NATO summit draws protests
2012-05-20 20:56:44
Protesters and police clashed outside the NATO summit in Chicago, where world leaders met to discuss the way forward in Afghanistan.

At least 7 dead after quake rocks northern Italy
2012-05-20 13:02:31
A strong earthquake struck northern Italy early Sunday, leaving at least seven people dead, authorities said.

Lockerbie bomber dies more than two years after release
2012-05-20 09:29:13
Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, the only person convicted in connection with the Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people, died Sunday, the Libyan government and a family member said. He was 60.

Pakistan blocks Twitter over material deemed blasphemous
2012-05-20 09:11:27
The Pakistani government has blocked the social networking site Twitter because of material it deemed an affront to Islam, a government official told CNN on Sunday.

G-8 leaders take up eurozone crisis, possible Greek exit
2012-05-20 09:06:39
Concerns about whether debt-laden Greece will be forced to pull out of the eurozone, and what that would mean for a weakened European economy is the first topic on Saturday's agenda at the Group of Eight summit hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, a senior administration official said.

21 dead in Yemen al Qaeda clashes
2012-05-20 09:05:46
Fierce clashes between government troops and al Qaeda fighters Sunday morning in Yemen left 21 people dead, two local security officials told CNN.

Italy school attack not tied to mafia, prosecutor says
2012-05-20 08:59:36
Two suspects in a fatal bombing outside a school in Italy have been identified, a prosecutor said.

Iranian official: Expect record oil prices over nuclear sanctions
2012-05-20 07:09:48
Iran's finance minister believes oil prices could rise as high as $160 a barrel thanks to sanctions over its nuclear program, a prediction that comes just as the chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency headed to Tehran on Sunday for high-level talks.

Chinese human rights activist Chen arrives in U.S.
2012-05-20 06:59:47
Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng arrived Saturday evening in the United States, bringing an end to a diplomatic firestorm that erupted after he escaped from house arrest and took to YouTube to complain about abuse he said his family suffered at the hands of authorities.

Transgender Miss Universe Canada contestant falls short of title
2012-05-20 06:56:40
Jenna Talackova, the 23-year-old woman who forced Donald Trump and his Miss Universe Canada pageant to end its ban on transgender contestants, fell short of the national title Saturday night at the pageant in Toronto.

What will Greeks use if euro is ditched?
2012-05-19 20:07:34
What would be Greece's new currency if it leave the euro? CNN's Jim Boulden explores the possibility.

Three men accused of NATO terror plot
2012-05-19 18:55:18
The terror suspects were plotting to attack President Obama's Chicago campaign headquarters, the Chicago mayor's home and police stations, police said.

U.S., Pakistan fail to reach deal on supply routes
2012-05-19 18:53:28
The United States and Pakistan will not reach a deal on opening NATO supply routes before coalition leaders meet on Sunday, two senior U.S. officials told CNN.

Olympic torch starts 70-day journey round UK
2012-05-19 04:15:35
The Olympic torch began its 70-day, 8,000-mile journey around Britain Saturday from Land's End in Cornwall, with three-time Olympic gold medal winner Ben Ainslie the first to carry the torch.

Canada's PM ... in his birthday suit
2012-05-18 22:01:56
An oil painting of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the buff was unveiled at a public library in Ontario.

Guest list at Queen Elizabeth's lunch slammed
2012-05-18 22:00:46
Rights groups have slammed a lunch being hosted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Friday for including monarchs criticized over their countries' human rights records.

Obama to G8: Welcome ... to troubles
2012-05-18 22:00:10
President Barack Obama and other world leaders are set to address a host of vexing economic and military security issues this weekend.

His name also crude Arabic slang
2012-05-18 21:56:37
France's new Socialist government is already causing ripples throughout a Europe struggling to balance government budgets without making ordinary people's lives miserable, but it has created a completely different problem in the Middle East.

Shipwrecked fishermen lived on clams, seaweed for 10 days
2012-05-18 21:54:30
Three shipwrecked fishermen lived on clams and seaweed for 10 days while stranded on an island off Canada's Pacific Coast until a passing sailboat rescued them, the Royal Canadian Navy said Friday.

Classic cars, classic Italian race
2012-05-18 21:53:11
CNN's Becky Anderson drives down memory lane with participants in the Italian classic car race, Mille Miglia.

Mexican crime reporter found killed in Sonora state
2012-05-18 21:31:52
The body of a crime reporter who had been abducted Thursday in northwest Sonora State was found Friday inside a plastic bag south of Sonora, Notimex reported.

13 years old and taking care of mom
2012-05-18 13:26:35
At 13 years old, Nickolaus Dent is his mother's primary caregiver.

Wrecked Costa Concordia to be raised from sea floor
2012-05-18 12:28:52
Salvage experts outlined their plan Friday to raise the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner from the sea floor off Italy in one piece and tow it from the disaster site.

