Legendary terror chief goes to trial

PARIS (AP) ― Once among the world’s most feared masterminds of terror, the man known as Carlos the Jackal is now a graying convict who has been behind bars for 17 years. On Monday, he goes on trial for four deadly attacks that occurred nearly three decades ago, and the verdict could determine his chances of ever being freed.Defiant ahead of the proceedings before a special anti-terrorism court ― expected to last six weeks ― the 62-year-old whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez told a French r

Nov. 7, 2011

Chilean miner Pena drops out of NYC Marathon

NEW YORK (AP) _ Rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena dropped out of Sunday's New York City Marathon at the 11-mile mark.Pena entered Sunday's 26.2-mile event again following a difficult year that included a hospitalization in Santiago for psychological problems and reported drug and alcohol issues.He f

Nov. 7, 2011

Chinese boat skipper arrested off Japan’s coast

TOKYO (AP) -- The Chinese skipper of a fishing boat has been arrested in waters off southwestern Japan after fleeing the coast guard and being chased down, Japanese authorities said.Zhang Tianxiong was arrested Sunday about 60 kilometers off Japan’s Goto islands in the East China Sea on charges of refusing inspection and fleeing authorities, the coast guard said.According to the coast guard, Zhang, from Fujian province in eastern China, refused an inspection after his 135-ton boat was sailing th

Nov. 7, 2011

Suicide bombers kill 7 in Afghanistan

KABUL (AP) ― Two suicide bombers targeted worshippers on a key Muslim festival in northern Afghanistan, killing seven, including two local police commanders, officials said Sunday.The bombers struck as Muslims were leaving a mosque on the outskirts of Old Baghlan City after prayers at the start of the Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice.At least 18 other people were taken to hospitals with injuries from the attack in Hassin Tal, about 10 kilometers east of the city. One bomber blew himself u

Nov. 7, 2011

Grenade attack kills 2 at Kenya church

WAJIR, Kenya (AP) ― Two people were killed in a suspected al-Shabab attack at a church in an eastern Kenyan town, a police official said Sunday.Kenyan police chief Leo Nyongesa said that a woman and her two grandchildren were also injured when attackers hurled a grenade at the Pentecostal Church in Garissa late Saturday.Ibrahim Makunyi, the head pastor at the church, said the house near the entrance of the church that belonged to a church elder had been bombed.“One of the dead is a member of the

Nov. 7, 2011

Murdoch gave Brooks $2.7m payoff: paper

LONDON (AP) ― British newspaper the Guardian is reporting that media baron Rupert Murdoch paid former News International chief Rebekah Brooks $2.7 million and the use of an office as part of her severance package.The newspaper says without citing sources that the high-profile CEO of the now-closed tabloid News of The World was also granted continued access to her company limousine and driver for two years.The report said Brooks was given a central London office, adding that her spokesman asked t

Nov. 7, 2011

Colombia landslide death toll reaches 29

BOGOTA (AP) ― Rescuers are searching for signs of life amid mud and rubble after a rain-fueled landslide buried homes in northwestern Colombia, killing at least 29 people.Red Cross rescue director Cesar Uruena says between 20 and 40 people remain missing from Saturday’s landslide in Manizales, 165 kilometers northwest of the capital, Bogota.President Juan Manuel Santos said Sunday that 29 bodies have been identified and he sent condolences to the families.The landslide was caused by heavy rains

Nov. 7, 2011

At least 69 dead in north Nigeria sect attacks

LAGOS (AP) ― Residents fearfully left their homes to bury their dead in northeast Nigeria following a series of coordinated attacks that killed at least 69 people and left a new police headquarters in ruins, government offices burned and symbols of state power destroyed.A radical Muslim sect known locally as Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks in Borno and Yobe states, with the worst damage done in and around the city of Damaturu. The group also promised Saturday to continue its bl

Nov. 6, 2011

Yemen uprising binds women from many walks of life

SANAA (AP) ― Early in Yemen’s uprising, about 20 women with banners demanding equal rights marched into the heart of the capital, joining the thousands who were calling for the ouster of the president. They were greeted with cheers.The women settled into a spot below the stage in the middle of Change Square. But as the days passed, “the women’s section” became off-limits to men. A fence went up around it. Then straw mats were slung over the fence to conceal the women. Policed by bearded males, Y

Nov. 6, 2011

Iran dismisses reported U.N. claims of nuclear work

TEHRAN (AP) ― New intelligence the U.N. atomic agency plans to release on alleged nuclear weapons work by Iran is fabricated, the Iranian foreign minister said Saturday.Diplomats have told the Associated Press that the International Atomic Energy Agency plans to reveal intelligence in the coming week suggesting Iran made computer models of a nuclear warhead, as well as other previously undisclosed details on alleged secret work by Tehran on nuclear arms.Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi accused

Nov. 6, 2011

Syria frees 553 protesters; 10 die in clashes

Damascus kicks off Arab peace plan but 50 people have been killed since it vowed to end violenceDAMASCUS (AFP) ― The Syrian regime on Saturday released more than 550 people arrested during anti-regime protests, kicking off an Arab peace plan, even as activists said fresh clashes cost at least 10 more lives.The Arab League chief, meanwhile, warned that failure of the peace deal agreed this week would be catastrophic and demanded an immediate end to the bloodshed.To mark the Muslim feast of Eid al

Nov. 6, 2011

Myanmar revises party laws; Suu Kyi’s return enabled

YANGON (AP) -- Myanmar’s president has signed a revised law on political parties in an apparent attempt to encourage Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy to accept the political system and reregister as a party.President Thein Sein signed the amendments to the Political Party Registration Law on Friday as senior U.S. diplomats were ending a visit to encourage his government to push forward with democratic reforms. A U.N. envoy has also been visiting.If the National Lea

Nov. 6, 2011

Mexican hacker group drops reprisal as member freed

MEXICO CITY (AFP) - Persons claiming to be with the Mexican arm of "hacktivist" group Anonymous said Friday they were scrapping plans to expose information about the Zetas drug cartel after a kidnap victim was released.Twitter messages from the accounts @anonhispano and @IberoAnon said the Anonymous

Nov. 6, 2011

150 die in heinous Islamist attacks in Nigeria

DAMATURU, Nigeria (AFP) - At least 150 people died in a "heinous" wave of gun and bomb attacks in northern Nigeria that were on Saturday claimed by the Islamist Boko Haram sect.President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the assaults which officials said included at least five suicide bomb blasts and "dir

Nov. 6, 2011

U.S. report blasts China, Russia for cybercrime

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Cyberattacks by Chinese and Russian intelligence services, as well corporate hackers in those countries, have swallowed up large amounts of high-tech American research and development data, and that stolen information has helped build their economies, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded. The report, offering the first such detailed public accusations from U.S. officials, said computer attacks by foreign governments are on the rise and represent a “persistent threat to U.S

Nov. 4, 2011