Israelis agree Iran hasn’t decided on atom bomb

JERUSALEM (AP) ― Despite saber-rattling from Jerusalem, Israeli officials now agree with the U.S. assessment that Tehran has not yet decided on the actual construction of a nuclear bomb, according to senior Israeli government and defense figures.Even so, there is great concern in Israel about leaving Iran “on the cusp” of a bomb ― explaining why Israel continues to hint at a military attack on Iran’s nuclear installations before it moves enough of them underground to protect them from Israel’s b

March 19, 2012

Romney wins big in Puerto Rico

Former Massachusetts governor seen winning 20 delegates up for grabsWASHINGTON (AP) ― Mitt Romney won an overwhelming victory over chief rival Rick Santorum in Puerto Rico’s Republican presidential primary, but Romney was campaigning in the critical heartland state of Illinois ahead of that state’s primary on Tuesday ― another chance to prove he’s the best choice to challenge President Barack Obama in the November election.The former Massachusetts governor has been unable to win the hearts of th

March 19, 2012

Yemen says more than 2,000 killed in uprising

SANAA (AP) ― More than 2,000 people have been killed in a year of political turmoil that led to the resignation of Yemen’s longtime president, the government disclosed Sunday. The figure is much higher than human rights groups estimated.The government released its first casualty figures on a day when crowds of protesters were marking one year since a particularly bloody day, when dozens were killed.Yemen’s Ministry of Human Rights said the figure of at least 2,000 includes both unarmed protester

March 19, 2012

Explosion near Syrian security building in Aleppo

BEIRUT (AP) ― An explosion struck near a Syrian government security building in the northern city of Aleppo Sunday, while a harsh security crackdown prevented opposition rallies marking one year since the first nationwide protests of the uprising against President Bashar Assad.The Syrian state news agency called the Aleppo explosion a “terrorist bombing’’ and said one policeman and one female civilian were killed, while 30 were injured. It was the second attack in two days on regime strongholds.

March 19, 2012

Police say 73 detained after Occupy protest in N.Y.

Protesters marking the six-month mark since the start of the Occupy movement were taken into custody by police officers who poured into the park after warning those who had gathered there that it was closed.Police said 73 people were detained. It was unclear how many were still in custody Sunday afternoon.Some demonstrators had locked arms and sat down in the middle of Zuccotti Park near Wall Street _ where the protest movement started last September _ after police announced on a bullhorn at aro

March 19, 2012

Greek socialists pick finance minister as new leader

ATHENS (AFP) ― Greece’s Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos was elected leader of the socialist party PASOK on Sunday, and now faces a Herculean battle to avert disaster in upcoming elections.The 55-year-old politician, the only candidate to run for the job relinquished by former prime minister George Papandreou, told supporters at party heaquarters: “We have re-established the confidence for a new departure. We are starting.”According to Pasok estimates, some 200,000 party members or sympathiz

March 19, 2012

N. Korea seeking to develop nuclear missile: Seoul

South Korea accused North Korea on Monday of trying to develop a nuclear-armed missile through a satellite launch next month, after Pyongyang dismissed international calls to abandon the exercise.“Our government defines North Korea‘s so-called working satellite launch plan as a grave provocation to develop a long-distance delivery means for nuclear weapons by using ballistic missile technology,” said presidential spokesman Park Jeong-Ha.The North announced Friday it would launch a long-range roc

March 19, 2012

Apple to reveal decision on use of cash hoard

Apple Inc. said it will announce the outcome of its internal discussion concerning its enormous cash balance on Monday morning.Analysts expect Apple to institute a dividend. It can easily afford one, since it had $97.6 billion in cash and securities at the end of last year. That would be enough for a $100 one-time dividend for every shareholder, but analysts expect the company to institute a modest recurring dividend.Apple CEO Tim Cook and Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer will discuss t

March 19, 2012

Iran parliament speaker says Israel won’t attack

TEHRAN (AP) ― Iran’s parliament speaker on Saturday compared Israel to a barking dog that won’t dare attack the Islamic republic over its controversial nuclear program.“They make a lot of fuss about it but don’t dare to attack Iran,’’ Ali Larijani said of Israel. His comments were posted on the parliament’s website. “They are like dogs that keep barking but are not for attacks.”“Israel won’t make the mistake of attacking Iran because it’s not prepared to play with its own destiny,” said Larijani

March 18, 2012

Opposition ahead in East Timor election count

DILI (AFP) -- Early results from East Timor‘s presidential polls on Sunday showed the opposition Fretilin party’s Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres had surged ahead with incumbent Jose Ramos-Horta lagging in third.A tally broadcast live by the country‘s electoral commission on state-owned radio and television station RTTL, put Guterres ahead with 28 percent of the411,353 votes counted so far -- around 65 percent of the total votes cast.Former guerrilla leader Taur Matan Ruak was in second place with 2

March 18, 2012

U.S. fighter in Somalia fears life in danger

NAIROBI (AFP) ― A U.S.-born Islamist fighter viewed as a key foreign leader within Somalia’s Shebab militia allied with al-Qaida says he fears his life is now in danger from fellow extremists.Omar Hamami ― better known as Abu Mansoor al-Amriki ― gave the warning in an undated video posted on several Somali websites and YouTube Saturday.“To whomever it may reach from the Muslims, from Abu Mansoor al-Amriki, I record this message today because I feel that my life may be endangered by Harakat Sheba

March 18, 2012

Republicans battle in Obama’s home state

CHICAGO (AFP) ― Republican White House hopefuls waged battle Saturday for Illinois as the primary in President Barack Obama’s home state loomed as the next key test for candidates.Weekend votes were also being held in Missouri and the territory of Puerto Rico, but Illinois appeared to be a new gut check for Republicans struggling to keep momentum in the race for the nomination to challenge Obama in November.Polls showed former senator Rick Santorum within striking range in Illinois of frontrunne

March 18, 2012

E. Timor votes in test for young nation

BALIBAR, East Timor (AFP) ― Voting began Saturday in East Timor’s presidential election, seen as a crucial test for a young democracy taking charge of its own security as U.N. forces prepare to leave.Polls opened shortly after 7:00 a.m., with voters ready to cast ballots in a contest that pits the incumbent Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel laureate, against 11 other hopefuls.At a schoolhouse in the village of Balibar in the hills overlooking the capital Dili, poll workers in yellow T-shirts unsealed bl

March 18, 2012

Twin suicide blasts kill dozens in Syrian capital

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- Two suicide bombers detonated cars packed with explosives in near-simultaneous attacks on heavily guarded intelligence and security buildings in the Syrian capital Damascus Saturday, killing at least 27 people.There have been a string of large-scale bombings against the

March 18, 2012