The political opposition in Iran says hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. The dissident cleric, who died Sunday at the age of 87, had been a spiritual guide for opponents of the governm...
North Korea has warned South Korean military and fishing boats to stay clear of a disputed maritime area, or risk being fired on. Kurt Achin | Seoul 21 December 2009 Photo: AP S. Korean fishing boat passes by South Korean Navy's floating base near we...
The political crisis in Madagascar has deepened, after transitional government head Andry Rajoelina backed out of power-sharing negotiations and named a former military officer as prime minister. Opposition groups have rejected the move and say they...
In Nepal, Maoists have intensified protests as a 6-month long standoff with the government shows no signs of ending. The political impasse threatens a historic peace pact which ended a violent Maoist-led insurgency, and brought them into the politica...
Preliminary returns from Sunday's elections in the Comoros indicate the president's ruling coalition is heading for a landslide victory that could extend his rule. But some opposition leaders say voting was marked by irregularities. Scott Bobb | Joha...
The Obama administration says Iran will face consequences from an increasingly-united global community if it continues to rebuff multilateral efforts to ensure the peaceful application of its nuclear program. Michael Bowman | Washington 20 December 2...
Tom Rivers | London 20 December 2009 Photo: AP Photo A pair of Shetland ponies are seen at Anfield Plain, England, 20 Dec 2009 Blizzard conditions have descended upon a wide section of Europe. While snow has brought smiles to the faces of children wh...
Major rifts within the opposition have been cited as the biggest factor likely to thwart efforts by their leader Anwar Ibrahim to win control of government at the next election. Luke Hunt | Kota Kinabalu 20 December 2009 Major rifts within the opposi...
The abduction follows the kidnapping of three Spanish aid workers last month. Scott Stearns | Dakra 20 December 2009 Photo: CIA World Factbook Italy's foreign ministry says it is working through all political and diplomatic channels to secure the rel...
Robert Berger | Jerusalem 20 December 2009 A Palestinian worker builds at a construction site in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Beit Arieh, 20 Dec 2009 Israel's defense minister has ordered the army to use massive force to impose a freeze on cons...
The World Health Organization says the situation in Southern Sudan is far worse than in the conflict-ridden province of Darfur. Lisa Schlein | Geneva 20 December 2009 The World Health Organization (WHO) says Southern Sudan is all but forgotten since...
Charles Dickens wrote his seminal Christmas story, A Christmas Carol, more than 150 years ago. But even today Dickens and his work remain in the public eye, as a new film version of his story is released. Jennifer Glasse | London 19 December 2009 One...
In Southeast Asia, people know well the risks that extreme weather can bring, and they worry that a warmer climate will increase those risks. !Pros Laput, Daniel Schearf | Bangkok 19 December 2009 When Typhoon Ketsana hit Manila this year, the crowde...
Already President Obama has ended travel limits on Cuban-Americans and called for new talks between the nations, but Havana says Washington is not going far enough. Brian Wagner | Miami 19 December 2009 Photo: photos.com Cuba at night President Barac...
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta blamed the resumption of the attacks on the suspended peace talks due to President Umaru Yar'Adua's absence. Gilbert Da Costa | Abuja 19 December 2009 The rebel group responsible for most of the at...
