Britain's queen celebrates the life of explorer Sir Edmund Hillary

Queen Elizabeth II joined New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark at a special service in a chapel at Windsor Castle on Wednesday to celebrate the life of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to conquer Mount Everest.

Clark said the queen "shared a history" with the explorer. The monarch learned on the day of her coronation, June 2, 1953, that Hillary had climbed the world's highest peak three days earlier.

Hillary's son Peter told the congregation in the castle's St. George's Chapel that the two events were a "wonderful coincidence" that lifted the spirits of a nation ravaged by war.

The New Zealand explorer died in January at the …

Mystery cash eases retirement Extra $302,000 puts official's pension at top of the chart Series: PENSION JACKPOT: STRIKING IT RICH ON THE TAXPAYERS' DIME

The treasurer of an obscure township agency retired last fall withone of the richest government pensions in Illinois after hereportedly was paid an extra $103,000--more than 70 percent of hisannual salary.

It was at least the fifth straight year that Lawrence Hupe, theWorth Township school treasurer, was paid at least 25 percent morethan his annual salary, government records show.

Altogether, those unexplained increases were worth an extra$300,000-plus in pay for Hupe, whose final salary before retiringlast year was $143,325. That extra pay increased his annual pensionto $153,835, eclipsing most other government pensions in the state ofIllinois. Hupe's pension is …

A terrible idea whose time should never come

One of the worst proposals to come down the pike from Washington, D.C. in recent years is one that would do away with something that is the bedrock of our modern society -- the federal minimum wage. The Bush administration is moving to allow states to place welfare recipients in jobs that pay less than $5.15 an hour.

That is an affront to the dignity of such workers who are trying to improve their station in life and provide for their families.

It also would be a reversal of federal policy and a red flag to unions, including the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which has vowed an all-out fight against the proposal.

The White House …

France's first lady sings live on BBC

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has shared the world stage with Britain's queen, the pope and the Dalai Lama.

But in London on Tuesday night, France's first lady appeared on a different kind of stage, this time with rock royalty _ the Kings of Leon and Metallica.

Introduced simply as Carla Bruni, she sang live on the British Broadcasting Corp. television program "Later Live ... With Jools Holland" and was interviewed by the pianist.

Sitting at a grand piano, Bruni-Sarkozy was asked how she managed to balance her work as a musician with her duties as France's first lady.

"I don't really mix them up. I separate them. I play my music and …

Women's World Cup Downhill Results

Results Saturday from a women's World Cup downhill on the 2.828-kilometer (1.76-mile) Corviglia course:

1. Maria Riesch, Germany, 1 minute, 41.31 seconds.

2. Ingrid Jacquemod, France, 1:42.10.

3. Fabienne Suter, Switzerland, 1:42.27.

4. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:42.28.

5. Lindsey Vonn, United States, 1:42.52.

6. Lucia Recchia, Italy, 1:42.60.

7. Marion Rolland, France, 1:42.71.

8. Aurelie Revillet, France, 1:42.76.

9. Alice McKennis, United States, 1:42.90.

10. Chelsea Marshall, United States, 1:43.05.

11. Gina Stechert, Germany, 1:43.08.

12. Stacey …

Dench trades royalty for `Bombshells'

LONDON Judi Dench is hardly one to blow her own horn, but that'sexactly what she does-the tenor sax, to be precise-in the new TVmovie "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells."

"A lot of people gave me a funny look," says the legendary Britishactress, whose illustrious career has never before required such anassignment.

Dench has spent more time of late playing big-screen queens-Victoria in "Mrs. Brown" and Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love."But "Blonde Bombshells" allowed her to forsake royalty to workalongside a friend and colleague, Ian Holm, whom Dench, now 65, hasknown for nearly 40 years.

"What attracts me is that a script should be totally different, soyou …

Panetta: Al-Qaida deaths hurt plans for attacks

ON BOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday that the deaths of several top al-Qaida leaders in Pakistan and Yemen in recent months will make it much more difficult for the terror group and its affiliates to plan and launch large-scale attacks abroad, including against the United States.

Panetta said increased cooperation with Yemen against the al-Qaida affiliate there will not diminish if President Ali Abdullah Saleh leaves power as the U.S. and others have urged.

The Pentagon chief spoke to reporters as he was heading to the Middle East, where he is scheduled to meet with top Israeli and Palestinian leaders. After that he will participate in …