NATION & WORLD || CBS cancels ‘Men’ after Sheen rant

CBS cancels ‘Men’ after Sheen rant

LOS ANGELES

In the wake of an incendiary radio interview with “Two and a Half Men” star Charlie Sheen, CBS and Warner Bros. Television said they are ending production on TV’s top-rated sitcom for the season.

Production had been suspended in January to allow Sheen to seek rehabilitation. Earlier Thursday, Warner and Sheen’s publicist, Stan Rosenfield, said the series would resume taping next week with Sheen.

That was before the 45-year-old actor’s rambling, often vitriolic radio interview with host Alex Jones in which Sheen blasted “Two and a Half Men” producer Chuck Lorre and other targets including Alcoholics Anonymous.

General to probe mind-tricks report

WASHINGTON

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan is calling for an investigation into charges that an army unit trained in psychological operations was improperly ordered to manipulate American senators to get more money and troops for the war.

A senator reportedly targeted said Thursday that he’s confident there will be a review of the facts but played down the idea that he was manipulated.

The staff of Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, head of the effort to train Afghan security forces, ordered the information-operations unit to compile profiles, voting records and other information on visiting lawmakers to leverage in a campaign to get more assistance, said a story Thursday on Rolling Stone’s website. It says the campaign also improperly targeted the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, and others.

Tobacco firms fight US over statements

WASHINGTON

The Justice Department wants the largest cigarette manufacturers to admit that they lied to the public about the dangers of smoking, forcing the industry to set up and pay for an advertising campaign of self-criticism for past behavior.

As part of a 12-year-old lawsuit against the tobacco industry, the government on Wednesday released 14 “corrective statements“ that it says the companies should be required to make.

One “corrective” statement says: “A federal court is requiring tobacco companies to tell the truth about cigarette smoking. Here’s the truth: ... Smoking kills 1,200 Americans. Every day.”

In a court proceeding Thursday, lawyers for the tobacco companies made clear their intent to challenge the Justice Department statements by seeking more information from the government about how it chose those particular statements.

Judge: Assange can be extradited

LONDON

Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden in a sex-crimes inquiry, a British judge ruled Thursday, rejecting claims by the WikiLeaks founder that he would not face a fair trial there. Assange’s lawyer said he would appeal.

Judge Howard Riddle rejected claims from the Wikileaks founder that he would not face a fair trial, saying that the allegations of rape and sexual molestation by two women against Assange meet the definition of extraditable offenses and that the Swedish warrant had been properly issued and was valid.

3 children die in Texas day-care fire

HOUSTON

A kitchen fire filled a home day-care center with smoke Thursday, killing three children and injuring four others.

All seven children in Jackie’s Child Care were taken to hospitals, said Lt. Rick Flanagan, Houston Fire Department’s executive assistant chief. They ranged in age from 18 months to 3 years old, officials said.

Associated Press