery, heading a late equalizer for Corinthians in a 1-1 draw against rival Palmeiras in the Sao Paulo state championship on Sunday.

Ronaldo, on as a substitute, headed home from a corner three minutes into injury time, beating his marker at the far post to give Corinthians a point in Presidente Prudente.

Ronaldo ran toward Corinthians' fans behind the goal and jumped onto a fence to celebrate and was mobbed by teammates and surrounded by reporters and photographers. Fans joined Ronaldo on the other side of the fence, partially bringing it down.

The match was …

BP stealing thunder from Cameron's US visit

British Prime Minister David Cameron says he wants to talk about Afghanistan, Middle East peace prospects and the global economy during his visit to Washington.

Everyone else wants to talk about BP.

Cameron's first trip to Washington as prime minister begins Tuesday. It is being overshadowed by anger in the United States over BP's spill in the Gulf of Mexico and …

NEW DVD RELEASES

THE PRESTIGE

It's an exciting prospect to reunite director Christopher Nolan (after whom I very nearly named my dog) and two of the stars of his film Batman Begins for a piece about magic. I waited very patiently for The Prestige to come out on DVD, and having seen (and thoroughly enjoyed) rival film The Illusionist recently. I was primed for a masterpiece-and, might I say, prepared to be let down.

Upon completion, I can say I wasn't disappointed, but neither was I left breathless. Nolan creates beautiful visuals as usual, but falls short of the wow factor of his prior work in Memento. Christian Bale and Michael Caine are superb and Hugh Jackman is adequate. Scarlett …

Swiss nationalist Christoph Blocher ousted in bid for re-election to Swiss Cabinet

Nationalist firebrand Christoph Blocher was ousted Wednesday from the Swiss Cabinet in parliamentary voting.

Blocher's anti-immigration policies angered the center and leftist members of the coalition government. He was defeated by last minute candidate Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.

The defeat of Blocher was the result of overnight maneuvering by the Social Democrats and centrist Christian Democrats, who persuaded the little-known Widmer-Schlumpf to …