The U.S. military handed over a $107 million prison and nearly 3,000 inmates to the Iraqi government on Monday as it prepares to leave Iraq seven years after ousting Saddam Hussein.
Thousands of red-shirted anti-government protesters massed on Monday by a military base in Bangkok where the premier has his temporary headquarters, as he resisted their demands for fresh elections.
Tens of thousands of protesters pressed ahead with a mass street rally in Bangkok on Monday after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rebuffed their demand for elections at a time of heightened political tension.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected on Monday any curbs on Jewish settlement in and around Jerusalem, defying Washington in Israel's deepening crisis with U.S. President Barack Obama's administration.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday he would stay on as leader of the Labour Party even if it fails to win a majority at an election expected in May.
President Barack Obama on Monday delivered an emotional closing argument for his healthcare plan, kicking off a week he hopes will end with a conclusive vote in Congress after a year of debate.
Iraq's Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki may get first go at forming a government, early election results show, but Sunnis will fume if he cuts out his secular rival Iyad Allawi, the man most of them voted for.
The United States is to blame for strains between Beijing and Washington and should take steps to repair ties, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Sunday, indicating the two powers have not overcome a recent rough patch.
Streams of Thai red shirt protesters converged on Monday on a military base housing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to press him to call a new election, a demand he refused to meet.
Israeli-U.S. relations have hit a 35-year low over a West Bank settlement plan that threatens to derail peacemaking efforts with the Palestinians, Israel's envoy to Washington was quoted as saying on Monday.
White House officials on Sunday confidently predicted quick final passage of healthcare reform but a top Democratic vote-counter said the party still needs to line up more support in the House of Representatives.
The Federal Reserve would win sweeping new powers over nonbank financial firms and keep much of its authority over banks, under revised legislation to be unveiled on Monday by the chief architect of financial reform in the Senate.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Bangkok on Sunday and planned to give Thailand's military-backed government an ultimatum: either call elections or face more pro-democracy demonstrations over the coming week.
Afghanistan rowed back on Saturday from a total ban on media broadcasts of disturbing images from insurgent attacks or live pictures of security operations.
Taliban suicide bombers struck across Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar on Saturday, killing 30 people and wounding scores in a series of strikes the militants called a message to NATO.
A bipartisan financial regulation reform bill could still be worked out in the Senate, despite a breakdown in negotiations, key Republicans said in a letter obtained by Reuters on Saturday.
Thousands of anti-government protesters headed for Bangkok from rural Thailand on Saturday for what they call a million-man march, aiming to paralyze the city and topple a government they say is a front for unelected elites.
Israel's relationship with the United States, a defining feature of the troubled Middle East, was under severe strain as diplomats scrambled on Saturday to save newborn U.S.-brokered peace talks with the Palestinians.
The top U.S. arms buyer said no protectionism was involved in the potential $50 billion refueling-aircraft competition that Europe's EADS quit this week along with Northrop Grumman Corp.
Two cabinet members and other top officials on Friday pledged a thorough examination of allegations that monopolistic practices in agriculture are driving small farmers out of business and said they would aggressively enforce antitrust laws.
Senator Charles Schumer said on Friday he plans to move forward soon on legislation aimed at stopping China from manipulating its currency.
President Barack Obama on Friday delayed an overseas trip to focus on the final drive for healthcare reform as the House of Representatives prepared to vote on the sweeping overhaul next week.
Authorities in Ireland are investigating whether a second American woman was involved in a suspected international plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist for mocking the Prophet Mohammad, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
Germany's Finance Ministry said on Saturday it was not aware of any agreement by euro zone members to bail out heavily indebted Greece, and the European Union's executive said no such deal had been concluded.
The Palestinians have threatened that indirect, U.S.-mediated peace talks with Israel may be thwarted unless Israel cancels a plan announced this week to build 1,600 new homes in a settlement near Jerusalem.
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell returns to the region next week to try to salvage indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinians have said the process may be thwarted unless Israel cancels a plan announced this week to build 1,600 settler homes near Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political standing is perilous because of divisions within his coalition over efforts to pursue peace with the Palestinians, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday condemned an announcement by Israel this week that it approved plans for new construction in East Jerusalem, saying it sent a deeply negative signal about U.S.-Israeli ties.
U.S. states and cities may increasingly turn to deficit borrowing to deal with still sagging tax revenue and the pending loss of federal stimulus money.
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France accused Washington on Friday of setting the wrong example on protectionism, suggesting there had not been a level playing field in the race for a $50 billion refueling plane contract.