Fetuses found stashed in luggage
2012-05-18 11:39:15
Six roasted fetuses covered with gold for black magic rituals were found in a Bangkok hotel room, and the gruesome discovery led to the arrest of a British citizen Friday, Thai police said.

200-year-old shipwreck found
2012-05-18 11:38:27
A wooden ship believed to be over 200 years old was discovered during a recent exploration of the northern Gulf of Mexico, according to a press release from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Kids take exams, then flee gunfire
2012-05-18 10:19:08
Tumsifu Gilaine was at school when she first heard the gun battles. The teenager said she and her friends were taking their final exams and every day from their classrooms they could hear the army and rebel soldiers battling it out for dominance.

49 decapitations: Business as usual?
2012-05-18 08:21:21
On Sunday, 49 decapitated bodies were found on a major highway outside Monterrey, Mexico, which is about 80 miles southwest of the U.S. border.

Blasts at Baghdad pet market kill 5
2012-05-18 07:46:21
Three roadside bombs exploded Friday in quick succession at an outdoor pet market in Baghdad, killing five people and wounding 31 others, police officials said.

Al Qaeda berates Yemen leader
2012-05-18 07:45:54
Al-Qaeda's leader is calling for the Yemeni people to rise up against the country's new president, portraying him as the stooge of the unpopular former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the United States.

Afghan street kids in Paris
2012-05-18 07:27:17
We're at a soup kitchen in a shabby back street in Paris, next to the canal Saint Martin, near the Jaurès metro stop. Hundreds of homeless people are queuing up for some hot food and a coffee. Most of them are from Asia; many from Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Lockerbie Bomber Dies in Tripoli
2012-05-20 21:40:00
The only person convicted in the case of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing above Scotland that killed 270 people has died aged 60 at his home in Libya, the BBC reported.

Rasmussen Announces First Step of European Missile Defense
2012-05-20 20:28:00
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has announced the ?first step? of a European missile defense system at a NATO summit in Chicago.

Superjet Victim Identification Over - Indonesian Police
2012-05-20 20:04:00
The Indonesian Police?s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) unit has completed the identification of all passengers of Russia?s Sukhoi Superjet 100 killed in a recent air crash near Jakarta, the Jakarta Post cited a top local police officer as saying.

NATO to Continue Missile Defense Dialogue with Russia
2012-05-20 19:15:00
NATO will continue its dialogue with Russia on the establishment of a European missile defense system, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Sunday.

Nikolic Wins Serbian Presidential Election
2012-05-20 17:27:00
Nationalist opposition leader Tomislav Nikolic has won Sunday?s presidential election runoff in Serbia, with his opponent liberal EU-oriented ex-President Boris Tadic conceding defeat.

Main news of May 20
2012-05-20 14:59:00
A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

Quake Rocks Northern Italy
2012-05-20 14:37:00
A strong earthquake 6.0 magnitude struck northern Italy on Sunday morning leaving at least six people dead and 50 injured, more than 3,000 people were displaced.

Israeli Ex-president Freed for 7 Hours
2012-05-20 13:40:00
Jailed former Israeli president Moshe Katsav convicted of raping a former female employee was freed for seven hours to attend his son?s wedding, Kol Israel radio station reported.

Possible strike on Iran
2012-05-20 13:03:00

Russia Concerned about Changing Positions towards Military Action against Iran - Foreign Ministry
2012-05-20 13:03:00
Russia is concerned about changing the position of some countries towards a military solution of the situation around Iran, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

Gay Pride in Kiev Cancelled
2012-05-20 10:51:00
The first gay pride parade in Ukraine planned for May 20 was canceled due to threats against its members, reported Ukrainian news agency UNIAN quoting the organizers.

Flashmob Protest against NATO Summit in Brussels
2012-05-20 10:23:00
Some hundred people organized on Sunday in the center of Brussels a flashmob protest against NATO summit, which opens today in Chicago, local media reported.

Opposition Activists End Protest Walk in St. Petersburg
2012-05-20 08:56:00
Opposition activists and renowned cultural figures who participated in a protest walk strolled across St. Petersburg and returned to St. Isaac's Square where the action started.

Pakistan Blocks Twitter over anti-Islamic Content
2012-05-20 08:36:00
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has blocked the social networking website Twitter on Sunday as it refused to remove materials that local authorities consider ?anti-Islamic,? reported DawnNews channel.

Warlord Killed in Dagestan in Security Sweep
2012-05-20 06:24:00
Police killed the leader of the Khasavyurt militant group in a security operation in the North Caucasus republic, the press office of the Russian Anti-Terrorism Committee reported on Sunday.

Peruvian Man Confesses to Slaying Russian Woman in Japan
2012-05-20 06:03:00
A Peruvian man arrested in April on suspicion of murdering a 19-year-old Russian woman in the Japanese city of Yokohama has confessed to the murder, Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday, referring to police sources in the Kanagawa prefecture.

