World's first magnetic soap could clean sticky messes

Most of us think of soap as a way to make stuff less sticky. But a new process actually ups the stickiness of soap itself — by making it magnetic.

Researchers at Bristol University in the United Kingdom have created the world's first magnetic soap, made by dissolving iron-rich salts in water. The goal is to create a soap that can be used in industrial cleaners or in environmental cleanups that can then be picked up out of the environment, not just rinsed away.

If the soap works, it could be used in situations like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. To clean up that spill, the energy company BP sprayed hundreds of thousands of gallons of dispersants at the site. These dispersants could potentially harm the environment themselves, so a surfactant (as soaps are known in the industry) that could break up oil and then be picked up itself would be a breakthrough.

Georgia man sentenced to more than 200 years in jail for setting girlfriend on fire

A Georgia man who poured gasoline over his girlfriend and set her on fire was Friday sentenced to more than 200 years in prison.

Earlier Friday a jury found Orville Brooks, 30, guilty of the attack on Tara Best in the couple's apartment a year ago, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

He was convicted on eight counts, including false imprisonment and criminal intent to commit murder, before Clayton County Judge Geronda Carter sentenced Brooks to 205 years in jail, WSB-TV reported.

Best was on life support for three months after the attack and suffered burns to more than 70 percent of her body. Forty percent were third-degree burns.

France, Ivory Coast Move to Warm Relations

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara is wrapping up a three-day visit to France to cement new defense and business ties, but most importantly to turn the page on years of bitter relations between the two countries.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has been given the red-carpet treatment during his visit here in Paris. The Champs Elysees is awash with Ivorian and French flags and French President Nicolas Sarkozy hosted him at a state dinner on Thursday night.

During a joint press conference at the Elysee Presidential palace, Sarkozy outlined the goal of a newly signed defense agreement between France and Ivory Coast.

Sarkozy said France will help Ivory Coast re-establish security, but the French army has no interest in meddling in Ivorian affairs. Under the defense agreement, French soldiers will train local forces.

Pentagon Reassures Partners in Face of Cuts

U.S. military leaders say they have begun preparations for a new, leaner military as Washington prepares to make cuts in the defense budget. Washington wants to reassure its allies, though, that it will remain engaged with them.

The branch of the military to be hardest hit is the U.S. Army, which will see the reduction of more than 70,000 ground troops and the removal of two brigades from longtime bases in Europe.

The head of the army, General Ray Odierno, spoke to reporters Friday, a day after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the cuts.

“We grew the army in order to meet our commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’m comfortable now that in fact we’re done with Iraq. Our commitments are coming down in Afghanistan that we can now do this," said Odierno. "I don’t see this as we’re bearing the burden of it. I’m saying we’re making a correction based on what we see out there as a potential threat.”

Commitment continues

Musharraf, facing arrest, postpones return to Pakistan

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has postponed his return from exile until the political situation in Pakistan and the court cases against him are resolved, a senior leader in his party said Friday.

Another party source who is close to Musharraf but did not want to be named said Musharraf will not return in the next year and is stepping out of politics.

Musharraf has lived in exile in London and Dubai since resigning in 2008. He has vowed to return to his home country and run in upcoming elections, though his party recently said he was reassessing those plans after Pakistan's upper house of parliament demanded his arrest.