Iraq wraps up election with major violence

Iraq's provincial elections have wrapped up without any reports of serious violence.

Polls closed at 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. EST) on Saturday _ an hour later than planned. Millions of voters cast ballots for influential regional councils around most of Iraq.

Iraqi authorities imposed a huge security operation around the country that included traffic bans in major cities and extensive checkpoints and surveillance posts. The U.S. military also was out in force but did not take a direct role in the election security.

Results from the elections are not expected before Tuesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further …

Risen Star knocks off Forty Niner

Add Risen Star to the list of Kentucky Derby contenders.

"We are going straight to Louisville," co-owner and trainerLouie J. Roussel III said after his colt upset Derby favorite FortyNiner by a head in the $105,600 Lexington Stakes before a recordcrowd of 28,772 Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Forty Niner, the Claiborne Farm colt trained by Woody Stephens,carried high weight of 121 pounds in the field of five Derby hopefulsover 1 1/16 miles in the Grade II race.

Risen Star stayed about four lengths off the pace until thethree-sixteenths pole, when jockey Jacinto Vasquez took him to thefront on the outside with Forty Niner on the inside. Risen …

Republican lawmaker plans tough scrutiny of Obama

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Arab-American lawmaker, already President Barack Obama's chief antagonist in Congress, is in line to take over the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives if as expected Republicans win a majority in next month's elections.

As chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa will control the committee's queries into operations at the White House and its tentacles throughout the federal bureaucracy.

Liberal Democratic Sen. Al Franken predicts that Issa will use the subpoena power of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to conduct a "witch hunt in an effort to bring down the Obama administration."

Issa already is the bearer of daily anti-Obama …

Dutch PM: Europe should become global player

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has appealed for Europe to become a global leader in economic reform and countering climate change.

In a speech Thursday at The Hague's 17th Century New Church, Balkenende sketched an ambitious vision of making Europe a global player alongside the likes of the United States …

Celebrity birthdays for Sept. 6-12

Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 6-12:

Sept. 6: Comedian JoAnne Worley is 72. Country singer David Allan Coe is 70. Country singer Mel McDaniel is 67. Singer-bassist Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) is 66. Actress Swoosie Kurtz is 65. Comedian-actress Jane Curtin is 62. Country singer Buddy Miller is 57. Country drummer Joe Smyth of Sawyer Brown is 52. Actor-comedian Jeff Foxworthy is 51. Actor-comedian Michael Winslow ("Police Academy") is 51. Guitarist Pal Waaktaar of A-ha is 48. Country singer Mark Chesnutt is 46. Actress Rosie Perez is 45. Singer Macy Gray is 42. Singer CeCe Peniston is 40. Singer Darryl Anthony (Az Yet) is 40. Singer Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries) is 38. Actor Dylan Bruno ("Numb3ers") is 37. Actress Anika Noni Rose ("Dreamgirls") is 37. Actor Justin Whalin ("Lois and Clark") is 35. Singer Nina Persson (The Cardigans) is 35. Actress Naomie Harris ("Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest") is 33. Rapper Noreaga is 32. Rapper Foxy Brown is 31.

Sept. 7: Jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins is 79. Singer Alfa Anderson of Chic is 63. Singer Gloria Gaynor is 60. Singer Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders is 58. Actress Julie Kavner ("The Simpsons") is 58. Keyboardist Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is 56. Actor Corbin Bernsen is 55. Actor Michael Emerson ("Lost") is 55. Pianist Michael Feinstein is 53. Singer Margot Chapman (Starland Vocal Band) is 52. Actor W. Earl Brown ("Deadwood") is 46. Model Angie Everhart is 40. Actor Tom Everett Scott ("ER," "That Thing You Do!") is 39. Drummer Chad Sexton of 311 is 39. Actress Shannon Elizabeth ("American Pie") is 36. Actor Devon Sawa ("Slackers," "Final Destination") is 31. Actress Evan Rachel Wood ("The Upside of Anger," "Thirteen") is 22.

Sept. 8: Comedian Sid Caesar is 87. Ventriloquist Willie Tyler (with Lester) is 69. Actor Alan Feinstein is 68. Singer Sal Valentino of The Beau Brummels is 67. Actress Heather Thomas is 52. Singer Aimee Mann is 49. Bassist David Steele of Fine Young Cannibals is 49. Singer Marc Gordon of Levert is 45. Singer Neko Case is 39. Actor David Arquette is 38. Actor Henry Thomas ("E.T.") is 38. Actor Martin Freeman (BBC's "The Office," "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy") is 38. Drummer Richard Hughes of Keane is 34. Actor Larenz Tate is 34. Singer Pink is 30. Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas ("Home Improvement") is 28.

