Police this week arrested two brothers and charged them with 20 counts each of attempted second-degree murder. They're accused of firing into a second line, scattering the crowd and wounding 19 with gunfire. One person was hurt fleeing.

In a second-line parade, watchers of a street procession of brass band musicians and elaborately clad marchers often join in, forming a second line of marchers.

Second-line parades have been around for generations as part of Mardi Gras and other holiday celebrations, and are perhaps best known as a feature of the city's famed jazz funerals.

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Uganda, which has confirmed oil deposits of about 3.5 billion barrels, wants to extract at least 1.2 billion barrels over the next three decades. That figure could rise when more oil blocks are put up for exploration later this year, potentially making Uganda one of Africa's top oil producers.

But some experts and analysts worry that the country got off to a false start and remains too politically unstable to avoid some of the mistakes made by other oil-rich but otherwise poor countries.

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The film, an English language one from French director Arnaud Desplechin, made its premiere Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival, where it's among 20 movies competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or.

It's principally a tete-a-tete between two men: the Blackfoot Indian Jimmy Picard (Benicio Del Toro), who's suffering from head trauma after serving in World War II; and an eager anthropologist and psychologist from France, George Devereux (Mathieu Amalric), who treats him at a Topeka, Kansas, military hospital.

"The film has one foot in Europe and one foot in America," Desplechin told reporters Saturday. The "A Christmas Tale" director shot the movie in the Midwest and on a Blackfoot reservation in Montana.

In the genre of psychotherapy films — from Hitchcock's "Spellbound" to David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" — "Jimmy P." is particularly faithful to the probing dialogue between patient and analyst. It's a case study of a film, adapted from Devereux's 1951 book, "Reality and Dream," that includes lengthy transcriptions of sessions. Desplechin said he wanted to grasp "the adventure" between the pair as they become friends while sifting Jimmy's memories for the roots of his pain.

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Such is the imperfect urban landscape of playground basketball, what many consider the truest expression of the sport. It's basketball without referees, coaches or sneaker deals. Anyone can play, so long as they call "Next."

A new documentary, "Doin' it in the Park," is a loving ode to the blacktop world of New York City pick-up. With more than 700 courts, it's the mecca of pick-up basketball, featuring places like Rucker Park in Harlem and the West 4th St. court, a kind of fish bowl of nonstop basketball on view for West Village commuters and tourists. Basketball is woven into the asphalt fabric of New York.

"Every court has a story," says "Doin' it in the Park" co-director Bobbito Garcia, who made the film with Kevin Couliau, a French photographer of outdoor basketball.

When Garcia was found on a recent sunny spring day at a Village court off Hudson Street, he was calmly knocking down shot after shot: "You take it, 'cause I won't miss," he says, offering the ball less with arrogance than matter-of-fact politeness.

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Larry Howai says the board has three months to review the airline's finances and make recommendations on how to generate more revenue. He told reporters Friday that a $40 million fuel subsidy would end in 2015.

The beleaguered airline had seen several leadership changes and employee layoffs in recent years as part of a restructuring.

Caribbean Airlines serves the region and also flies to New York, Florida, Philadelphia and Canada.

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Why was a diplomatic outpost left so poorly protected? Should the Pentagon have rushed jets or special forces to the rescue when the assault began? Did President Barack Obama's administration obscure the true nature of the terrorist attack to help him get re-elected?

Congressional Republicans are poking for evidence of incompetence and cover-up in the ashes of the Sept. 11 anniversary attack. Obama dismisses their probes as a politically driven "sideshow."

The release this past week of 100 pages of government emails and notes is the latest fodder, as numerous Benghazi investigations continue.

A look at the issue:

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WHY NOW?

Republicans and Democrats began condemning each other's response to Benghazi within hours of the first shots fired. The issue has flared and dimmed ever since, revived by new testimony, reports or documents like the newly released emails.

Republican lawmakers say they won't stop until they get their questions answered.

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Tilak Padney of Nepal's Mountaineering Department says 35 foreigners accompanied by 29 Nepalese Sherpa guides reached the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak on Saturday morning after climbing all night from the highest camp on South Col.

All were reported to be safe.

Among them was Raha Moharrak, who became the first Saudi Arabian woman to scale the world's highest peak.

Everest can be climbed from either Nepal or Tibet.

May is the most popular month for Everest climbs because of more favorable weather.

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Officials say the clashes in the city's el-Dekheila suburb erupted when a Coptic man allegedly sexually harassed a Muslim woman.

Residents of the area fired birdshot and threw Molotov cocktails at one another during the Friday night fighting.

Police say Christian resident Sherif Sedky died of a heart attack during the clashes. Police forces were beefed up around the local church Saturday in case of further violence.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population. Sectarian violence has been on the rise in Egypt over the past two years.

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Officials say the clashes in the city's el-Dekheila suburb erupted when a Coptic man allegedly sexually harassed a Muslim woman.

Residents of the area fired birdshot and threw Molotov cocktails at one another during the Friday night fighting.

Police say Christian resident Sherif Sedky died of a heart attack during the clashes. Police forces were beefed up around the local church Saturday in case of further violence.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population. Sectarian violence has been on the rise in Egypt over the past two years.

Continue Reading...

Officials say the clashes in the city's el-Dekheila suburb erupted when a Coptic man allegedly sexually harassed a Muslim woman.

