Associated Press
Latest stories
Cyprus Trial of Hizbullah Member Wraps Up, Verdict on March 21

The trial of a Hizbullah member accused of preparing attacks on Israelis in Cyprus has concluded with final summations submitted to the court in writing.

The court then asked defense and prosecution lawyers to clarify specific parts of their summations, which weren't read out or made public Thursday. The court said it will render its verdict on March 21.

W140 Full Story
Little PSY Goes Solo after 'Gangnam Style' Cameo

The impish boy who showed off his dance moves alongside PSY in "Gangnam Style" is hoping to go viral, too.

The 7-year-old nicknamed "Little PSY" is releasing an electro pop song next week through iTunes. The boy whose real name is Hwang Min-woo says he wants to gain global fame like his "big brother," PSY.

W140 Full Story
France Urges Cooling of Austerity, Focus on Growth

France's finance minister says Europe must focus more on promoting growth and less on tightening budgets to revive the bloc's sluggish economy and avoid a deepening social crisis.

Pierre Moscovici warned Thursday in Brussels that continuing on a strict austerity course would only "nourish a social crisis that leads to populism."

W140 Full Story
James Hits Winner, Heat Top Magic for 16th in Row

LeBron James scored 26 points, including a go-ahead layup with 3.2 seconds left, as the Miami Heat scrambled late to beat the Orlando Magic 97-96 on Wednesday and extend their club-record winning streak to 16 games.

Dwyane Wade scored 24 points and Chris Bosh added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who conceded a 20-point, second-half lead and then rallied from a five-point deficit in the final minutes.

W140 Full Story
Indonesian Volcano Spews Ash into Sky; No One Hurt

Indonesia scientists say they are closely monitoring a smoking volcano on Java island, urging villagers and tourists to stay off the mountain's slope.

Government volcanologist Hendra Gunawan said Thursday that Mount Tangkuban Perahu in West Java province shot up smoke and ash nearly 500 meters (1,640 feet) into the air since Monday, and was placed at the second-highest alert level.

W140 Full Story
WWE Says William Moody, aka Paul Bearer, Has Died

William Moody, better known to pro wrestling fans as Paul Bearer, the pasty-faced, urn-carrying manager for performers The Undertaker and Kane, has died, the WWE said. He was 58.

A spokesman for the wrestling company said Moody's family notified the WWE of his death on Tuesday. No cause was released.

W140 Full Story
Juventus Beats Celtic 2-0 to Reach CL Quarters

Juventus avoided any slip-ups against Celtic, finishing off the Scottish team with a 2-0 win Wednesday to seal a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals 5-0 on aggregate.

Holding a 3-0 lead from the away leg, Juventus withstood some early pressure from Celtic before Alessandro Matri essentially clinched the series when he put the Italian side ahead in the 24th minute.

W140 Full Story
Furious over Sanctions, NKorea Vows Pre-emptive Nuclear Strike

North Korea on Thursday vowed to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States, amplifying its threatening rhetoric hours ahead of a vote by U.N. diplomats on whether to level new sanctions against Pyongyang for its recent nuclear test.

An unidentified spokesman for Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said the North will exercise its right for "pre-emptive nuclear strikes on the headquarters of the aggressors" because Washington is pushing to start a nuclear war against the North.

W140 Full Story
PSG Holds Valencia 1-1 to Reach CL Quarters

PSG did enough to reach the Champions League quarterfinals by scraping a 1-1 draw at home to Valencia on Wednesday, yet the big-spending French club will have to play much better to be a threat to the big teams in the last eight.

PSG had won the away leg of their last-16 match 2-1 and seemed content to sit back in a dull first half in which the visitors mustered two tame shots on target. The match came to life in the 55th minute when Brazilian forward Jonas profited from PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi to pick up the loose ball and score with a fierce shot from 20 meters for his fourth goal in three games.

W140 Full Story
Old Catholic Orders Fade as Monks and Nuns Age

The nuns of "Le Creche," the only orphanage in Bethlehem, have raised generations of children in this biblical town.

But only four aging nuns remain, down from a dozen 30 years ago, and the Roman Catholic church is struggling to replace them. In the meantime, they have hired a professional staff to do jobs once solely performed by nuns.

W140 Full Story