Metro - National

US – Thursday, March 18

Report: HIV patients canceled by insurer

Previously undisclosed records reveal that insurance company Fortis had a company policy of targeting policyholders with HIV. A computer program and algorithm targeted every policyholder recently diagnosed with HIV for an automatic fraud investigation, as the company searched for any pretext to revoke their policy.

Pakistan charges U.S. 5 with terror

A Pakistani court formally charged five young Americans of plotting terrorism in the country yesterday, their lawyer said, in a case that has raised alarm over the danger posed by militants using the Internet.

Bullock gets ‘Blind Side’d by alleged affair

It seemed too crazy to be true — America’s sweetheart Sandra Bullock fell for Jesse James, a heavily tattooed former bodyguard for Slayer turned custom motorcycle maker who was once married to a porn star.

‘A fun night of music, a little shindig’ with STP

For the first time in nearly a decade, Stone Temple Pilots will be premiering material from a new album, kicking off a tour with a show tonight at the 3,000-capacity Austin Music Hall at the SXSW Music Conference in Texas. But as guitarist Dean DeLeo says, size doesn’t matter.

‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit

NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.

The key to Kyoto

Kyoto’s temples and Geisha culture are legendary, but this city is no slouch when it comes to mixing in a large slice of contemporary, too.

Congress passes job-creation bill

A package of tax breaks and highway spending cleared Congress yesterday, the first of what Democrats hope will be several efforts to bring down the 9.7 percent unemployment rate.

National

Hawaii puts ‘birthers’ on hold

HAWAII. Hawaii’s state House Judiciary Committee this week debated a measure that would allow the state to ignore people who send repeated requests for President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.

National

Masters are stage for Tiger’s return

Tiger Woods will start trying to restore a reputation battered by marital infidelities at next month’s U.S. Masters, the tournament which helped him become the world’s most marketable sportsman.

National

Go green! It’s the best way to eschew ethics

The idea that driving an electric car and buying fair-trade coffee makes you a good person is grass-fed bull crap, according to psychologists at the University of Toronto.

Photo: GETTY IMAGESPetraeus: ‘Progress in Iraq is still fragile’

WASHINGTON. Iraq’s progress remains fragile and could still be reversed, despite decreased violence, successful national elections in March and other advances, Gen. David Petraeus said yesterday.

National

Edwards’ lover talks to magazine

John Edward’s mistress, Rielle Hunter, spoke for the first time about their scandalous relationship that resulted in a love child in a lengthy interview with GQ magazine that hits newsstands today. Some excerpts:

National

Ex-AIG workers irked by payouts

Several former American International Group Inc. employees might sue the insurer after it gave them less retention bonus money than they should have received, their lawyers said yesterday.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

National

Toyota: No proof of Calif. runaway Prius

Toyota representatives convened a news conference in San Diego, near the site of the March 8 report of the “runaway” vehicle, to announce preliminary findings of its examination of the 2008 Prius driven by James Sikes.

FCC: Internet will be 25 times faster

U.S. regulators will announce a major Internet policy this week to revolutionize how Americans communicate and play, proposing a dramatic increase in broadband speeds that could let people download a high-definition film in minutes instead of hours.