Kerry pushes $2.1 billion Raytheon deal in Oman
MUSCAT, Oman (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is talking with officials in Oman about their plans to buy a $2.1 billion air defense system from American manufacturer Raytheon.... 5/22/2013 3:11 AM

Weak yen a help for Japan, but headache elsewhere
TOKYO (AP) -- A steady decline in the yen is proving a godsend for exporters such as Toyota and has won solid support from Japan's main trading partners, who are betting the impact on their own currencies will be offset by gains from a recovery in the world's third-largest economy. It's not such good news for entrepreneurs like Thamonwan Thawornthaweewong, whose Angry Bird fish balls, squid rings and other products now cost more to sell in Japan.... 5/22/2013 2:58 AM

Young objector challenges Israeli army
JERUSALEM (AP) -- The Israeli military has jailed a young man for six months for refusing to serve because of his opposition to Israel's occupation of the West Bank, focusing attention on the longstanding conflict between the country's universal military service and divided political beliefs.... 5/22/2013 2:48 AM

Egypt: 7 security men kidnapped in Sinai freed
CAIRO (AP) -- Six Egyptian policemen and a border guard kidnapped by suspected militants in the Sinai Peninsula last week were freed by their captors Wednesday after successful mediation in the volatile region, the country's military spokesman said.... 5/22/2013 2:43 AM

Pakistani cricket star politician leaves hospital
ISLAMABAD (AP) -- Pakistani cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan left the hospital Wednesday, more than two weeks after he suffered serious back injuries in a fall from a forklift at a campaign event, a spokesman said.... 5/22/2013 2:10 AM

Japan's central bank says economy picking up
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's central bank says the world's third-biggest economy is "picking up" as demand recovers in other countries and remains resilient at home, though the trade deficit widened in April, for the tenth straight month.... 5/22/2013 2:08 AM

Oil falls below $96 before Fed chief speaks
BANGKOK (AP) -- The price of oil fell Wednesday as investors waited for a report on U.S. crude stocks and the Federal Reserve's latest views on the U.S. economy.... 5/22/2013 2:03 AM

US parents quit Singapore inquest into son's death
SINGAPORE (AP) -- The parents of an American software engineer who believe their son was murdered last year in Singapore withdrew from the inquest Wednesday, saying they have no confidence in the city-state's legal process.... 5/22/2013 2:01 AM

Asia stocks rise as Fed official backs easy policy
BANGKOK (AP) -- Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday after investor confidence was boosted by a Federal Reserve official's comments that the U.S. central bank should stick with its super-easy monetary policy.... 5/22/2013 1:59 AM

North Korea sends leader's special envoy to China
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dispatched a high-profile official and close confidant to China on Wednesday as Beijing faces pressure to rein in its belligerent neighbor.... 5/22/2013 1:51 AM

Ai Weiwei uses music to mock state power in China
BEIJING (AP) -- Two emotionless prison guards watch Ai Weiwei as he eats, sleeps, paces, showers - and even sits on the toilet - in the Chinese artist's new obscenity-filled, metaphor-rich music video mocking state power.... 5/22/2013 1:37 AM

Japan mulls talks with NKorea, surprising allies
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's government is looking into re-opening official talks with North Korea to resolve questions over the abductions of Japanese citizens decades ago, raising concerns among allies who fear Tokyo's focus on that issue might weaken efforts to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.... 5/22/2013 1:15 AM

CAIRO (AP) -- Egyptian state TV says 6 policemen, border guard abducted in Sinai have been released.... 5/22/2013 1:14 AM

Protesters hurl firebombs as Chile leader speaks
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Bands of young people hurling firebombs and stones clashed with police outside Chile's congress Tuesday after thousands of students and workers staged a protest march before President Sebastian Pinera's final state of the nation speech.... 5/22/2013 12:34 AM

State media shows NKorea has new military chief
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- A North Korean state media dispatch shows that leader Kim Jong Un has named a hardline general as his new military chief.... 5/21/2013 11:53 PM

AP NewsAlert
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- State media dispatch shows North Korea has named hardline general as new military chief.... 5/21/2013 11:44 PM

All 28 bodies recovered from Indonesian mine room
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Rescuers have recovered all 28 bodies from a collapsed underground room inside the giant U.S.-owned gold and copper mine in Indonesia's province of Papua.... 5/21/2013 11:14 PM

Owner: Chinese boat's captain beaten by NKoreans
BEIJING (AP) -- Gunmen wearing North Korean military uniforms released a Chinese fishing boat after holding its crew for two weeks, beating up the captain and stealing the vessel's fuel, the boat's owner said. He added that the hijackers did not get the 600,000 yuan ($100,000) ransom they had demanded.... 5/21/2013 10:47 PM

Venezuela parliament resumes 3 weeks after brawl
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela's parliament roared back to life Tuesday with fractious debates between government and opposition lawmakers after a three-week paralysis following a brawl on the assembly floor.... 5/21/2013 9:23 PM

UN: Poaching threatens central Africa peace
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The illegal trade in elephant ivory may constitute an important source of funding for armed groups, including the Lord's Resistance Army, threatening peace and security in central Africa, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report to the Security Council.... 5/21/2013 7:37 PM