Tuareg rebels advance as junta asserts control

Tuareg rebels closed in on a key city in northern Mali Saturday, taking advantage of a power vacuum in Bamako where putschists insisted they were in firm control after ousting the government. As the junta concentrated on stamping out rumours it was losing control and condemned widespread looting, soldiers in the distant north recruited militia to help them fight Tuareg rebels waging a battle for independence. "Thanks to Allah the almighty and his blessings, we will soon take our land in Kidal," Tuareg rebel group Ansar Dine (Defenders of Faith) said in a statement as its fighters surrounded one of the north's main towns. Ansar Dine is an Islamist...

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Egypt liberal MPs quit constitution panel vote

Egyptian liberal MPs withdrew on Saturday from a crucial parliament vote for a panel to draft a new constitution amid a rift with Islamists over the constituent assembly's make up, liberals said. The liberals accused the majority Islamists of trying to monopolise the 100-member panel, whose constitution will replace the one annulled by the ruling military after an uprising toppled president Hosni Mubarak last year. "All our MPs withdrew," said Naguib Sawiris, founder of the Free Egyptians Party, the largest liberal party in the Islamist-dominated parliament. "It's ridiculous," he said. "A constitution being written by one force and one force...

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City stumble as emotional Bolton down Rovers

Manchester City's Premier League title hopes suffered a setback with a 1-1 draw at Stoke on Saturday as Bolton paid tribute to stricken star Fabrice Muamba with a morale-boosting win over Blackburn. With leaders Manchester United expected to beat Fulham on Monday, City desperately needed a win at the Britannia Stadium to keep the pressure on their cross-town rivals. However City were forced to scramble a draw via a deflected long-range shot from Yaya Toure after Stoke striker Peter Crouch had fired City ahead with a spectacular 30-yard volley. The draw returned City to the top of the table on goal difference but means that United can now...

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Michigan's steadier job growth reason for optimism

Michigan has regained more than 151,000 jobs since the number of working residents fell to a recessionary low in mid-2009, a steady climb that began under Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and has continued under Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Still, even as the state has seen its unemployment rate drop from a peak of 14.2 percent in August 2009 to 9 percent in January, economists say Michigan still has a long way to go to recover the 857,000 jobs lost between the April 2000 employment peak — when the jobless rate was just 3.4 percent — and the trough the state hit two years ago. As of January, over 700,000 remained unrecovered. Yet the sense...

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Report: Sandusky called 'likely pedophile' in '98

A psychologist who looked into a 1998 allegation against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky told police at the time that his behavior fit the profile of a likely pedophile, NBC News reported Saturday. Yet Sandusky was never criminally charged, nor placed on a state registry of suspected child abusers, and prosecutors say he continued assaulting boys for more than a decade until his arrest in November. NBC obtained a copy of the campus police department's investigatory report on an encounter in which Sandusky was accused of having inappropriate contact with an 11-year-old boy with whom he had showered naked on the Penn...

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Six children, two adults die in West Virginia house fire

Eight people, including six children under the age of nine, died early Saturday in a fire that swept a two-story wood house in Charleston, West Virginia, the worst death toll in the state's capital city in decades, a fire official said. All of the people staying in the house at the time of the fire were related, Charleston Assistant Fire Chief Bob Sharp said. It was not known if they were all living together in the house or if some were visiting, he said. A seventh child was in a hospital intensive care unit and "not doing great," Sharp said, and an adult woman occupant of the house who reported the fire from a neighbor's house was later taken...

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UNHRC throws out Russia proposal on Libya detentions

The UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution urging Libya's new rulers to probe all alleged abuses, but threw out a Russian proposal calling for a halt to arbitrary detentions. The council also rejected an amendment tabled by the Ugandans, who sought to include a reference to "express deep concern about the deliberate killings ... of persons of Sub-Saharan origins." The amendments tabled by the two delegations hours before the council session was due to close sparked frantic negotiations among ambassadors. Russia said its proposal would have made the resolution backed by Western states "more balanced." "It calls upon the Transitional...

