Malaria vaccine study reaches milestone

ATLANTA (AP) ― The quest for the world’s first malaria vaccine appears to have taken a big step: A study in Africa shows experimental shots cut the risk of disease in young children by half.The initial results from a final stage of vaccine testing were released Tuesday, and the vaccine’s developers

Oct. 19, 2011

Cain, Romney under attack in Republican debate

LAS VEGAS (AP) ― Republican presidential contenders piled on the two front runners in a feisty debate Tuesday night, attacking businessman Herman Cain’s economic plan as a tax increase and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney over his health care law.Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota led the assau

Oct. 19, 2011

EU court: No patents for some stem cell techniques

LONDON (AP) — The European Union's top court ruled Tuesday that scientists cannot patent stem cell techniques that use human embryos for research, a decision some scientists said could threaten major medical advances if it prevents biotech companies from turning a profit.The ruling sets Europe

Oct. 19, 2011

Defying odds and time, centenarian runs marathon

TORONTO (AP) ― A 100-year-old runner became the oldest person to complete a full-distance marathon when he finished the race in Toronto on Sunday.Indian-born Fauja Singh earned a spot in the Guinness World Book of Records for his accomplishment.It took Singh more than eight hours to cross the finish

Oct. 18, 2011

Chinese toddler hit by vans; 18 people watched and did nothing

BEIJING (AP) ― A video showing a toddler being struck twice by vans and then ignored by passers-by is sparking outrage in China and prompting soul-searching over why people didn’t help the child.The 2-year-old girl, identified as Wang Yue, is in a coma in critical condition in the Guangzhou Military

Oct. 18, 2011

Sanaa sees worst fighting in weeks

SANAA (AP) ― Fighting between troops loyal to Yemen’s embattled leader and rival forces on Monday killed at least 18 people, including eight supporters of a powerful tribal chief who defected to the opposition in March.The pre-dawn fighting, the worst in the capital Sanaa in weeks, has revived fears

Oct. 18, 2011

‘Iran secretly executing hundreds of prisoners’

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) ― Iran’s authoritarian regime has secretly executed hundreds of prisoners, according to a new U.N. report detailing growing rights abuses in the Islamic republic.The mysterious executions at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad in eastern Iran were highlighted in a report compiled by Ahm

Oct. 18, 2011

Bangkok reinforcing flood defenses, death toll reaches 315

BANGKOK (AP) ― Soldiers, civil servants and families worked frantically Tuesday to add more than 1 million sandbags to Bangkok’s vulnerable northern flood defenses after the city’s governor warned they were needed to keep waters from swamping the capital.Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra said late Monday t

Oct. 18, 2011

Anti-Wall Street protests pass 1-month mark

Though still without specific demand, protests against inequality swells up to global scaleNEW YORK (AP) ― The month-old Occupy Wall Street movement enjoyed its new momentum Monday, with nearly $300,000 in the bank and the satisfaction of drawing global attention to what it sees as major economic in

Oct. 18, 2011

Canadian man completes 11-year round-the-world walk

A 56-year-old Canadian man who left home after his business went bankrupt completed an 11-year walk around the world on Sunday, and told a crowd of well-wishers his new goal was to promote peace.Jean Beliveau -- who arrived to a hero's welcome in Montreal from loved ones, lawmakers and supporters --

Oct. 18, 2011

Japan's ear-cleaning salons offer childhood fantasy

When 30-year-old Japanese salaryman Takahisa Kobayashi places his head on the lap of an attractive young woman, he is thinking of his mother.The summer kimono covering her thighs brushes against his face as he lies on the tatami mat floor and briefly looks into her elegantly made-up eyes.A tradition

Oct. 18, 2011

Taiwan’s soft power faces a rising China

A strong sense of deja vu prevailed listening to Philip Yang, a Taiwanese spokesman, recently, as Taipei embarks on a “soft-power” offensive by promoting its local culture, indigenous people, food and other goodies. It’s no longer “politics-as-usual” in Taiwan, he quipped.The occasion was appropriat

Oct. 17, 2011

Israelis debate over prisoner release

JERUSALEM (AP) ― Relatives of Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks waged a charged debate Sunday over the planned release of militants this week in a deal to free an Israeli soldier held by Hamas for five years.Several families have filed court appeals against the deal, though it is not expected t

Oct. 17, 2011

Occupy Wall Street shows muscle, raising $300,000

NEW YORK (AP) ― The Occupy Wall Street movement has close to $300,000, as well as storage space loaded with donated supplies in lower Manhattan. It stared down city officials to hang on to its makeshift headquarters, showed its muscle Saturday with a big Times Square demonstration and found legions

Oct. 17, 2011

French presidential race: Sarkozy vs. Hollande

Former Socialist Party chief to go up against conservative president facing public frustrationPARIS (AP) ― The resurgent French left, riding on popular anger at conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy and global financial markets, endorsed former Socialist Party chief Francois Hollande on Sunday as i

Oct. 17, 2011

Colombia trade deal worries small farmers

CAJICA, Colombia (AP) ― Colombia’s president calls a free trade pact finally approved by the U.S. Congress a commercial milestone that will build export muscle, but many of the country’s small farmers fear for their livelihoods.Some worry that imports of less expensive, subsidized U.S. goods could d

Oct. 16, 2011