FARGO, N.D. - Democrat Barack Obama struggled Thursday to explain how his upcoming trip to Iraq might refine, but not basically alter, his promise to quickly remove U.S. combat troops from the war.

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• Colombia rescue hinged on rebel disarray, payback AP - 53 minutes ago
• McCain: Staff shake-up part of 'natural evolution' AP - 45 minutes ago
• Report: Passport snooping likely rampant AP - 1 hour, 39 minutes ago
• Pentagon extends tour of Marines in Afghanistan AP - 1 hour, 40 minutes ago

BIG SUR, Calif. - An explosive wildfire ravaged the hillsides above this scenic coastal community Thursday, leaving the popular tourist region mostly deserted ahead of the holiday weekend.

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• Military: Freed American hostages in good shape AP - 2 hours, 28 minutes ago
• Prosecutors: Deception ran deep in Vt. kidnapping AP - 17 minutes ago
• 3 burned by steam in Louisiana refinery accident AP - 44 minutes ago
• Texas man freed by DNA after 15 years in prison AP - 1 hour, 26 minutes ago

BOGOTA, Colombia - The plan was nothing if not audacious: A turncoat persuades rebels to bring together their most prized hostages and march them 90 miles through Colombia's wilderness. A month later, disguised commandos primed with acting lessons land in a helicopter and trick the rebels into handing them over.

• Slideshow: Betancourt, hostages rescued from FARC
• Video: Freed Hostages' Tears and Thanks ABC News

• Colombian hostages say life grew more dire AP - 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
• Iraqi PM to parade progress on trip AP - 2 hours, 49 minutes ago
• After attack, Israeli Jews fear for security AP - Thu Jul 3, 2:50 PM ET
• 200 fearful Mugabe foes seek refuge at US Embassy AP - Thu Jul 3, 3:29 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The nation lost jobs for a sixth month in a row in June, a storm of pink slips drenching this year's July Fourth holiday for more than 60,000 Americans and leaving thousands more worried about the future.

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• Service sector contracts as orders fall AP - Thu Jul 3, 2:30 PM ET
• Stocks end mixed following jobs, services data AP - 2 hours, 32 minutes ago
• NY judge orders prison for former Refco CEO AP - 2 hours, 49 minutes ago
• Oil heads past $145 for 1st time; pump cost up too AP - 2 hours, 9 minutes ago

WIMBLEDON, England - A spot in her seventh Wimbledon final already secured, Venus Williams headed back to Centre Court to catch the end of the next match.

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• Video: From archives: Venus and Serena, always competitive 60 Minutes

• Just how close 'friends' are Madonna and A-Rod? AP - 49 minutes ago
• Bush will attend opening ceremonies of Olympics AP - 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
• Selig: Drug program threatened by prosecutors AP - 2 hours, 37 minutes ago
• Jackson helps D'Backs rally to top Brewers 6-5 AP - 1 hour, 6 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Scientists have new evidence that the brain chemical best known for regulating mood also plays a role in the mystifying killer of seemingly healthy babies — sudden infant death syndrome.

• Some psych patients wait days in hospital ERs AP - 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
• Scientists: Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects AP - 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
• Filipina with upside-down feet walks for 1st time AP - 2 hours, 48 minutes ago
• First floods, now pesky mosquitoes for Midwest AP - Wed Jul 2, 5:52 PM ET

NEW YORK - A-Rod and the Material Girl? That's a lot of hits.

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• Larry Harmon, longtime Bozo the Clown, dead at 83 AP - 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
• Brinkley: Husband's affair 'shattered' my life AP - 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
• Locals indifferent to Brangelina AP - Thu Jul 3, 3:57 PM ET
• Paisley says working with Griffith a highlight AP - 2 hours, 7 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Dismissing privacy concerns, a federal judge overseeing a $1 billion copyright-infringement lawsuit against YouTube has ordered the popular online video-sharing service to disclose who watches which video clips and when.

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• Internet addressing agency loses its own addresses AP - 2 hours, 58 minutes ago
• Police wnt u to fight crime w/txt msgs AP - Wed Jul 2, 2:35 PM ET
• Study says many dial-up users don't want broadband AP - Thu Jul 3, 1:34 AM ET
• Daily Debrief: Celebrating America's independence, questioning our own online CNET - Thu Jul 3, 4:44 PM ET