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Explosion in Rwanda leaves one dead, five injured: police

An explosion killed one person and wounded five others Friday in northern Rwanda, a police spokesman said, adding that a probe had been launched to determine the nature of the explosive device. The blast occurred on Friday evening at a bus park in the town of Musanze, around 90 kilometres (56 miles) north of the capital Kigali, Theos Badege told AFP. "We don't know the nature of the explosive device. Investigations are under way to determine whether it was a grenade or not," added Badege, saying that the blast also damaged nearby vehicles. Several civilians have been killed or wounded in grenade attacks in the past. In January, 10 people were...

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Mali coup: the revenge of the rank and file

At the barracks where Mali's junta has set up camp, mutinous soldiers expressed their pride Friday at having snatched the reins of power from a leadership they perceive as incompetent. "Yes, it's power to the rank and file," shouted one corporal, his eyes red with fatigue, as hundreds of troops lined up inside the Soundiata Keita camp, named after the founder of the 13th century empire of Mali. Located around 15 kilometres (nine miles) north of the capital Bamako, the camp is bustling with hundreds of soldiers awaiting orders, a day after the junta announced on state television that it seized power. Sitting on a stool, a pen in hand, the corporal...

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No slip-ups as Murray eases into Miami third round

World number four Andy Murray eased into the Miami Masters third round on Friday when he saw off Colombia's Alejandro Falla 6-2, 6-3, avoiding a repeat of last week's embarrassment in California. The Scot, who was surprisingly eliminated in the first round of the Indian Wells Masters by Spain's Guillermo Garcia Lopez, had no such problems in Florida. Murray will tackle either Canadian 26th-seed Milos Raonic or Arnaud Clement of France for a place in the last 16. Fourth seeded Murray, the 2009 champion in Miami when he defeated Novak Djokovic, recorded his 15th match win of the season, hitting four aces for victory in 77 minutes against Falla. The...

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APNewsBreak: Europe faces jihadist threat

With France's deadly attacks, Islamic terror has apparently struck once more in the heart of Europe — and authorities say there's a dangerous twist: the emergence of homegrown extremists operating independent of any known networks, making them hard to track and stop. "We have a different kind of jihadist threat emerging and it's getting stronger," Europol chief Rob Wainwright told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from The Hague. "It is much more decentralized and harder to track." France's motorcycle gunman traumatized a nation heading into presidential elections and spread fear across the continent that the specter of al-Qaida...

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UK anti-Islamist group to form "Freedom Party"

The leader of a British anti-Islamist group said on Friday his populist protest movement, which critics say represents a new far right in Britain, would form a political party in May. Stephen Lennon, head of the English Defence League (EDL), said the three-year-old grassroots group wanted to move on from holding street demonstrations to contesting elections. "The British political anti-Islamist party will be launched in May at our Luton demonstration," Lennon told Reuters, saying the new body would be called the Freedom Party. "At the Luton demonstration, the whole country will hear an anti-Islamist political party that gives everyone an option in a non-racist way - the opposite to the British National Party." The EDL was formed in response to a protest by a small group of radical Muslims...

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Poland exhumes some 2010 plane crash victims

One autopsy report describes organs that had been removed years before. Another adds 20 centimeters (nearly 8 inches) to a short man, making no mention of bones disfigured by childhood polio. One family doubts whether an autopsy was performed at all. Polish investigators have exhumed the remains of three of the 96 Poles killed in the 2010 plane crash in Russia that killed President Lech Kaczynski due to flaws in the initial autopsies performed by Russian officials. The need for the new autopsies has added to suspicions held by some Poles that the Russians were, at best, sloppy in their handling of the crash aftermath, and, at worst, trying...

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Organ recipient testifies at trial in Kosovo

A Canadian man testified Friday that he paid $105,000 (€80,000) to an Israeli citizen in 2008 to organize a kidney transplant in a Kosovo clinic allegedly used by an international organ trafficking network for dozens of illegal operations. Raul Fain, 66, of Toronto, told an EU-run panel of three judges that he sought foreign organ donors after doctors told him he could wait up to 12 years for such an operation in Canada. Fain testified from Canada via a video link to the trial of seven Kosovars suspected of involvement in the criminal network. Kosovo law forbids the removal and transplant of organs. Fain was shown photos of a building that...

