Argentina forces dirty war orphans to provide DNA

By MAYRA PERTOSSI

Valuing truth over the right to privacy, Argentina's Congress has authorized the forced extraction of DNA from people who may have been born to political prisoners slain a quarter-century ago _ even when they don't want to know their birth parents.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 3:30 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 | 12:35 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 | 11:20 am

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

By JILL LAWLESS

Catherine Ashton: International woman of mystery.

Nov 20, 2009 | 10:40 am

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 | 9:50 am

Researcher says text proves Shroud of Turin real

By ARIEL DAVID

A Vatican researcher claims a nearly invisible text on the Shroud of Turin proves the authenticity of the artifact revered as Jesus' burial cloth.

Nov 20, 2009 | 8:20 am

Downbeat Dell weighs on world markets

By PAN PYLAS

World stock markets fell Friday amid mounting concerns about the pace of the U.S. economic recovery following a disappointing earnings update from computer maker Dell Inc.

Nov 20, 2009 | 7:15 am

Suicide bomber kills 16 in western Afghanistan

By KATHY GANNON

A suicide bomber killed 16 people and wounded at least 23 others Friday in a busy city square in western Afghanistan, while near Kabul a powerful former warlord narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, officials said.

Nov 20, 2009 | 5:40 am

Peruvian police: Gang killed people for their fat

By ANDREW WHALEN

Police say a gang in the Peruvian jungle has been killing people and draining fat from the corpses to sell on the black market for use in cosmetics, although medical experts say they doubt a major market for fat exists.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:10 am

AP NewsBreak: China holds, mistreats US geologist

By CHARLES HUTZLER

Sometime into his long detention by China's feared state security agents, American geologist Xue Feng had something to show U.S. consular officials on their monthly visit. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the burns where his interrogators pressed lit cigarettes into his arm.

Nov 19, 2009 | 8:50 pm

Honduras interim president may take leave for vote

By KATHIA MARTINEZ

Honduras' interim president said Thursday he may step down temporarily to allow voters to concentrate on the upcoming presidential elections.

Nov 19, 2009 | 8:40 pm

Obama answers questions from top Cuban blogger

By WILL WEISSERT

President Barack Obama has answered questions submitted by a celebrated Cuban blogger, saying he isn't interested in "talking for the sake of talking" with Raul Castro and indicating he won't visit the island until the communist government changes its ways.

Nov 19, 2009 | 8:35 pm

Experts say radical measures won't stop swine flu

By MARIA CHENG

Health experts say extraordinary measures against swine flu _ most notably quarantines imposed by China, where entire planeloads of passengers were isolated if one traveler had symptoms _ have failed to contain the disease.

Nov 19, 2009 | 8:25 am

Behind missed Gitmo deadline: No one wants jailees

By BEN FOX

President Barack Obama is now confirming what many have long suspected: He will miss his January deadline to close the Guantanamo prison _ partly because he cannot persuade other nations to take the detainees.

Nov 19, 2009 | 5:20 am

1 conjoined twin talking after separation surgery

A Bangladeshi toddler separated this week from her conjoined twin sister was talking and behaving normally Thursday after waking from a medically induced coma, the head of the surgery team said.

Nov 18, 2009 | 10:35 pm

Afghan official said to take bribe for copper deal

By RICHARD LARDNER and PAULINE JELINEK

A senior Afghan official allegedly took a $20 million bribe to steer a copper mining project to a Chinese company, a glaring example of the claims of corruption clouding the Obama administration's deliberations over expanding the U.S. commitment in Afghanistan.

Nov 18, 2009 | 8:05 pm

US military: Iraqi troop drawdown on track

By YAHYA BARZANJI

The top U.S. commander in Iraq says the timetable for an American troop withdrawal is still on track despite a dispute over a key election law that could delay national elections slated for January.

Nov 18, 2009 | 5:40 am

Cruise ship breaks Antarctic ice, nears open water

A Russian icebreaker carrying over 100 tourists and scientists to see emperor penguins in Antarctica has been crunching through pack ice and should reach clear water soon, a shipping official said Wednesday.

Nov 18, 2009 | 4:20 am

AP Interview: Brazil miniskirt student enjoys fame

By ALAN CLENDENNING

Fresh from an appearance on one of Brazil's most popular TV shows, the young woman whose short, pink dress got her kicked out of college is enjoying her newfound fame, yet has her eye on getting back to class.

Nov 17, 2009 | 11:00 pm

Pomp meets politics as British govt unveils agenda

By JILL LAWLESS

Prime Minister Gordon Brown will woo British voters with promises of new social programs and a clampdown on financial sector excess when the government's plans for the next parliamentary session are announced Wednesday by Queen Elizabeth II.

Nov 17, 2009 | 9:30 pm