Afghan police are weak link in security force

By ELENA BECATOROS

Underpaid, under-equipped and under-trained, Afghanistan's 93,000-member police force is the weak link in an ambitious security strategy to hand over defense of the country to Afghans so American and other foreign troops can go home.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 3:25 pm

Researcher: Faint writing seen on Shroud of Turin

By ARIEL DAVID

A Vatican researcher has rekindled the age-old debate over the Shroud of Turin, saying that faint writing on the linen proves it was the burial cloth of Jesus.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 3:20 pm

Kidnapped Britons say Somali pirates may kill them

By DAVID STRINGER

A British couple being held hostage by Somali pirates said in an interview broadcast Friday that they fear they will be killed or handed to a terrorist group if a ransom is not paid soon.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 3:15 pm

US envoy criticizes coverage of Obama China visit

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN

Washington's ambassador to Beijing hit out Friday at negative U.S. media coverage of President Barack Obama's visit to China, saying it failed to take into account important progress on many issues.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 3:15 pm

Museum: Galileo's fingers, tooth are found

Two fingers and a tooth removed from Galileo Galilei's corpse in a Florentine basilica in the 18th century and given up for lost have been found again, a Florence museum said Friday.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 3:00 pm

Mumbai still vulnerable 1 year after attack

By ERIKA KINETZ

The walls that the rockets blew out have not been repaired, and the plaster is a dense scattershot of bullet holes. Dozens of holes, blasted by grenades, pockmark the linoleum floors.

Nov 20, 2009 | 2:40 pm

Kidnapped Britons say Somali pirates may kill them

By DAVID STRINGER

A British couple being held hostage by Somali pirates said in an interview broadcast Friday that they fear they will be killed or handed to a terrorist group if a ransom is not paid soon.

Nov 20, 2009 | 2:35 pm

Egyptian soccer fans riot against Algeria

By OMAR SINAN

Egyptian soccer fans burned Algerian flags and rioted outside the Algerian Embassy in Cairo, smashing cars and shop windows, in an escalating row between the two countries over a bitter World Cup rivalry.

Nov 20, 2009 | 2:30 pm

WHO investigating Norway swine flu mutations

The World Health Organization said Friday it is investigating samples of variant swine flu linked to two deaths and one severe case in Norway, but that so far the significance of the mutation is unclear.

Nov 20, 2009 | 1:25 pm

6 world powers press Iran on nuclear issue

By SLOBODAN LEKIC

Representatives of six world powers urged Iran on Friday to accept a U.N. plan aimed at delaying its ability to build a nuclear weapon, as the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency warned Tehran not to miss the opportunity to resolve the dispute.

Nov 20, 2009 | 1:20 pm

Italian prosecutor: Knox hated murder victim

By MARTA FALCONI

An American student accused of fatally stabbing her British roommate in Italy had a growing hatred for the victim and killed her in retaliation during a drug-fueled sex game, a prosecutor contended Friday in closing arguments at her murder trial.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:50 pm

The new EU chiefs: Rompuy-pumpy and Cathy Who?

By JILL LAWLESS

Catherine Ashton: International woman of mystery.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:40 pm

Pakistan demands US share Afghan blueprint

By KIM GAMEL

Pakistan expressed fear Friday that a large increase in foreign troops in Afghanistan could push militants across the border into its territory and called on the U.S. to factor in that concern as part of its new war strategy.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:20 pm

Russian ship frees itself from ice in Antarctic

A Russian ship reached open water off Antarctica after struggling through a huge mass of sea ice for days, a Russian shipping company and a British travel agency said Friday.

Nov 20, 2009 | 11:50 am

Palestinians to set new date for elections

By DALIA NAMMARI

Palestinian officials announced Friday that a new date for parliamentary and presidential elections will be set next month now that President Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to postpone the January vote, though the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers maintain they will boycott the voting.

Nov 20, 2009 | 11:25 am

Russia's Gorbachev considers political comeback

By MANSUR MIROVALEV

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev criticized Kremlin policies Friday and toyed with the ambitious idea of attempting a political comeback.

Nov 20, 2009 | 11:00 am

Ugandan army kills 34 tribesmen on cattle raids

Ugandan officials say the army has killed 34 tribesmen who were stealing cattle in Uganda's volatile northeastern region.

Nov 20, 2009 | 10:55 am

Queen, Prince Philip mark 62 years of marriage

Buckingham Palace says the queen and her husband Prince Philip are celebrating 62 years of marriage quietly _ without the fanfare of two years ago, when they marked their diamond anniversary.

Nov 20, 2009 | 10:20 am

UK man cleared of wife's death during nightmare

By JENNIFER QUINN

A British man who said he strangled his wife during a nightmare about fighting off an intruder has been found innocent in her death.

Nov 20, 2009 | 10:10 am