CAIRO (AP) — The head of Al-Azhar, the pre-eminent institute of Islamic learning in the Sunni Muslim world, put forward a Bill of Rights on Tuesday upholding freedom of expression and belief ahead of the drafting of Egypt’s new constitution. The bill, which was in the works for three months in collaboration with secular and Islamist thinkers, is a bid by Al-Azhar to assert its role as the voice of moderate Islam in the face of growing political power of... Read more

CAIRO (AP) — The leader of Al-Azhar, the pre-eminent institute of Islamic learning in the Sunni Muslim world, has put forward a Bill of Rights to uphold freedom of expression and belief ahead of the drafting of Egypt’s new constitution. The document released Tuesday is a bid by the prestigious religious institute to assert its role as the voice of moderate Islam in the face of growing political power of more conservative Islamic groups in Egypt following the February ouster... Read more

ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Monti’s new government has suffered its first ethics casualty with the resignation of a minister who allegedly got discounted vacations at an exclusive Tuscan resort. Carlo Malinconico, Monti’s undersecretary, quit Tuesday although he insists he did nothing wrong. Italian media have reported that a businessman under investigation for alleged corruption in a public contracts case paid at least part of the bill for Malinconico’s summer weekend getaways in 2007 and 2008 at the five-star... Read more

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Thick black smoke and flames rose Tuesday from the burning roadblock that cut off a highway linking Nigeria’s mainland to the islands where the oil-rich nation’s wealthy live. The bare-chested young men who live under the bridge said they had had enough. “This is oligarchy, this is not a democracy!” shouted Danjuma Mohammed, as he stood before the fire holding rocks in his hands. “We are no longer afraid of you! We are ready for war!”... Read more

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Prominent Muslim clerics in India are asking the government to bar author Salman Rushdie from visiting the country to attend a literary festival because of his 1988 book “The Satanic Verses,” which they consider blasphemy. The Darul Uloom seminary’s head Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani said Tuesday that the government should respect the feelings of Muslims and not allow Rushdie to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival that begins Jan. 21. Rushdie spent years in hiding after Iranian... Read more

PARIS (AP) — President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government has made a play for the anti-immigrant voters who may determine whether he wins a second term, saying Tuesday that France had booted out more illegal migrants in the past year than ever before. Sarkozy’s interior minister added that he wants thousands more expelled this year, along with fewer foreigners legally living in France. Anyone who wants to stay, he added, must shed the traditions that contradict French values. The conservative president is... Read more

PARIS (AP) — France kicked out more illegal immigrants last year than ever before, the government proudly announced Tuesday, in a message clearly aimed at anti-immigrant voters who may determine whether President Nicolas Sarkozy wins a second term. Sarkozy’s interior minister said he wants thousands more expelled this year, and fewer foreigners legally living in France, too. Anyone who wants to stay, he added, must shed traditions that contradict French values. The conservative president is unpopular and facing a tough... Read more

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Activists launched a rare legal case Tuesday aimed at fostering gay rights in Malaysia by challenging a police ban on an anti-homophobia arts festival. The case highlights complaints about discrimination against gays at a time when international rights groups are urging authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia to abolish laws criminalizing same-sex relations. The acquittal this week of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on charges of sodomizing a male former aide prompted Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch... Read more

NASHUA, New Hampshire (AP) — Mitt Romney seemed all but assured of victory in Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire despite some last-minute gaffes and sharp attacks from his rivals who are vying to finish a strong second and turn the race into a two-man contest. Expectations were so high for Romney in the northeastern state where voters know him that anything short of a huge victory might be seen as a sign of weakness. Romney is a former... Read more

Rivals pounce as Romney says: “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me’ NASHUA, N.H. (AP) — Republican front-runner Mitt Romney stumbled down the homestretch of the New Hampshire primary on Monday, declaring, “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me” as his rivals intensified already fierce criticism. “Gov. Romney enjoys firing people. I enjoy creating jobs,” said former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who has staked his candidacy on a strong showing... Read more