Worst Cairo riots since Mubarak-era kill 24

Protests over church attack turns into bloodiest sectarian violence since February uprisingCAIRO (AP) ― Flames lit up downtown Cairo, where massive clashes raged Sunday, drawing Christians angry over a recent church attack, Muslims and Egyptian security forces. At least 24 people were killed and mor

Oct. 10, 2011

Riots over church attack in Egypt kill 24

CAIRO (AP) -- Massive clashes that drew in Christians angry over a recent church attack, Muslims, and Egyptian security forces raged over a large section of downtown Cairo Sunday night, leaving at least 24 people dead and more than 150 injured, Health Ministry officials said. It was the worst violen

Oct. 10, 2011

Nobel winner Gbowee wants absolute peace

Nobel peace prize joint winner Leymah Gbowee said Saturday it was her goal to seek absolute peace in Africa and the world, also paying tribute to a late Kenyan peace laureate. “My goal is to ensure that there is absolute peace in Africa and the rest of the world,” Gbowee told a group of three journa

Oct. 9, 2011

Christians fear Islamist pressure in Egypt

CAIRO (AP) ― On her first day to school, 15-year-old Christian student Ferial Habib was stopped at the doorstep of her new high school with clear instructions: either put on a headscarf or no school this year.Habib refused. While most Muslim women in Egypt wear the headscarf, Christians do not, and

Oct. 9, 2011

Yemen president says he wants to leave power

SANAA (AP) ― President Ali Abdullah Saleh made vague comments Saturday that he is willing to leave power in his first major speech since returning Yemen, but he gave no concrete plan for the future of the country. Yemen’s opposition cast doubt that the embattled leader was serious.It was not the fir

Oct. 9, 2011

Libyans claim gains in Gadhafi hometown offensive

SIRTE, Libya (AP) ― Libyan revolutionary forces claimed to have captured parts of a sprawling convention center that loyalists of Moammar Gadhafi have used as their main base in the ousted leader’s hometown and were shelling the city to try to rout snipers from rooftops in their offensive aimed at c

Oct. 9, 2011

Polish ties with Germany, Russia at stake in vote

WARSAW, Poland (AP) ― Poles will vote in parliamentary elections that will determine whether the country continues on its conciliatory course with Russia and Germany, or whether it returns to a more combative stance with those historic foes.Before Sunday’s voting, polls showed Prime Minister Donald

Oct. 9, 2011

Despite boost in spending, Angolans languish in hospital

LUANDA (AFP) ― In the Angolan hospital rooms that do have beds, two or three patients share each one, feeling fortunate not to be among the sick crowded into the corridors.Angola has tripled its spending on health care since 2006, but for the vast majority of Angolans who can’t afford sparkling new

Oct. 9, 2011

Jiang appears in public after speculation

BEIJING (AP) ― Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin made a rare public appearance at a Beijing ceremony on Sunday, months after speculation that he had died or was close to death.The 85-year-old Jiang took his seat onstage with other former and current top Chinese leaders at the Great Hall of the Pe

Oct. 9, 2011

Moody's cuts credit ratings of 12 British banks

Moody's on Friday downgraded its credit ratings for a dozen British lenders, including state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB, due to the removal and curtailment of government financial support.Moody's said it chose to downgrade five large banks and seven small ones as government action

Oct. 7, 2011

Wall Street protesters fed up with both parties

Obama acknowledges economic insecurities fueling three-week demonstrationsNEW YORK (AP) ― Their chief target is Wall Street, but many of the demonstrators in New York and across the U.S. also are thoroughly disgusted with Washington, blaming politicians of both major parties for policies they say pr

Oct. 7, 2011

Obama challenges GOP senators: Vote for jobs bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama defiantly challenged lawmakers Thursday to vote for his jobs plan or explain why not. "This is not a game," he declared.In keeping with the sharp new tone the president has adopted against Republicans, he challenged them to support him or spell out what

Oct. 7, 2011

Afghans rally in Kabul, demand NATO troops leave

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Hundreds of people marched through the streets of the Afghan capital on Thursday, demanding the immediate withdrawal of international military forces ahead of the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion.The peaceful demonstration in downtown Kabul was meant to mark the Oct.

Oct. 6, 2011

Karzai assassination plot foiled: official

KABUL (AP) ― Afghan intelligence officials said Wednesday that they had broken up a cell that plotted to kill President Hamid Karzai, arresting six people in Kabul whom they claimed were affiliated with al-Qaida and the Haqqani militant group.Intelligence service spokesman Latifullah Mashal said tha

Oct. 6, 2011