Serbians Vote in Tense Presidential Run-Off
2012-05-20 02:53:00
Serbians are voting on Sunday in a tense run-off presidential election pitting pro-western reformist Boris Tadic and his conservative opponent Tomislav Nikolic.

Moscow?s Museum Night Attended by Almost One Million Visitors
2012-05-20 00:52:00
Almost one million visitors attended the Moscow Museum Night festival, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

Russia Ready for Global Economic Changes - Medvedev
2012-05-19 22:36:00
Unfavorable situations in the global economy are possible, but Russia is ready to withstand them, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

Economic Changes Unlikely in French Policies under Hollande
2012-05-19 22:16:00
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he did not expect any radical changes in French domestic and foreign economic policies after new President Francois Hollande came to power.

Russia?s Medvedev Holds Bilateral Meeting With U.S. Obama
2012-05-19 20:24:00
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev assured U.S. President Barack Obama of Russia?s succession in its foreign policies course after Vladimir Putin took the post of the country?s president.

Serbians Set to Elect President on Sunday
2012-05-19 18:06:00
The second and final round of presidential election will be held on Sunday in Serbia between former President Boris Tadic and his conservative opponent Tomislav Nikolic.

Russian World Traveler Ascends Everest Second Time
2012-05-19 12:29:00
Famous Russian traveler Fyodor Konyukhov ascended Mount Everest at the age of 60, for the second time in his life, his son Oscar said on Saturday.

G8 Wants Greece to Remain in Eurozone
2012-05-19 12:06:00
The leaders of the G8 nations meeting at Camp David on Saturday agreed that Greece should still be member of the European Union and welcomed EU efforts to solve debt crisis problems.

Russia Calls for Solving Syrian Crisis by "Forceps", Not "Ax"
2012-05-19 08:34:00
Russia will call its partners at the G8 summit for "not to try to cut the Syrian crisis knot by ax" but "use a forceps" to solve the conflict, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Russia's Federation Council Mikhail Margelov said on Saturday.

Car Bomb Hits Syria City
2012-05-19 06:28:00
At least nine people were killed and some 100 others injured after a car bomb exploded in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor on Saturday, al Jazeera television reported.

Deadly Bomb Hits Italian School
2012-05-19 04:48:00
At least two girls were killed and several others injured after a bomb exploded in front of a school in the southern Italian city of Brindisi on Saturday.

Pakistan Allows U.S. Supply Containers Into Afghanistan
2012-05-19 02:07:00
Pakistan has allowed four shipping containers destined for the U.S. embassy in Kabul to cross into Afghanistan for the first time since it closed its borders for shipments six months ago, the Dawn newspaper reported.

G8 Leaders: Iran Must Assure World Over Nuke Program
2012-05-19 01:08:00
The leaders of the G8 nations meeting at Camp David on Friday-Saturday agreed that Iran needed to take concrete steps to prove the claim that its nuclear program was peaceful, a U.S. official said.

Mi-17 Helicopter Crash in Venezuela Kills 4
2012-05-18 21:40:00
A Russian-made Mil Mi-17 helicopter has crashed in Venezuela, killing four out of the five people on board, the Globovision television channel said, quoting the country?s defense authorities.

UK bank pays for "double cash" ATM error
2012-05-20 20:00:16
Crowds queued at a cash machine in Manchester which gave double the amount of cash requested.

NATO chief says alliance has no intention to intervene in Syria
2012-05-20 19:44:54
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Sunday said the alliance has no intention to intervene in Syria, and he believes the best way to go forward in that country is a six-point peace plan brokered by United Nations- Arab League joint envoy Kofi Annan.

NATO chief says NATO missile defense system reaches interim capability
2012-05-20 19:41:57
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Sunday said the alliance's missile defense system has reached interim capability, linking assets of different member countries, and the alliance has agreed on over 20 multinaitional defense programs in order to pool resources together in the age of austerity.

Russia accepts change of Syrian administration without bloodshed, foreign interference: official
2012-05-20 17:12:01
Russia does not mind a change of the Syrian administration that comes with no bloodshed or foreign interference, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said here on Sunday.

Serbian opposition leader Nikolic wins presidential runoff: unofficial results
2012-05-20 17:10:26
Serbian opposition candidate Tomislav Nikolic won the presidential runoff on Sunday, according to unofficial results announced by the Center for Democracy and Free Elections (CeSID).

NATO summit kicks off in Chicago
2012-05-20 17:09:03
Heads of state and government of 28 member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO) on Sunday kicked off their 25th summit in Chicago, with the alliance's future commitment to Afghanistan and security capability in the age of austerity dominating the agenda.

IAEA chief "optimistic" about Iran nuclear talks
2012-05-20 16:07:14
The International Atomic Energy Agency head, Yukiya Amano says he does not expect to visit Iran's Parchin military site during his visit. But he said he is optimistic about the upcoming talks with Iranian officials.

