National World

18th-century cannons retrieved from Baltic

Polish explorers have retrieved three 18th-century cannons from ship wrecks resting on the Baltic Sea bottom.

French ex-president Chirac to face trial Sept. 5

Former French President Jacques Chirac will go back on trial in September on corruption charges linked to his time as mayor of Paris.

Nigeria: Radical sect kills 2 in restive northeast

Police say members of a radical sect have killed two people in separate attacks in Nigeria's restive northeast.

Austrian terror suspect eyed attack on Berlin

An Austrian official says an Austrian terror suspect considered a Sept. 11-style attack that would involve flying a plane into the Reichstag, Germany's parliament in Berlin.

Rare US missile attacks kill 12 in NW Pakistan

Suspected U.S. drones fired missiles at a vehicle and a house in northwest Pakistan, killing 12 people Monday in a rare attack in an area where some of NATO's fiercest enemies have reportedly traveled, Pakistani officials said.

Sick Lech Walesa says he must cancel foreign trips

Poland's former President Lech Walesa says he may have to cancel foreign trips this year to get over pneumonia that has keeping him hospitalized since June 9.

Kurdish rebels extend cease-fire

Kurdish rebels say their imprisoned leader is extending a cease-fire by a few months.

UN refugee chief: Keep borders open for refugees

The U.N. refugee chief on Monday urged all countries to keep their borders open and offer protection to refugees fleeing violence since "new crises multiply and old crises never end."

40 miles of dikes near overflowing from China rain

More than 40 miles (70 kilometers) of dikes are in danger of overflowing in an eastern Chinese province where floods have caused $1.2 billion in losses, authorities said Monday as the country neared a critical point in battling seasonal rains.

Nepal hosts 1st public lesbian wedding ceremony

A lawyer and a college professor from the United States celebrated Nepal's first public lesbian wedding ceremony Monday in the Himalayan nation that recently began recognizing gay rights and drafting laws to end sexual discrimination.

Greece's centenarian flag-raiser dies at 107

For nearly half a century, she raised a Greek flag every day at the border with Turkey - a simple act that elevated her to national status.

Young Aboriginal prisoners are 'national crisis'

Australia's burgeoning population of young Aboriginal prisoners is a "national crisis" that needs urgent and wide-ranging government action, a parliamentary report warned Monday.

Wife visits jailed China activist ahead of release

The wife of a prominent Chinese dissident who was jailed for sedition more than three years ago said she visited her husband Monday, days ahead of his scheduled release.

NATO: Afghan soldier who shot mentor killed

An Afghan soldier who shot dead his Australian mentor last month has been killed, NATO said Monday in a statement.

Oil falls to below $92 amid stronger US dollar

Oil prices fell to below $92 a barrel Monday as Greece's deepening financial crisis continued to reverberate around markets.

Reports: Japan PM pushed to resign soon

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, criticized for his handling of the tsunami disaster and the country's sluggish economy, is under pressure to resign next month after budget bills are passed by parliament, reports said Monday.

French Embassy convoy hit by bomb in Baghdad

A roadside bomb exploded Monday morning next to a French Embassy convoy traveling through downtown Baghdad, wounding seven Iraqis, officials said.

Another top terror suspect on trial in Indonesia

One of Indonesia's top terrorism suspects went on trial Monday on charges of helping set up a terrorist training camp for a group that plotted attacks on foreigners and assassinations of the country's moderate Muslim leaders.

UK foreign minister to Syrian leader: reform or go

Britain's foreign secretary says Syria's leader must reform or go.

China offers riot informers cash and other awards

Informers who help identify participants in a three-day riot by migrant factory workers in southern China could be rewarded with cash, honorary titles and a chance at official urban residency status, an official announcement said.

IAEA chief: Nuclear safety must be improved

The head of the U.N. nuclear agency urged a worldwide review of safety measures to prevent new nuclear disasters, declaring Monday that after the Fukushima catastrophe "business as usual is not an option."