NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Twelve nurses who sued one of the state’s largest hospitals after claiming they were forced to assist in abortions over their religious and moral objections reached a deal Thursday with their employer in federal court. Under the agreement, 12 nurses in the same-day surgery unit of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey can remain in their current positions and not be compelled to assist in any part of an abortion procedure. The nurses... Read more

YOKNEAM, Israel (AP) — In an educational revolution of sorts, a growing number of Israeli schools are taking a novel approach to the instruction of Arabic: They’re hiring Arab teachers. The initiative is about far more than teaching children a new language. Educators say they hope to break down barriers in a society where Jewish and Arab citizens have little day-to-day interaction and often view each other with suspicion. “It is very important to get past the stigmas. We have... Read more

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s military-appointed prime minister on Thursday called for national dialogue to resolve the country’s political crisis and pleaded for a two-month calm to restore security after weeks of protests and bloodshed. Kamal el-Ganzouri also told a news conference that the ruling military, which took over from longtime leader Hosni Mubarak 10 months ago, was eager to relinquish power and deliver the country to civilian rule, as demanded by some activists and those still staging protesters in the... Read more

Today is Thursday, Dec. 29, the 363rd day of 2011. There are 2 days left in the year. Highlights in history on this date: 1170 – Archbishop Thomas Becket is slain at the altar in Cathedral of Canterbury, England. 1721 – French occupy Mauritius and rename it Ile de France. 1789 – Tippoo of Mysore attacks Rajah of Travancore, India. 1797 – French capture Mayence, France, from Holy Roman Empire forces. 1857 – British and French forces take Canton in... Read more

Wave of bombings across Iraqi capital kills 57 people, injures nearly 200 BAGHDAD (AP) — A wave of bombings ripped across Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 57 people and injuring nearly 200 in the worst violence Iraq has seen for months. The bloodbath comes just days after American forces left the country. The blasts also came on the heels of a political crisis between Iraq’s Sunni and Shiite factions that erupted this weekend. The political spat, which pits... Read more

Dutch Cabinet says it will tighten rules on Muslim, Jewish animal slaughter, won’t impose ban AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Dutch government said Wednesday it will study new standards for ritual slaughter to satisfy animal rights activists without infringing on ancient Jewish and Muslim traditions, and will not ban the practice outright. The announcement followed a political deadlock in the Dutch parliament. By a wide margin, the lower house approved a ban earlier this year on the traditional method of cutting... Read more

BAGHDAD (AP) — A wave of bombings ripped across Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 57 people and injuring nearly 200 in the worst violence Iraq has seen for months. The bloodbath comes just days after American forces left the country. The blasts also came on the heels of a political crisis between Iraq’s Sunni and Shiite factions that erupted this weekend. The political spat, which pits Iraq’s Shiite prime minister against the highest-ranking Sunni political leader, has raised... Read more

BAGHDAD (AP) — A wave of at least 14 bombings ripped across Baghdad Thursday morning, killing at least 60 people in the worst violence in Iraq for months. The apparently coordinated attacks struck days after the last American forces left the country and in the midst of a major government crisis between Shiite and Sunni politicians that has sent sectarian tensions soaring. The bombings may be linked more to the U.S. withdrawal than the political crisis, but all together, the... Read more

CLEVELAND (AP) — A lawyer for one of 12 people charged in beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio said Wednesday that he will plead not guilty to federal hate crime charges and that the law itself may be challenged. The attorney, Dean Carro, represents Lester Miller, 37, a nephew of the alleged ringleader in the attacks linked to a breakaway Amish group and a feud over church discipline. Carro said the case could lead to questions challenging the hate... Read more

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is determined to avoid limiting the number of visitors to the Sistine Chapel with its Michelangelo frescoes, despite harmful buildup of dust and other pollutants, the director of the Vatican Museums said Wednesday. “We will try to keep it open” without putting a limit on the growing number of visitors to the chapel, “in the conviction that it is possible to do so without risk to the paintings,” Antonio Paolucci wrote in the Holy... Read more