West nations considering military operation against Iran: Russian official
2012-05-20 15:37:03
Russia is concerned that some Western countries are still considering a military operation against Iran as an option, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said here Sunday.

Guinea-Bissau parliament, opposition, junta sign accord on electoral commission
2012-05-20 15:34:55
Guinea-Bissau's parliament, opposition parties and junta on Sunday signed an accord on a new electoral commission in another step to move the West African country out of the political crisis following the April 12 coup.

Rival Palestinian factions sign new agreement in Cairo
2012-05-20 15:33:34
Delegations from rival Palestinian factions signed a deal in Cairo Sunday, allowing President Mahmoud Abbas to go on and form an interim government.

Obama, Karzai meet ahead of NATO summit
2012-05-20 15:30:28
U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday opened his day in Chicago with a bilateral meeting with Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, hours ahead of a NATO summit focusing on the alliance's future commitment to Afghanistan.

Blast near Damascus "not targeting UN convoy": UN official
2012-05-20 13:29:28
A UN official with the observers' mission said Sunday that the blast that rattled the Damascus suburb of Douma earlier in the day during the presence of a group of UN observers "was definitely not targeting the UN convoy."

U.S. experts attacked by al-Qaida suspects in Yemen, 1 critically injured: official
2012-05-20 13:27:06
group of U.S. counterterrorism experts were attacked by suspected al-Qaida militants in Yemen's western port city of al-Hodayda on Sunday, one expert being seriously wounded, officials said.

Ahead of nuclear talks, Iranian lawmakers urge P5+1 to respect Iran's "rights"
2012-05-20 13:25:29
Three days ahead of the start of new round of talks between the Islamic republic and the world powers, Iranian lawmakers issued a statement on Sunday urging the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany (P5+1) to respect Iran's nuclear rights.

Feature: Powerful earthquake causes fear, anxiety among citizens in northern Italy
2012-05-20 13:18:10
After a 5.9-magnitude quake hit northern Italy, killing at least six and injuring about 50, thousands of people gathered in a square here with anxiety and worry.

Shipwreck off Mayotte kills five: French media
2012-05-20 12:40:46
Two adults and three children died after a fishing boat sank off Mayotte, an archipelago located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, France's BFM Television reported Sunday.

Turnout at 23.3 pct by 2 p.m. in Serbia's runoff presidential poll
2012-05-20 12:36:45
About 23.3 percent of voters cast their ballots by 2 p.m (1200(GMT) in the Serbian presidential runoff on Sunday, an election monitoring group the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) projected.

NATO chief says France still set to back Afghanistan mission
2012-05-20 12:35:40
France would continue to help the mission in Afghanistan even if President Francois Hollande decides to withdraw French troops from the warn-torn country this year, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Sunday.

5.1-magnitude aftershock hits northern Italy
2012-05-20 12:34:30
A strong aftershock measuring magnitude 5.1 hit northern Italy on Sunday, after a 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted the same area hours ago.

Kofi Annan to visit Syria by end of May: official
2012-05-20 12:32:00
The UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan will visit Syria by the end of May to discuss the implementation of his six-point peace plan, Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said on his Facebook page on Sunday.

U.S. Iraq, Afghanistan veterans kick off historic action against NATO in Chicago
2012-05-20 12:30:51
Afghanistan and Iraq veterans from across the United States converged in Chicago on Sunday for a historic day of action against NATO, which is expected to culminate with at least 40 Global War on Terror veterans returning their war medals to NATO generals.

5.9-magnitude quake hits northern Italy, at least 5 dead
2012-05-20 05:52:25
At least five people died and tens of others were injured in a 5.9-magnitude earthquake that hit northern Italy in the early hours of Sunday morning, local media reported.

Serbian presidential run-off election critical for its EU future
2012-05-20 05:50:21
Polls opened in early Sunday morning across Serbia in a presidential run-off, Serebian news agency Tanjug reported.

2 NATO soldiers killed in insurgent attack in S Afghanistan
2012-05-20 05:49:19
Two NATO soldiers were killed Sunday in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan, the military alliance said in a press release.

5.3-magnitude quake hits off east coast of Honshu, Japan -- USGS
2012-05-20 04:44:44
A 5.3-magnitude earthquake jolted off the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 08:20:58 GMT on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Philippine military still searches missing pilots
2012-05-20 04:40:56
The Philippine Air Force has contracted the services of survey ship with sonar and fathom tracking devices and deployed divers to search the wreckage of an ill-fated SF-260 trainer plane with two pilots on board that crashed off the waters of Bataan province on Friday.

Commentary: Time for NATO to curb preoccupation with military prowess
2012-05-20 04:39:01
As NATO leaders are gathering for an annual summit Sunday to discuss issues such as the war in Afghanistan and ways to maintain the alliance's military might amid tightening budgets, they see a crowd assembled earlier not to salute but to protest.

