
Religious exemptions key to RI gay marriage debate
The fate of gay marriage legislation in Rhode Island could hinge on the exemptions it affords religious groups that oppose it, the state Senate ...
Pope tweets shout-out for WDC anti-abortion rally
Pope Benedict XVI is giving a shout-out to an anti-abortion rally in Washington, tweeting that politicians should protect the unborn and "promote a ...
Britain introduces same-sex marriage bill
The British government published a bill to legalize same-sex marriage Friday, and said lawmakers will get their first vote on it in Parliament next ...

Absent but omnipresent, Chavez a powerful symbol
While Venezuela's sick president recuperates from surgery behind closed doors in Cuba, at home he is more visible than ever. Iconic images of his eyes ...

Clashes in Egypt on eve of uprising anniversary
Egyptian security forces fired tear gas and protesters hurled stones and Molotov cocktails in a day-long demonstration on Thursday, raising fears of ...

Key parties in incoming Israeli parliament
Israel's parliamentary election left the two main blocs nearly deadlocked with 61 seats on the right and 59 seats in the center-left, based on ...
Teacher's lawyer says sex accuser 'gaming system'
An awkward, vision-impaired former Catholic school teacher was an easy target for a false rape claim made by a longtime heroin addict "gaming the ...

In Davos, examining the Arab Spring's mixed bag
The convulsions of the Arab world are taking center stage at this year's World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, where leaders and experts are much ...

Critics of Jordan's king perform well in election
The surprise victory of 37 Islamist and other government critics despite an election boycott injects a degree of dissent into Jordan's newly empowered ...
Pope on social networking: the virtual is real
Pope Benedict XVI put church leaders on notice Thursday, saying social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter aren't a virtual world they can ...

Jordanians vote for newly empowered parliament
Jordanians voted Wednesday for a parliament with wider authority, as the king cedes some of his powers to try to prevent simmering dissent from ...

Israeli election casts ex-TV anchor as kingmaker
Israel's election has put a suave former TV news anchor and political novice in the role of kingmaker, and he has signaled he will use his power to ...

Russia denies large Syria evacuation amid fighting
Russia acknowledged Wednesday for the first time that it pulled the families of its diplomats out of Syria long ago, and rejected suggestions that the ...
Egypt's top cleric cancels Saudi trip over slight
Cairo airport officials say Egypt's top Muslim cleric cancelled a visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of its monarch when he discovered that ...
Pussy Riot members say they have no regrets
The imprisoned members of the Pussy Riot feminist punk band say they feel no regrets about the irreverent "punk prayer" against President Vladimir ...
Facts and figures on Jordan's elections
Here are some facts and figures on Jordan's parliamentary election, being held on Wednesday: THE SYSTEM: The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of ...

Bishop apologizes for role in hiding priest abuse
Prosecutors who have been stymied for years in their attempts to build a criminal conspiracy case against retired Los Angeles Archdiocese Cardinal ...

Netanyahu narrowly wins Israeli election
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hard-line allies fared far worse than expected in a parliamentary election Tuesday, likely forcing him to ...
Key parties in Israeli elections
Summary of the main political parties competing in Israel's parliamentary elections. Exit polls show a small majority for Prime Minister Benjamin ...
Weakened Netanyahu likely to remain Israeli leader
Key questions following Israel's parliamentary election: —WHO WON? Exit polls indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to retain his ...

Obamas, Bidens attend Cathedral prayer service
President Barack Obama began the first full workday of his second term with a rousing, spiritual appeal for unity and strength from church leaders of ...

CEOs head to Davos more pessimistic about 2013
As high-powered CEOs flock to the snowy Swiss resort of Davos, they are loaded down with baggage — not just skis and iPads but concerns about the ...
APNewsBreak: Man asks to nix OH mosque fire plea
A former Marine who said he set fire to an Ohio mosque because he wanted to avenge the killings of American troops asked Tuesday to withdraw his ...

NY Orthodox counselor gets 103 years for sex abuse
An esteemed religious counselor in New York City's ultra-orthodox Jewish community was sentenced Tuesday to 103 years in prison for molesting a girl ...

Remains of last Yugoslav king returned to Serbia
The remains of Yugoslavia's last king — Peter II Karadjordjevic, who died in the U.S. in 1970 — were flown back to Serbia in a solemn ceremony on ...