Newt-loving socialist or floppy-haired bike rider? One will be London’s Olympic mayor

LONDON — One sports an unruly blond mop, spouts Latin aphorisms and loves to ride his bicycle. The other is a neat, newt-loving socialist who prefers to travel by subway. Their contest is an Olympic-size grudge match. Meet Boris and Ken — hometown celebrities known universally by their first names. When the 2012 London Games

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Supreme Court considers former attorney general Ashcroft’s liability in lawsuit

On Wednesday the Supreme Court justices considered whether former attorney general John D. Ashcroft could be held personally liable for the detention of an American Muslim. Abdullah al-Kidd, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in 2003 and held as a material witness. But Kidd contends that he was not detained because he had information about terrorism.

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Iraqi shoe-thrower launches Geneva-based agency

The Iraqi journalist who pitched his shoes at former United States President George W. Bush is in Geneva setting up a foundation to help Iraqi war victims. Munthader al-Zaidi, a television reporter, shot to fame on December 14, 2008 when he hurled his two shoes at Bush at a Baghdad news conference, shouting: “This is

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British Muslims offer Obama cautious welcome

British Islamic groups gave a cautious welcome to new U.S. President Barack Obama’s pledge to reach out to the Muslim world, saying his policies needed to match his words. In his inauguration address on Tuesday, Obama promised a “new way forward” based on “mutual interest and mutual respect” following tensions that followed the September 11

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About 5,000 people demonstrate in Seville against Israel

About 5,000 people demonstrated themselves in the streets of Seville against the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Many people wore garments in support – a Palestinian scarf and/or a shoe over a stick or an umbrella, as a symbol of the shoe that was thrown against former US President George W. Bush during his last visit

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