Hawaiian monk seal sent to Waikiki to save species

The Hawaiian monk seal, the most endangered marine mammal in the United States, has a long list of threats — fishing nets, sharks and, particularly, humans. But for one group of seals, the biggest threat came from one of its own: a 400-pound (180-kilogram) brute named KE18 who killed two other seals and wounded at least 11, most of them helpless pups. The Hawaiian monk seal is on course to disappear in 50 to 100 years, scientists say. But KE18 was en route to having his ticket punched much sooner due to his propensity for nudging his own species toward extinction.

Belgian murder mystery: Young lord slain in castle

Saelens disappeared from his chateau, a large turreted affair about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Brussels, on Jan. 31. Foul play was suspected immediately: Newspapers and broadcasters have reported that blood was found inside the house and along the driveway.

His body was found Friday, buried in a forest about a 15-minute drive away — a day after police arrested three people, including the lord's father-in-law and brother-in-law, identified by 7sur7, a major Belgian news website, as Andre and Peter Ghyselbrecht, were arrested along with a friend of the father-in-law's named Pierre Serry.

Bus carrying Britons crashes in France; 1 dead

A bus carrying dozens of British tourists has driven off the road in northern France and crashed into a ditch, killing one person. The British Embassy says 23 people were injured, including six seriously. The cause of the accident early Sunday is unclear, but the bus was the only vehicle involved. The bus was returning from an Italian ski resort when it went off a highway near Reims, a city 90 miles (140 kilometers) northeast of Paris. It was headed to Birmingham in England. The driver was among the injured. LCI television, citing the local prosecutor, says the driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs. The prosecutor said the driver would be questioned after he is discharged from the hospital.

Proposal made for sweeping data protection in EU

Applying the same standards to protect personal data in all 27 European Union countries will save businesses billions, a senior European Union official said Tuesday, launching a proposal for reforms she said would also safeguard individual privacy. EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding's proposal also included a "right to be forgotten" that would mean if a Facebook user wants to take down photos or posts, the company will also have to delete them from its database.

Panama Canal expansion strike settled

A company expanding the Panama Canal has settled a strike by 6,000 workers that had paralyzed work for six days. The workers have agreed to a 13 percent wage increase and will return to work on Monday.

Clashes spread in Tibetan region in China

Deadly clashes between ethnic Tibetans and Chinese security forces have spread to a second area in southwestern China, the government and an overseas activist group said Wednesday.

According to the Chinese government's version of events, a "mob" of people charged a police station in Seda and injured 14 officers, forcing police to open fire on them.

Sean Penn shares film's dream of ducking stardom

The film, directed by Paolo Sorrentino, stars Penn as Cheyenne, a raven-maned, mascara-caked former pop icon whose look was inspired by Robert Smith of the Cure. The childlike Cheyenne has left behind the glamor of his old life and now lives quietly in Ireland with his firefighter wife, played by Frances McDormand. After his father's death, lost soul Cheyenne embarks on a road trip across the United States to track down a former Nazi who brutalized his dad in a concentration camp.

NZ police raid file-sharing site founder's mansion

New Zealand police raided several homes and businesses linked to the founder of Megaupload.com, a giant file-sharing site shut down by U.S. authorities, on Friday and seized guns, millions of dollars, and nearly $5 million in luxury cars, officials said.

Study: Babies try lip-reading in learning to talk

New research suggests babies don't learn to talk just from hearing sounds — they're lip-readers, too. It happens during that magical stage when a baby's babbling gradually changes from gibberish into syllables and eventually into that first "mama" or "dada."Florida scientists discovered that starting around age 6 months, babies begin shifting from the intent eye gaze of early infancy to studying mouths when people talk to them. Once they master the lip movements, they apparently shift back to look you in the eye again.

Authorities: No new evidence in Natalie Wood case

No new evidence has been uncovered in the death of Natalie Wood that would point to foul play, authorities said Tuesday. Natalie Wood died sometime after the evening of Nov. 28, 1981, when the 43-year-old actress was boating off Catalina Island with her husband Robert Wagner and actor Christopher Walken. The evening before the drowning, Wood, Wagner and Walken, who was Wood's co-star in the film "Brainstorm," had dinner at a restaurant on the island. Based on the condition of her body when she was pulled from the water, Smith said he believes she survived for some time in the water and was washed out to sea.

Saudi to apply law for women only to sell lingerie

Saudi Arabia said Monday it will begin enforcing a law that allows only females to work in women's lingerie and apparel stores, despite disapproval from the country's top cleric. Saudi women have boycotted lingerie stores to pressure them to employ women. The government's decision to enforce the law requiring that goes into effect Thursday.