Saudi king gives women right to vote

RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi King Abdullah announced on Sunday he was giving women the right to vote and run in municipal elections, the only public polls in the ultra-conservative Gulf kingdom.He also announced that women would have the right to join the all-appointed Shura (consultative) Council, in an ad

Sept. 25, 2011

Doubts about Perry rises among Republican Party

Shaky debate, vote loss signals trouble for front-runner for 2012ORLANDO (AP) ― Texas Gov. Rick Perry worked to convince Florida Republicans Saturday that he is the strongest contender for the party’s presidential nomination despite a shaky debate performance earlier this week that has sparked jitte

Sept. 25, 2011

Putin to run for Russian presidency in 2012

MOSCOW (AP) -- Vladimir Putin's decision to reclaim the presidency next year sets up the possibility that he could rule Russia until 2024 and foreshadows a continuation of the strongman rule that many in the West have called a retreat from democracy.Although Putin departed the Kremlin in 2008 due to

Sept. 25, 2011

15 killed in renewed violence in Yemeni capital

SANAA (AP) ― Renewed violence in the Yemeni capital killed at least 15 people on Thursday as forces loyal to the regime and its opponents shelled each other’s strategic positions from hills surrounding the city, medical and security official said.The shelling over the city has terrified residents an

Sept. 23, 2011

Republican rivals in debate hit Obama

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) ― Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Perry accused each other in a debate Thursday night of contradicting themselves on issues such as health care and Social Security retirement benefits.Texas Gov. Perry has overtaken former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney a

Sept. 23, 2011

Talks between Chrysler and UAW break down: sources

DETROIT (AP) ― Negotiations over a new four-year contract between Chrysler and the United Auto Workers have broken down as both sides refuse to budge on key financial issues, two people briefed on the bargaining said Thursday. The talks ended late Wednesday in a dispute over the number of workers wh

Sept. 23, 2011

G20 finance chiefs agree to intensify cooperation to tackle global crisis

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Finance chiefs of the leading 20 countries have agreed to intensify cooperation to tackle the global economic crisis, stemming from deepening anxiety over fiscal soundness and stagnant economic recovery in Europe and other major advanced countries.The leaders promised to

Sept. 23, 2011

China man held on suspicion of keeping sex slaves

BEIJING (AP) _ A Chinese man has been detained on suspicion of keeping six women in secret underground rooms as his sex slaves for two years and killing two of them, a state-owned newspaper reported Friday.The Southern Metropolis Daily said that over the past two years, the man, Li Hao, allegedly ki

Sept. 23, 2011

French court issues first fine for face veil-wearing women

MEAUX, France, Sept 22, 2011 (AFP) -A French police court on Thursday issued its first fines against two women charged with wearing the full-face covering Islamic niqab.Police have issued several on-the-spot fines since the ban came into effect in April but these are the first court-issued fines, wi

Sept. 23, 2011

U.S. Senate clears one hurdle to FTA with S. Korea

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Senate, led by Democrats, voted Thursday to approve the renewal of a worker training program, raising hopes of the ratification of free trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.President Barack Obama's push for extending the Trade Adjustment Assista

Sept. 23, 2011

Typhoon passes Japan tsunami zone, plant intact

TOKYO (AP) ― A powerful typhoon headed north Thursday after dumping heavy rains on Japan’s tsunami-devastated coastline, paralyzing commuter trains in the capital, and leaving at least 16 people dead or missing across the country.There had been concerns that Typhoon Roke could pose more problems for

Sept. 22, 2011

Yemeni truce breached by shelling, 16 killed

SANAA (AP) ― Yemeni government forces on Wednesday fired mortars at tens of thousands of mourners at funerals held for protesters killed in clashes and attacked an opposition base, shattering a cease-fire negotiated a day earlier to end the Arab nation’s latest bout of deadly violence. The two attac

Sept. 22, 2011

Satellite still on for Friday freefall from space

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) _ A dead 6-ton satellite is getting closer and closer, and is expected to smack down on Earth on Friday.NASA's old research satellite is expected to come crashing down through the atmosphere Friday afternoon, Eastern Time. The spacecraft will not be passing over North Am

Sept. 22, 2011