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Kim Kardashian Gets Flour Bombed, Keeps On Working

Reality star Kim Kardashian was flour bombed on the red carpet in West Hollywood on Thursday night. Just before 8 PM, after finishing posing for the photographers at an event for her new fragrance, True Reflection, at the London Hotel off of Sunset Blvd., Kim was speaking to the house crew on the red carpet when a young woman strolled up to the reality star and dumped a bag of what appeared to be flour on Kim's head. PLAY IT NOW: Kim Kardashian Talks Failed Marriage & Jennifer Lawrence Redefines ‘The Hunger Games’ "She came from Kim's left, with a Zip-Lock baggie," an Access Hollywood staffer on the scene said, noting the bag had about...

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Syria crisis: EU to put sanctions on Asma al-Assad

EU foreign ministers are set to impose a travel ban and asset freeze on the UK-born wife of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, diplomats say. Asma al-Assad is among 12 Syrians to be added to a number of figures, including the president, who are already subject to sanctions. It was unclear whether the ban would stop her from travelling to the UK. Anti-government activists accuse the regime of killing thousands of protesters over the past year. In recent weeks, the Damascus government has stepped up its efforts to crush pockets of rebellion in cities including Homs and Hama. Every day, activists report dozens of deaths and more protests. Mr Assad...

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Robert Bales to face murder charges over Afghan massacre

A US soldier suspected of killing civilians in Afghanistan will be charged with 17 counts of murder, US officials have told the BBC. Staff Sgt Robert Bales is accused of attacking the villagers in their homes in Kandahar province on 11 March. Most victims were women and children. Sgt Bales, 38, was later moved to a military prison in the US after being transported from Afghanistan to Kuwait. He could face the death penalty if convicted. 'No evidence' Sgt Bales would also be charged with six counts of assault and attempted murder, a US official told the BBC. The charges are to be read to the soldier at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth,...

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Kris Jenner's Inappropriate Outfit Copies Daughter Kim Kardashian

Usually, when your mom does embarrassing stuff, you’re the only one who suffers. But in the case of the Kardashians’ mom, Kris Jenner, the world gets to see her cringe-worthy antics. Most recently, the 56-year-old mother of Kim Kardashian wore an outfit that would be better suited for a 20-year-old (in fact, Kim and sister Khloe have worn similar outfits): hot-pink skinny jeans, black leather jacket, oversized silver handbag, and high-heeled, leopard print mules. It’s an outfit that a teenager could probably pull off, but Jenner is pushing the fashion bounds in this overly trendy look for her age. The reality TV mom got low marks on the Web....

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Wide receiver Manningham signs two-year deal with 49ers

Wide receiver Mario Manningham, whose spectacular sideline catch helped the New York Giants win the Super Bowl last month, has been signed by the San Francisco 49ers on a two-year deal. The move was announced by the 49ers on Thursday, five days after Manningham's agent said terms had been agreed by the two parties. "We are very pleased to add a player like Mario to our team," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. "Although it is still early in his NFL career, he is a productive wide receiver with a lot of big game experience. He will be a nice compliment to our current wide receiver group and a good fit for our offensive...

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Senator calls hearing to examine bounties in NFL

The Senate wants to grill the NFL about bounties. And the NBA, NHL, NCAA and Major League Baseball are invited, too. Sen. Dick Durbin is setting up a Judiciary Committee hearing about bounties in professional football and other major sports in the wake of news that New Orleans Saints players received extra cash for hits that hurt particular opponents. The assistant Senate majority leader, an Illinois Democrat, said Thursday he wants to examine whether federal law should make such bounty systems a crime. "Let's be real basic about it here. If this activity were taking place off of a sporting field, away from a court, nobody would have a second...

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Stella McCartney shows off her UK Olympic designs

How many ways can you stretch Britain's red, white and blue Union Jack over finely toned Olympic athletes? Ask Stella McCartney. The famed designer unveiled her ideas for Britain's Olympians on Thursday with uniforms that made imaginative use of the familiar flag. The designs, a closely guarded secret for months, were shown at the Tower of London in a gala event that combined fashion's razzle-dazzle with the star quality of top Olympic competitors. Out with rail-thin fashion models, in with real Olympic stars. McCartney, who is serving as adidas' creative director for the Summer Games, said she hoped both competitors and the British public...

