world

Tens of thousands rally for immigration reform

Monday, March 22,2010 6:20 p.m.

Frustrated with the lack of action to overhaul the country’s immigration system, tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied on the National Mall and marched through the streets of the capital Sunday, waving American flags and holding homemade signs in English and Spanish.

President ‘bling-bling’ down in polls

By Carrie Schedler · Sunday, March 21,2010 3:03 p.m.

In France, some rouge states are about to turn bleu.This past week, at dinner with my host family, the topic of the ongoing French regional elections came up. The streets of Paris have been littered with campaign posters for every party imaginable, one for every shade of political belief.

Drug cartels still actively infiltrating US security

By Olufemi Taiwo · Sunday, March 21,2010 3:02 p.m.

Earlier this month, students, concerned citizens and members of the press crammed into a hearing room on Capitol Hill. Before them sat Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ark., who apparently represented an entire subcommittee of the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security. He convened a hearing about ongoing corruption problems among the agencies tasked with protecting American borders.

Internet trade poses serious risk to endangered species

Sunday, March 21,2010 3:01 p.m.

The Internet has emerged as one of the greatest threats to rare species, fueling the illegal wildlife trade and making it easier to buy everything from live baby lions to wine made from tiger bones, conservationists said Sunday.The Web’s impact was made clear at the meeting of the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES. Delegates voted overwhelmingly Sunday to ban the trade of the Kaiser’s spotted newt, which the World Wildlife Fund said has been devastated by the Internet trade.

Hill says he'll vote 'yes'

By Associated Press · Sunday, March 21,2010 1:13 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Baron Hill said Saturday that he will vote in favor of health care reform legislation being considered by Congress because the measure addresses his concerns about taxpayer-funded abortions and deficit reduction.

Dems hopeful on health care passage

By Charles Babington · Sunday, March 21,2010 1:06 p.m.

A pair of House Democratic leaders predicted Sunday the final tally on President Barack Obama’s historic health care bill will meet or exceed the 216 votes required for passage. But they acknowledged having yet to nail down commitments from a handful of members, some of whom remained concerned about the abortion issue.

More quakes hit Chile

Thursday, March 11,2010 4 p.m.

A series of aftershocks from last month’s devastating quake rocked Chile on Thursday as a new president was sworn into office and immediately urged coastal residents to move to higher ground in case of a tsunami.The strongest aftershock, magnitude 6.9, was nearly as strong as the quake that devastated Haiti on Jan. 12. There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries.The Chilean Navy issued a tsunami warning while the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the aftershocks were too small to cause dangerous waves beyond Chile’s central coast.

Proposed math, English standards released

Wednesday, March 10,2010 3:39 p.m.

Math and English instruction in the United States moved a step closer to uniform — and more rigorous — standards Wednesday as drafts of new national guidelines were released. Supporters of the project led by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) hope the lists of things kids should learn at each grade level will replace a patchwork of systems across the country.

Right-to-die group indicted in Georgia

Tuesday, March 9,2010 6:07 p.m.

A grand jury indicted four members of an assisted suicide group Tuesday on charges that they helped cancer patient John Celmer, kill himself.The Final Exit Network’s former president Thomas E. Goodwin, ex-medical director Dr. Lawrence D. Egbert, regional coordinator Nicholas Alec Sheridan and member Claire Blehr are charged with offering assistance in the commission of suicide, tampering with evidence and violating state anti-racketeering charges.

Accused killer uses census for delay

Tuesday, March 9,2010 6:05 p.m.

Accused of killing two people, Floyd Wayne Williams Jr. wants the charges dropped — or at least his trial delayed — until the 2010 Census is done so a jury more accurately reflecting the county’s racial makeup can be chosen. Williams, who is black, is to be tried in Atlanta’s Clayton County, which has seen a surge in black residents since the 2000 Census.

Same-sex couples wed in capital

Tuesday, March 9,2010 5:59 p.m.

One bride wore a knee-length lace dress and pearls. The other bride wore a yellow shirt and white suit. And when a pastor pronounced them “partners in life this day and for always” Tuesday they hugged and smiled as wedding guests and nearly a dozen TV cameras and reporters looked on. Tuesday was the first day same-sex couples could marry in Washington, D.C. Brides Angelisa Young and Sinjoyla Townsend were the first of three couples taking the plunge in morning ceremonies at the offices of the Human Rights Campaign, which does advocacy work on gay, lesbian and transgender issues.

OSU employee kills one, self in early morning

Tuesday, March 9,2010 11:39 a.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio State University janitor who was about to lose his job walked into a maintenance building for his early morning shift Tuesday and shot two supervisors, killing one and fatally shooting himself.

Togo re-elects president in disputed vote

By Therese Kennelly · Monday, March 8,2010 4:17 p.m.

The small West African country of Togo re-elcted its national leader Thursday when Faure Gnassingbe won with 1.2 million votes. Gnassingbe has been the President of Togo since 2005, following the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, and his family has lead Togo for more than 40 years.

Official: Colleges can’t ban discrimination

Sunday, March 7,2010 2:44 p.m.

Virginia’s attorney general has advised the state’s public colleges they don’t have the authority to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, saying only the General Assembly has that power. The letter sent by Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli to state college officials Thursday drew swift criticism from Democrats and gay rights activists.

A Holi experience

By Caitlin Ryan · Sunday, March 7,2010 2:44 p.m.

As nature ushers in spring with warmer weather and longer days, people all over India and Indian diaspora populations around the world celebrate the beginning of March with Holi, the festival of colors.

Home-school texts dismiss Darwin, evolution

Sunday, March 7,2010 2:42 p.m.

Christian-based texts dominate a growing home-school education market that encompasses more than 1.5 million U.S. students. And a Bible-based version of Earth’s creation is just what most home-school parents want. 2007 federal statistics show 83 percent of home-schooling parents want to give their children “religious or moral instruction.”

Congress’s grip on the capitol slowly loosens

Thursday, March 4,2010 5:15 p.m.

With Democrats in control, Congress seems increasingly willing to loosen its grip on Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s city and allow it to function more like a state — no laughing matter for its some 600,000 city residents.

Incidents, protests spread at UC campuses

Wednesday, March 3,2010 6 p.m.

A firestorm about racially and ethnically charged incidents at several University of California campuses spread Tuesday as UC San Diego announced a KKK-style hood was found on campus and students in Los Angeles and Irvine demonstrated against intolerance.

Creating winning combinations

By Meg Hamill · Wednesday, March 3,2010 5:59 p.m.

In America, shopping for food is fairly simple. One can travel to the grocery store once every two weeks to stock up on provisions. In Italy, just figuring out which cheeses to purchase at the local market can be a daunting task.

Modern tech in traditional lands

By Therese Kennelly · Wednesday, March 3,2010 5:56 p.m.

As I sat at the outdooring (baby naming) ceremony, I couldn’t help but notice the intense interactions between tradition and modernity in Ghanaian society.