NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republican White House hopeful John McCain threw the campaign into turmoil on Wednesday by calling for a delay in the first presidential debate to try to forge a Wall Street rescue plan -- a surprise move promptly rejected by Democrat Barack Obama.

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Paul McCartney arrived in Israel on Wednesday for an historic concert, flashing a V-sign for peace and making a surprise West Bank visit to the delight of Palestinian fans.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation that would limit surprise interest-rate increases and fees for credit-card users, but the bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.

The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that housing construction dropped a surprise 6.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 895,000 units.

Surprise! Some Microsoft software--and use of an undocumented Windows interface--is tucked within the source code of Google Chrome.

Zimbabwe's Dynamos scored a last-gasp goal to revive their chances of reaching the African Champions League semi-finals with a surprise 2-1 away win over ASEC Abidjan in the Ivory Coast on Saturday.

Reported Merrill deal talks--just the latest surprise.

That Sendak fears that his work is inadequate, that he is racked with insecurity and anxiety, is no surprise. For more than 50 years that has been the hallmark of his art.

On Monday, The Herald had a screaming headline "President appoints ministers". This was in reference to the surprise appointment of eight provincial governors and resident ministers in the midst of talks on power sharing with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has not faced the U.S. media since her surprise pick to run for vice president 10 days ago, will begin giving interviews in a "few days," Republican presidential nominee John McCain said in remarks aired on Sunday.