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Inzaghi out with hamstring strain

Veteran forward Filippo Inzaghi will be out for two to three weeks with a hamstring strain, his club AC Milan said Thursday. The 38-year-old has been a bit-part player this season, making just eight appearances in all competitions. All of those, bar one, was as a substitute. The injury comes at an inopportune time for Inzaghi, who may have been in line for more regular first team action with Pato out injured, Antonio Cassano's long-term heart problem and doubts over both Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It means only Argentine Maxi Lopez and youngster Stephan El Shaarawy are definitely fit for this weekend's game against Roma, although Ibrahimovic...

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Rooney says sorry after breaking young fan's wrist

Wayne Rooney has apologised to a nine-year-old Manchester United supporter after the striker accidentally broke the boy's wrist with a stray shot before his side's 5-0 win at Wolves on Sunday. Rooney was taking shots at goal during the pre-match warm-up and one wild effort from the United star flew into the crowd and struck Jamie Thomas on the wrist as he tried to block the ball. Thomas managed to watch the first half of the Premier League match, but was taken into the first aid tent after his arm "ballooned" at half time. Medics then sent the youngster to hospital where he had a plaster cast put on his injured wrist. Rooney was not aware...

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Vatican: Pope's Cuba trip should help democracy

The Vatican's No. 2 has dismissed suggestions that Cuba's Communist government could exploit Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming trip as a propaganda tool, saying the visit should help promote democracy on the island. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, said he expects an outpouring of support for the pope because he is the head of the Catholic Church and that the visit will only make things better for the Cuban church. "I don't believe the visit will be exploited by the government," Bertone told the Turin daily La Stampa in an interview published Thursday. "In fact, I think the government and Cuban people will do their utmost...

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TNT Post to trial deliveries in London

Britain's second largest postal firm TNT Post is to trial deliveries on the streets of west London next month as it steps up ambitions to rival state-owned Royal Mail Group as the UK's postal provider. TNT Post UK, which is owned by Dutch mail company PostNL NV and handles more than 300 million items a month in the UK, will run test deliveries to homes and businesses in the capital from mid-April after a successful tryout in Liverpool. The firm currently collects and sorts post before handing it over to Royal Mail to deliver what is known as the 'final mile' to residential addresses and businesses. TNT Post UK wants to provide this service...

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UK comedy firm sues Twentieth Century Fox over 'Glee'

A British chain of comedy clubs has taken Hollywood giant Twentieth Century Fox to court over the name of its hit television series "Glee". Comic Enterprises, which runs four music and stand-up comedy venues called Glee Club, has made a claim against the US film and TV company for trademark infringement. The British firm's owner Mark Tughan said many customers assume there is a link between his company and the US series, and that the confusion is damaging his 16-year-old business. The TV comedy, about a high school singing club, has been wildly popular since its first series in 2009, but Tughan did not start legal proceedings until September...

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'Pit bull-type' dog savages five London police

Five police officers were taken to hospital on Thursday after being mauled by a "pit bull-type" dog during a raid in east London, Scotland Yard said. Four of the constables were said to be in a serious but stable condition after being injured in the attack in Albert Square in Stratford, Newham, which happened when they went to arrest a suspect at around 9am. The remaining officer suffered minor injuries. The dog was shot dead by a specialist firearms squad following the incident and the suspect, a man aged in his 20s thought to be the animal's owner, was detained for grievous bodily harm and kidnapping. Police said the raid was part of Operation...

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Terry hands Chelsea fitness boost

Chelsea captain John Terry has handed his side a major boost ahead of Saturday's crucial clash against Tottenham as the England defender returned to training on Thursday. Terry has missed Chelsea's last two matches, including Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Manchester City, with calf cramps and had not been able to train properly since before last week's Champions League win over Napoli. That loss to City has left fifth-placed Chelsea five points adrift of Tottenham, who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League place in the Premier League table. In the circumstances, Blues interim boss Roberto Di Matteo knows it would be a significant...

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