BAGHDAD, July 17 (UPI) -- Three U.S. soldiers were killed by insurgent mortar fire into an American base in southern Iraq, the U.S. military announced Friday.

WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss and Union Station agreed to perform a special concert for President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle in Washington, officials say.

NEW YORK, July 17 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization says it will no longer track swine flu cases and deaths around the world.

HARTFORD, Conn., July 17 (UPI) -- A lobbyist-bashing e-mail by the campaign of Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., was sent to his entire fundraising list -- including lobbyists.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., July 17 (UPI) -- The shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station Friday after performing a backflip during an inspection for possible damage, NASA said.

WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- Observers say the healthcare reform debate in Washington has both sides lamenting the absence of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who is battling brain cancer.

NEW YORK, July 17 (UPI) -- U.S. markets were flat Friday despite positive news from two large banks that have struggled throughout the financial crisis.

NEW YORK, July 17 (UPI) -- A JPMorgan Chase spokesman said the bank was keeping an eye on the fate of CIT Group, the struggling New York lender, as a possibility for expansion.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, July 16 (UPI) -- A Somali insurgent said Thursday his group agreed to share two French hostages with another group "to save the blood of Islamists."