G8 summit ends with few tangible results
2012-05-20 04:25:49
Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) on Saturday voiced a growing consensus on pro-growth policies and expressed grave concern over Tehran's nuclear program at a low-key summit, which, however, produced few tangible results beyond a vague statement touching on the issue of Iran.

6.2-magnitude quake jolts northeast Japan
2012-05-20 03:37:25
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit seas off northeastern Japan on Sunday afternoon, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

Facebook CEO marries longtime girlfriend
2012-05-20 03:35:14
Online social network company Facebook's co-founder and chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg announced on his Facebook timeline Saturday evening that he and longtime girlfriend Priscilla Chan have tied the knot.

VIDEO: UN nuclear chief 'positive' over Iran
2012-05-20 22:00:41
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has arrived in Tehran, voicing optimism about reaching agreement on Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

Yahoo sells half Alibaba stake
2012-05-20 21:49:26
US internet company Yahoo says it has reached a deal to sell part of its stake in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group.

Greek election 'is vote on euro'
2012-05-20 21:48:25
Prime Minister David Cameron believes the Greek elections amount to a referendum on Greece's membership of the euro, sources close to him say.

'Hard days ahead' in Afghanistan
2012-05-20 21:06:10
President Obama tells a Nato summit there are "hard days ahead" in Afghanistan as the alliance prepares to withdraw troops at the end of 2014.

Thousands watch Pacific eclipse
2012-05-20 20:58:45
An annular eclipse, in which the Moon does not fully block out the light from the Sun, has moved across east Asia and is due to reach the western US later.

North Koreans 'free Chinese crew'
2012-05-20 20:55:09
The 29 Chinese fishermen and three boats seized in the Yellow Sea by unidentified North Koreans are free, Chinese reports say.

Nationalist Nikolic in Serbia win
2012-05-20 20:43:54
Nationalist Tomislav Nikolic is elected president of Serbia beating incumbent Boris Tadic in a run-off vote, and vowing to stay on the EU path.

China clears Google Motorola bid
2012-05-20 20:07:28
Chinese regulators approve Google's $12.5bn purchase of US phone maker Motorola Mobility, the final hurdle for the deal to go through.

VIDEO: Nikolic elected Serbian president
2012-05-20 19:43:36
Nationalist Tomislav Nikolic is elected president of Serbia beating incumbent Boris Tadic in a run-off vote, and vowing to stay on the EU path.

Bee Gees' singer Robin Gibb dies
2012-05-20 19:37:35
Bee Gees' singer Robin Gibb has died aged 62 following a lengthy battle with cancer, his family say.

Sierra Leone 'blood diamonds' not forever
2012-05-20 19:33:02
Why jewels now mean jobs not war in Sierra Leone

A fifth 'have no pension savings'
2012-05-20 19:24:33
A growing number of people are failing to save anything for their retirement - leaving them in a "precarious" position, a pensions provider says.

IAEA chief 'positive' over Iran
2012-05-20 19:02:53
IAEA head Yukiya Amano arrives in Tehran voicing optimism about reaching agreement on Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

Mexican massacre suspect arrested
2012-05-20 18:51:00
The Mexican army says a leader of the Zetas drug cartel has been arrested for the killing of 49 people whose bodies were dumped by a roadside.

Italy quake victims given shelter
2012-05-20 18:09:19
Thousands of people left homeless by a powerful earthquake in northern Italy spend the night in shelters as aftershocks continue in the region.

Obituary: Robin Gibb
2012-05-20 18:08:51
Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, one of the most successful bands ever

London 'the biggest' Paralympics
2012-05-20 18:00:13
With 100 days to go, organisers say the London 2012 Paralympics will be the "biggest ever", as tickets go back on sale.

VIDEO: Nato leaders discuss Afghan withdrawal
2012-05-20 16:33:45
Nato leaders are meeting in Chicago in a summit dominated by the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

HSBC machines hit by IT failure
2012-05-20 16:10:24
UK customers of HSBC report problems using cash machines, making card payments and online transactions, but the bank says the problem is fixed.

Pakistan restores Twitter access
2012-05-20 14:27:23
Pakistani authorities restore access to the social media website Twitter after a brief ban for what officials called "offensive" content".

Deadly quake hits northern Italy
2012-05-20 13:59:43
A magnitude-6.0 earthquake in northern Italy kills at least seven people, causing "significant damage" to the region's cultural heritage.

Syria town shelling 'kills 34'
2012-05-20 13:35:35
Shelling by Syrian forces kills 34 people, according to the British-based group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Cheap dysentery drug 'promising'
2012-05-20 13:26:49
A cheap drug, which is already prescribed for arthritis, could fight amoebic dysentery, according to researchers in the US.

Sharapova wins Italian Open crown
2012-05-20 13:23:49
World number two Maria Sharapova recovers from a set and 4-0 down to beat Li Na and defend her Italian Open crown in Rome.

