China, Philippine naval standoff continues

A dangerous naval standoff between China and the Philippines at a disputed South China Sea shoal has eased, but tension flared anew after China deployed a second ship and an aircraft that briefly hovered over the area, Filipino officials said Sunday.The South China Sea, one of the world‘s busiest sealanes, has become more vulnerable to confrontations after governments with conflicting territorial claims started beefing up their maritime forces.A Philippine warship attempted to arrest several Chi

April 16, 2012

Obama: 'Angry' if Secret Service allegations true

U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking for the first time about allegations that Secret Service agents hired prostitutes, said Sunday that “of course I'll be angry'' if those accusations are proven true by an investigation. Obama said the agents represent the United States and are supposed to conduct themselves with the highest levels of dignity anywhere in the world. “Obviously, what's been report

April 16, 2012

Nearly 100 tornadoes rip across central US, 5 dead

Nearly 100 tornadoes raked across the central United States, leaving five people dead and at least 29 injured Sunday in Oklahoma alone. Twisters ripped up homes, a hospital and cut power to hundreds of thousands of people.Forecasters warned that more tornadoes from the violent storm system were possible before the day was over across a swath that stretched hundreds of miles from southern Texas to

April 16, 2012

South Africa's Zuma to wed fourth wife: presidency

South African President Jacob Zuma will marry his fourth wife next weekend, his spokesman confirmed Sunday.Zuma will tie the knot at his family homestead in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province, said presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj."I can confirm that President Zuma will formalise his relationship with his fiancee, Ms Bongi Ngema, in a private traditional ceremony at Nkandla this weekend," Maharaj

April 16, 2012

Iran, world powers set for in-depth talks in Baghdad

ISTANBUL (AFP) ― Iran and world powers agreed in talks here to hold a more in-depth meeting in Baghdad next month where, Western nations warned Tehran, much must be done to ease fears that it is seeking nuclear arms.EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said there had been “constructive and useful” talks in Istanbul Saturday with Iranian chief negotiator Saeed Jalili but cautioned that the meeting in Iraq on May 23 must “take us forward in a very concrete way.”Echoing her, the United States a

April 15, 2012

Nearly 400 escape in Pakistan jailbreak

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) ― Some 384 prisoners including militants escaped early Sunday from a jail in northwestern Pakistan after an attack by insurgents armed with guns, grenades and rockets, officials said.More than 150 heavily-armed Islamist militants stormed the central prison outside the restive northwestern town of Bannu bordering the lawless tribal regions where Taliban and al-Qaida linked militants are known to operate.Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan milita

April 15, 2012

Events around the world mark Titanic centenary

ABOARD MS BALMORAL (AP) -- In the birthplace of the Titanic, residents gathered for a choral requiem. In the North Atlantic, above the ship’s final resting place, passengers will pray as a band strikes up a hymn and three floral wreaths are cast onto the waves.A century after the great ship went down with the loss of 1,500 lives, events around the globe are marking a tragedy that retains a titanic grip on the world‘s imagination -- an icon of Edwardian luxury that became, in a few dark hours 100

April 15, 2012

Nearly 400 escape in Northwest Pakistan jailbreak

Some 384 prisoners including militants escaped early Sunday from a jail in northwestern Pakistan after an attack by insurgents armed with guns, grenades and rockets, officials said.More than 150 heavily-armed Islamist militants stormed the central prison outside the restive northwestern town of Bannu bordering the lawless tribal regions where Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants are known to oper

April 15, 2012

Suspect repeatedly called 911 accidentally

Authorities in Washington state said an unlucky car theft suspect was arrested after a series of accidental "pocket dial" calls to 911.Police said a dispatcher answered what appeared to be a 911 "pocket dial" March 14 and listened to a group of men having a conversation that appeared to be about stealing cars, KOMO-TV, Seattle, reported Thursday.The phone was tracked to downtown Renton, where poli

April 15, 2012

Obama Secret Service agents sent home for 'misconduct'

The Secret Service was engulfed in a sex scandal on Saturday after a dozen agents assigned to President Barack Obama's trip to Colombia were sent home amid reports of them using prostitutes.Five US military personnel are also being investigated for misconduct said to have taken place at the same hotel where the Secret Service staff were staying in the resort city of Cartagena, and have been confin

April 15, 2012

Yemen: Fighting in south kills 50 militants

SANAA (AP) ― Yemeni artillery and military aircraft backing pro-government tribesmen pounded al-Qaida fighters trying to battle their way into a strategic town in the country’s south on Wednesday, while a suspected U.S. airstrike killed at least 12 militants, officials said.The fighting near the town of Lawder started over the weekend when al-Qaida attacked an army post, sparking resistance from Yemeni troops and from armed residents.The military claims that at least 165 militants have been kill

April 12, 2012

U.S. judge orders man to jail for sagging pants

A Alabama judge ordered a man to serve three days in jail for contempt of court for wearing so-called saggy pants.Twenty-year-old LaMarcus D. Ramsey was in Autauga County Circuit Court on Tuesday to enter a plea on a charge of receiving stolen property.Circuit Judge John Bush told Ramsey his blue jeans were sagging too low and gave him the three-day stint. The judge told Ramsey to buy pants that f

April 12, 2012

Russian opposition challenges Putin with walkout

MOSCOW (AP) -- A large opposition faction stormed out of Russia's parliament on Wednesday to protest Vladimir Putin's refusal to look into claims of vote-rigging in a mayoral election that has sparked nationwide anger.Putin, who returns for a third term as Russian president on May 7, told the Duma he had no authority over local elections and suggested that critics go to court instead to contest th

April 11, 2012

Greek government calls May 6 election

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Prime Minister Lucas Papademos on Wednesday called a general election in Greece for May 6, after his coalition government pushed through landmark financial relief deals that rescued the country from the threat of bankruptcy but doomed recession-hit Greeks to greater hardship.``The main goals of our government were achieved,'' Papademos told a Cabinet meeting, according to a

April 11, 2012