South African Official's Luxe Lifestyle Raises Doubts[ Mar 09, 2010 00:08 ]

The lifestyle and business relationships of Julius Malema, an official of the ruling African National Congress, are coming under intense scrutiny. His dealings, among others, are prompting calls for "lifestyle audits" to help root out corruption.

Russian Village Haunted By A Hidden Holocaust Past[ Mar 09, 2010 00:01 ]

World War II ended more than six decades ago, but one Russian village on the Baltic Sea is still coming to terms with its role in the Holocaust. In Yantarny, Russia, then part of East Prussia, thousands of Jews were killed in 1945. Even now, some villagers are still unaware of what happened.

In Haiti, Quake's Orphans Long For A Home[ Mar 09, 2010 00:00 ]

UNICEF estimates that more than 20,000 children lost their parents in the Jan. 12 quake and its aftermath. Relatives or neighbors are caring for many of these children. Others, such as a group of boys in a Port-au-Prince park, are fending for themselves.

Haiti Frees U.S. Missionary Held Over 'Kidnapping'[ Mar 08, 2010 16:12 ]

Charisa Coulter was taken from her jail cell to the airport by U.S. Embassy staff more than a month after she and nine other Americans were arrested for trying to take 33 children out of Haiti after the earthquake. The leader of the Idaho-based missionaries was still being held.

Greek Prime Minister Seeks Curbs On Speculators[ Mar 08, 2010 16:37 ]

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou blamed market speculators for part of his country's economic woes and called for action to curb speculation. But he acknowledged in an NPR interview that much of Greece's economic troubles can be traced to its failure to balance its books.

For Developing Nations, Exports Boost CO2 Emissions[ Mar 08, 2010 16:00 ]

China is criticized for being the world's largest producer of carbon dioxide, but a new report shows that a quarter of that is emitted while making things for Western consumers. Researchers say that climate policy must account for emissions resulting from trade.

Calderon Revs Up Juarez Efforts After Teens Slain[ Mar 08, 2010 15:10 ]

The massacre of 15 young people at a party in Juarez, Mexico, in late January could be a turning point in the country's drug war. President Felipe Calderon has pledged to pump millions of dollars into civic programs in what's become one of the deadliest cities in the world.

Defense Secretary Gauges Success In Afghanistan[ Mar 08, 2010 15:00 ]

Defense Secretary Robert Gates flew into Afghanistan Monday on an unannounced visit. Gates is checking progress on the military campaign around the southern Afghan town of Marjah and laying plans for the next big offensive, in Kandahar.

Greeks Protest Austerity Steps To Rescue Economy[ Mar 08, 2010 15:00 ]

Greeks are angry at the country's previous for getting the country into the debt crisis, and angry at other European states for pressuring Greece to meet its debt obligations. Greek public sector workers are seething at new austerity measures, which include steep pay cuts.

Afghan Officials Balk At Live TV Coverage Of Attacks[ Mar 08, 2010 14:01 ]

Hours of live domestic coverage of Taliban attacks and their aftermath is a new trend in Afghan journalism. But last week, officials announced they were banning any future live coverage of attacks in Kabul. While an agreement has been reached to modify that policy, it's unclear what will happen to journalists who refuse to follow the new guidelines.

Putting A Face To Mexican Homicides[ Mar 08, 2010 00:05 ]

Violence in Mexico has reached a murderous crescendo. Last year, the country recorded more than 15,000 homicides. Marcos Armendariz, a self-taught lawyer who advocated for his town's underserved residents, was one of those numbers. This is his story.

Israel, Palestinians Agree To Indirect Talks[ Mar 08, 2010 14:47 ]

The announcement, announced by U.S. special envoy George Mitchell, ends a 14-month deadlock in peacemaking. It came just hours after Israel enraged Palestinians by announcing new West Bank settlement construction and U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden landed in the region to promote negotiations.

Gates Says Corruption Damages Afghanistan Efforts[ Mar 08, 2010 13:48 ]

The defense secretary, making an unannounced visit to the war-torn country, said political corruption undermines "popular confidence in officials and in government itself."

What The Iraqi Elections Mean For The U.S.[ Mar 08, 2010 13:00 ]

- Sunday's elections were just the second national elections held since the fall of Saddam Hussein, and a major benchmark for the U.S. plans to withdraw troops. Still, Iraq's pressing problems like security, corruption and the status of Kirkuk persist.

Iraq Awaits New Government As Votes Are Counted[ Mar 08, 2010 12:37 ]

Officials say 62 percent of eligible voters turned out for Sunday's election, and final results are expected within a few days. No coalition is expected to win an outright majority, so the one with the largest number of votes will be tasked with cobbling together a government with other partners.