Dominicans voting for president
2012-05-20 13:14:53
People in the Dominican Republic vote for a new president, in a tight contest between two old political rivals and a campaign dominated by inflation concerns.

West Indies raise victory hopes
2012-05-20 13:01:59
West Indies mount a stirring fightback to raise their hopes of pulling off an unlikely victory over England in the first Test at Lord's.

McDowell loses Match Play final
2012-05-20 12:57:44
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell is narrowly beaten by Nicolas Colsaerts in the final of the World Match Play in Andalucia.

Cannes 2012: Reporter's Diary
2012-05-20 12:54:01
How did Pete Doherty's acting debut go down at the festival?

Lockerbie bomber Megrahi is dead
2012-05-20 12:32:57
Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi dies at home in Tripoli, nearly three years after he was controversially freed from a Scottish prison.

Thousands cheer winners Chelsea
2012-05-20 12:22:59
Thousands of Chelsea fans cheer on the squad during a parade to celebrate their team's Champions League victory in Munich.

NATO summit discusses Afghanistan withdrawal
2012-05-20 21:54:36
Thousands of anti-war demonstrators march in Chicago as Obama says there are "hard days ahead" for Afghanistan.

Be Gees' singer Robert Gibb dies
2012-05-20 21:33:57
One of the major artists who defined the disco era has died aged 62 following a battle with cancer.

Challenger Nikolic wins Serbia presidency
2012-05-20 21:30:10
Incumbent Boris Tadic concedes defeat to nationalist Tomislav Nikolic who earned narrow victory in presidential race.

'Ring of fire' eclipse crosses Asia
2012-05-20 20:15:11
Annular solar eclipse was visible to wide areas across the continent as it moved across the Pacific.

Tension in Lebanon over checkpoint deaths
2012-05-20 20:13:03
Clashes in Beirut and roads blocked near Tripoli after soldiers shot dead two members of anti-Syria opposition alliance.

UN nuclear watchdog chief in Iran for talks
2012-05-20 19:02:24
First IAEA head to visit Tehran since 2009 will seek inspection deal on alleged weapons sites ahead of Wednesday summit.

Bomb detonates near UN observers in Syria
2012-05-20 16:34:28
No casualties reported in blast in Damascus suburb, as UN peacekeeping chief urges all parties to exercise restraint.

Pakistan lifts Twitter 'blasphemy' ban
2012-05-20 16:09:12
Chairman of telecommunications authority says site was banned over concerns about material offensive to Islam.

Lockerbie bomber Megrahi dies in Tripoli
2012-05-20 15:59:02
Libyan convicted for 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, dies of cancer aged 60.

Dominican Republic votes in presidential poll
2012-05-20 15:56:05
Two centre-left candidates are locked in a tight race, with 6.5 million voters eligible to vote for their new president.

Challenger wins in Serbian presidential poll
2012-05-20 15:36:33
Incumbent Tadic concedes defeat as nationalist challengers ekes two per cent lead in Sunday's presidential race.

Bahrain activist gets bail but still detained
2012-05-20 15:26:37
Jailed Nabeel Rajab, head of Bahrain human rights group, granted $800 bail but remains jailed on a second charge.

Sudan frees four captured foreign workers
2012-05-20 14:30:35
Norwegian, Briton, South African and South Sudanese were held three weeks by Sudan for "spying" for rival South Sudan.

NATO summit opens with Afghanistan focus
2012-05-20 13:20:04
Afghanistan tops the agenda, as the alliance prepares to hand over security duties to Afghans by the end of 2014.

Pakistan blocks Twitter over 'blasphemy'
2012-05-20 12:24:14
Chairman of telecommunications authority says site temporarily banned over concerns about material offensive to Islam.

No survivors in northwest Bosnia plane crash
2012-05-20 11:22:22
Cesna plane bursts into flames in northwest Bosnia and Herzegovina kills both pilots and three skydivers on board.

No survivors in northwest Bosnia air disaster
2012-05-20 11:13:31
Plane bursts into flames in northwest Bosnia and Herzegovina kills both pilots and three skydivers on board.

Deadly floods strike north Afghanistan
2012-05-20 10:44:23
At least 21 people killed and scores missing as floods destroy thousands of homes in Sari Pul and Takhar provinces.

DR Congo military battles 'M23' mutineers
2012-05-20 09:28:50
New fighting erupts between Democratic Republic of Congo forces and renegade ex-soldiers near Ugandan border.

Deadly earthquake rocks northern Italy
2012-05-20 09:18:20
At least seven people killed and many historical buildings damaged in 6.0-magnitude quake near city of Bologna.

Serbia goes to polls in presidential runoff
2012-05-20 08:39:53
Voters deciding between staunchly pro-EU incumbent Boris Tadic and nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic.

Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi 'has died'
2012-05-20 08:18:59
Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, the former Libyan intelligence officer convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has died.

Fighting rages in eastern DR Congo
2012-05-20 06:41:21
Military in Democratic Republic of Congo brings in reinforcements as battle with rebels near Ugandan border intensifies.

