CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is throwing its weight behind the country’s military-backed government in an escalating dispute with the U.S. over pro-democracy groups Egypt accuses of seeking to foment protests against the country’s military rulers. The group praised in a statement Wednesday what it called the government’s “nationalist” position on the conflict over the role of the groups in Egypt’s politics. The saga has turned into one of the worst quarrels between Egypt and the U.S. since Hosni... Read more

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Maverick right wing lawmaker Geert Wilders has a blunt message for critics of his party’s website which solicits complaints about some migrant workers: “Mind your own business.” Wilders, best known for his outspoken criticism of Islam, ignited a storm of protest this week when his Freedom Party site called on citizens to report “central and east Europeans … for general nuisance, pollution and labor market displacement.” But in an interview at Dutch Parliament with The... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jurors picked to hear a landmark priest sex-abuse case in Philadelphia will pore over two boxes of complaint files long buried in the Catholic church’s “secret archives.” The secret files from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been marked “Exhibit One” after Wednesday’s pretrial hearing. Monsignor William Lynn is the first U.S. church official charged for his oversight of accused priests. He is charged with conspiracy and child-endangerment, and has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection starts Tuesday. The... Read more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The judge overseeing a landmark priest-abuse case is refusing to step down. She says her comments about child-sex abuse being “widespread” in the Roman Catholic church were taken out of context. Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Teresa Sarmina also declined Wednesday to sever Monsignor William Lynn’s case from those of two priests charged with rape. Lynn served as secretary for clergy in Philadelphia from 1992 to 2004. He’s the first U.S. church official charged with child endangerment and... Read more

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A spokesman for a global Islamic group says the international community must rule out military intervention as a solution to the Syrian crisis. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, told the members of the National Press Club of Australia on Wednesday that he remains involved in “quiet diplomacy activities” with Syrian President Bashar Assad over the power struggle that has cost more than 5,000 lives in that Middle Eastern country. Ihsanoglu,... Read more

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Roman Catholic Church is drawing fire for releasing a set of “guidelines” on how the faithful should vote ahead of the July 1 presidential elections. All religious groups are banned by law in Mexico from engaging in partisan politics, or supporting or opposing any candidate or party. The guidelines published Tuesday by the Archdiocese of Mexico appear to closely skirt the restriction. They do not mention any party, saying only that Catholics cannot “choose as... Read more

PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — A Libyan-American who says he was forbidden from returning to the United States and questioned by FBI agents in Tunisia after visiting neighboring Libya insists he has done nothing wrong. “I do intend to protect my rights. I do intend to clear my name,” 55-year-old Jamal Tarhuni said after arriving at Portland International Airport Tuesday morning from Amsterdam. Tarhuni belongs to a Portland mosque that has been under scrutiny by federal investigators in years past. He... Read more

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Libyan-American who says he was forbidden from returning to the United States and questioned by FBI agents in Tunisia after visiting neighboring Libya insists he has done nothing wrong. “I do intend to protect my rights. I do intend to clear my name,” 55-year-old Jamal Tarhuni said after arriving at Portland International Airport Tuesday morning from Amsterdam. Tarhuni belongs to a Portland mosque that has been under scrutiny by federal investigators in years past. He... Read more

House-Senate talks said to yield agreement on renewing payroll tax cut, jobless benefits WASHINGTON (AP) — House-Senate talks on renewing a payroll tax cut that delivers about $20 a week to the average worker yielded a tentative agreement Tuesday, with lawmakers planning to unveil the pact Wednesday and sending the measure to President Barack Obama as early as this week. Under the outlines of the emerging agreement, a 2 percentage-point cut in the Social Security payroll tax would be extended... Read more

US, Europe consider crippling worldwide bank penalty against Iran, though costs could be high WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Europe are considering unprecedented punishment against Iran that could immediately cripple the country’s financial lifeline. But it’s an extreme option in the banking world that would come with its own costs. The Obama administration wants Iran evicted from SWIFT, an independent financial clearinghouse that is crucial to the country’s overseas oil sales. That would leapfrog the current slow-pressure campaign... Read more