JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top religious partner said Wednesday that Israel’s ruling coalition would not be shaken by the Supreme Court’s annulment of a contentious law allowing ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to avoid military service. The military exemptions are resented by Israel’s secular majority and have been a major source of conflict between the two communities. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court overturned the so-called Tal Law, saying that it failed to encourage more ultra-Orthodox to perform compulsory military... Read more

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Amid the towering golden spires of Myanmar’s grandest Buddhist shrine there was talk of politics and hope for the future as thousands came Wednesday for the return of an annual festival that was banned for more than 20 years by the former military regime. Gongs chimed at Shwedagon Pagoda as the diamond-studded monument marked what is being billed as the 2,600-year anniversary of the temple, which according to legend houses eight strands of Buddha’s hair. More... Read more

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Vast crowds were gathering Wednesday at Myanmar’s most sacred Buddhist shrine to celebrate a festival banned for more than 20 years under the former military government. The festival at the gold-plated, diamond-studded Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is a mix of Buddhist ritual and traditional fun and games. The fact that it is taking place at all this year is the latest sign of new freedoms trickling into this long-repressed country. Shwedagon has been used before as... Read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney head into the 20th debate of the campaign season Wednesday night while a new survey shows them running even at the top of the four-man Republican field vying for the nomination to challenge President Barack Obama in November. Obama tops 50 percent support when matched against each of the Republican candidates and holds a significant lead over each of them, according to the Associated Press-GfK poll. The Republicans have turned toward social... Read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — A surging Rick Santorum is running even with Mitt Romney atop the Republican presidential field, but neither candidate is faring well against President Barack Obama eight months before Americans vote, a new survey shows. Obama tops 50 percent support when matched against each of the four Republican candidates and holds a significant lead over each of them, according to the Associated Press-GfK poll. Republicans, meanwhile, are divided on whether they’d rather see former Massachusetts Gov. Romney or... Read more

Santorum: Obama is ill-intentioned power grabber who undermines churches, promotes false fears PHOENIX (AP) — A surging Rick Santorum is making increasingly harsh remarks about President Barack Obama, questioning not just the president’s competence but his motives and even his Christian values. Mitt Romney also is sharpening his anti-Obama rhetoric. He said Tuesday the president governs with “a secular agenda” that hurts religious freedom. In general, however, the former Massachusetts governor has not seriously challenged Obama’s motives, often saying the... Read more

Santorum: Obama is ill-intentioned power grabber who undermines churches, promotes false fears PHOENIX (AP) — A surging Rick Santorum is making increasingly harsh remarks about President Barack Obama, questioning not just the president’s competence but his motives and even his Christian values. Mitt Romney also is sharpening his anti-Obama rhetoric. He said Tuesday the president governs with “a secular agenda” that hurts religious freedom. In general, however, the former Massachusetts governor has not seriously challenged Obama’s motives, often saying the... Read more

PHOENIX (AP) — A surging Rick Santorum is making increasingly harsh remarks about President Barack Obama, questioning not just the president’s competence but his motives and even his Christian values. Mitt Romney also is sharpening his anti-Obama rhetoric. He said Tuesday the president governs with “a secular agenda” that hurts religious freedom. In general, however, the former Massachusetts governor has not seriously challenged Obama’s motives, often saying the president is decent but inept. But Santorum and Newt Gingrich have heightened... Read more

RIO DE JANEIRO — The Carnival band kicked off according to tradition: Dozens of percussionists struck their bass drums, sending a low rumble like a sustained thunderclap echoing among the skyscrapers of Rio’s downtown. Tambourines answered lightly, tinkling over the drummers’ resounding call. Dancers responded with a roar, throwing up their hands, feet leaping to the frenetic beat. For years, the samba’s staccato rhythm has been the backdrop for songs celebrating the debauchery that marks this city’s five-day street party.... Read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is apologizing for the burning of Muslim holy books in a pile of garbage at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan. Press secretary Jay Carney says it was a “deeply unfortunate incident” that does not reflect the respect the U.S. military has for the religious practices of the Afghans. Carney echoed military officials Tuesday in saying that the Quran burning at Bagram Air Field happened unintentionally, and an investigation was being undertaken to understand... Read more