World

Mexico's Maya heartland greets dawn of new era
Dec. 21 started out as the prophetic day some had believed would usher in the fiery end of the world. By Friday afternoon, it had become more comic ...
Pope stresses family values as gay marriage gains
The pope pressed his opposition to gay marriage Friday, denouncing what he described as people eschewing their God-given gender identities to suit ...
Federal contract employees get whistle-blower aid
Millions of people who work for federal contractors or grant recipients will have new legal whistle-blower protections under legislation sent to ...
Egyptian Islamists, opponents clash ahead of vote
Violence erupted between Egypt's divided camps on Friday, the eve of the final round of a referendum on a constitution that has polarized the nation, ...
SBI probing 2 guards over inmate hot sauce abuse
A criminal investigation triggered by complaints from North Carolina inmates that they were forced to rub habanero hot sauce on their genitals is now ...
Margaret Thatcher in UK hospital after operation
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is recuperating at a hospital after an operation to remove a bladder growth, a friend said Friday.
Mali militants seek peace after UN backs force
The al-Qaida-linked group that controls much of northern Mali and other rebels agreed Friday to cease hostilities in the areas they control, a day ...
Basic facts on Egypt's constitution referendum
Egyptians vote Saturday in the second round of a highly contentious referendum on a new constitution to replace the one suspended after the 2011 ...
Monti resigns as Italy heads to elections
Mario Monti handed in his resignation to Italy's president in Rome on Friday, bringing to a close his "difficult but fascinating" 13-month technical ...
Panetta: Complete background checks by Jan. 21
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is giving the Defense Department and the military services until Jan. 21 to review the backgrounds of all employees who ...
Syrian rebels step up attacks on strategic sites
Syria's rebels stepped up attacks on strategic sites including a sprawling military complex in the country's north on Friday, while reports emerged ...
Israel's Netanyahu vows to build in Jerusalem
Israel's prime minister has vowed to build in Jerusalem despite criticism from the United Nations, dismissing the international body in particularly ...
Iraq confirms arrest of minister's bodyguards
Iraqi authorities said Friday they've arrested 10 bodyguards of the country's Sunni finance minister in a terrorism-related sweep, the first official ...
EU to re-launch aid to Guinea after vote date set
The European Union says it has agreed to re-launch €174.3 million in development funds to Guinea. The move comes after the West African nation finally ...
Attacks on Ivorian military kill 1 in Abidjan
Authorities in Ivory Coast say at least one person is dead after two simultaneous attacks on Ivorian security forces. Cherif Moussa, chief of ...
Stalin's birthday marked in Russia and beyond
People across the vast territory where Josef Stalin once imposed his terror have marked the 133rd anniversary of the dictator's birth, some in hatred ...
New female mayor gears Bethlehem up for Christmas
Bethlehem's first female mayor, Vera Baboun, can't walk through the main square of the biblical town without being stopped by admirers. "This is our ...
Kenya Red Cross: 39 people killed in clashes
At least 39 people were killed when farmers raided a village of herders in southeastern Kenya early Friday in renewed fighting between two communities ...
Rallies across Yemen support military shake-up
Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis rallied across the country Friday to support a military shake-up this week that limited the powers held by loyalists ...
Talks adjourn between Congo government and rebels
Uganda's defense minister says that talks between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels are being put on hold for two weeks. Crispus Kiyonda ...
Malians express dismay at intervention timeframe
Malians living under the grip of al-Qaida-linked militants expressed dismay Friday that it could be nearly a year before a regional military ...
UK man jailed over forged Churchill signatures
A British antiques dealer has been jailed for 10 months for forging the signatures of Winston Churchill and other famous figures in books he sold as ...
55 people drowned or missing off Somali coast
The U.N. refugee agency says 55 people have drowned or are missing after an overcrowded boat capsized off the Somali coast. UNHCR said the incident ...
NATO: Syria using Scud-type rockets again
The Syrian military has continued to fire Scud-type missiles, NATO's top official said Friday, describing the move as an act of desperation of a ...
Denver sirens are just a test, not doomsday signal
Officials in Denver want people to know this is only a test. The city is testing new outdoor warning sirens on Friday, and they're well aware of all ...