Parents and lawyers on Sunday urged tech giant Apple to update its Siri service to include a feature that prevents young people from accessing “distasteful” information.The appeal has come after people in several Chinese cities reported online that the integral application can be used to search for places offering sexual services.Siri, available for iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and several other Apple products, is an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator. The reports are related to the l

KIEV (AP) ― Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s party claimed victory Sunday in a parliamentary vote tainted by the jailing of the country’s top opposition leader. Despite a strong showing of pro-Western opposition parties in the proportional portion of the vote, Yanukovych’s Party of Regions was likely to retain its parliamentary majority as its candidates were expected to take the lead in individual races across the country. With former Premier Yulia Tymoshenko in jail and widespread fears

NINGBO, China (AP) ― Protests over pollution fears resumed Sunday in an eastern Chinese city where thousands of residents had clashed with police a day earlier while demonstrating against the proposed expansion of a petrochemical factory.Several hundred citizens of Ningbo, which is in Zhejiang province, set off from a city square and headed for the offices of the municipal government on Sunday morning. Hundreds were stopped at the gate of the offices by a circle of uniformed police. They shouted

BAGHDAD (AP) ― Iraqi insurgents unleashed a string of bombings and other attacks primarily targeting the country’s Shiite community on Saturday, leaving at least 40 dead in a challenge to government efforts to promote a sense of stability by preventing attacks during a major Muslim holiday.The bloodshed appeared to be the worst in Iraq since Sept. 9, when insurgents launched a wave of bombings and other attacks that left at least 92 dead in one of the country’s bloodiest days this year.The attac

SHIP BOTTOM, New Jersey (AP) -- Governors from North Carolina to Connecticut declared states of emergency and Delaware ordered mandatory evacuations for coastal communities as Hurricane Sandy lumbered north from the Caribbean -- where it left nearly 60 dead -- to threaten the eastern U.S. with sheets of rain, high winds and heavy snow. Officials warned millions in coastal areas to get out of the way of the massive storm.Sandy was expected to affect up to 60 million people when it meets two other

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the west coast of Canada and authorities issued a tsunami warning, but there were no reports of major damage. Residents in parts of British Columbia were evacuated but the province appeared to escape the biggest quake in Canada since 1949 largely unscathed. The U.S. Geological Survey said the powerful quake hit the Queen Charlotte Islands just after 8 p.m. local time Saturday at a depth of about 3 miles (5 kilometers) and

PENSACOLA, Florida (AP) ― One final jobs report before Election Day and the big storm threatening the East Coast loom large as President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney head into the final full week of campaigning in a race that polls show is extraordinarily close.Democrats claim math is on the president’s side. Republicans insist Romney’s got the momentum.Obama is banking on his get-out-the-vote efforts in the most competitive states. He’s also making personal appeals as he encourages A

An earthquake off the west coast of Canada has triggered a tsunami that is headed toward the U.S. state of Hawaii, The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced early Sunday."A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along the coastline of all islands in the state of Hawaii," the center warned.The center said "urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property."The expected arrival time of the tsunami is 10:28 p.m. local time Saturday (0828 GMT Sunday).The announcement came af