TRIPOLI (AFP) ― Libya’s new national assembly late Thursday elected as its president Mohamed al-Megaryef, a staunch opponent of Moammar Gadhafi’s overthrown regime who is seen as being pro-Islamist.Megaryef, who had led the Libyan National Salvation Front that grouped exiled opponents of Gadhafi, won with 113 votes in the General National Congress against liberal independent Ali Zidane, who got 85.Libya’s National Transitional Council on Wednesday handed power to the new assembly, elected July 7

BEIJING (AFP) ― China’s exports and imports slowed for the second consecutive month, official data showed Friday, highlighting worsening conditions in the world’s second-biggest economy amid global and domestic woes.The figures ― sharply below market expectations ― add to concerns that China’s economy continues to lose steam despite government efforts to prop up growth and investment.Analysts said the weak data, combined with disappointing figures released Thursday, create further impetus for Be

NEW YORK -- The chiefs of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon (right) and World Bank met on Thursday and agreed to work closely to address global challenges, such as sustainable growth, development, energy and health issues.U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held a one-hour, closed meeting with Jim Yong Kim, new president of the World Bank, at the U.N. headquarters. It was the first time the two Korean-born international organization leaders have a one-on-one meeting since Kim assumed World Bank‘s ch

A man was arrested in San Diego on prowling charges early Thursday after being found naked in his neighbor‘s bed, police said.The 25-year-old man, whose name was not reported, apparently broke into his female neighbor’s home, undressed and got into her bed, the U-T San Diego reported.When the neighbor got home and discovered the naked intruder, she called police.Officers arrived and arrested the man who told them he went into the woman‘s house because he heard a noise, then got naked and into he

A Rome airport said security procedures were not to blame for a drunk tourist taking a 15-minute ride on a luggage belt.Officials at Fiumicino airport said a 36-year-old Norwegian man who arrived at the hub‘s international terminal with a beer in his hand hopped over a counter at the airline desk and fell asleep on the baggage belt, which at the time was not moving, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.The officials said the belt began to move and the man rode for about 15 minutes before a work

CAIRO (AP) ― Egypt’s president fired his intelligence chief on Wednesday for failing to act on an Israeli warning of an imminent attack days before militants stormed a border post in the Sinai Peninsula and killed 16 soldiers. The dismissal, which followed Egyptian airstrikes against Sinai militants, also marked a bold attempt by the Islamist leader to deflect popular anger over the attack. It pointed to a surprising level of cooperation with the powerful military leaders who stripped the presid

CHETUMAL, Mexico (AP) ― Tropical Storm Ernesto spun across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, then edged into the Gulf of Mexico after forcing the evacuation of thousands of tourists and fishermen from beaches in Tulum and the Costa Maya.There were no reports of storm deaths or major damage, though Ernesto ripped down billboards, toppled trees and cut electricity as it hit the cruise ship port of Mahahual shortly before midnight Tuesday as a hurricane. It stayed south of the Yucatan’s main

A U.S. man was arrested Saturday for drunkenly calling 911 to ask for a ride to buy beer.According to news reports, Allen Troy Brooks living in Columbia, Tennessee, called the emergency number nine times.The 67-year-old hung up on most of calls, but in one instance asked if the operator could take him to get beer.“I want to go to the store to get me a beer. I’ll pay you,” Brooks said, according to the 911 call recording.911 considered that unless Brooks was arrested, he would continue to do it.

Authorities in Australia said they arrested a naked man who caused traffic delays by running across a bridge and setting off fire hydrants.A Sydney police spokeswoman said the naked man ran across the Sydney Harbor Bridge around 6 p.m. Tuesday and turned on “a number of fire hydrants” along the way, The (Sydney) Telegraph reported Wednesday.“After a foot chase across the bridge he was apprehended,‘’ the spokeswoman said.The man was taken to a local hospital for assessment. Authorities said there