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'Pain' warning on public services

Public services in Wales are facing cuts that will cause "considerable pain", according to an official report.

Sri Lanka puts ex-army chief on trial

Sri Lanka's ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka has appeared before a military court on charges of participating in politics while in uniform.

EU urges faster cut of UK deficit

The government's plans for reducing the budget deficit are not ambitious enough - according to a European Commission report to be published on Wednesday.

Mexico Is Warned on Drug Detector

MEXICO CITY—The British government has notified Mexico that a handheld device widely used by the Mexican military and police to search for drugs and explosives may be ineffective, British officials said.

U.S. Is Reining In Special Forces in Afghanistan

Children related to five people, including three women, who died Feb. 12 in a night raid near Gardez in Paktia Province, Afghanistan, stood at their graves last week.

Eurogroup sees no need of financial aid to Greece

Prime Minister of Luxembourg and President of Euro Group Jean-Claude Juncker (R) and EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn attend a press conference after the Euro Group finance ministers meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 15, 2010. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)

Thailand caught in protest standoff

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Thailand have rallied outside a military base on the outskirts of the capital in an effort to increase pressure on the country's prime minister to stand down and call fresh elections.

Eight killed, 25 wounded in western Iraq bombing

Iraqi policemen check the site of a bomb attack in Falluja, 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad, March 15, 2010. (AFP Photo)

Iraqi PM pulls ahead of poll rivals

Early poll results in Iraq's national elections show a strong lead for State of Law, the bloc led by Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, with about two-thirds of the total votes counted.

Priest Suspended in German Case Close to Pope

MUNICH — The priest at the center of a German sex-abuse scandal that has embroiled Pope Benedict XVI continued working with children for more than 30 years, even though a German court convicted him of molesting boys.

German Priest Close to Pope Is Suspended in Abuse Case

MUNICH — The priest at the center of a German sex-abuse scandal that has embroiled Pope Benedict XVI continued working with children for more than 30 years, even though a German court convicted him of molesting boys.

Thai PM rejects protest ultimatum

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has appeared on national television to reject a demand from demonstrators that he resign by midday and call elections.

Call for better rape victim care

A new approach is needed to give greater priority to the care and support of rape victims, a major review in England and Wales has said.

Red shirts up pressure on Thai PM

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Thailand have begun rallying outside on a military base on the outskirts of Bangkok as they step up pressure on the country's prime minister to stand down and call fresh elections.

Darfur rebel row jeopardises deal

A row between Darfur rebel groups has thrown into doubt a peace deal between the rebels and Sudan's government.

Report Faults Obama?s Efforts at Transparency

WASHINGTON — In his first full day at the White House almost 14 months ago, President Obama declared openness and transparency to be touchstones of his administration, and he ordered federal agencies to make it easier for the public to get information on the workings of government.

Report Faults U.S.?s Efforts at Transparency

WASHINGTON — In his first full day at the White House almost 14 months ago, President Obama declared openness and transparency to be touchstones of his administration, and he ordered federal agencies to make it easier for the public to get information on the workings of government.

U.S. diplomatic employees killed in Mexico: White House

Soldiers patrol a crime scene where a crashed car sits in Ciudad Juarez, Sunday, March 14, 2010. A U.S. consulate employee and her husband were shot to death Saturday in their car near the Santa Fe International bridge linking Ciudad Juarez with El Paso, Texas, and their baby was found unharmed in the back seat, according to Vladimir Tuexi, a spokesman for Chihuahua state prosecutors' office. (AP Photo)

Allawi takes surprising Kirkuk lead

The secular Iraqiya list led by Allawi has fared well in provinces where Sunni Muslims dominate [EPA]

Drug cartel violence kills 17 in Acapulco

Its pearl-white beaches and balmy waters have earned Acapulco the title of Mexico’s Pacific Jewel. But just as tourists began flocking to its shores for the start of the spring holiday season, the idyll was shattered with the drug-related murders of 17 people.

'I did not help cover-up' - Brady

Cardinal Sean Brady, the Catholic primate of all-Ireland, has said he did not help to cover up investigations into sexual abuse in the 1970s.

More than 100 000 swarm Bangkok seeking elections

More than 100 000 protesters converged in Bangkok on Sunday and gave Thailand's military-backed government an ultimatum to call elections within 24 hours or face crippling demonstrations across the capital.

Manhunt launched for missing British student

Geography student Jonathan Dorey, from Guernsey, a 22-year-old foreign exchange student whoi has gone missing

Obama aide stokes US-Israel row

David Axelrod said Israel's move seemed "calculated to undermine" talks - clip courtesy of ABC News/This Week

Mexico drug wars kill 24 people in 24 hours

A series of drug-related attacks have left 24 people dead in Mexico in one unusually bloody day, 13 of them in the popular resort city of Acapulco