As Afghan trip goes badly off script, Hagel opts for caution
KABUL -- It was a harrowing international debut for Chuck Hagel, whose first trip to Afghanistan as U.S. defense secretary went dramatically off-script and challenged the American narrative about the 11-year-old war.. His first full day in Afghanistan began with the sound of suicide bomb attack about
Cardinals pray before conclave to choose new pope
VATICAN CITY -- Roman Catholic Cardinals prayed on Sunday for spiritual guidance ahead of a closed-door conclave to choose a new pope to lead the Church at one of the most difficult periods in its history.. Cardinals will hold a final pre-conclave meeting on Monday to discuss the
Evidence grows of rainforest resilience to global warming
LONDON -- The world's tropical forests are less likely to lose biomass, or plant material, this century due to the effects of global warming than previously thought, scientists said in a paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience on Sunday.. This adds to growing evidence that rainforests might be more
Leaders from Cuba to Iran honor Chavez at funeral
By Daniel Wallis and Mario Naranjo. Reuters. CARACAS, March 8 (Reuters) - Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Cuba's Raul Castro joined about 30 other heads of state at Friday's funeral for Hugo Chavez in an emotional farewell to the charismatic but divisive Venezuelan leader who changed the face of politics in South
Conclave to elect new pope to start Tuesday
VATICAN CITY -- Roman Catholic cardinals will enter a conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict on Tuesday, the Vatican said on Friday, with no clear favourite emerging so far to take charge of the troubled church.. Benedict's surprise abdication last month has brought most of the world's cardinals
Maduro says Chavez to lie in state for seven more days
CARACAS, March 7 (Reuters) - Venezuela's late leader, Hugo Chavez, will be embalmed and laid to rest at a military museum in the capital Caracas, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday.. Chavez's state funeral was scheduled for Friday, but Maduro said his body would remain lying in state for a
U.N. Security Council hits North Korea with more sanctions
UNITED NATIONS -- In response to North Korea's third nuclear test, the U.N. Security Council voted on Thursday to tighten financial restrictions on Pyongyang and crack down on its attempts to ship and receive banned cargo in breach of U.N. sanctions.. The U.S.-drafted resolution, approved unanimously by the 15
Mourning Venezuelans parade Chavez's coffin, prepare for vote
By Simon Gardner and Andrew Cawthorne. Reuters. CARACAS -- Weeping and shouting, a sea of Hugo Chavez's supporters paraded his coffin through the streets of Caracas on Wednesday in an emotional outpouring that could help his deputy win an election and keep his self-styled socialist revolution alive.. Hundreds of
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez dead of cancer
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has died after a battle with cancer, the country's VP said in a televised speech.
Australian miners fired for dancing the Harlem Shake underground
SYDNEY -- An Australian mining services company has fired up to 15 workers who performed an underground version of the Harlem Shake and posted it online, in a second incident of the Internet dance craze sparking safety concerns.. The workers were part of an overnight crew working at the Agnew
IKEA stops selling all minced meat products from main supplier
STOCKHOLM -- IKEA stopped selling all minced meat products from its main supplier, two days after taking its trademark meatballs from from the same Swedish supplier off menus over concerns they contained horsemeat.. The world's No. 1 furniture retailer, known also for restaurants at its huge out-of-town stores
Exec: BP oil spill probe did not address cost overruns
NEW ORLEANS -- BP Plc.'s investigation of its disastrous 2010 Gulf of Mexico blowout did not address the effect of cost overruns on the well, a BP executive said Thursday, in the final day of testimony this week in the massive civil trial over the spill.. Plaintiffs contend that
Horse meat found in Ikea's Swedish meatballs
Swedish furniture giant IKEA said on Monday it has stopped selling meatballs from a specific batch which has tested positive for traces of horsemeat by Czech authorities.
Pope gives final Sunday blessing before resigning
Pope Benedict XVI bestowed his final Sunday blessing of his pontificate on a cheering crowd in St. Peter's Square, explaining that his waning years and energy made him better suited to the life of private prayer he soon will spend in a secluded monastery than as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Moody's strips Britain of AAA rating in major blow to Osborne
LONDON/NEW YORK -- Britain suffered its first ever sovereign ratings downgrade from a major agencyFriday when Moody's stripped the country of its coveted top-notch AAA rating, dealing a major blow to finance minister George Osborne.. Moody's said weak prospects for British economic growth, which have thrown the government's
National News
- IRS chief declines to ID employees 1 comment
- The supervised after-prom party: Now with cars, iPads 1 comment
- CBO: Obama budget cuts deficit $1.1T over decade
- Canadian astronaut wrestles with gravity after spaceflight
- Tornadoes tear through Texas towns, killing six
- US tax chief ousted in scandal 2 comments
- Barbara Walters announces retirement 5 comments
- Seth Meyers to be new 'Late Night' host succeeding Fallon 1 comment
- Salaries of public college presidents rise, median tops $400K 5 comments
- Nineteen shot in New Orleans Mother's Day parade 1 comment
Local Government
- Officials promote new alcohol consumption law in effect 2 comments
- Peachtree Corners buys land to avoid apartments
- Commission to consider code of conduct after scandals 7 comments
- Diverging-diamond conversion scheduled for early June 2 comments
- Library board OKs summer reading money, talks '14 budget 2 comments
- Strategic planning sessions begin for commissioners 7 comments
- Gwinnett fire chief Myers to retire 19 comments
- Vines Garden Railroad celebrates seasonal opening 1 comment
- Airport tower to remain open 1 comment
- Possible plan for two-way streets on Lawrenceville's Square 7 comments
State News
- As thunder rumbles, Obama gives keynote address in Atlanta 2 comments
- Winning Powerball ticket sold in Florida
- Court battle looms over Bibles in Georgia state park cabins 6 comments
- Little Richard's boyhood home in Ga. spared from demolition 1 comment
- Missouri man killed crossing I-75 in Clayton
- Ga. number two for identity theft 2 comments
- Newnan man found guilty of killing infant son
- Covington DDA approves loan for restaurant based on 'Vampire Diaries'
- Two dead in apparent racing incident near Conyers
- Bama coach Saban putting $10.95M Ga. home up for auction
