UNITED STATES

The Kabul attack is now over, but the Middle East and Arab worlds are still overflowing with violence, social unrest and international tension. Here is the round up of news from Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

A group of manufacturers and defense companies are lobbying members of Congress on the deficit-reduction committee to oppose further cuts to military spending cuts.

Facebook won't friend Wall Street late next year by launching its anticipated blockbuster IPO, according to a report. Expected to be one of the largest IPO's in U.S. history, if not the largest, considering recent share share sales of Facebook's private stock have valued the company at more than $60 billion. The world's largest social network, which made friend a household word in terms of Web connectivity, has a reported 750 million global users or more.

Fewer sea turtles have been killed accidently by American fisheries, according to a new report yet the lack of data being issued by shrimp trawlers has become an obstacle to finding the number of turtles killed by fish hooks and nets.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Wednesday urged European leaders to act more forcefully to solve Europe's escalating debt crisis and said they have the financial and economic capacity to do so.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday the global financial crisis, which has experienced two stages, is not likely to see a third -- as least not one emanating from Europe's banking sector.

The EU's most senior finance officials will warn ministers this week about the threat of a renewed credit crunch as a systemic crisis in sovereign debt spills over to banks, according to EU documents.

Americans revealed their ambivalence on gay marriage in a new poll, with a narrow majority of people surveyed saying the government should recognize same-sex marriage but nearly half supporting a constitutional ban on gay marriage.

The strongest cold front since last spring will sweep cool air from Canada into much of the U.S. late this week, giving some northern areas including the northern plains and the Midwest a first frost by the end of the week.

Moody's cut the credit ratings of two French banks on Wednesday because of their exposure to Greece's debt, highlighting growing risks to Europe's financial sector from a deepening euro zone sovereign debt crisis.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc will double the money it spends with women-owned businesses, train women around the world and push major suppliers to use more women and minorities on work they do for the retailer, its latest steps to promote a brighter corporate image.

Express Scripts Inc might lose a small fraction of its business from a dispute with drugstore chain Walgreen Co , its chief financial officer said on Wednesday, but it would not be a significant amount.

The head of the World Bank said Wednesday the world had entered a new economic danger zone and that Europe, Japan and the United States all need to make hard decisions to avoid dragging down the global economy.

Deutsche Boerse AG's acquisition of NYSE Euronext could be unfair because it would create a silo in which a single exchange would dominate all stages of the trading and clearing process, said the head of rival Nasdaq OMX Group.

President Barack Obama's jobs plan has raised concerns in top trading partner Canada because of measures that would restrict foreign companies from participating in infrastructure projects.

The head of the World Bank said Wednesday the world had entered a new economic danger zone and that Europe, Japan and the United States all need to make hard decisions to avoid dragging down the global economy.

The United States gave Libya's new rulers a very visible show of support on Wednesday when a senior envoy visited the capital and praised their efforts to assert control of armed groups three weeks after Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown.

Samsung, HTC and Motorola are pushing software limits and trying to conquer the smartphone world by boosting their devices with enviable speeds.

In Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, a man and a woman were found hanging from a bridge by their hands and feet. An examination of the bodies showed signs of torture, and the pair is thought to have been beaten, killed by a powerful local drug gang, and then displayed to send a message to citizens who might want to publicly renounce the group.

Johansson isn't the first celebrity to have nude pictures leaked. She is also not the first to get the FBI involved in such a case. The FBI has reportedly gotten involved in the leaked nude picture cases involving Vanessa Hudgens and Jessica Alba.

Canada should see modest economic growth and avoid a double-dip recession, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Wednesday.