Hollywood and lines SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune Comic-Con International, the 39th annual pop-culture fest, swung open its doors to the Kingdom of Geek last night. Fans with four-day passes to the sold-out event were admitted to Preview Night and wasted little time lining up for freebies. Click for larger image

What's Inside New York bans smoking at all recovery centers 50 Cent no quiere Taco Bell Non-superhero comic book movies Most e-mailed U-T stories Hurricane Dolly dumps rain on coasts of Texas, Mexico U.S. plan would use anti-terror aid on F-16s for Pakistan China sets aside three parks for protests Appeals court backs murder conviction from DNA on cup More News

Qualcomm resolved a nearly three-year, unprecedented challenge to its royalty-based business model yesterday when the world's largest phone maker, Nokia, agreed to cease hostilities and sign on the dotted line. The Finnish phone giant, which stopped making payments to Qualcomm in April 2007, agreed to pay the San Diego wireless technology company a lump sum along with licensing fees for 15 years.

WASHINGTON – The House approved far-reaching government assistance yesterday for the nation's housing market, including broad authority for the Treasury Department to protect the nation's two largest mortgage finance companies from collapse.

• Local reaction mixed on measure's effects

Do your personal genetics make it more likely that you could develop cancer or Alzheimer's disease? Or do you need a personalized nutrition plan because your genetic profile shows you are unable to absorb certain vitamins properly? A growing number of companies around the globe are offering to provide the answers to these questions and more by selling direct-to-consumer genetic tests.

PITTSBURGH – The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff yesterday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.