GENEVA — In its second grilling at the United Nations this year, the Vatican on Monday sought to limit its responsibility for the global priest sex abuse scandal by undercutting arguments it has violated an international treaty against torture and inhuman treatment. The Vatican delegation’s appearance in Geneva is the first time that the committee […]

CONCORD, N.H. — Southern New Hampshire University’s online College for America is launching what it calls the first nationally available, full-accredited $10,000 Bachelor of Arts degree. Similar to its existing associate’s degree program, the new program is offered to working adult students through their employers, and has no traditional classes, instructors or grades. Instead, students […]

BANGKOK (AP) — A strong earthquake shook northern Thailand and Myanmar on Monday evening, and some light damage was reported. People were evacuated from the terminal of the main airport in Chiang Rai, a northern Thai city near the epicenter of the 6.0-magnitude temblor. Pieces of the building ceiling fell but there was no damage […]

KENNEBUNK — The back yard of the Kennebunk Free Library was transformed Saturday into an enchanted wonderland during the library’s Faerie Festival, part of the town’s annual May Day festival. With perfect spring weather, young girls decked out in their May Day best ”“ fanciful dresses, wings and flowers ”“ flocked to craft tables to […]

BOSTON — Former President George H.W. Bush was honored Sunday with a Kennedy “courage” award for agreeing to raise taxes to confront a spiraling deficit, jeopardizing his presidency that ended after just one term. The John F. Kennedy Presidential “Library and Museum in Boston honored Bush with a 2014 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage […]

PORTLAND (AP) — The executive director of the Downeast Lakes Land Trust is leaving to become president of the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. The land trust announced that Berry will leave June 6, after eight years at its helm. In that time, the Grand Lake Stream-based organization has preserved thousands of acres of […]

NEW YORK — The first openly gay Episcopal bishop, who became a symbol for gay rights far beyond the church while deeply dividing the world’s Anglicans, plans to divorce his husband. Bishop Gene Robinson announced the end of his marriage to Mark Andrew in an email sent to the Diocese of New Hampshire, where he […]