UNITED NATIONS (AP) ― The U.N. Security Council failed again Saturday to take decisive action to stop the escalating violence in Syria as Russia and China blocked a resolution backing an Arab League plan that calls for President Bashar Assad to step down. The double-veto outraged the U.S. and European council members who feared it would embolden the Assad regime.In an unusual weekend session, 13 members of the council, including the United States, Britain and France, voted in favor of the resolu

Facebook’s billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls himself a “hacker”.For most people, that word means something malicious ― shady criminals who listen in on private voicemails, or anonymous villains who cripple websites and break into email accounts. For Facebook, though, “hacker” means something different. It’s an ideal that permeates the company’s culture. It explains the push to try new ideas (even if they fail), and to promote new products quickly (even if they’re imperfect). The hacker appro

European services and factory output strengthened in January, led by growth in Germany and France, as the region’s leaders sought a solution to the debt crisis. A euro-area composite index based on a survey of purchasing managers in both industries rose to 50.4 from 48.3 in December, London-based Markit Economics said in a report Friday. January’s reading is unchanged from an initial estimate on Jan. 24. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. Finance ministers of the “AAA” rated countries using

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. businesses shifted into hiring gear in January, creating jobs at the fastest clip in nine months, official data showed amid signs the recovery from deep recession is gaining traction.The Labor Department’s keenly awaited jobs report blew past expectations, providing a welcome shot of good news for President Barack Obama’s reelection bid.The economy added 243,000 net new jobs in broad-based gains. The job growth was enough to pull down the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent,

Tehran warns of cutting oil exports to European countries as tensions riseTEHRAN (AP) ― Iran began ground military exercises Saturday and defiantly warned that it could cut off oil exports to “hostile” European nations as tensions rise over suggestions that military strikes are an increasing possibility if sanctions fail to rein in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.Tehran has stepped up its rhetoric as international pressure mounts over allegations that it is seeking to develop atomic weapo

VATICAN CITY (AP) ― The administration of the Vatican City State on Saturday categorically rejected as groundless a top prelate’s accusations of corruption in the Holy See’s awarding of contracts.Last month, an Italian investigative news program reported that the prelate had unsuccessfully requested not to be transferred to Washington by Pope Benedict XVI after exposing alleged corruption that cost the Holy See millions of euros in terms of higher contract prices.Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano wa

SYDNEY (AFP) - Thousands of Australians were forced to abandon their homes on Sunday as a record deluge swept through areas still reeling from last year's devastating floods, claiming its first life.Police ordered the 3,800 residents of the town of St George, in northern Queensland state, to evacuat

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney cruised to victory in the Nevada caucuses Saturday night, notching a second straight triumph over a field of rivals suddenly struggling to keep pace.(AP-Yonhap News)The caucuses drew little attention in the nominating campaign, but N

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, in Elko, Nev. AP-Yonhap LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Mitt Romney, heavily favored to win Nevada's presidential caucuses Saturday, focused on the state's unemployment rate _ which is w

BEIRUT (AP) -- In a barrage of mortar shells, Syrian forces killed 200 people and wounded hundreds in Homs in an offensive that appears to be the bloodiest episode in the nearly 11-month-old uprising, activists said Saturday.   The assault in Homs, which has been one of the main flash