French auto workers threaten to blow up factory in extreme example of resistance to cost cuts

CHATELLERAULT, France — Laid-off auto-parts workers huddled Thursday around gas canisters tied to an electrical cable, threatening to blow up a factory in the latest example of extreme French resistance to cost-cutting in the economic downturn.

AP answers your questions on the news, from Afghan poppies to interest rates and debt

The U.S. government has been plunging deeper and deeper into debt, and the White House expects the budget deficit to get close to $2 trillion by the end of the year.

Bangalore attempts to bring back its avian dwellers

BANGALORE - What is Bangalore without its gigantic trees and chirping birds hopping from one branch to another?

Medvedev honors big families in Kremlin ceremony as Russia fights population decline

MOSCOW — Russia has a long tradition of honoring it soldiers, scholars and scientists for outsized achievements. On Monday, it honored parents with outsized families with the “Order of Parental Glory” — part of a campaign to halt a dramatic population decline.

Fidel Castro defends Cuba’s state-controlled press; says rich control news in other countries

HAVANA — Fidel Castro defended Cuba’s government-controlled press Friday, arguing that news coverage is manipulated by those wealthy enough to finance newsgathering even in countries guaranteeing press freedom.

Australian banker takes 99 percent pay cut

SYDNEY - The head of Australia’s most admired financial institution was stoic Friday after taking a 99 percent pay cut following investment bank Macquarie Group’s first fall in profit in 17 years.

MTV preparing to film nuptials of ‘The Hills’ stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt

LOS ANGELES — Will they or won’t they — again?

Prince Charles to pen book on climate

MELBOURNE - Prince Charles is set to pen a book on climate that will focus on the threat big business poses to the environment.

Hospitals and schools could be powered by underground heat

LONDON - Engineers have claimed that schools and hospitals in the UK could be powered by tapping heat from under the ground, saving taxpayers thousands of pounds every year.

Australia wonders how to cope with future bushfires

SYDNEY - While Australia is desperately seeking reasons for the demonic bushfires which singed Victoria on Black Saturday, some ominous signs have emerged.

Infant galaxy producing stars at high rates

LONDON - Star-forming regions in infant galaxies are small yet hyperactive, producing stars at astonishingly high rates, according to the latest evidence unearthed by astronomers.

Gigantic carpet bags him fresh orders from China

LUCKNOW - Call it Jabeer Babu Ansari’s magic carpet. Having shot into the limelight by weaving a 160-foot-long carpet for a hotel in China, the Indian manfufacturer is now flooded with fresh orders from that country.

Nikola Zigic loaned by Valencia to Racing Santander

MADRID - Spanish football giants Valencia have announced that Nikola Zigic has been loaned to Racing Santander until the end of the season.