Japan, Germany to Insist on Veto Power with UN Security Coun

By Steve Herman Japan and Germany have jointly declared they want permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council with the veto power of the five current permanent members. At a news conference, Japanese

Veteran Rockers Heart Return with Jupiter's Darling

By Bernie Bernard Since the 1970s, Heart has sold more than 30 million albums, and has scored 20 Top 40 hits. After record company conflicts over the past 10 years and some health problems, Ann and Na

Musicians, Rockers Get Involved in US Politics

By Jeremy White John Kerry sailed across Boston Harbor for the Democratic Convention last month to the sound of Bruce Springsteen's No Surrender. Stepping onto the dock, he said the Boss had it right.

Powell Says Israeli Offensive in Gaza Should Be 'Proportiona

By David Gollust Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday he hopes Israel's current military offensive in Gaza aimed at quelling rocket attacks will be proportionate to the threat that country face

UN Repatriates Liberian Refugees From Guinea

By Lisa Schlein The U.N. refugee agency says its program to repatriate thousands of Liberian refugees after many years of exile is gathering momentum. The UNHCR says a first group of nearly 200 Liberi

New Initiative to Strengthen Africa's Red Cross & Red Cresce

By Joe De Capua A new initiative has been launched to strengthen the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa, making them better able to respond to emergencies. The local humanitarian groups ar

Refugees Returning From Burundi to Homes in Congo

By Lisa Schlein The U.N. Refugee Agency says large numbers of Congolese refugees have left Burundi and returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past few days. The UNHCR says it is not encou

Capitol Hill Staffers Go Job Hunting

By Andrew J. Baroch More than 1,000 employees of the United States Congress are out of work because their employers -- members of Congress -- either lost their bids for re-election last month or retir

Ukraine's Parliament Enacts Electoral Reforms

By Lisa McAdams Ukraine's parliament has overwhelmingly passed a broad package of constitutional and electoral reforms, clearing the way for a new presidential run-off election December 26. Parliament

World AIDS Day Finds Russia, Former Soviet Union in Grips of

By Bill Gasperini United Nations health officials say Russia and other nations of the former Soviet bloc are confronting the world's fastest-growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS. One decade ago, the countries

Dutch Killing Prompts Soul Searching Among Europe's Muslim W

By Lisa Bryant The November 2 killing of Dutch film producer Theo van Gogh by an alleged Islamic extremist has triggered fears in the Netherlands about religious extremism, along with a backlash again

European Commissioner-Designate for Justice, Security to Ste

By Sabina Castelfranco Italy's European commissioner-designate, Rocco Buttiglione, announced Saturday he has agreed to withdraw from the incoming new executive, to help the European Commission preside

Britain Warns of Opium Scourge in Afghanistan

By Michael Drudge Britain says a surge in opium production is one of the key challenges to the stability of Afghanistan. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has highlighted the issue in a speech in L

EU Tries to Keep Mideast 'Roadmap' Alive

By Roger Wilkison The European Union has unveiled a four-point proposal to keep the Middle East

Training of Iraqi Security Force Seen as Key to January Elec

By Nick Simeone Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is holding firm to his plans for the country's first free elections to happen in January. But U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan says he doubts

IAEA Demands Iran Stop Uranium Enrichment

By Marlene Smith After a week of delicate negotiations, the International Atomic Energy Agency's ruling body has adopted a resolution calling for Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities. The

Ebola Outbreak in Southern Sudan Over WHO Says

By Lisa Schlein The World Health Organization says an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in southern Sudan is over. WHO says the disease, which was first reported in Yambio County in Sudan's Equatoria

Israel-Palestinian Conflict Should Not Impede Arab Reforms,

By Michael Drudge The United States says social, political and economic reforms in Muslim countries should not be deterred because of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Secretar

Another Opposition Leader Enters Race for Cameroon Presidenc

By Carrie Giardino Just hours before the deadline, a main opposition leader in Cameroon has broken ranks with the opposition coalition to stand as a candidate for the presidential elections in October

Putin: Russia Developing New Kind of Nuclear Missile

By Bill Gasperini Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is developing a new type of nuclear missile. Mr. Putin spoke at an annual meeting of the armed forces' senior leadership. President