Far and Wide

INSIDER INSIGHT: The world in focus

(AP Photo/EyePress)
"No, this is not RoboCop."

That's how Michael Feldman, the AP's international photo editor, introduced this photo of a law enforcement officer in Zhengzhou, China. The officer was showing off body armor and a gun that shoots a net to catch dogs.

Meanwhile, a few hundred miles up the road, baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. has some fun during a clinic he's conducting for kids in Beijing.

(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
See below for more of Feldman's top photo picks.

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

Baseball, cardboard tubes and the anniversary of a journalist's death are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

-- Eric Carvin

Brew ha-ha: Sam Adams vs. Sam Adams

In one corner of the ring we have the Boston brewers of Sam Adams beer. In the other, Sam Adams, the mild-mannered bicycle rider who wants to be Portland's next mayor.

The slogan "Sam Adams for Portland Mayor" is already on his Web site (www.samforpdx.com) and soon may grace yard signs and bumper stickers for the 2008 election.

"They say they've been using this trademark since 1984," Adams said. "I've been using it since 1963."

Game on.

For more, check out this AP story.

-- Jaime Holguin

Did you just grope me? Shall we head to the police?

More Japanese women are turning to a cell phone application to ward off wandering hands in the country's congested commuter  trains.

"Anti-Groping Appli" flashes increasingly threatening messages in bold print on the phone's screen to show to the offender: "Excuse me, did you just grope me?" "Groping is a crime," and finally, "Shall we head to the police?"

It was released in late 2005, but has only recently climbed up popularity rankings.

Find out more in this story by AP's Hiroko Tabuchi.

-- Jaime Holguin

One man's trash is another man's $1M stolen painting

In this case it's the 1970 painting, "Tres Personajes" (Three People), by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo.

The painting, which had been stolen more than 20 years ago and was the subject of an FBI investigation, was found lying in trash on a New York City street by a passer-by, who had no idea of what she was looking at.

It had been featured on PBS's "Antiques Roadshow FYI" as a missing masterpiece after it was stolen.

The painting is now back in the hands of the rightful owners who have decided to sell it at auction. Sotheby's says it could bring up to $1 million when it is sold next month.

For more, read this AP story.

-- Jaime Holguin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

Wildfires in California, zombies in Seattle and safety in the air are all getting a lot of attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

A possible armed uprising in New Zealand, porn scammers in Arizona, and the cat show in Madison Square Garden are the hot topics of the day over at NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- especially photos and video -- into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

News word of the day: weapons

(AP Photo/David Longstreath)

Most of the world looks with disdain at the military junta running Myanmar, which begs the question: Who sells the weapons used by the junta to crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators and rule with an iron fist? AP reporter Grant Peck provides the answers in this story filed today out of Bangkok, Thailand.

AP reporter Lara Jakes Jordan also has a weapons story running that takes a look at the growing number of unauthorized exports of U.S. missile technology, fighter jet parts, night vision goggles and other wartime equipment. Officials say that the weapons increasingly are being illegally smuggled to potential adversaries, such as China and Iran.

Then there's that Pennsylvania mom who has been charged with buying weapons for her son who might have been planning an attack on high school students.

Caption: Soldiers with Myanmar's army carry automatic weapons as they march during ceremonies on Armed Forces Day in the new capital of Naypyitaw in this March 2007 file photo.

--Paul Chavez 

INSIDER INSIGHT: The buzz at NowPublic

A Facebook dispute over Palestinians? A man saved by his dog? A -- citizen journalism seminar?

There's quite a variety of content getting attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

Listen to this audio clip to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.

-- Eric Carvin

The five-minute walk to Chili's wouldn't cut it

(AP Photo)

A 6-year-old boy left his neighborhood feeling ... well, not so good, after a failed attempt to drive to Applebee's.

The hungry youngster found his grandma's keys, shifted his car seat to reach the steering wheel and took off ... in reverse ... for 75 feet before knocking out a transformer and cutting power to his Denver suburb.

Investigators are still trying to figure out how the boy reached the accelerator.

-- Otis Hart