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Merah Case Could Tip French Election in Sarkozy's Favor
(AP) Extremist suspect upends French presidential raceBy ELAINE GANLEYAssociated PressPARISFrench far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen says her anti-Islam agenda has been vindicated: A French Muslim claiming ties to al-Qaida has taken responsibility for the country’s worst killing spree in
New Zealand police seize marijuana vending machine
New Zealand police said Friday that they seized a marijuana vending machine during a raid on a “cannabis club” in Auckland which campaigns for the drug’s legalisation. The vending machine at The Daktory in suburban New Lynn had been set
US airport scores Nigeria heroin bust
A Nigerian woman was arrested at an airport outside Washington after ingesting nearly five pounds (over two kilograms) of heroin pellets, in what US officials called the biggest bust of its kind. US Customs and Border Protection officers first grew
Bales to be charged with murder in Afghan killings
(AP) Bales to be charged with murder in Afghan killingsBy PAULINE JELINEK and LOLITA C. BALDORAssociated PressWASHINGTONArmy Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will be charged with 17 counts of murder, assault and a string of other offenses in the massacre of
Afghan commander: No 2013 withdrawals beyond 'surge' forces
(AP) Afghan commander prefers robust US force in 2013By DONNA CASSATAAssociated PressWASHINGTONThe top commander in Afghanistan said Thursday he prefers a significant American force of 68,000 to combat insurgents in 2013, signaling a potential halt in the drawdown and complicating
Protesters Shut Down Ecuador Capital to Save Rain Forest
Protesting natives supported by opponents of President Rafael Correa brought Ecuador’s capital to a standstill Thursday, demanding an end to policies they say will open the Amazon rainforest to vast mining projects and ravage the environment. Protests were prompted partly
Russian lawmaker: Assad must make first move for Syrian peace
(AP) Russian lawmaker: Assad must pull out troops firstBy VLADIMIR ISACHENKOVAssociated PressMOSCOWSyrian President Bashar Assad must take the first step toward settling his country’s yearlong conflict by pulling his forces out of cities and allowing humanitarian assistance, a senior Russian
Box Office Preview: 'Hunger' To Take Huge Bite
(AP) Box Office Preview: ‘Hunger’ to take huge bite By PAUL DERGARABEDIAN For The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Lionsgate’s much-anticipated adaptation of the bestselling “Hunger Games” book series is about to unleash itself on a ravenous movie-going public. With massive
Stocks lower on worries over China slowdown
(AP) Stocks lower on worries over China slowdownBy PALLAVI GOGOIAP Business WriterNEW YORKSigns that China’s economy is weakening and Europe is slowing sent U.S. stocks lower. The price of crude oil dropped 2 percent Thursday to its lowest level in
Netanyahu: UN settlement investigation 'hypocritical'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday slammed as “hypocritical” a UN Human Rights Council resolution, which ordered a first probe into Israeli settlements. The Israeli premier added that the UN Human Rights Council “should be ashamed of itself.” The
Whitney Houston Died of Accidental Drowning: Reports
Whitney Houston died of accidental drowning, according to a coroner’s findings cited by media reports Thursday, adding that cocaine was found in her body. People magazine cited a source as saying contributing factors of her death at age 48 last
Radio Host Offers $50,000 Challenge To Anti-Israel Activist
On his WABC Radio show this past Sunday, Aaron Klein offered $50,000 to an organizer of the upcoming Global March to Jerusalem — if the activist could name one city in the Middle East outside of Israel that has more
How Lions Gate Won 'Hunger Games'
(Reuters) – Little Lions Gate Entertainment beat out its bigger and better funded rivals to win the right to make a film of “The Hunger Games,” which opens on Friday with blockbuster expectations. Personal appeals for the rights began back
Global Box Office Up 3 Percent to $32.6 Billion
(AP) Global box office up 3 percent to $32.6 billion By RYAN NAKASHIMA AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES Ticket sales for movies shown around the globe rose 3 percent in 2011 to $32.6 billion, largely because of growth in booming
Insider Trading Ban Sent to White House
(AP) Insider trading ban sent to White HouseBy LARRY MARGASAKAssociated PressWASHINGTONThe Senate has given final congressional approval to a scaled-down bill to explicitly ban members of Congress, the president and thousands of other federal workers from profiting from nonpublic information
UN chief urges cease-fire in Syria to speed up aid
(AP) UN chief urges cease-fire in Syria to speed up aidBy BEN HUBBARDAssociated PressBEIRUTSyrian regime troops and rebels clashed anew on Thursday as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said the Security Council sent a clear message to Damascus that all violence
Chinese Political Star Sacked, Coup Rumors Ensue
Groundless rumours of a coup that have swept Beijing in recent days are a sign of nervousness after the sacking of political star Bo Xilai exposed rifts in China’s ruling Communist Party, analysts say. Bo had been tipped to join
Senate Set to Vote on STOCK Act
(AP) Senate set for key vote on insider trading banBy LARRY MARGASAKAssociated PressWASHINGTONA key Senate vote is set on a scaled-down bill to explicitly prohibit members of Congress and other federal workers from profiting from information learned on the job.
Gary Pruitt of McClatchy new AP president, CEO
(AP) Gary Pruitt of McClatchy new AP president, CEOBy ADAM GELLERAP National WriterNEW YORKGary Pruitt, a former First Amendment lawyer who heads the third-largest newspaper company in the U.S., will become the next president and CEO of The Associated Press,
DC theater to restage Apple-bashing show in summer
BRETT ZONGKER, Associated Press WASHINGTON – A Washington theater is apologizing for calling a one-man show that purported to show horrific working conditions at Chinese factories that made Apple products a work of nonfiction. Performer Mike Daisey was recently forced
