WASHINGTON (AP) — People favoring a candidate who shares their religious beliefs helped Rick Santorum capture Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary in Alabama, exit polls of voters showed. He also won among women and younger voters. In the contest in neighboring Mississippi, Santorum did well with those caring most strongly about a contender’s religion, and those seeking a true conservative and strong moral character in their nominee. People saying it mattered that they share religious beliefs with their candidates comprised three-quarters... Read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — People favoring a candidate who shares their religious beliefs helped Rick Santorum capture Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary in Alabama, exit polls of voters showed. He also won among women and younger voters. In the contest in neighboring Mississippi, Santorum did well with those caring most strongly about a contender’s religion, and those seeking a true conservative and strong moral character in their nominee. People saying it mattered that they share religious beliefs with their candidates comprised three-quarters... Read more

LONDON (AP) — One of Britain’s main abortion providers says a campaign run by a U.S.-based religious group is intimidating women who use its services. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) says activists from the 40 Days for Life group have been holding vigils outside one of their central London clinics. A spokeswoman for BPAS said Wednesday that some of the activists have filmed women coming in and out of the clinic. She requested anonymity because she said she has... Read more

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Energy-drink maker Red Bull says it has dropped an advertisement in South Africa after an outcry from Christians for its portrayal of Jesus Christ walking on water. South Africa’s Roman Catholic bishops urged Christians not to drink Red Bull in traditional fasting for Lent ahead of Easter celebrations next month, stopping short of calling for a full commercial boycott. The television cartoon implies Jesus walked on water because he knew where there were rocks to tread on.... Read more

BEIJING (AP) — An overseas activist group said hundreds of Tibetans joined an anti-Beijing protest in western China after a monk set himself on fire on Wednesday, the latest self-immolation by Tibetans over the suppression of their religion and culture. London-based Free Tibet said Jamyang Palden, a monk in his 30s, burned himself in Tongren, a monastery town in Qinghai province. It said Palden is believed to have survived and was taken to a hospital, but was brought back to... Read more

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court ordered two female punk rockers to remain in jail Wednesday for praying to the Virgin Mary to deliver the nation from Vladimir Putin in a surprise performance in the country’s main Orthodox cathedral. Five members of the band Pussy Riot — wearing brightly colored homemade ski masks and miniskirts — briefly seized the pulpit of Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in late February to chant “Mother Mary, drive Putin away.” In less then a... Read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries in Mississippi and Alabama: ___ GINGRICH LOSES BIG Newt Gingrich’s campaign had said he had to win in the Deep South, and the former House speaker essentially staked his candidacy on strong victories in Alabama and Mississippi. But he failed to prevail, and his double loss raises questions about the future of his candidacy. He, nevertheless, is vowing to press on. But that is all but certain to become more difficult given... Read more

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — This is no joke: Arab-Muslim stand-up comedy is flourishing more than a decade after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Of course, humor within the community didn’t begin with those tragic events. But it served as a turning point, when Arab and Muslim comics found themselves thrust in the spotlight along with the rest of their community. The small stable of comics in the years since has swelled, along with the rise of high-profile gigs... Read more

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — Bill Marriott has revolutionized the hotel business over the past four decades. As CEO of the company that bears his family’s name, Marriott led the industry in opening hotels next door to highway exits and suburban office parks. He was also a pioneer in catering to niche markets. In 1983, he launched Courtyard, a chain for cost-conscious business travelers. Today, Marriott has 18 brands, including Fairfield Inn for budget travelers and Ritz-Carlton for the luxury set.... Read more

NORTHFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A billionaire family from Oklahoma has turned a no-stoplight town in Massachusetts into an essential destination for Christian institutions nationwide with one extraordinary promise. They’ve pledged to give away a 217-acre campus there for free. Free, it turns out, is an appealing price for the campus founded by famed evangelist D.L. Moody and estimated by its owner to be worth $20 million. In recent months, the western Massachusetts property has drawn a stream of secret and... Read more