The Washington Wizards have 13 games left on another agonizing season that has yielded a coaching change, some roster upheaval and several more reasons to have doubt in the rebuilding plan of the past two years. Read full article > >

See the article here:
Washington Wizards staring at prospect of worst record in franchise history

During each of his on-ice workouts over the past five days, Nicklas Backstrom has worked to fight off a teammate or assistant coach along the boards as he protects the puck. The glass rattles with each aggressive check, push or shove Backstrom gives and receives. Read full article > >

Excerpt from:
Nicklas Backstrom could return to Capitals on Saturday

The killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman — the case where nothing makes sense, nothing — gained greater clarity in the past couple days. The story put forth by the Sanford Police Department (SPD) and by Zimmerman “friend” Joe Oliver is starting to crumble. Read full article > >

See more here:
Jonathan Capehart: George Zimmerman’s crumbling story, part 3: the detective

The killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman — the case where nothing makes sense, nothing — gained greater clarity in the past couple days. The story put forth by the Sanford Police Department (SPD) and by Zimmerman “friend” Joe Oliver is starting to crumble. Read full article > >

See original here:
Jonathan Capehart: George Zimmerman’s crumbling story, part 3: the detective

Figures from the music industry indicate that earnings from Scotland’s music festivals have almost trebled in the past six years.

Go here to read the rest:
Music festivals show rapid growth

Over the past two decades, Rick Santorum has undergone a religious transformation that is now spurring a national conversation about faith in the public sphere.

Read the original:
The Long Run: Rick Santorum’s Journey From ‘Nominal Catholic’ to Clarion of Faith

With confetti and streamers cascading from the rafters, John Wall walked up to Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving and gave him a hug after playing the first of what should be many highly competitive games between the past two No. 1 overall picks. Read full article > >

View original post here:
Wizards vs. Cavaliers: John Wall outduels Kyrie Irving as Washington snaps six-game skid

U.S. officials say they see Iran’s hand in the increasingly brutal crackdown on opposition strongholds in Syria, including evidence of Iranian military and intelligence support for government troops accused of mass executions and other atrocities in the past week. Read full article > >

View post:
U.S. officials: Iran is stepping up lethal aid to Syria

SANAA, YEMEN — The youth activists who spearheaded the uprising that ended President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s 33-year rule are now grappling with internal divisions, as politics and competing visions weaken one of the Arab world’s most dynamic revolts of the past year. Read full article > >

Here is the original post:
Inside Yemen’s revolution, cracks appear as Saleh leaves

The number of full-time undergraduate degree courses offered at UK universities has fallen by 27% over the past six years, data shows.

See more here:
Degree courses ‘cut by a quarter’

Even as the economy turns up, the public’s view of Wall Street has continued to sour. Among the country’s most prominent corporations, big banks’ reputations have fallen the fastest over the past year, according to an annual survey by Harris Interactive that tracks consumer perceptions. Read full article > >

The rest is here:
Wall Street’s less reputable, auto giants more so

Even as the economy turns up, the public’s view of Wall Street has continued to sour. Among the country’s most prominent corporations, big banks’ reputations have fallen the fastest over the past year, according to an annual survey by Harris Interactive that tracks consumer perceptions. Read full article > >

More:
Wall Street’s less reputable, auto giants more so

KABUL — In a country where the recent past has unfolded like a war epic, officials think they have found a way to teach Afghan history without widening the fractures between long-quarreling ethnic and political groups: leave out the past four decades.  Read full article > >

Follow this link:
In Afghanistan, a new approach to teaching history: Leave out the wars

Kitakyushu has declared war on the yakuza, just as authorities say any romantic aura that may have enveloped gangsters in the past is falling away in Japanese society.

Read more:
With Risk, Japanese City Takes On Once Accepted Fact of Life: Its Gangsters

President Obama drew on the Bible and his interpretation of the Christian faith Thursday to deliver a sharp, if tacit, critique of his chief Republican rival’s economic program, speaking at a forum that in the past has been largely free of electoral politics. Read full article > >

See the original post:
At prayer breakfast and with birth-control decision, Obama riles religious conservatives