If your school's mercenaries are back in class ...

Welcome back to Bracket Racket, your one-stop shopping for all things NCAA on tournament game days. Real writers drop by for a visit. The curtain raiser, though, comes from the theater of the absurd.

Assad forces shell Hama district after clashes

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian tanks shelled a large neighborhood in the city of Hama on Thursday following clashes between Free Syrian Army rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, opposition sources said. The shelling destroyed houses and left an unknown number of casualties in the Arbaeen neighborhood in the northeast of the city, which has been at the forefront of the year-long popular revolt against Assad, they said. Opposition sources added that at least 13 people have been killed in an army bombardment on the city and its countryside in the last two days. ...

Official: Israel, US disagree on Iran timetable

Israel and the US disagree on what would be a realistic timetable for stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, Israel's defense minister said Thursday, but stopped short of threatening unilateral Israeli action.

France shootings siege: Live Report

0830 GMT: Update on the situation at 0830 GMT: A man suspected of a series of deadly shootings has been holed up for the past 24 hours in a flat in Toulouse, southern France.

Gay marriage advocates declare victory in NH

Gay rights advocates are declaring victory after New Hampshire's failed attempt at repealing its gay marriage law, saying it resounds in a region where opponents have concentrated efforts to reverse momentum.

Saints coach suspended for season over bounties

The New Orleans Saints' crush-for-cash bounty system already cost them head coach Sean Payton for all of next season and general manager Mickey Loomis for half of it, plus two second-round draft picks and a $500,000 fine.

US says 5 nations clear out weapons-grade uranium

The U.S. has helped five nations completely clear out their stocks of highly enriched uranium since President Barack Obama outlined his plans for securing all weapons-usable materials worldwide, officials say, citing it as progress in the administration's efforts to prevent nuclear weapons from getting in terrorists' hands.

French police lose contact with gunman, no sign of life

TOULOUSE, France (Reuters) - Police have lost contact with a 24-year-old gunman suspected of killing seven people in the name of al Qaeda and there has been no sign of life from his apartment in southwestern France for 10 hours, a minister said. More than a day after 300 police first surrounded the five-storey building in a suburb of the city of Toulouse, Mohamed Merah, who has confessed to killing three soldiers, three Jewish children and a rabbi, had yet to give himself up. "There was no movement during the night. ...

Marine faces boot for anti-Obama Facebook posts

A Marine sergeant who started a Facebook group that is openly critical of President Barack Obama and posted comments saying he will not follow the unlawful orders of the commander in chief is facing possible dismissal from the Corps.

Unhappy public not sure who to blame for high gas

Families canceling vacations. Fishermen watching their profits burn up along with their boats' gasoline. Drivers buying only a few gallons of gas at a time because they can't afford to fill the tank.

Tebowmania comes to Jets with plenty of drama

Tebowmania's headed to New York, and the drama has already started for Jets fans.

Mali soldiers say seize power after palace attack

BAMAKO (Reuters) - Renegade Malian soldiers went on state television on Thursday to declare they had seized power in a coup after the government's failure to quell a nomad-led rebellion in the north. The soldiers of the newly formed National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State (CNRDR) read out a brief statement after heavy weapons fire rang out around the presidential palace in the capital Bamako throughout the night. "The CNRDR ... ...

'Stand Your Ground Law' at center of Fla. shooting

Florida is among 21 states with a "Stand Your Ground Law," which gives people wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat during a fight. The self-defense law helps explain why a neighborhood watch captain has not been arrested in the shooting death of an unarmed teenager.

New York sure to test Tebow, on and off the field

Chaotic, arrogant, sometimes even crass.