The Associated Press

A US federal judge has ruled that the online news "clipping" service Meltwater violates copyright law by using excerpts from Associated Press articles, the parties said Thursday.

In northern Mali, the country's army frequently turns to torture and murder against people suspected of backing armed Islamist groups, according to doctors, Malian and French troops and an AFP journalist.

Australia's public broadcaster said it will not broadcast or report live from the upcoming Test series in India after deciding not to pay inflated rights fees.

The US media has turned a spotlight on itself after three news organizations admitted keeping the location of a drone base in Saudi Arabia secret at the request of the US administration.

A Gambian journalist and correspondent for the Associated Press has been detained for the second time in a month, colleagues and watchdogs said late Tuesday.

South Korea confirmed Thursday that Google chairman Eric Schmidt was planning a visit to North Korea, but was unable to comment on the reason for a trip that has sparked criticism from Washington.

Pakistan's first cricket tour to India in five years faced a media blackout Monday after international news agencies, including AFP, suspended coverage over a decision to bar their photo counterparts.

A US court has temporarily halted a bid by the Associated Press to split from a partnership with Germany's DAPD news agency and link up with the larger DPA agency instead.

Media organisations called Tuesday on world cricket's governing body to intervene in a dispute over coverage restrictions of the Test series between India and England, saying the row was damaging the game.

Adela Hernandez was elected as a local delegate earlier this month, becoming the first trans person to be elected in Cuba. Adela Hernandez was elected as a local delegate earlier this month, becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected to public office in Cuba. According to the Associated Press, Hernandez was elected as a delegate to the municipal government of Caibarien in the central province of Villa Clara. Hernandez has lived as a female since childhood. Her own father turned her in to authorities in the 1980s and she served two years in prison for ?dangerousness.? The 48-year-old Hernandez said her victory proved Cuban society was becoming increasingly accepting of LGBT people. ?As time evolves, homophobic people ? although they will always exist ? are the minority,? she told the AP. Hernandez said she has been physically attacked in the past. Her work in the community led her to seek a seat in local government. She said she would be an advocate for gay rights. ?I re

International news agencies suspended coverage of the Test series between India and England starting Thursday after Indian cricket authorities refused to lift restrictions on photo agencies.

The Associated Press and Germany's largest news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur announced Wednesday they have signed an agreement to distribute each other's stories and photos.

International news agencies, including AFP, warned Tuesday they may be forced to suspend coverage of the Test cricket series between India and England to protest restrictions imposed by authorities.

Brendon Ayanbadejo and Martin O'Malley on Wednesday cheered passage of Question 6. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley on Wednesday cheered passage of Question 6, which upholds a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers. The law will now take effect on January 1. Voters in Maine and Washington state also approved similar measures on Tuesday, while Minnesotans rejected a constitutional amendment which sought to limit marriage to heterosexual couples. (Related: Gay rights groups buoyed by election day victories.) ?I'm so stoked,? Ayanbadejo, who had strongly backed the measure, told the Associated Press. ?It's like I woke up and it was Christmas.? O'Malley, who signed the bill into law, lauded the results in a series of tweets to his more than 31,800 followers: ?Tonight, we made history. We voted for dignity. We voted for marriage equality.? ?By voting for marriage equality, the people of our State affirmed that we are One Maryland & we're a

US voters can slide their political orientation and news to the left, right or center with an elections website launched Friday by Microsoft search engine Bing.

The US artist who illegally used a copyrighted Associated Press photo in an iconic poster of Barack Obama during his 2008 election was sentenced Friday to 300 hours of community service for falsifying evidence.

Lincoln, Nebraska police have accused Charlie Rogers of faking her own anti-gay attack. ?Lincoln, Nebraska police have accused Charlie Rogers of faking her own anti-gay attack. Fire fighters responded to a Lincoln house fire on an early Sunday morning last month after Rogers called for help from a neighbor's house. Three masked men allegedly forced themselves into Rogers' home, attacked her, carved homophobic slurs into her body and set her house on fire. Neighbor Linda Rappi told CNN that Rogers arrived at her home ?naked, her hands were tied with zip ties. All I could see was a cut across her forehead and blood running down.? On Tuesday, police said Rogers had faked the attack to spark change. Police Chief Jim Peschong noted a Facebook posting Rogers wrote four day before she called for help. ?So maybe I am too idealistic, but I believe way deep inside me that we can make things better for everyone. I will be a catalyst. I will do what it takes. I will. Watch me,? wrote Rogers, a for

Mitt Romney has reiterated that he disagrees with the Boy Scouts of America's ban on openly gay scouts and leaders. Mitt Romney has reiterated that he disagrees with the Boy Scouts of America's ban on openly gay scouts and leaders. The Associated Press quoted Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul as stating in an e-mail that Romney disagrees with the group's policy. Saul said that the presumed GOP nominee for president stands by his 1994 statement on the issue made during a political debate in Massachusetts. ?I support the right of the Boy Scouts of America to decide what it wants to do on that issue,? Romney said at the time. ?I feel that all people should be able to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation.? Last month, the Boy Scouts reaffirmed its policy of excluding gay members, saying it was the ?best policy? for the organization. ?The real people impacted by this ban are gay young adults who are forced to hide who they are as well as the children of gay pare

With less than two weeks to go before the Olympic Games, hordes of competitors are pouring into London from across the globe and limbering up -- but they're not athletes.

President Barack Obama heralded his first re-election campaign bus tour with a new trade blast at China and fresh accusations his White House foe Mitt Romney helped send US jobs abroad.