SEATTLE – The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is re-examining Amazon.com Inc.’s (AMZN) patent for “one-click” online shopping at the request of a New Zealand actor who says he’s upset over slow book delivery. Actor Peter Calveley sought the reconsideration in documents filed in February, pointing out that a patent …

The spreading Muslim protests against newspapers that reprinted cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad stem from the deepest religious roots. Islam forbids visual depictions of the prophet, and regards violations by Muslims as highly sinful and by non-Muslims as the ultimate sort of insult. The prohibition is in part an application …

TIJUANA, Mexico – Prisoners are rioting at a state penitentiary in the Mexican border city of Tijuana. Red Cross official Fernando Esquer says at least four prisoners are injured with bullet wounds and have been evacuated for treatment. The riot began Sunday afternoon and quickly escalated. A fire raged on …

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – The Dutch parliament approved new anti-terrorism measures Tuesday that make it easier to arrest suspects without strong evidence and hold them longer without charge. Prosecutors will be able to approve surveillance, infiltration or wiretapping of suspects even when there is not “reasonable suspicion” that a suspect may …

HOUSTON – The scheduled execution of a two-time killer has been put on hold while an appeals court considers his petition that death by injection is unconstitutionally cruel. In a brief three-paragraph order released Monday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals blocked the execution of Derrick Sean O’Brien, condemned for …

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University is rolling out a public-awareness campaign about the hazards deer pose to humans, and it apparently couldn’t come at a better time. A year ago, deer threatened or injured at least seven people on the university’s Carbondale campus during fawning season. Now — with …

NEW YORK – A Brazilian woman charged with running a high-end brothel claims her client list included executives with Time Warner Inc. (TWX) and investment counseling firm Barrett Associates, according to court documents. During police questioning, Andrea Schwartz, 31, claimed that the Barrett executive gave her $50,000 a year in …

STUTTGART, Germany – Portugal and England made it through to the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Sunday, and neither did it the easy way. Portugal beat the Netherlands 1-0 in a game featuring four red cards and a World Cup record-tying 16 yellows. England labored to beat Ecuador 1-0 …

WASHINGTON – The federal government sued the New Jersey attorney general and other state officials Wednesday to stop them from seeking information about telephone companies’ cooperation with the National Security Agency. The unusual filing in U.S. District Court in Trenton, N.J., is the latest effort by federal authorities to halt …

TOKYO – A strong earthquake rattled southern Japan early Monday followed by a milder temblor in the north the nation’s meteorological agency said. At least five people were injured from the magnitude-6.2 quake in the south, but no one died, Kyodo News agency reported. No injuries or damage were reported …