Canada protests Russian arms support to SyriaA senior Canadian government official says Canada lodged a formal protest with Russia for supplying arms to the Assad regime in Syria.
Ex-French budget minister probed on award-job swapThree investigating judges have filed preliminary charges against former Labor Minister Eric Woerth for "passive influence peddling" after becaming ensnared in a scandal involving the fortunes of the L'Oreal heiress.
Summary Box: Greek parties mull harsh new cutsHEAT STILL ON: Eurozone finance ministers are to meet as planned on Thursday evening to discuss Greece's second bailout, indicating a deal is close.
UN backs Haitians' appeal over Duvalier trialA U.N. official expressed support Wednesday for Haitian victims of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier's regime who plan to appeal a judge's recommendation that calls for trying the ex-leader only for alleged financial crimes and not human rights abuses.
5 Yemeni prisoners killed in riotsSecurity officials say five Yemeni prisoners have been killed in clashes after riots in a prison south of the capital as some tried to flee.
City of Homs becomes focus of Syria's uprisingEvery day, rockets and mortars fired by regime forces rattle the streets of Homs. Armed rebels ambush government military checkpoints. Hatreds brew on either side of the avenues that divide the bloodstained Syrian city.
New discoveries raise Dominican migrant toll to 41Authorities in the Dominican Republic have recovered 20 more bodies of migrants who were aboard a boat that capsized, raising the death toll to 41, officials said Wednesday.
Libya issues election law for national congressLibya has finalized a law to govern an election to choose a national assembly to draft a new constitution -- a first step to setting up a new government after the ouster of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Czech president to be elected in public voteCzech citizens will be able to choose their future presidents after a constitutional change approved Wednesday by Parliament that took the decision on who occupies the largely ceremonial post out of lawmakers' hands.
UN says Caribbean crime hurting economiesRising crime across the Caribbean threatens the region's tourism-based economy and has exposed a weak and ineffective judicial system, according to a sweeping U.N. study released on Wednesday.
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Clashes in Senegal between police, protestersClashes erupted between Senegalese security forces and anti-government demonstrators in the regional capital of Thies, where the country's aging president was planning to hold a campaign rally Wednesday, according to witnesses and a private radio station.
Judge says Bari players linked to match-fixingA judge investigating match-fixing in Italy says "a considerable part of the Bari squad" had links to a betting ring that rigged games when the club was in Serie A last season.
Car bomb attack in Somali capital kills 8A car bomb killed eight people and wounded two members of parliament in Somalia's capital Wednesday, officials said, in an attack claimed by a spokesman for Somalia's Islamist insurgency.
Lawyer for Cuban agents vows last-ditch appealA lawyer for five Cuban agents sentenced to long jail terms for spying in the United States said Wednesday he is preparing a last-ditch appeal, arguing that one of the men received bad counsel and that the jury for all five was prejudiced because the U.S. paid several journalists who covered the trial.
Ahmadinejad seeks rebound in Iranian electionsThere's a Persian saying used to describe an under-the-radar political effort: "Driving at night with the lights off." Allies of embattled President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be doing just that as they campaign in Iran's hinterlands in hopes of scoring a comeback in next month's parliamentary elections.
Vatican says no Iran trip plannedThe Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI receives many invitations and that a trip to Lebanon is under consideration but that there are no plans for a visit to Iran.
Ahmadinejad seeks rebound in Iranian electionsThere's a Persian saying used to describe an under-the-radar political effort: "Driving at night with the lights off." Allies of embattled President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be doing just that as they campaign in Iran's hinterlands in hopes of scoring a comeback in next month's parliamentary elections.
1st game at Warsaw's Euro 2012 stadium scrappedThe Polish league president says he has canceled what was to be the first match at the Warsaw stadium to be used for this year's European Championship due to police security concerns.
Spanish federation to sue French TV for Nadal skitThe Spanish tennis federation said it plans to sue a French TV channel for using its logo in a video that poked fun at Rafael Nadal.
Severe frost paralyzes Danube shippingBulgaria and Romania are suspending all shipping on the Danube River due to severe frost and the vast amount of ice blocking the heavily traveled waterway, Bulgaria's Transport Ministry said Wednesday.
Tottenham manager Redknapp cleared of tax evasionTottenham manager Harry Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion on Wednesday, a 12-0 victory via a British jury that removes a key barrier to his becoming the next coach of England's national team.
Germany: Belarus blocks rights official's visitGermany's human rights commissioner says Belarus has blocked his plans to visit the country and meet with a jailed human rights activist.