Residents of the area fired birdshot and threw Molotov cocktails at one another during the Friday night fighting.

Police say Christian resident Sherif Sedky died of a heart attack during the clashes. Police forces were beefed up around the local church Saturday in case of further violence.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population. Sectarian violence has been on the rise in Egypt over the past two years.

Continue Reading...

Officials say the clashes in the city's el-Dekheila suburb erupted when a Coptic man allegedly sexually harassed a Muslim woman.

Residents of the area fired birdshot and threw Molotov cocktails at one another during the Friday night fighting.

Police say Christian resident Sherif Sedky died of a heart attack during the clashes. Police forces were beefed up around the local church Saturday in case of further violence.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population. Sectarian violence has been on the rise in Egypt over the past two years.

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The tax agency has admitted to inappropriately scrutinizing tea party organizations that applied for tax-exempt status. But the IRS largely maintained a hands-off policy with the much larger organizations on the left and right that were most influential in the 2012 elections

Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS and Priorities USA, made up of former Barack Obama campaign aides, spent tens of millions of dollars on TV ads and get-out-the-vote efforts. Yet those groups escaped investigations into whether they abused their tax status to help shield donor identities.

Advocates for disclosure worry that government regulators will be less likely to scrutinize the more powerful groups going forward for fear they will appear to be targeting groups for political reasons.

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Merkel flew to Rome Saturday for a 45-minute session with the pope at the Vatican. Her Christian Democrat party depends heavily on support from Protestant and Catholic voters, and the chat and photo opportunity could be a campaign boost.

On Thursday, Francis blasted what he called a "cult of money" tyrannizing the poor. Merkel said the two discussed regulation of financial markets, adding that the economy hasn't always served people like it should.

She said Francis stressed the need for a strong and just Europe. The Vatican said the two exchanged views on how Europe can be a community of values, including religious freedom.

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Police say Danilovic was hurt during a brawl early Saturday in a cafe in a residential part of the capital, Belgrade. Doctors say Danilovic underwent an operation to treat injuries to his abdomen, head and arms.

The reason for the brawl was not immediately known.

Danilovic currently plays for leading Serbian basketball club Partizan Belgrade.

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The top-ranked American overcame an early break of her serve to roll past Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0 Saturday and reach the Italian Open final, extending her career-best winning streak to 23 matches.

In Sunday's final, Williams will face either third-seeded Victoria Azarenka or seventh-seeded Sara Errani, who were up next on center court at the Foro Italico.

Williams' only title at this clay-court tournament came when she beat Justine Henin in the 2002 final.

In the men's semifinals, six-time champion Rafael Nadal will face sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych and Roger Federer plays 36th-ranked Benoit Paire of France.

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McDowell beat Bo Van Pelt 2 and 1 on the Thracian Cliffs course Saturday and will meet Colsaerts in a rematch from last year's final. The defending champion won 2 up against Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano after being ahead by five shots with five holes to play.

Colsaerts says "it was totally my fault as I should have ended our game an hour or an hour and a half earlier as I had a putt on 13 to win."

Francesco Molinari defeated Carl Pettersson 6 and 4.

Also advancing were Branden Grace, Chris Wood, Thomas Aiken, Scott Jamieson and Thongchai Jaidee, who needed three playoff holes to down Peter Hanson.

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The failure highlights how tenuous women's rights remain a dozen years after the ouster of the hard-line Taliban regime, whose strict interpretation of Islam kept Afghan women virtual prisoners in their homes.

The law has actually been in effect since 2009 by presidential decree. Lawmaker Fawzia Kofi wants to cement it with a parliamentary vote to prevent its future reversal.

Among its provisions are bans on child marriage and the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes.

Kofi said the law was introduced in parliament Saturday but met such fierce opposition that it was withdrawn. It wasn't immediately clear to which parts they objected.

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Rami Abdul-Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Saturday that a coalition known as the Judicial Council had accused another rebel force, the Ghurabaa al-Sham, of robbing factories in Aleppo's industrial neighborhood.

He said the two groups clashed on Tuesday and the Judicial Council is now holding Ghurabaa al-Sham members captive. The Ghurabaa al-Sham is also holding Judicial Council members.

Aleppo-based activist Mohammed Saeed said Ghurabaa al-Sham withdrew its fighters from several neighborhoods, including the industrial area.

Aleppo is Syria's largest city and is split between rebel and government control.

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In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says the U.S. should focus on attracting good jobs, educating workers and ensuring workers get paid a decent living.

Obama has been pushing those priorities in recent visits to Baltimore and Austin, Texas. Obama says he'll make the case in more U.S. cities soon.

Obama says politics in Washington often aren't focused on what Americans care about. He's alluding to a series of political troubles that dogged him last week and overshadowed his agenda.

In the Republican address, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland says red tape in Obama's health care law will drive up costs. He says the embattled IRS needs less power, not more.

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Obama address: www.whitehouse.gov

GOP address: www.youtube.com/HouseConference

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A special congress Saturday of the federation, known by the acronym FILA, decreed there will be a mandatory women's vice-presidency role.

The new rules will ensure matches are made up out of two three-minute sessions instead of three two-minute periods. Scoring will become cumulative instead of the previous two-out-of-three system.

The changes come after the International Olympic Committee removed wrestling as one of the core sports of the games in February. It is now one of eight sports that will be competing for an open slot at the 2020 Games. That decision will be made by the IOC in September.

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