WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday rejected a call by a U.S. anti-Iran group for it to cut its relations with Tehran’s central bank in order to adhere to U.S. and European sanctions.The IMF said its account with Bank Markazi is simply related to Iran’s membership in the IMF and does not contravene sanctions placed on Tehran to pressure it not to develop nuclear weapons.The advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, a group of U.S. ex-diplomats and government officials

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― World Bank president Robert Zoellick said Tuesday that Europe would struggle to achieve needed economic reforms without growth to support them.“I think right now Europe depends on what happens with Italy and Spain,” Zoellick said in a CNBC television interview.The two countries “are undertaking fiscal consolidation and structural reforms but that’s very hard to do in a no-growth environment,” he said.Italy and Spain, the third- and fourth-biggest economies in the eurozone, are

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ― The U.N. peacekeeping chief said Tuesday that U.N. military observers in Syria are reporting cease-fire violations from the government and opposition and he demanded an immediate halt to all violence.Herve Ladsous refused to say which side was responsible for the most violations. But he said the unarmed observers have documented a number of Syrian heavy weapons deployed in populated areas ― including armored personnel carriers and Howitzers ― despite the government’s claim

PARIS (AP) ― The late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi’s former chief of staff is living in France with the government’s permission despite facing U.S. sanctions and being wanted by Interpol.The presence in France of Basher Saleh threatens to make life even more complicated for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who confirmed Tuesday that Saleh is here. Sarkozy has had a roller-coaster relationship with Libya and faces an uphill battle for re-election in a vote Sunday. The French leader already ha

PARIS (AP) ― The leader of France’s resurgent, anti-immigrant far right, Marine Le Pen, said Tuesday she would not endorse either candidate in the country’s presidential runoff, a move likely to deprive President Nicolas Sarkozy of some sorely needed votes.Le Pen, speaking at her National Front party’s traditional May Day rally, said she will cast a blank protest ballot on Sunday. She has set her sights are on June legislative elections. To her thousands of supporters, she said, “vote according

Ten countries in the world ruled by dictators have imposed the most drastic censorship by shutting out international media and cracking down on journalists at home, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a report released on Wednesday.Of the 10, Syria, Iran and North Korea stand out for their vast restrictions on the flow of information and thus create "enormous implications for geopol

Two young Britons who stole a penguin from an Australian theme park paid a large fine Wednesday after pleading guilty.Rhys Owen Jones, 21, and Keri Mules, 20, were fined $1,000 Australian ($1,034 U.S.) each for trespassing, theft and keeping a protected animal, The Courier-Mail of Brisbane reported.Dirk, a Fairy penguin, was stolen from Sea World, a popular theme park on the Queensland coast, Apri

After controlling the comings and goings of its people for five decades, communist Cuba appears on the verge of a momentous decision to lift many travel restrictions. One senior official says a "radical and profound" change is weeks away. The comment by Parliament Chief Ricardo Alarcon has residents, exiles and policymakers abuzz with speculation that the much-hated exit visa could be a thing of the past, even if Raul Castro‘s government continues to limit the travel of doctors, scientists, mili

Talk about a dogged presidential campaign: First pooch Bo has the starring role in an Internet ad for U.S. President Obama's re-election bid.The Internet ad opens with a two-toned blue background, similar to other pro-Obama spots, then Bo appears on screen, tongue out and roaring to play, The Washington Post reported Monday."Join Pet Lovers for Obama," the ad implores.Political pets have long attr