17th century shipwreck found off Swedish coast

STOCKHOLM (AP) _ A shipwreck discovered in the murky waters of the Baltic Sea is believed to be a legendary 17th century warship whose captain went down with it in battle rather than surrender to the enemy.Deep Sea Productions, an underwater research team, said Wednesday it believes the 25-meter (82

Nov. 17, 2011

Israel demolishes Palestinian homes

JERICHO, Palestinian Territories (AFP) ― Bulldozers flanked by Israeli troops razed four Palestinian homes near the ancient city of Jericho on Tuesday, with Israel saying they endangered a nearby archaeological site.Ammar Fakhuri, the owner of one of the buildings, told AFP it was the third time that Israel had demolished properties he owned.“They did it twice in the Old City of Jerusalem in 2004 and 2010 and now here,” he said, adding that Tuesday’s demolition was carried out by two bulldozers

Nov. 16, 2011

Obama arrives in Australia to reframe security ties

CANBERRA (AFP) ― U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Australia Wednesday on a twice-postponed mission to update a 60-year-old security alliance for a new century marked by the rise of China.Air Force One touched down in the capital Canberra after flying from the president’s native Hawaii, where he presided over a summit that expanded entry talks on a new pan-Pacific trade deal.The 28-hour visit to Australia is expected to include an announcement on escalating military cooperation, in a clear

Nov. 16, 2011

Chinese state media say 17 preschoolers killed

BEIJING (AP) _ At least 17 preschoolers and two adults were killed Wednesday when their overcrowded minibus crashed with a truck in China's Gansu province, state media reported.The bus, designed to normally carry nine people, slammed into the truck at 9:40 a.m. (0140 GMT) in Qingyang city when the c

Nov. 16, 2011

Aung San Suu Kyi says Myanmar has made progress, more is needed

YANGON (AP) ― Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Monday that Myanmar’s government has taken positive steps toward reform in the year since she was released from house arrest but more needs to be done, including freeing hundreds more political prisoners.The Nobel peace laureate, speaking to more than 100 journalists on the anniversary of her release, cited her meetings with minister Aung Kyi and President Thein Sein as progress.“Looking back at the past year, I think I can say that it has bee

Nov. 15, 2011

Police clear N.Y. birthplace of Occupy protests

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Police flooded into the New York cradle of the U.S. anti-Wall Street movement early Tuesday, driving out demonstrators and tearing down the tent camp in what officials said was a temporary eviction.The surprise crackdown at the birthplace of the movement, launched after similar evictions in other cities, signaled a tougher line by U.S. authorities towards the two-month old protests against Wall Street and Washington elites.New York’s Zuccotti Park has been the symbolic epicente

Nov. 15, 2011

U.S. Supreme Court to discuss Obamacare

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The Supreme Court is ready to consider next year the legality of President Barack Obama’s signature domestic legislation, an overhaul of the U.S. health care system.The law, passed by Congress last year on a largely party-line vote, was the most far-reaching domestic legislation in a generation but has proved a political lightning rod. It is vigorously opposed by all of Obama’s prospective Republican opponents in next year’s presidential election.The Supreme Court’s schedule se

Nov. 15, 2011

Norway killer claims to be resistance leader

OSLO (AP) ― The anti-Muslim extremist who confessed to a bombing and shooting massacre that killed 77 people in Norway has tried to declare himself a resistance leader at his first public court hearing but was quickly cut off by the judge.Anders Behring Breivik was on Monday escorted by guards into an Oslo court room packed with dozens of reporters and spectators, including survivors of his rampage at a youth camp near the capital who were seeing him in person for the first time since the July 2

Nov. 15, 2011

Need an Olympic party venue? Maybe the Throne Room

LONDON (AP) _ The parties will be at the palace _ at least during next year's Summer Olympics.Queen Elizabeth II has approved renting out fancy rooms at St. James's Palace as party venues during the 2012 London Olympics.Buckingham Palace says holders of royal warrants _ companies with long-standing

Nov. 15, 2011

Monti seeks to form new Italian cabinet

ROME (AP) ― Italy’s new premier-designate economist Mario Monti says he will get to work quickly to try to form a new government, assuring the nation that it can heal its disastrous finances.Monti told reporters Sunday night he will carry out the task “with a great sense of responsibility and service toward this nation.” He added that Italy must “heal its finances” and resume growth because today’s leaders owe it to future generations.The former European Union competition commissioner received t

Nov. 14, 2011

Obama: Iran sanctions have ‘enormous bite’

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) -- President Barack Obama defends his efforts to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying that economic sanctions against Tehran have had “enormous bite,” and that he will consult with other nations on additional steps to ensure that Iran does not acquire an atomic weapon.Obama expressed confidence that Russia and China in particular understand the threat a nuclear armed Iran would pose, and said their leaders agree that Iran cannot weaponize its nuclear power and trigger a

Nov. 14, 2011