Judge throws out Conrad Black's plea not to put him in jail

Conrad Black's plea for a judge to keep him out of jail until the appeal in his fraud case has been thrown out of court Read More

Irish cardinal attempts to block publication of child abuse files

Two of Ireland's top Catholic clerics clash in court over secret church files Read More

Gunmen hit Israeli Embassy in Mauritania

At least one gunman opened fire on the Israeli Embassy in Mauritania early Friday, setting off a gunbattle with guards that wounded three people, Israeli and Mauritanian officials said. Read More

Irish cardinal attempts to block publication of child abuse files

Two of Ireland's top Catholic clerics clash in court over secret church files Read More

Street dancers open Rio's crazy carnival (AP)

AP - To the sound of blasting samba, men dressed as nuns swilled beer and danced down the cobblestoned streets of a Rio hillside Friday night to kick off five days of uninhibited carnival madness.

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Leaders discuss Kenya, Chad crises as Africa summit wraps up (AFP)

AFP - African Union leaders gathered in Ethiopia were set Saturday to discuss means of containing the violence in Kenya and Chad during a special meeting on the last day of their summit.

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Rival Kenyan parties: Violence must end

Rival Kenyan parties: Violence must end
Rival parties in Kenya said Friday they had agreed to take immediate action to end violence after a month of deadly turmoil over a disputed presidential election.

Bad news for Royal Mail? EU bans postal monopolies from 2011

Bad news for Royal Mail? EU bans postal monopolies from 2011
National monopolies for mail delivery in the European Union will be dismantled by 2011, with postal companies free to operate in any of the EU's 27 countries - meaning the Royal Mail could face threats by European competitors on British soil

Van der Sloot denies Holloway connection (AP)

AP - Dutch student Joran van der Sloot denied Friday that he had anything to do with Natalee Holloway's disappearance, saying he lied when he told someone privately he was involved.

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NATO row develops as US begs France and Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan

Division is looming in the NATO alliance after the US begged its European allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, but was refused by France and Germany. The row comes as a top al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan has been killed in a US missile strike, a rare victory as the country slides towards a 'failed state' Read More

Chinese workers suffer in snowstorms (AP)

AP - Hu Qingyuan camped out Friday, waiting for a train to take him home for the Chinese New Year holiday � his only chance each year to see his wife and 8-year-old son.

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US military deaths in Iraq at 3,943 (AP)

AP - As of Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, at least 3,943 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes eight military civilians. At least 3,209 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

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Street dancers open Rio's crazy carnival (AP)

AP - To the sound of blasting samba, men dressed as nuns swilled beer and danced down the cobblestoned streets of a Rio hillside Friday night to kick off five days of uninhibited carnival madness.

Read More

Poland may host U.S. defense system

Poland may host U.S. defense system
Poland said Friday it has reached an agreement in principle with the United States on plans to install a missile defense system on Polish territory.

NATO row develops as US begs France and Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan

Division is looming in the NATO alliance after the US begged its European allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, but was refused by France and Germany. The row comes as a top al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan has been killed in a US missile strike, a rare victory as the country slides towards a 'failed state' Read More