World News

Madagascar leaders to meet on unity government deadlock

By Alain Iloniaina

Rwanda genocide survivors may boycott U.N. court

By Hereward Holland

Kidnapped Britons say Somali pirates may kill them

LONDON - A retired British couple snatched from their yacht by Somali pirates said in an interview broadcast Friday they fear they could be killed within a week or handed to a terrorist group if a ransom demand is not paid.

New German foreign minister on first Moscow visit

MOSCOW (AFP) - - Germany's new Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle emphasised strong relations with Russia during his first visit to Moscow Friday, but remained discreet on human rights issues.

Croatian parliament ratifies Slovenia border deal

ZAGREB (AFP) - - The Croatian parliament ratified on Friday a deal with Slovenia for international arbitration to resolve a border row between the two countries that blocked Zagreb's bid to join the European Union.

Russian Orthodox priest critical of Islam shot dead

MOSCOW (AFP) - - An Russian Orthodox priest who was an outspoken critic of both Islam and ultra-nationalist groups was shot dead in his Moscow church by a masked assassin, investigators said Friday.

Reports: 101-yr-old Brazil architect back at work

BRASILIA, Brazil - Famed 101-year-old Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer is reportedly back at work just weeks after surgery for gallstones and an intestinal tumor.

Colombia says its military on 'maximum alert'

BOGOTA (AFP) - - Colombia warned its forces were on "maximum alert" and were prepared to defend against any attack, amid rising tensions with neighboring Venezuela.

Mexico shifts strategy in border city violence

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's top domestic security official said Friday that sectors of the general public have cooperated with drug cartels in the violent border city of Ciudad Juarez, and the government is about to launch new social programs there to combat gangs.

Iran to hold war games to protect nuclear sites

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran will begin large-scale air defense war games Sunday aimed at protecting its nuclear facilities from possible attack, a senior military commander said Saturday, reflecting the country's concern that Israel could make good on threats to strike militarily.

Iraq parliament struggles over elusive vote deal

By Waleed Ibrahim

Iraqi parliament seeks to end election crisis

EPA: Uranium from polluted mine in Nev. wells

YERINGTON, Nev. - Peggy Pauly lives in a robin-egg blue, two-story house not far from acres of onion fields that make the northern Nevada air smell sweet at harvest time.

NC man gets life in prison for woman's fatal scare

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A man will spend the rest of his life in prison after he was found guilty in what prosecutors said was a case of scaring a 79-year-old North Carolina grandmother to death.

Losing Winfrey would be big blow for Second City

CHICAGO - Step outside Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios and into the near west side neighborhood that's been home to her television talk show for two decades, and it's easy to get a sense of what she's meant to Chicago.