Egypt's president opened the new year with a dramatic call for a "revolution" in Islam to reform interpretations of the faith entrenched for hundreds of years, which he said have made the Muslim world a source of "destruction" and pitted it against the rest of the world.

The speech was Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's boldest effort yet to position himself as a modernizer of Islam. His professed goal is to purge the religion of extremist ideas of intolerance and violence that fuel groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State — and that appear to have motivated Wednesday's attack in Paris on a French satirical newspaper that killed 12 people.

The U.N. representative of the opposition Syrian National Coalition demanded Wednesday that the United Nations take down a new photo exhibit sponsored by the Syrian government, saying Syria is using it to "whitewash the regime's war crimes."

The "My Homeland" exhibit opens Thursday with photographs of a ruined Aleppo, including captions that mention defending against "terror groups." Syrian authorities refer to those trying to topple President Bashar Assad as terrorists.

Netflix wants to make Sony's "The Interview" available to its 53 million worldwide subscribers, the streaming service's chief content officer said Wednesday.

Ted Sarandos of Netflix would not comment on efforts to make that possible, however. The movie starring Seth Rogen and James Franco is available on some other video services and in some independent theaters, after its wide release was canceled due to the Sony hacking scandal.

Bill Cosby said he had a "wonderful time" and got a standing ovation from polite Canadian fans at his first show following a string of cancellations in the wake of sexual assault allegations from more than 15 women.

But outside protesters braved below-freezing weather to shame the ticket-holders as they streamed in and are likely to do so again at the second of three performances in Ontario on Thursday.

Smartwatches don't have to look ugly to be functional. Clothing and accessories designers are collaborating with engineers to produce computerized wristwatches that people will want to wear all day and night.

With Apple Inc. preparing to release a watch line that includes an 18-karat gold edition, rivals know they need to think beyond devices that look like miniature computers — with their rectangular screens and wristbands made of rubber-like materials. If the watches aren't attractive, the market won't grow beyond a small niche of users.

Officials in San Diego are trying to sort out how a 5 1/2-foot snake wound up in a toilet at an office building.

Stephanie Lacsa told San Diego County authorities she noticed the water level in the toilet was higher than usual when she went to the second-floor restroom Tuesday. When she plunged it, a snake popped up and flicked its tongue.

Earth has a few more near-twin planets outside our solar system, tantalizing possibilities in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Astronomers announced Tuesday that depending on definitions, they have confirmed three or four more planets that are about the same size as Earth and are in the not-too-hot, not-too-cold "Goldilocks Zone" for liquid water to form.

Monaco's royal twins, including the heir to the throne, have appeared in public for the first time to a cheering crowd.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert appeared on a palace balcony Wednesday, each holding a newborn baby swaddled in white. The hereditary heir Prince Jacques and his older sister — by 2 minutes — Gabriella were greeted by a small sea of red-and-white flags and banners.

Christmas trees can be enjoyed long after they are discarded by a family. They're a great source of vitamin C — for goats.

A farm in the northeastern state of Maine is extending an invitation to residents who don't know what to do with their discarded trees.

Two women accusing Bill Cosby of sexual offenses decades ago have joined a defamation lawsuit, contending the comedian publicly branded them as liars through statements by his representatives.

The amended complaint was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Springfield, in western Massachusetts, where Cosby has a home in Shelburne Falls.