The Europe-wide scandal over horsemeat sold as beef spread Sunday as leading French retailers pulled products from their shelves and threats of legal action flew.France promised the results of an urgent inquiry into the scandal within days and the government announced crisis talks with meat industry representatives on Monday night.As Britain dismissed calls for a ban on EU meat, producers and distributors insisted they had been deceived about the true nature of the meat and vowed to take legal a

Authorities on Sunday offered $1 million for information leading to the arrest of the former Los Angeles police officer suspected in three killings and the subject of a manhunt in Southern California's snow-covered mountains.Camping gear was found along with weapons inside the burned-out truck belonging to suspect Christopher Dorner. The truck found Thursday in this ski resort town was so charred that investigators couldn't be more specific about the nature of its contents, said Los Angeles poli

Authorities on Sunday offered $1 million for information leading to the arrest of the former Los Angeles police officer suspected in three killings and the subject of a manhunt in Southern California's snow-covered mountains.Camping gear was found along with weapons inside the burned-out truck belonging to suspect Christopher Dorner. The truck found Thursday in this ski resort town was so charred that investigators couldn't be more specific about the nature of its contents, said Los Angeles poli

Scotland may have to reapply for membership of international organisations such as the U.N. and EU if it votes for independence, according to legal advice published by the British government on Monday.The rest of the United Kingdom would be a "continuing state" with the same status it currently has in international law if Scotland secedes after a 2014 referendum, two experts said in a legal opinion commissioned by London.But Scotland would become a "new state" and therefore would not automatical

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A new Earth-observing satellite is set to provide another watchful eye over our planet's glaciers, forests, water resources and urban sprawl.If all goes as planned, the Landsat satellite will be launched into orbit Monday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.It would be the eighth such satellite in a series designed to continuously track natural changes and society's influence on Earth's resources.Since the maiden launch in 1972, the satellites have been providing ``un

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday urged China to avoid confrontation and seek out a peaceful dialogue with Japan and other countries over territorial disputes.The Pentagon chief said he has appealed to his counterparts in Beijing to negotiate regional agreements to defuse an array of disagreements over maritime territory.Asked about tensions between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands after giving a speech at Georgetown University, Panetta voiced concern th

TUNIS (AP) ― Shaken by the assassination of a prominent leftist opposition leader that unleashed major protests, Tunisia’s prime minister announced Wednesday that he would form a new government of technocrats to guide the country to elections “as soon as possible.” The decision by Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali was a clear concession to the opposition, which has long demanded a reshuffle of the Islamist-dominated government. It also came hours after the first assassination of a political leader in

DAMASCUS (AFP) ― Syria’s army has launched a fierce assault around Damascus, blasting rebel strongholds and sealing the main entrances to the capital, witnesses said, as prospects for peace talks dimmed.Shattering months of relative calm in the capital, Wednesday’s offensive coincided with two suicide car bombings that killed almost 20 members of the security forces in the ancient city of Palmyra, a watchdog reported.It also came as an offer by opposition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib for peace ta

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ―France asked the Security Council to consider establishing a U.N. peacekeeping operation in Mali on Wednesday, a move that reinforced its plan to send French troops home as soon as military operations end. France’s U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters that he started discussions on the issue during closed council consultations on Mali, but insisted that a U.N. force would deploy only when security conditions permit. “So I think we have to wait several weeks before ass