Sept. 9: Actor Cliff Robertson is 86. Actor Topol ("Fiddler on the Roof") is 74. Singer Luther Simmons (The Main Ingredient) is 67. Singer Inez Fox is 67. Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 64. Singer-keyboardist Doug Ingle (Iron Butterfly) is 63. Country singer Freddy Weller (also of Paul Revere and the Raiders) is 62. Guitarist John McFee of The Doobie Brothers is 59. Actor Tom Wopat is 58. Musician-producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 57. Actress Angela Cartwright ("The Danny Thomas Show," "Lost in Space") is 57. Actor Hugh Grant is 49. Actress Constance Marie ("George Lopez") is 44. Actor-comedian Adam Sandler is 43. Model Rachel Hunter is 40. Actor Goran Visnjic ("ER") is 37. Jazz singer Michael Buble is 34. Actress Michelle Williams ("Brokeback Mountain," "Dawson's Creek") is 29.

Sept. 10: Country singer Tommy Overstreet is 72. Actor Greg Mullavey ("Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman") is 70. Jazz vibrophonist Roy Ayers is 69. Singer Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night is 67. Singer Jose Feliciano is 64. Actor Tom Ligon ("Oz," "Another World") is 64. Actress Judy Geeson ("Mad About You") is 61. Guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith is 59. Actress Amy Irving is 56. Director Chris Columbus is 51. Actor Colin Firth is 49. Singer-guitarist David Lowery of Cracker is 49. Guitarist Stevie D. of Buckcherry is 43. Drummer Robin Goodridge of Bush is 44. Singer-guitarist Miles Zuniga of Fastball is 43. Rapper Big Daddy Kane is 41. Director Guy Ritchie is 41. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 35. Bassist Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance) is 29. Guitarist Matthew Followill of Kings of Leon is 25.

Sept. 11: Actor Earl Holliman is 81. Movie director Brian De Palma is 69. Singer Jack Ely of The Kingsmen is 66. Drummer Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead is 66. Guitarist Leo Kottke is 64. Actress Amy Madigan is 59. Guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx is 56. Songwriter Diane Warren is 53. Drummer Jon Moss of Culture Club is 52. Actress Roxann Dawson ("Star Trek: Voyager") is 51. Actor Scott Patterson ("Gilmore Girls") is 51. Actress Virginia Madsen ("Sideways," "American Dreams") is 48. Actress Kristy McNichol is 47. Musician Moby is 44. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 42. Actress Taraji P. Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") is 39. Actress Laura Wright ("Guiding Light") is 39. Guitarist Jeremy Popoff of Lit is 38. Singer Brad Fischetti of LFO is 34. Rapper Mr. Black is 32. Guitarist Jon Buckland of Coldplay is 32. Rapper Ludacris is 32. Singer Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum is 28.

Sept. 12: Actor Dickie Moore ("Our Gang" films) is 84. Actor Ian Holm ("Lord of the Rings," "Chariots of Fire") is 78. Country singer George Jones is 78. Actress Linda Gray is 69. Singer Maria Muldaur is 66. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 58. Singer-guitarist Gerry Beckley of America is 57. Drummer Neil Peart of Rush is 57. Actor Peter Scolari is 54. Actress Rachel Ward is 52. Actress Amy Yasbeck ("Wings," "Life on a Stick") is 47. Bassist Norwood Fisher of Fishbone is 44. Actor Darren E. Burrows ("Northern Exposure") is 43. Singer Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five) is 43. Guitarist Larry LaLonde of Primus is 41. Actor Paul Walker ("The Fast and the Furious") is 36. Country singer Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland is 35. Actor Benjamin McKenzie ("The O.C.") is 31. Singer Ruben Studdard is 31. Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson ("American Idol," "Dreamgirls") is 28.

Perk up party host with gift of wine

As the recipient of seemingly every wine-related gift on the planet, I can finally vent that there are good wine gifts and not so good wine gifts.

Before seeming ungrateful, I do acknowledge the reason I've received items like wine-themed socks (in the not so good category, by the way) is because the giver of said socks knows I have a strong interest in wine. That kind of well-intentioned thinking should be applauded.

But by following a few guidelines, a wine-related gift can be genuinely welcome to any recipient, wine aficionado or not. And since wine is such an easy hostess gift, keep a few on hand so you're never left scrambling through the dimly lit corner liquor store, madly searching for a decent bottle minutes before a holiday party.

Give a bottle of wine of personal significance to you to the party hostess. This may seem counterintuitive, but giving a bottle of your favorite celebratory with an explanation of why shows you were looking forward to the festivities and want to contribute to its success. Many a nervous host will be thankful.

My party picks:

Lingot Martin Cerdon de Bugey NV ($19). At Frankly Wines.com.

Alain Renardat Fache Bugey Cerdon ($21). At Binny's.

Give wine of true significance to the recipient. This is one of my favorite ways to thoughtfully recognize a person's interests. For example, if a friend has recently made efforts to be more environmentally conscious, acknowledge that with an organic wine. Likewise, give a bottle that honors the recipient's heritage, such as a bottle from a renowned black winemaker.

My organic picks:

Montinore Estate, Parsons' Ridge Pinot Noir 2006, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($30). At WineChateau.com.

Robert Sinskey, Pinot Noir 2006, Napa, California ($36). At Binny's.

