Anti-nuclear Greens soar after Japan disaster, ending CDU’s six-decade grip on powerBERLIN (AP) ― German chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives have suffered a historic defeat in a state ballot after almost six decades in power there, partial results showed Sunday, in an election that amounted to a referendum on the party’s stance on nuclear power.The opposition anti-nuclear Greens doubled their

Opposition turns down Saleh early poll offerSANAA (AP) ― Yemen’s U.S.-backed president, his support crumbling among political allies and the army, warned that the country could slide into a “bloody” civil war Tuesday as the opposition rejected his offer to step down by the end of the year.Tens of thousands protested in the capital demanding his immediate ouster, emboldened by top military commande

Residents evacuated from dangerous areas never participated in emergency drillsFUKUSHIMA, Japan (AP) ― When the massive earthquake and tsunami rocked northeast Japan on March 11, residents prepared by years of drills knew exactly what to do: They scrambled for cover until the shaking stopped, then ran for higher ground to avoid the giant wave.But when word came that the disasters had left the Fuku

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The U.S. on Sunday claimed initial success two days into an assault on Libya that included some of the heaviest firepower in the American arsenal ― long-range bombers designed for the Cold War ― but American officials said Sunday it was too early to define the international military campaign’s endgame.The top U.S. military officer suggested that Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi m

WASHINGTON (AP) ― U.S. and British ships and submarines launched the first phase of a missile assault on Libyan air defenses Saturday and a senior American defense official said it was believed substantial damage was inflicted.In the strikes, 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired at more than 20 coastal targets to clear the way for air patrols to ground Libya’s air force.While a U.S. defense off

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The United States on Saturday unleashed a barrage of Tomahawk missiles against the Libyan regime’s air defenses, but ruled out using ground troops in what President Barack Obama called a “limited military action.”After initially taking a cautious stance on armed intervention in Libya’s civil war, Obama ordered the strikes citing the threat posed to civilians by Moammar Gadhafi’s

CAIRO (AP) ― Millions of Egyptians voted freely on Saturday for the first time in more than half a century, joyfully waiting for hours to cast their ballots on a package of constitutional changes eliminating much-hated restrictions on political rights and civil liberties.Young people traded mobile-phone pictures of ink-stained fingers that showed they voted. Others called relatives to boast of cas

South Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan could square off against American great Michael Phelps in a California meet this June, swimming officials here said Friday.The Korea Swimming Federation and the sports division of SK Telecom, which manages Park, said the 21-year-old is set to enter the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in California starting June 16. The event is the seventh and final leg of t

TOKYO (AFP) ― Japan’s earthquake-battered economy faces a new and unpredictable threat from a deepening nuclear crisis and power blackouts that analysts say could hinder a recovery from the disaster.The 9.0-magnitude tremor and killer tsunami which struck on March 11 are feared to have caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage to the world’s third-largest economy, although the full impact i

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Finance officials from the Group of Seven major industrialized countries on Thursday agreed on a coordinated effort to weaken the Japanese yen, which has surged to record levels following last week’s earthquake and tsunami.A super-strong yen could cripple Japanese exports, further worsening the economic impact of the disaster that killed thousands and triggered an unfolding nucle

South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na will come home this weekend with the world championships initially scheduled for next week in Japan still in limbo, her agency here said Friday.In a statement, All That Sports said Kim will arrive home on Sunday to continue training and also to serve as an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Olympics bid for PyeongChang, an east coast alpine town. Kim is al

Sunni leaders desperate to hold on to power, Shiites calling for end to dynastyMANAMA, Bahrain (AP) ― Soldiers and riot police in Bahrain overran a protesters’ camp, imposed a 12-hour curfew and choked off movement nationwide Wednesday. Witnesses described helicopters firing on homes in a hunt for Shiites and attacking doctors treating the wounded, while the government called the demonstrators “ou

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Chief State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley quit on Sunday after causing a stir by describing the U.S. military’s treatment of the suspected WikiLeaks leaker as “ridiculous” and “stupid,” pointed words that forced President Barack Obama to defend the detention as appropriate.“Given the impact of my remarks, for which I take full responsibility, I have submitted my resignation”

BEIJING (AP) ― China approved economic plans for the next five years that aim to empower consumers but rejected any hints of political reforms as it closed its annual legislative session Monday.The Five-Year Plan calls for a shift from rapid economic growth to higher quality, more sustainable development with a greater emphasis on services and broader distribution of wealth. If carried out, the pl

SANAA, Yemen (AP) ― Yemeni security forces killed six people Saturday and wounded hundreds in the second day of a harsh crackdown on anti-government protests, witnesses said. One of the dead was a 15-year-old student.The assault with gunfire and tear gas was the toughest yet by the Yemeni government in a month of protests aimed at unseating President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been in power for 3

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) ― Discovery ended its career as the world’s most flown spaceship Wednesday, returning from orbit for the last time and taking off in a new direction as a museum piece.After a flawless trip to the International Space Station, NASA’s oldest shuttle swooped through a few wispy clouds on its way to its final touchdown.“To the ship that has led the way time and time again,

BEIJING (AFP) ― China’s parliament chief Thursday ruled out any shift to multi-party democracy in a speech that appeared to pour cold water on political reform hopes sparked by remarks from Premier Wen Jiabao last year.Wu Bangguo, who is officially number two in the country’s leadership behind President Hu Jintao, said in his annual address to the legislature that abandoning the Communist Party-do

DHARAMSHALA, India (AFP) ― The Dalai Lama announced Thursday his plan to retire as political head of the exiled Tibetan movement, saying the time had come for his replacement by a “freely elected” leader.The Dalai Lama, whose more significant role is as the movement’s spiritual leader, said he would seek an amendment allowing him to resign his political office when the exiled Tibetan parliament me

TOKYO (AFP) ― The United States on Thursday sacked a senior diplomat who infuriated Japan with reported slurs against the people of Okinawa island, which has reluctantly hosted American forces since World War II.The State Department’s Japan desk head Kevin Maher was replaced after he reportedly called Okinawans “lazy” and “masters of manipulation and extortion,” triggering outrage in Tokyo and on

CAIRO (AP) ― Thousands of Christians and Muslims clashed Tuesday, with one Christian man killed and scores wounded as anger rose over the burning of a church in a Cairo suburb.It was the second burst of sectarian fighting in as many days and the latest in a string of violent protests over a variety of topics as simmering unrest continues nearly a month after mass protests led to the ouster of Pres