Eggs thrown as Taiwanese president sworn in
2012-05-20 06:14:05
Ma Ying-jeou begins second term amid protests over living costs and policies seen by critics as too China-friendly.

Terror charges ahead of Chicago NATO summit
2012-05-20 05:53:42
Trio accused of making petrol bombs and plotting attacks, but supporters say suspect materials were beer-making kit.

Sri Lanka to free jailed ex-army chief
2012-05-20 05:08:13
President Rajapaksa orders release of Sarath Fonseka, his former electoral rival in prison since beginning of 2010.

China dissident arrives in New York
2012-05-20 04:07:27
Chen Guangcheng pledges to continue working for "justice and fairness" in China after Beijing allows him to go to US.

Chelsea crowned European champions
2012-05-20 03:24:28
Didier Drogba strikes winning penalty against Bayern Munich following tension-soaked Champions League final.

Obama says eurozone crisis threatens world
2012-05-20 02:03:48
US president wraps up G8 summit by saying more must be done to promote growth and job creation as potential remedies.

Earthquake shakes northern Italy
2012-05-20 00:44:21
At least three persons killed and reports of "structural collapses" following 5.9-magnitude quake near city of Bologna.

FOOTBALL - LIGUE 1: Montpellier win their first-ever Ligue 1 title
2012-05-20 16:39:57
Montpellier won their first-ever Ligue 1 title Sunday following a 2-1 victory against Auxerre, placing them ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, which defeated Lorient 2-1.

SERBIA: Serbia's Tadic concedes defeat in presidential vote
2012-05-20 16:17:10
Incumbent Serbian President Boris Tadic has conceded defeat in a presidential run-off against rightist opposition leader Tomislav Nikolic. Tadic had a narrow lead in the May 6 polls, but was accused of vote fraud by Nikolic.

CHINA: Chinese dissident Chen begins new life in US
2012-05-20 14:30:11
Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng arrived in New York City on Saturday, a month after sparking a diplomatic crisis between the two countries by escaping house arrest and taking refuge at the US embassy in Beijing.

AFGHANISTAN: Hollande faces NATO wrath over Afghan troop pullout
2012-05-20 14:19:27
French President François Hollande could incur the anger of NATO leaders when they meet for a summit in Chicago on Sunday. Hollande has vowed to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, two years before NATO's planned pullout.

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2012: Michael Haneke gets sincere, Xavier Dolan clears the air
2012-05-20 13:30:51
81-year-old Jean-Louis Trintignant is shattering in Michael Haneke's strong competition entry "Amour". Meanwhile, on the other end of the age spectrum, 23-year-old "Laurence Anyways" director Xavier Dolan sat down with me for a chat.

CHINA: Chinese dissident Chen begins new life in US
2012-05-20 12:53:03
Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng arrived in New York City on Saturday, a month after sparking a diplomatic crisis between the two countries by escaping house arrest and taking refuge at the US embassy in Beijing.

FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012: Battle begins for control of France's parliament
2012-05-20 12:00:21
Campaigning for France's parliamentary elections kicks off on Monday in what is expected to be a fierce fight between the left and right. In all around 6,500 candidates are vying for election, including a porn star and a former TV weather man.

ITALY: Earthquake rattles northern Italy
2012-05-20 11:23:07
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Italy early on Sunday morning, leaving at least four people dead, several others injured and causing serious damage to a number of historic buildings.

SYRIA: Deadly fighting hits Hama in fresh Syria violence
2012-05-20 11:16:57
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 21 people were killed in violence across the country on Sunday, including at least 16 in the village of Souran in the restive province of Hama.

Lockerbie bomber: Hero for some, murderer for many
2012-05-20 10:25:16
Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi, who died aged 60 on Sunday, was hailed as a hero by some in Moamer Kadhafi's Libya, but reviled as a mass murderer by families of the 270 people killed in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.The Libyan, who maintained his innocence until the very end, is thought to have taken to the grave many secrets of the bombing attack on a Pan Am airliner over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988.However, in a December interview Megrahi told several British newspapers that a book being written by investigative journalist John Ashton would clear his name.

LIBYA - TERRORISM: Lockerbie bomber Megrahi dies in Libya, brother says
2012-05-20 09:16:05
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie plane bombing that killed 270 people over Scotland, died on Sunday, his brother said. Megrahi had been in Libya since his release from prison in 2009 on compassionate grounds owing to ill health.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Drogba exorcises Africa Cup agony with shootout win
2012-05-20 09:03:51
Saturday's Champions League victory for Chelsea was a huge triumph for striker Didier Drogba, who revealed to the press after the match that he had been haunted by the memory of his African Nations Cup penalty miss in February.

ITALY: Lone bomber attacked Italian school, prosecutor says
2012-05-20 07:58:20
The chief prosecutor investigating a bombing at a high school in Italy's southern city of Brindisi said on Sunday that it is believed the attack, which left a 16 year-old student dead and several others injured, was committed by a single person.

