WORLD

The Japanese whale hunt did not go as well as predicted. Blaming activists and environmentalists, the Japanese Fisher Agency reports that the whaling fleet is on schedule back to Japan despite its minimal catch.

The United States will hand over the control of all prisons in Afghanistan to Afghan security forces within six months.

Dagan’s views would appear to contradict much of the hawkish rhetoric coming out of the Israeli government on the subject of Iran.

Republicans responded to a better-than-expected February jobs report Friday, detracting any credit from President Barack Obama and remaining pessimistic about unemployment.

President Barack Obama's four years in office is getting the Hollywood treatment, including narration from actor Tom Hanks, in a 2-minute trailer teasing audiences for the 17-minute documentary, The Road We Traveled.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Friday threatened that it would attack the Pakistani government, military and police officials if Pakistan didn't release the three widows of the late al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

The bodies of Chris McManus, 28, and Italian Franco Lamolinara were found after the combined British special forces and Nigerian military operation on Thursday.

The Kony 2012 viral video, which is viewed by more than 52 million people, is growing outrage in Uganda. The video suggests that Africa's longest running conflict is still raging in the country's north.

Syrian opposition leaders rejected the United Nations' call for a dialog with President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Greek officials say the deal eases their country's debt burden by €105 billion. Next up: Action by the European Union to determine if Athens will get emergency loans to help avert a default.

A “lethal mix” of drought, regional wars, high food prices and widespread poverty has conspired to create this debilitating crisis.

The 30-year old Narendra Kumar Singh was crushed to death when tractor loaded with illegally mined stones run over him. Narendra Kumar, who was patrolling the area, noticed the tractor trolley with illegal load and signaled driver to stop it. When the driver did not budge he stood in front of the vehicle to force the driver to stop, but tractor driver identified as Manoj Gujjar mowed down the police officer and sped away.

Deutsche Bank has taken 5-10 billion euros ($6.6-$13.3 billion), of the European Central Bank's (ECB) long-term refinancing operation (LTRO), which offers three-year loans to banks at a rate of 1 percent according to a report.

The U.S. Labor Department has reported that the unemployment claims increased modestly by 8,000 for the week ending March 3, with a seasonally adjusted initial claims figure of 362,000, indicating that the job market condition is improving.

Olympia Snowe, who announced her retirement from Senate last week, Thursday endorsed Senator Scott Brown for his re-election.

Greece has announced that it has received sufficient support for its bond swap with 85.8 percent of debt holders subject to Greek law agreeing to the deal.

A lack of policy direction in North Africa is jeopardizing the already-sluggish economic recovery according to a report by Capital Economics.

The inflation rate of China reduced sharply to 3.2 percent for February, which is a 20 month low, according to data released on Friday, showing signs that the price pressure is gradually diminishing.

A senior Chinese politician, whose prospects for the top leadership are under a cloud, appeared before the media Friday to dispel rumors that a scandal involving a one-time ally had forced him out.

Kofi Annan, the U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria, said Thursday evening he would urge President Bashar al-Assad and his foes to stop fighting and seek a political solution, drawing angry rebukes from dissidents.

House Speaker John Boehner, signaling a lack of Republican support for a stalled $260 billion transportation bill, said Thursday he was ready to pursue a less ambitious version under consideration by the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Israel has asked the United States for advanced bunker-buster bombs and refueling planes that could improve its ability to attack Iran's underground nuclear sites, an Israeli official said Thursday.

Many were outraged with Rush Limbaugh's comments about Sandra Fluke, but Gloria Allred wants the Palm Beach County Attorney to open an investigation.

The judge handling the government's case against BP (NYSE: BP) took control of the third-party claims in a $20 billion fund, removing it from 9-11 Fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg.

A congressional Republican bid to fast track the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline failed in the Senate Thursday as Democrats voted the motion down.

Legislators passed a controversial bill this week in the Utah Senate, which would allow public schools to offer an abstinence-only sexual education curriculum - or no sex-ed program at all. The measure would prohibit Utah public schools from teaching students that contraceptives can be used as a means of preventing pregnancy and infection from sexually transmitted diseases. It would also ban teachers from discussing homosexuality.

A Republican bid to fast-track the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline was defeated by Senate Democrats on Thursday in a vote to amend the chamber's highway funding bill.

Game Change is coming to theaters, and the critics' reviews are as divisive as a Congress session.

A Briton and an Italian taken hostage by Nigerian rebel group Boko Haram last May were killed during a failed rescue mission on Thursday.