Cyndi Lauper went from chart-topping hit-maker to one of the gay rights movement’s most outspoken voices. But when asked about President Barack Obama’s “evolving” position on same-sex marriage – he’s against it but leaves enough wiggle room to appease apologists
By ELENA BECATOROSAssociated PressATHENS, GreeceProposals by Greece’s radical left party to withdraw from the international bailout commitments will lead to a “certain and immediate” catastrophe, Greece’s conservative leader said Wednesday. Antonis Samaras’s conservative party came first in Sunday’s election but
By BRETT ZONGKERAssociated PressWASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama is honoring the brainpower behind the unforgettable tunes “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “Close to You,” and others recorded by artists spanning Dionne Warwick, the Carpenters, Alicia Keys and the cast of “Glee.”
Mass. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren famously claimed intellectual credit for the Occupy Wall Street movement, but now she needs Hollywood One Percent types to boost her chances against incumbent Scott Brown. One percenters like Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, J.J. Abrams
(AP) Primaries reflect conservative enthusiasm for 2012By KASIE HUNTAssociated PressWASHINGTONIn a show of conservative enthusiasm, a tea-party backed Republican vanquished six-term Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar in a GOP primary and North Carolina voters decided overwhelmingly to strengthen their state’s gay
(AP) Obama staffer to testify at John Edwards trailGREENSBORO, N.C.A former campaign spokeswoman for John Edwards will testify about a 2007 argument where the presidential candidate’s wife confronted donors about support for her husband’s pregnant mistress. Jennifer Palmieri is expected
Athens raised the prospects Wednesday of renegotiating a hard-earned rescue package after an election in which voters roundly rejected austerity measures, raising fresh doubts over Greece’s eurozone membership. The head of the radical left-wing Syriza party charged with forming a
JOSEF FEDERMANAssociated PressJERUSALEMIsrael on Wednesday accused Iran of stalling in negotiations over its nuclear program with the international community, and said an upcoming round of talks can succeed only if the Iranians agree to halt all uranium enrichment. Israel is
By JIM HEINTZAssociated PressMOSCOWSpeaking to thousands of soldiers at the annual Red Square military parade, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Wednesday that the country is a force for world security and that Russia will stand up for its positions. Putin’s
By PAMELA SAMPSONAP Business WriterBANGKOKWorld stock markets fell Wednesday, with Japan’s Nikkei closing at a three-month low, as political turmoil in Greece pushed the debt-crippled country closer to financial disaster. European stock markets opened mostly lower after losses in Asia
When riot police broke up a recent protest over a forced eviction, Vietnam’s bloggers were ready — hidden in nearby trees, they documented the entire incident and quickly posted videos and photos online. Their shaky images spread like wildfire on
An anchor on China’s state-run television network has accidentally declared the Philippines a part of China, in an embarrassing gaffe as tensions between the two nations run high. He Jia, anchor for China Central Television’s (CCTV) nationally televised news broadcast,
By DIDI TANGAssociated PressBEIJINGBlind activist Chen Guangcheng has drawn a global media spotlight after setting off tensions between the U.S. and China, but he’s almost unknown at home and the Chinese government is working to keep it that way. After
Outgoing French leader Nicolas Sarkozy’s cabinet met for its last session on Wednesday as president-elect Francois Hollande held talks with top Socialists to gear up for next month’s parliamentary vote. Hollande also held consultations on forming a government and preparing
Sudanese war planes have launched renewed air strikes against South Sudan, violating a UN Security Council resolution to end weeks of a bitter border conflict, the South’s army said Wednesday. It was not possible to independently confirm the reports of
May 8 (Reuters) Discovery Communications reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit as it was hurt by losses at the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) – a joint venture with the “queen of talk.”
(AP) Lugar loss has lessons for Republicans, DemocratsTHOMAS BEAUMONTAssociated PressVALPARAISO, Ind.Veteran Sen. Richard Lugar’s loss in the Indiana GOP primary provides warnings for President Barack Obama and his Democrats as well as Mitt Romney and fellow Republicans six months before
(AP) Against Obama, even a jailbird gets some votesBy LAWRENCE MESSINAAssociated PressCHARLESTON, W.Va.Just how unpopular is President Barack Obama in some parts of the country? Enough that a man in prison in Texas got 4 out of 10 votes in
(AP) ‘The Voice’ crowns second-season championBy DERRIK J. LANGAP Entertainment WriterLOS ANGELESJermaine Paul was front and center on “The Voice.” The 33-year-old background singer from Harriman, N.Y., was declared the winner of the NBC singing competition Tuesday. Paul, who was
(AP) Vastly different audiences for favorite TV shows By DAVID BAUDER AP Television Writer NEW YORK The Nielsen Co. said Tuesday that ABC’s “Dancing” had 16.2 million viewers, good enough for third place in the weekly program ranking. NBC’s “The
(AP) NC voters approve amendment on same-sex marriage By EMERY P. DALESIO and MARTHA WAGGONERAssociated PressRALEIGH, N.C.North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday defining marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman, making it the
(AP) Milwaukee mayor to face Walker in Wis. RecallSCOTT BAUERAssociated PressMADISON, Wis.Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett won the Democratic primary Tuesday in Wisconsin’s historic recall election, leaving him with a short four weeks to make the closing argument that Republican Gov.
(AP) NYC mayor: I didn’t ‘bother’ to read 911 reportBy SAMANTHA GROSSAssociated PressNEW YORKMayor Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday that he “didn’t even bother” to read a report by city-hired consultants that found New York’s recently-overhauled 911 system is plagued by
(AP) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Digby Wolfe, the comedy writer who co-created the 1960s variety show “Laugh-In,” has died. He was 82. Friends have confirmed that the British-born writer, actor, singer and teacher died May 2 of lung cancer at his
(AP) House spares Pentagon, homeland security from cutsBy ANDREW TAYLORAssociated PressWASHINGTONRepublicans controlling the House are sparing the Pentagon, military veterans and most homeland security programs from the budget knife as action begins on a set of spending bills setting the