ITALY: Italian police arrest two over fatal school bombing
2012-05-20 06:51:19
Italian media reported on Sunday that police arrested two men, including one former soldier, suspected in Saturday's high school bombing in the southern city of Brindisi that left one 16 year-old student dead and several others injured.

AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan to take centre stage at NATO summit
2012-05-20 04:46:39
A clear exit strategy for Afghanistan was set to dominate NATO summit talks in Chicago on Sunday, as leaders seek to to ensure the country is stable in time for a planned troop withdrawal in 2014.

MALI: Interim Mali president to lead transition
2012-05-20 03:37:36
Leaders of Mali's coup said they respected the decision of West African bloc ECOWAS to keep interim President Dioncounda Traoré in power until general elections are held. Mali was thrust into turmoil on March 22 following a military coup.

USA: Zuckerberg updates Facebook status to 'married'
2012-05-20 03:29:22
Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg changed his relationship status after wedding longtime girlfriend Priscilla Chan in an intimate backyard ceremony at his home in Palo Alto, California, on Saturday.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Chelsea in nail-biting Champions League final victory
2012-05-20 03:24:18
In a dramatic Champions League final, Chelsea defeated rivals Bayern Munich 4-3 in a penalty shootout to win the trophy for the first time after having scored a last-minute equaliser to carry the match into extra time.

DIPLOMACY: Hollande turns tide against Merkel's austerity
2012-05-20 02:22:41
The world?s most powerful leaders held talks at the G8 summit on Saturday with the eurozone crisis top of their agenda. Francois Hollande?s call for growth won him some powerful allies as he battles against Germany?s insistence on austerity.

FRANCE - AUTO ACCIDENT: Racecar crashes into crowd at French rally, killing two
2012-05-20 01:09:46
A car competing at the 14th annual Maures regional rally in France's southern town of Dragugnan crashed into a crowd of spectators on Saturday, killing at least two people and badly injuring about 15.

SYRIA: Car bomb targets Syrian military compound
2012-05-19 14:44:36
At least nine died and 100 were injured in a suicide attack near a military compound in Syria's eastern city of Deir al-Zor on Saturday, according to media and official sources. The bombing was the latest in a series of strikes on security agencies.

ITALY: Deadly blast hits high school in southern Italy
2012-05-19 13:59:14
One student was killed and seven others were wounded Saturday when a bomb exploded outside their high school in the southern Italian port town of Brindisi, a local civil protection official said.

Cannes Film Festival 2012: Young talent storms Cannes with stories of cross-dressing and gun-toting
2012-05-19 12:07:53
Young talent took center stage at Cannes Saturday, with Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jessica Chastain headlining so-so Prohibition-era drama "Lawless" and French-Canadian Xavier Dolan presenting his dazzling cross-dresser epic "Laurence Anyways".

AEROSPACE: Launch of commercial space rocket cancelled
2012-05-19 06:43:07
A private company that was set to launch a rocket loaded with supplies to the International Space Station aborted the launch at the last minute on Saturday. It would have been the first commercial flight to the ISS.

CHINA: Activist Chen believes he's going to US
2012-05-19 04:14:36
Chen Guangcheng, a blind activist whose refuge in the Chinese capital's US embassy caused a diplomatic rift between the two powers, said Saturday he was at Beijing's airport and expecting to fly to the US. Neither he nor his family have passports.

MALI: Mali grants coup leaders amnesty
2012-05-19 04:09:11
Mali's parliament has passed a law granting amnesty to the leaders of the military coup that plunged the country into chaos last March. The law is part of an agreement signed in April by army leaders and West African bloc ECOWAS to restore order.

DIPLOMACY: Eurozone woes to top G8 summit agenda
2012-05-19 03:27:18
G8 leaders meeting in the United States were to focus on Europe's debt crisis on Saturday, as President Barack Obama aligned himself with new French President François Hollande?s drive for more economic stimulus.

CANADA: Quebec emergency law enrages student protesters
2012-05-19 03:25:09
The Canadian province of Quebec passed an emergency law on Friday to contain a three-month student movement against tuition hikes. Opponents said the law, which restricts demonstrations and closes some universities, was a threat to civil liberties.

MARKETS: Facebook shares surge and fade in market debut
2012-05-18 16:11:37
Social networking website Facebook made a disappointing debut on New York's Nasdaq Friday. Despite early gains of more than 10 percent, Facebook shares fell back to the $38 issue price, ending up just 0.6 percent at $38.23.

OLYMPIC GAMES: Olympic flame arrives in Britain for 2012 London Games
2012-05-18 15:50:44
Princess Anne and footballer David Beckham (pictured) carried the Olympic flame onto British soil from a specially chartered plane Friday, ahead of a 70-day tour of the country which will culminate in the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Games.