MOSCOW (AP) — A leading official in the Russian Orthodox Church has urged federal lawmakers to adopt a bill outlawing what he called the promotion of homosexuality among minors. Similar legislation approved late February in Russia’s second largest city, St. Petersburg, mandated fines of up to $33,000. Father Dmitry Pershin, head of the church’s youth council, said Monday in a statement that the law should be applied nationwide “without delay.” Gay rights activists say the law could be used to... Read more

NEW YORK (AP) — A secret New York Police Department program to spy on Muslim businesses, infiltrate mosques and monitor Muslim students on college campuses has ignited a debate over how to strike a balance between civil liberties and national security. The NYPD has vigorously defended the tactics, calling them legal and necessary. Here’s a look, in question-and-answer format, of the key legal and policy issues at play. ___ Q: What does it mean that police were “spying?” A: Since... Read more

NEW YORK (AP) — A secret New York Police Department program to spy on Muslim businesses, infiltrate mosques and monitor Muslim students on college campuses has ignited a debate over how to strike a balance between civil liberties and national security. The NYPD has vigorously defended the tactics, calling them legal and necessary. Here’s a look, in question-and-answer format, of the key legal and policy issues at play. ___ Q: What does it mean that police were “spying?” A: Since... Read more

NEW YORK (AP) — A secret New York Police Department program to spy on Muslim businesses, infiltrate mosques and monitor Muslim students on college campuses has ignited a debate over how to strike a balance between civil liberties and national security. The NYPD has vigorously defended the tactics, calling them legal and necessary. Here’s a look, in question-and-answer format, of the key legal and policy issues at play. ___ Q: What does it mean that police were “spying?” A: Since... Read more

NEW YORK (AP) — A secret New York Police Department program to spy on Muslim businesses, infiltrate mosques and monitor Muslim students on college campuses has ignited a debate over how to strike a balance between civil liberties and national security. The NYPD has vigorously defended the tactics, calling them legal and necessary. Here’s a look, in question-and-answer format, of the key legal and policy issues at play. ___ Q: What does it mean that police were “spying?” A: Since... Read more

BILOXI, Mississippi (AP) — Republican presidential contenders campaigned aggressively on the eve of Tuesday’s primaries in Alabama and Mississippi. The outcome in the deep South votes stood to either to solidify or shake Mitt Romney’s standing as front-runner. The two states are among the most conservative in the United States, and offer Romney and his rivals a platform for their attacks on President Barack Obama. The former Massachusetts governor along with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are focusing on the... Read more

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has landed robotic explorers on the surface of Mars, sent probes to outer planets and operates a worldwide network of antennas that communicates with interplanetary spacecraft. Its latest mission is defending itself in a workplace lawsuit filed by a former computer specialist who claims he was demoted — and then let go — for promoting his views on intelligent design, the belief that a higher power must have had a hand in... Read more

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has landed robotic explorers on the surface of Mars, sent probes to outer planets and operates a worldwide network of antennas that communicates with interplanetary spacecraft. Its latest mission is to defend itself in a workplace lawsuit filed by a former computer specialist who claims he was laid off for promoting his views on intelligent design. Trial in the case begins Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court. David Coppedge worked as a... Read more

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s Islamist-dominated parliament called on Sunday for a vote on stopping U.S. aid, but it is unlikely that such a move would oblige the nation’s military rulers to ask Washington to halt $1.5 billion in American aid this year. The move by the People’s Assembly was sparked by the March 1 departure of six American defendants in a case of 43 employees of nonprofit groups accused of using illegal foreign funds to foment unrest in Egypt. The... Read more

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A Malaysian minister says she will step down amid accusations that her family misused a 250 million ringgit ($83 million) government loan meant for a cattle project to purchase condominiums, vacations and a Mercedes. Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she will resign as Women, Family and Community Minister on April 8. The scandal, dubbed “Cowgate,” has greatly embarrassed Prime Minister Najib Razak ahead of general elections widely expected to be called by June. Shahrizat said Sunday... Read more