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Spanish judge's trial over wartime probe endsThe Spanish judge famous for pursuing human rights crimes across borders said his conscience is clear as his trial for probing right-wing atrocities during his own country's civil war came to a close Wednesday.
UK minister to fly to Jordan to discuss Abu QatadaBritain's security minister will fly to Jordan to discuss ways to deport extremist cleric Abu Qatada, the government said Wednesday.
6-week-old lone elephant calf dies in ZimbabweConservationists in Zimbabwe said Wednesday round-the-clock efforts to save a baby elephant, separated from his mother on a busy highway, have failed. The six-week-old calf who has been hand fed for three weeks has died, apparently from pneumonia.
India upgrades its military with China in mindIn recent weeks, India has decided to buy 126 fighter jets from France, taken delivery of a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia and prepared for its first aircraft carrier -- modernizing its military to face a rising China.
Hamas lawmakers: unity deal with Abbas illegalThe Hamas parliamentary bloc in the Gaza Strip has come out against the latest reconciliation deal with rival Fatah, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Mexican navy finds 10 bodies in mass grave sitesA suspected member of the Zetas drug gang has led Mexican authorities to a mass grave site at two ranches in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, the navy said Wednesday.
Egypt's PM says US threats to cut aid won't workEgypt refused to back down Wednesday in a dispute with the U.S. over Cairo's crackdown on nonprofit groups despite Washington's threats to cut aid, while the military deployed troops to the nation's streets after a surge in violence and protests against its rule.
Czech court sentences American for murderAn appeals court has upheld the murder conviction of an American living in the Czech Republic and sentenced him to 16 years in prison.
Chair of Olympics legacy company to step downThe chair of Olympic Park Legacy Company says she'll be stepping down after the games.
Poland keeps main interest rate at 4.5 pctPoland's central bank left its main interest rate unchanged at 4.5 percent on Wednesday amid expectations of an economic slowdown and inflation above the expectations.
Sierra Leone ruling party refutes violence claimsSierra Leone's ruling party says they may use libel and defamation laws to refute claims by the top opposition presidential candidate that the party is provoking violence ahead of November polls.
Cyprus govt to seek investor for ailing airlineThe Cyprus government says it will seek out a strategic investor to support the island's money-losing national air carrier.
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NATO extends Baltic air patrolsNATO has decided to extend an operation to protect the airspace of Baltic members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with fighter jets, officials said Wednesday.
Exile prime minister decries Chinese rule in TibetChinese repression has lead to the self-immolations of nearly two dozen Tibetans and deadly clashes with Chinese authorities, the head of Tibet's government-in-exile said Wednesday.
Kabul experiences coldest weather in 15 yearsThe Afghan capital has been experiencing its worst cold-snap and heaviest snows in at least 15 years, the National Weather Center said Wednesday.
Israel's president sends message of peace to IranIsrael's president reached out to the Iranian people with a message of peace Wednesday, as the West tightened sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, and a former Israeli spymaster said Israel is not in mortal danger.
Sarkozy meets Israeli soldier held hostage 5 yearsAn Israeli-French soldier who was held hostage for five years by Palestinian militants met Wednesday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Russia reaches lake under AntarcticaAfter more than two decades of drilling, Russian scientists have reached the surface of a gigantic freshwater lake in Antarctica that had been hidden under miles of ice for 20 million years, potentially holding life from the distant past and a clue to the search for life on other planets.
Sperm whale dies on Belgian beachAn injured sperm whale has drifted ashore on the Belgian coast and died before it could be rescued.
Sarkozy advises against military strike on IranFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy put his reputation as a stalwart friend of Israel on the line Wednesday, warning that military action was no way to deal with nuclear-minded Iran at a dinner hosted by France's main Jewish group -- and his likely presidential election rival in the audience.
Bus collides with truck in north India, killing 23At least 23 members of a wedding party have been killed after their bus collided with a truck in northern India.
Elderly Kenyans threaten UK colonial abuse lawsuitThousands of elderly Kenyans are preparing to sue the British government over abuses -- including torture, illegal detentions and rape -- its forces allegedly committed during its suppression of a 1950s anti-colonial rebellion, a lawyer representing the group said Wednesday.
EU criticizes Bulgaria, Romania on reformsThe European Union criticized Romania and Bulgaria on Wednesday for being too slow to reform their judicial systems or to combat corruption and organized crime. The move casts doubt on the two Balkan nations joining the borderless Schengen zone anytime soon.
Severe frost paralyzes Danube shippingBulgaria and Romania are suspending all shipping on the Danube River due to severe frost and the vast amount of ice blocking the heavily traveled waterway, Bulgaria's Transport Ministry said Wednesday.
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