My heritage picks:

M'hudi Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, Western Cape, South Africa ($17). At WineStyles.

Vision Cellars, Pinot Noir 2006, Sonoma, California ($26). At Binny's.

For a wine aficionado, give memorable wine. This option requires the most research, at minimum an in-depth conversation with a quality wine shop owner.

Give a highly lauded "vertical" of wines -- wine from consecutive years that can age for several more. A vertical allows the recipient to taste how a wine progresses. Dig up some information on the wine's peak years and indicate this to the lucky recipient so they hold onto the bottles until the perfect time.

A similarly collectible wine would be a "special" bottle that could be cellared for a significant period. One benefit of the downturn in the economy is that spots are opening up on exclusive "members only" wine lists from wineries that produce a limited number of top wines.

My "vertical" pick:

Orin Swift Cellars, The Prisoner, Napa California 2005, 2006, 2007.

My "special" picks:

Liparita, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, Oakville, Calif. ($55). At the Wine Cellar, Palatine; Tuscan Market, Arlington Heights; WineStyles, Woodridge, and Taste of Vino in Hinsdale and Western Springs.

Chateau Montelena, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, Napa Valley, Calif. ($49). At Binny's, Knightsbridge, Randolph Wine Cellars, Wine Discount Center.

Classic wine-related gifts that are truly useful are always welcome. But remember, if you wouldn't use the item because it seems hokey (socks decorated with wine glasses), there's a decent chance someone for whom wine is a hobby wouldn't as well.

My picks:

Riedel's Pink Crescendo Breast Cancer Awareness Stemless Glasses. $60 for set of 4.

At Zappos.com.

Cheese selection from iGourmet.com or TheCheeseAmbassador.com.

Not to get all Emily Post, but a word on wine etiquette: If you bring a bottle of wine to a party, mention to the hosts if you brought the bottle especially for them to enjoy privately so they don't feel obliged to open it immediately.

And do yourself a favor -- indicate why you've chosen this gift so your thoughtfulness doesn't go unnoticed.

Anu Karwa writes the SwirlSavvy blog (swirl savvy.blogspot.com). Get more wine tips there and follow her on Twitter (@Swirl Wine Savvy).

Photo: (See microfilm for photo description).

Reports: Ford Preparing to Sell Volvo

DEARBORN, Mich. - Ford Motor Co. said it continued to weigh options in response to reports that the automaker, working to return its North American operations to profitability, was preparing to sell its moneymaking Volvo luxury brand.

The Sunday Times, citing unnamed sources in London, said the decision to sell Volvo, which is part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, was made in the past two weeks, but that the timing of the sale had yet to be decided.

The New York Times, in a story posted Sunday on its Web site, said Ford would entertain offers for Volvo following a board meeting last week. The newspaper cited people whom it didn't name who it said had knowledge of the situation.

Ford spokesman Tom Hoyt said in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday that the company wasn't commenting on speculation about Volvo's future. He confirmed that Ford's board met last week but said he knew of no decision.

"We've said all along that we're viewing our options and assessing our business," Hoyt said.

When Ford last August announced it was exploring the possible sale of its Aston Martin luxury sports car brand, the automaker left open the possibility that other Premier Automotive Group brands, including Volvo, could be sold.

Auto analyst David Cole said if Ford's cash flow problems were desperate enough, selling Volvo might make some sense.

"You could get cash out of it, which is very important right now," said Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

Ford in December finalized a $23.4 billion financing package to fuel its restructuring and cover expected losses in its automotive operations. It pledged domestic plants and other automotive assets as collateral.

No bank had been appointed to handle the Volvo transaction, both newspapers said. The Sunday Times said the deal could be worth $8 billion.

Ford acquired Volvo from Sweden's Volvo AB in 1999 for $6.45 billion.

Last month, Ford said it was reviewing its position on Premier Automotive Group brands Jaguar and Land Rover, fueling speculation the company was getting closer to selling the brands.

Ford sold Aston Martin for $848 million in March, with some analysts saying the brand did not fit into Ford's long-term survival plan. That plan includes cost savings by developing multiple models worldwide on the same underpinnings.

The possible sale of Volvo comes as the company is struggling to return to profitability in the face of fierce competition from Asian automakers and developing tastes for more fuel-efficient models in its key North American market. It is slashing thousands of jobs and plans to close plants to cut costs.

Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford posted a narrower loss of $282 million for the first quarter. The Premier Automotive Group reported a record pretax profit of $402 million for the quarter, due largely to Volvo.

And Ford has been relying on Volvo, Cole said, as it tries to globalize its engineering, design and manufacturing systems.

Cole questioned why Ford would want to spin off Volvo, particularly because of how much Volvo is part of Ford's design and production operations. He noted Ford's reborn Taurus debuting for the 2008 model year is being built on a Volvo platform.

Should Ford decide to sell Volvo, it would need to ensure that the cooperation continues, Cole said.

"Volvo is really an integral part of Ford," Cole said.

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On the Net:

Ford Motor Co.: http://www.ford.com