Iceland best place to live, Africa worst: UN

Redskins' Taylor dies day after shooting (AP)

AP - Pro Bowl safety Sean Taylor died Tuesday after he was shot in his home by an apparent intruder, leaving the Washington Redskins in mourning for a teammate who seemed to have reordered his life since becoming a father.

Web site ranks stupid holiday gifts (Reuters)

Reuters - From Mother Teresa breath spray to a screaming rubber chicken, manufacturers come up with stockings full of stupid gifts in time for the holidays with one Web site dedicated to finding the most idiotic.

Iceland best place to live, Africa worst: UN (Reuters)

Reuters - Iceland has overtaken Norway as the world's most desirable country to live in, according to an annual U.N. table published on Tuesday that again puts AIDS-afflicted sub-Saharan African states at the bottom.

Gene study suggests Native Americans came from Siberia (AFP)

AFP - A US genetic study bolsters claims that Native Americans are descended from one migrant group that crossed a lost land link from modern Siberia to Alaska -- not waves of arrivals from Asia, as rival theories say.

Mich. teen breaks up with Mideast man (AP)

AP - A teenager who flew secretly to the Middle East last year to be with a man she met on MySpace has gone on television to end the relationship.

Iran says it's produced new missile (AP)

AP - Iran said Tuesday it has manufactured a new missile with a range of 1,200 miles capable of reaching Israel and U.S. bases in the Mideast, the official news agency IRNA reported.

Israel, Palestinians OK negotiating plan (AP)

AP - Israeli and Palestinian leaders opened the U.S.-arranged Mideast peace conference Tuesday by agreeing to immediately resume long-stalled peace talks toward creating an independent Palestinian state by the end of next year, launching the first serious and substantive negotiations in seven years.

Redskins star Taylor dies from gunshot (Reuters)

Reuters - Sean Taylor, a star defensive player with the National Football League's Washington Redskins, died on Tuesday after being shot during an apparent burglary at his home near Miami, local media reported.

Vick trial date on state charges set (AP)

AP - A judge on Tuesday scheduled an April 2 trial date for jailed Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick on two state felony dogfighting charges.

New riots rock Paris suburbs (AFP)

AFP - A second night of riots by youths in a Paris suburb left more than 80 police injured, buildings gutted and France on Tuesday facing heightened tensions in towns north of the capital.

More Polyamory . . . (Dear Margo)

Dear Margo - DEAR READERS: I ran a letter from a woman in a polyamorous situation and many people felt my answer was condescending.

Mississippi hires Houston Nutt (AP)

AP - Houston Nutt wasn't out of a job for long: He was hired as Southeastern Conference rival Mississippi's football coach just hours after resigning at Arkansas.

`Dancing' finale: Mel B is in the lead (AP)

AP - Melanie Brown, Marie Osmond and Helio Castroneves mamboed, tangoed and fox trotted through 10 weeks of competition for a chance to claim the "Dancing With the Stars" crown.

Stocks higher after Citi secures capital (AP)

AP - Wall Street rebounded sharply Tuesday after the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority said it will invest $7.5 billion in Citigroup Inc. — a vote of confidence for the nation's largest bank, which has suffered severe losses amid the ongoing crisis in the mortgage market. The Dow Jones industrials rose 150 points.

Documents: Mom describes killing girl, 2 (AP)

AP - Authorities are trying to determine if the 2-year-old dubbed "Baby Grace" after her body was found in Galveston Bay was repeatedly abused by her mother and stepfather, an investigator said Tuesday.

Anthem skipped before Monday night game (AP)

AP - Sports in America start with the national anthem. The Dolphins-Steelers game was an exception.

Should the Romance Go Up in Smoke? (Dear Margo)

Dear Margo - DEAR MARGO: Normally I believe people should largely figure out their own problems, but this is about a woman I love so much I would do anything to make her happy, even write to an advice column. I'll spill the info: We've been going out for three months (but have known each other for two years). I was previously a smoker before we started dating. I told her I would quit for her -- which I did. It was easy to do because I love her.

Musharraf bids farewell to troops (AP)

AP - President Gen. Pervez Musharraf bade farewell to the military Tuesday, a day before he steps down as army chief and restores Pakistan to civilian rule in an effort to ease the country's political crisis.

Older white women join Kenya's sex tourists (Reuters)

Reuters - Bethan, 56, lives in southern England on the same street as best friend Allie, 64.

Worker: 'Toyota way' ignored at factory (AP)

AP - The California auto worker who is suing Toyota and others in a whistleblower lawsuit said Tuesday she was merely carrying out the quality-conscious "Toyota way" in spotting defects when managers cracked down on her efforts and demoted her.