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Car bomb hits near Hezbollah base in east Lebanon in apparent reprisal for role in Syria war
• BEIRUT (AP) -- A suicide car bomb went off near a Hezbollah base in eastern Lebanon early on Tuesday, officials said, the latest in a wave of deadly attacks that have targeted the Shiite militant group's interests in Lebanon.
• The Lebanese National News Agency said the bomber detonated his vehicle in the remote area of eastern Bekaa Valley near the village of Sbouba in the Baalbek region, about two kilometers (a mile) from a base belonging to the Iranian-backed group.
• The report said the explosion caused an unspecified number of casualties among Hezbollah members and civilians.
• The bombing appeared to be related to a series of reprisal attacks over Hezbollah's role in the civil war in neighboring Syria, where fighters from the group are fighting alongside President Bashar Assad's troops. The group has received threats of retaliation from the largely Sunni rebels fighting to topple him.
• Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV confirmed the blast took place near one of the group's bases, but said there were no casualties. It did not provide further information. A Lebanese security official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, confirmed the explosion but said there was no immediate word on the nature of the target or casualties.
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Dreams of riches: What makes Mega Millions players think they can defy staggering odds?
• It's the ultimate fantasy: Walk into a store, plunk down a dollar, and with nothing but luck -- really extraordinary luck -- you win a giant lottery. Suddenly, you're rich as a sultan with enough money to buy an NBA team or your own island.
• The odds of that happening, of course, are astronomical. But tell that to the optimists and dreamers across the country who lined up at gas stations, mini-marts and drug stores Monday for the last-minute buying frenzy in the Mega Millions jackpot. The $586 million prize -- the fourth-largest in U.S. history -- could grow by Tuesday night's drawing.
• So what drives people to play, and what makes them think their $1 investment-- among the many, many millions -- will bring staggering wealth?
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