WASHINGTON – Al Qaeda and other terror groups are more sophisticated in their use of computers but still are unable to mount crippling Internet-based attacks against U.S. power grids, airports and other targets, the FBI’s top cyber crime official said Wednesday. Investigators keep a close watch on terror groups’ use …

MOSCOW – Russia has agreed to sell more than $1 billion worth of missiles and other defense systems to Iran, Russian news media reported Friday, a move expected to draw a heated reaction from the United States. The Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agencies cited unidentified sources in the Russian military-industrial …

AUSTIN, Texas – A state district judge told Rep. Tom DeLay‘s lawyers that he won’t schedule hearings in DeLay’s money laundering and conspiracy case until after Christmas, a blow to the lawmaker’s hopes to speedily clear his name and reclaim his position as House majority leader. In a letter to …

HOUMA, La. – Lawyers for Hurricane Katrina evacuees still staying in hotels urged a judge Friday to keep the program going beyond next month’s deadline, saying federal officials may fail to find replacement housing for people still in desperate need. The Federal Emergency Management Agency wants to end the program …

WASHINGTON – House lawmakers concerned that proposed military guidelines are restricting some Christian chaplains’ abilities to pray said Wednesday they will deliver a 6-inch-thick petition to President Bush this week asking him to intervene. The Pentagon is finalizing guidelines to help determine what is appropriate religious expression, following an internal …

NEW YORK – Investors will sort through data on housing, durable goods and inflation plus earnings from companies like FedEx Corp. (FDX) and Morgan Stanley (MWD) next week, but none are expected to pack enough punch to undo the year’s gains and derail Dow’s push toward 11,000. And as usual, …

KABUL, Afghanistan – President Hamid Karzai has made his appointments to the upper house of Afghanistan’s parliament, set to convene this month for the first time in over 30 years, officials said Friday. Karzai also welcomed NATO’s decision to send 6,000 extra troops into the volatile south of Afghanistan, saying …

CHICAGO – Big retailers got bigger, big food companies tried to get smaller and big tobacco had some big wins in 2005. For 2006, investors will be watching as retailers integrate the deals, packaged food companies sell more assets and the biggest tobacco company, Altria Group Inc. (MO), considers whether …

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawaii – About 44 acres of coastline collapsed into the ocean this week, setting loose a glowing stream of lava that shot out from the newly exposed cliffside 45 feet above the water. The plume, 6 feet in diameter, sent up a tower of steam as …

PALMDALE, Calif. – A small plane that repeatedly ventured close to restricted air space at Edwards Air Force Base (search) was intercepted by two F-15 fighter jets (search) Thursday and escorted to a local airport. The FBI was interviewing the pilot and a passenger, officials said. The twin-engine Aero Commander …