May 24
Berlusconi looms large in Rome mayor election
Silvio Berlusconi's figure looms large over Rome's mayoral elections this weekend, even though the former premier isn't among the 19 candidates running.
May 23
World stocks erratic a day after big sell-off
Asian shares traded erratically Friday but European markets found their footing, a day after global stocks were routed by unexpectedly weak Chinese manufacturing and fears the Federal Reserve will start withdrawing its monetary stimulus.
May 23
US, Israel raise hopes for Mideast peace restart
The United States and Israel raised hopes Thursday for a restart of the Middle East peace process, despite little tangible progress so far from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's two-month-old effort to get Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.
May 23
Britain braces for possible copycat attacks
Britain is bracing for clashes with right-wing extremists and possible copycat terror attacks after the brutal slaying of a young soldier.
May 23
Extremists claim responsibility for Niger attacks
Suicide bombers in Niger detonated two car bombs simultaneously, one inside a military camp in the city of Agadez and another in the remote town of Arlit at a French-operated uranium mine, killing 26 people and injuring 30, according to officials in Niger and France. A surviving attacker took a group of soldiers hostage, and authorities were attempting to negotiate their release.
May 22
Globovision owners hint at toned-down news stance
The new owners of Venezuela's only television channel to take critical stands against the government say they will, in their words, "contribute to a climate of peace and not of conflict."
May 23
2 brown bears rescued from captivity in Kosovo
Two brown bears have been released into a special sanctuary after being held in a 20-square-meter cage almost their entire lives to amuse visitors at a Kosovo restaurant.
May 23
Iran denies its drone entered Bahrain's airspace
An Iranian semi-official news agency reports the country is denying that an unmanned drone violated the airspace of Bahrain, the strategic Gulf kingdom that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
May 23
Pakistan arrested American who was killed by drone
An American citizen killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan in 2011 was arrested by Pakistani authorities three years earlier but escaped after being released on bail, officials said Thursday.
May 23
Military calls UK attack victim a model soldier
The soldier brutally murdered in a suspected terrorist attack in London was a popular 25-year-old ceremonial military drummer and machine gunner, a father and a passionate fan of the Manchester United soccer team, the British military said Thursday.
May 23
Stricken Japan nuke plant struggles to keep staff
Keeping the meltdown-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in northeastern Japan in stable condition requires a cast of thousands. Increasingly the plant's operator is struggling to find enough workers, a trend that many expect to worsen and hamper progress in the decades-long effort to safely decommission it.
May 23
S. Sudan leader: Int'l court 'humiliates' Africa
South Sudan's president is criticizing the International Criminal Court, saying the court is designed to humiliate African leaders.
May 23
Japan gyrations underline economy's vulnerability
Japan's financial markets gyrated wildly Thursday, underscoring the vulnerability of its economy to a loss of investor confidence as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attempts shock monetary easing to end two decades of stagnation.
May 23
Togo police fire tear gas at protesters
Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the latest confrontation between the ruling party and Togo's increasingly active opposition. Demonstrators were gathering to protest the death of an opposition member, who died in jail.
May 23
EU performs abrupt U-turn on olive oil regulation
The EU has something important to say about its proposal to regulate olive oil on restaurant tables: Uh, never mind.
May 23
Father of man shot in Boston probe shares regrets
The father of a Chechen immigrant shot dead by U.S. law enforcement agents while being questioned about his ties to a Boston Marathon bombings suspect said Thursday that he regrets allowing his son to go to the United States.
May 23
ECB's Draghi: 'Imperative' to set up new bank body
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said it was "imperative" that Europe's leaders create a new agency with powers to restructure busted banks in order to help the region leave its economic and financial crisis behind it once and for all.
May 23
Czech police say US suspect in 4 murders arrested
Police say an American man suspected of killing a family of four in the Czech Republic has been arrested in the United States.
May 23
Canada terror suspect: Lawyer must use 'holy book'
A man accused of plotting to derail a train in Canada with support from al-Qaida asked Thursday to be represented by a defense attorney willing to use the "holy book" as a reference in his case.
May 23
Heat wave causes power outages, anger in India
A blistering heat wave has swept across most parts of north and western India, causing massive electricity cuts and leading angry residents to protest and even attack power company officials and property.
