China's ruling Communist Party said Wednesday that it is committed to investigating a political scandal that includes the suspected murder of a British businessman, following new appeals from Britain for a swift probe free from political meddling.The statement carried by the official Xinhua News Agency came hours after Prime Minister David Cameron and British Foreign Secretary William Hague both h

A newborn boy was abducted from his screaming mother after she was repeatedly shot outside a Texas medical center Tuesday, and the suspected shooter sped off with the infant in a blood-stained Lexus, investigators said.Montgomery County sheriff's officials said the mother, 28-year-old Kayla Marie Golden, was killed.Golden was walking to her truck after a checkup with her 3-day-old son, Keegan, whe

A Washington State fugitive who described his escape from police on Facebook is now in custody. In the end, Travis Nicolaysen decided to go quietly. Port Angeles police surrounded a house there Monday after getting a tip he was in the basement, the Peninsula Daily News reported. "He basically came up from the basement and surrendered," Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.Nicolaysen's Facebook pos

An Italian museum on Tuesday began burning its collection of contemporary artworks in a singular protest against harsh budget cuts that have left many cultural institutions out of pocket.The Casoria Contemporary Art Museum near Naples held a bonfire in its grounds for the first torching of a painting by French artist Severine Bourguignon, who was in favour of the protest and followed it on Skype.M

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Jim Yong Kim, an American who is president of Dartmouth College, has been chosen to be the next president of the World Bank. His selection Monday extends the U.S. hold on the top job at the 187-nation development agency. Kim, a surprise nominee of President Barack Obama, was selected Monday in a vote by the World Bank’s 25-member executive board. He’ll succeed Robert Zoellick, who’s stepping down after a five year term. Developing nations waged an unsuccessful challenge to Kim,

HELSINKI (AP) ― Moody’s ratings agency downgraded Nokia’s debt grade to near junk status on Monday, citing a sharp decline in first-quarter cell phone sales that led to a 35 percent fall in revenue.The agency lowered Nokia Corp.’s long-term credit rating by one notch to Baa3 ― just a step above non-investment grade ― following last week’s profit warning which had caused Nokia’s shares to plunge by more than 20 percent.It left a negative outlook on the ratings, meaning it could downgrade Nokia to

DETROIT (AP) ― The potential shortage of a key component used to make fuel lines and brake lines could force automakers in the U.S. and around the world to close car and truck plants as they run short of parts. Auto industry executives have scheduled an unprecedented meeting on Tuesday in suburban Detroit to talk about the problem. Officials from as many as 10 automakers and dozens of parts supply companies are set to attend. A March 31 explosion at Evonik Industries in western Germany killed tw

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The Pentagon said Monday a major attack on Afghan government buildings, military bases and foreign embassies was likely carried out by Haqqani militants who operate from sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan.“Initial indications are that the Haqqani network was involved in this set of attacks that occurred yesterday in Kabul,” press secretary George Little said of Sunday’s assault.The 18-hour attack was “well-coordinated,” but Afghan security forces “did a very effective job” in

ROME (AFP) ― Girls in nun costumes and one wearing a mask of footballer Ronaldinho stripped for Silvio Berlusconi, a witness said Monday at the former Italian premier’s trial for having sex with an underage prostitute.Model Imane Fadil said the first time she went to a party she was given 2,000 euros ($2,600) in cash by Berlusconi, who told her: “Don’t be offended.”That night she said she saw two young women in nun costumes with “black tunics, white veils and crosses” stripping in front of the t