Hundreds protest in Iran, defying crackdown vow
Web-posted 7/09/2009
Thousands of protesters streamed down avenues of the capital Thursday, chanting "death to the dictator" and defying security forces who fired tear gas and charged with batons, witnesses said.

2 men and a mediator: Can Arias help Honduras?
Web-posted 7/09/2009
Talks to resolve the leadership crisis in Honduras got on track Thursday, with both sides holding closed-door meetings with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias to discuss a coup that has re-awoken fears of political instability in the region.

World leaders vow to restart stalled trade talks
Web-posted 7/09/2009
Leaders of the exclusive club of eight industrialized leaders plus five of the fastest developing nations are calling for open markets and a battle against protectionism as the answer to the world's economic meltdown.

Afghanistan tones down contentious marriage law
Web-posted 7/09/2009
Afghanistan's government has revised a law that stirred an international outcry because it essentially legalized marital rape, officials said Thursday. The new version no longer requires a woman submit to sex with her husband, only that she do certain housework.

G-8 climate talks divide rich and poor countries
Web-posted 7/09/2009
The chasm between rich and poor on how to address climate change burst into the open at the G-8 summit Thursday, showing how difficult it will be to persuade the world to make lifestyle and economic sacrifices needed to save the planet from global warming.

Chinese try to heal psychological wounds of unrest
Web-posted 7/09/2009
Construction worker Zhang Binkun was seething over the death of his mother, whom he believes was killed by a mob of Uighurs with sticks and stones.

Rape culture condemned in South Africa
Web-posted 7/09/2009
Dumisani Rebombo wasn't circumcised, did chores considered girls' work and was sick of being taunted for not being a man. So at age 15, he took the only course considered "manly" in his rural South African village: He raped a girl.

Worst violence since US pullback hits Iraq
Web-posted 7/09/2009
Bombs killed nearly 60 people in Iraq on Thursday in the worst violence since U.S. combat troops withdrew from urban areas last week, and American forces released five Iranian officials suspected of aiding Shiite insurgents.

UNESCO: Invasion seriously harmed historic Babylon
Web-posted 7/09/2009
Iraq's U.S.-led invaders inflicted serious damage on Babylon, driving heavy machinery over sacred paths, bulldozing hilltops and digging trenches through one of the world's greatest archaeological sites, experts for UNESCO said Thursday.

Quake in China's south injures more than 300
Web-posted 7/09/2009
An earthquake rocked southwest China on Thursday evening, injuring at least 336 people and collapsing 10,000 homes, state media said.