NEW YORK – As investigations proliferate into the United Nations Oil-for-Food scandal, one of the more intriguing mysteries involves a former French diplomat with a direct link to the U.N.’s executive suite: Jean-Bernard Merimee (search). The 68-year-old Merimee, one of several individuals now under investigation in France for alleged involvement …

Much has been said of how the markets have lost ground over the last couple of days. Much hasn’t been said of how resilient they’ve been the last couple of years. I mean, think about it: You name it; this market’s had to deal with it. War. Terror. Hurricane (search)s. …

Here’s the latest edition of Some Stories You Won’t Find on any other Sunday show: “F” Marks the Spot Some students at the University of Kansas (search) are in an uproar over the unauthorized release of their grades and may want the federal government to look into violation of their …

Just as you begin to pull your winter sweaters out of storage, in the fashion world, it’s time to think spring! Oscar de la Renta (search) called spring and summer 2006 a “celebration of femininity,” as designers churned out looks that were romantic, girly, flirty and sexy with modern twist. …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Ultimately the President’s Failure? New Orleans’ local newspaper, the Times-Picayune (search), says every FEMA official should be fired for their, “feeble response to Hurricane Katrina.” And the paper’s editors say the aftermath is “ultimately the president’s failure.” But the paper has had …

Want Greta’s blog delivered directly to your e-mail box? Click here to sign up! I have posted more pics from the trip we took to ride with the Navy’s Blue Angels (search). Many of the pics posted today were taken by a Navy photog, but some I took. When we …

Mario Vazquez | Jennifer Lopez | Linda Lauren | MP3 Players ‘Idol’ Dropout Not Idle I told you last week that ex-“American Idol” contestant Mario Vazquez had already recorded tracks on an album before he joined the TV show. Now the word is that the album, flamenco guitarist Cesar‘s “Worlds …

It’s a four-letter word that’s thrown around a lot during Hollywood’s awards season, especially when the coveted Oscars are just around the corner. Snub. As in, will the Academy snub Martin Scorsese (search) again this year for best director? Is Annette Bening (search) going to be snubbed for the second …

The state of Florida has released a bunch of documents relating to the murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford (search). And among the papers is a letter that accused killer John Couey apparently wrote to me, but never sent. Here’s what the letter looks like. And here’s the important part of …

“The Factor” bumped for the presidential news conference: that is the subject of this evening’s “Talking Points Memo.” We missed you last night. And it was painful to watch the pinhead White House press corps question President Bush (search). Not one query about illegal immigration or the border chaos. Not …