Venezuela to close Miami consulate

CARACAS (AP) ― Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that his government will close its consulate in Miami after the U.S. government expelled a diplomat.Chavez said he decided the consulate will shut its doors in response to what he called an unfair action by the U.S. State Department.“We’re going to close it. It’s OK. There won’t be a consulate in Miami,” Chavez said during his annual speech to the National Assembly.Livia Acosta Noguera, Venezuela’s consul general in Miami, was ordered o

Jan. 15, 2012

S.Korean couple rescued in Italy liner disaster

GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy, Jan 15, 2012 (AFP) - Rescuers evacuated a South Korean honeymoon couple from a cruise ship that hit rocks and keeled over off the west coast of Italy, Italy's ANSA news agency said Sunday, quoting rescuers.The couple, both aged 29, had been reached by firemen on a lower deck of

Jan. 15, 2012

Oxford puzzles over unexplained death of professor

OXFORD, England (AP) -- It seemed like a shocking crime: An Oxford University academic was found dying in the home of one of his closest friends, who was promptly arrested by police on suspicion of murder.But on Friday the direction of the attention-grabbing investigation into the death of Steve Raw

Jan. 15, 2012

Taiwan ’s China-friendly president wins re-election

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwan's president won re-election Saturday, paving the way for a continuation of the China-friendly policies that have delighted Beijing and Washington, and caused consternation among some in Taiwan worried about the durability of their de facto independence.With about 99 per

Jan. 15, 2012

Myanmar frees political prisoners

YANGON (AP) ― Myanmar freed many of its most prominent political prisoners Friday in a long-awaited step toward national reconciliation that also has been a key condition set by Western nations for easing sanctions against the country.The releases of several political activists and ethnic minority leaders, confirmed by their relatives, were part of a presidential pardon for 651 detainees who Myanmar state radio and television said would take part in “nation-building.”It was the latest in a flurr

Jan. 13, 2012

Candidates make final push ahead of Taiwan vote

TAIPEI (AP) -- Candidates in Taiwan’s closely fought presidential election appealed for last-minute support Friday, with President Ma Ying-jeou offering his vision of better relations with China, and his main challenger attempting to galvanize resentment over growing income inequality.Amid swirling campaign banners and cheering crowds, Ma and Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party crisscrossed the island ahead of a contest that pits Ma’s experience against Tsai’s populism.Eighteen mill

Jan. 13, 2012

Oslo court orders new psychiatric evaluation for gunman

OSLO, Jan 13, 2012 (AFP) - An Oslo court on Friday ordered a new psychiatric evaluation of Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in twin attacks in July, after an earlier and widely contested test found him criminally insane. "Due to the gravity of this case, the criminal responsibility

Jan. 13, 2012

Barca to face Real Madrid

MADRID (AP) ― Barcelona will play Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals after coming from behind to beat Osasuna 2-1 on Thursday and cruise to a 6-1 aggregate victory.Defending champion Madrid hosts the first leg Wednesday, with the return match at Barcelona on Jan. 25. The rivals have already met three times this season, with Barcelona winning the two-legged Spanish Super Cup 5-4 on aggregate in August before a 3-1 victory at Madrid in the league last month.The two games will take the n

Jan. 13, 2012

MLB owners delay sale of Padres to Moorad

PARADISE VALLEY, Arizona (AP) ― Major league owners have put off approval of sale of the San Diego Padres to Jeff Moorad.Commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday that baseball’s ownership committee and executive council unanimously decided to defer action “to get more clarity and technical information.”Moorad, who could be seen talking with Selig on a balcony outside the owners meeting Thursday, said he and the commissioner tried to work out an “11th-hour” agreement to get the matter presented to th

Jan. 13, 2012

Japan police nab inmate after underwear jailbreak

TOKYO (AP) _ Police on Friday captured a Chinese inmate who sparked a nationwide manhunt when he bolted from a Hiroshima prison clad only in his underwear in Japan's first prison break in more than two decades.Police found Li Guolin, who was serving a 23-year sentence for attempted murder, near an elementary school in the southern Japan city on Friday.Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, broke into programming to show police taking him into custody. He wore a heavy jacket and ski cap pulled down ove

Jan. 13, 2012

India hunts 'human zoo' videographer

NEW DELHI, Jan 12, 2012 (AFP) - India on Thursday said it was trying to track down those responsible for a video of naked tribal women dancing for tourists in the Andaman islands, where filming of aborigines is banned.British newspaper The Observer at the weekend released the undated video showing J

Jan. 13, 2012

Russian spacecraft turned space junk to crash soon

MOSCOW (AP) _ A Russian spacecraft designed to burnish the nation's faded space glory in a mission to one of Mars' moons has turned into one of the heaviest, most toxic pieces of space junk ever.It will come crashing down to Earth in just a few days.The Russian space agency Roscosmos' latest forecas

Jan. 13, 2012

Outrage over ‘human zoo’ video from Indian islands

Rights campaigners and politicians Wednesday condemned a video showing women from a protected and primitive tribe dancing for tourists reportedly in exchange for food on India’s Andaman Islands.British newspaper The Observer released the undated video showing Jarawa tribal women ― some of them naked ― being lured to dance and sing after a bribe was allegedly paid to a policeman to produce them.Under Indian laws designed to protect ancient tribal groups susceptible to outside influence and diseas

Jan. 12, 2012