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  Prime suspect in Philippine massacre surrenders

  A scion of a powerful pro-government clan suspected in the massacre of 57 people in an election caravan in the southern Philippines turned himself in Thursday amid mounting pressure on the president to crack down on lawlessness and warlords.

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  Mumbai commemorates anniversary of attacks

  Black-clad commandos rappelled down a building and Mumbai's police showed off their new gear Thursday in what was intended as a reassuring display of force a year after a terror attack across the city killed 166 people.

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  Israel's Lieberman says ball in Palestinian court

  Israel's foreign minister said Thursday it is up to the Palestinians to decide whether to resume Mideast peace talks now that Israel has announced a settlement freeze.

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  Chile murder mystery: Who killed Victor Jara?

  Who killed Victor Jara?

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  China says premier will attend climate summit

  China says Premier Wen Jiabao will take part in next month's Copenhagen climate summit.

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  Patrols and turkey in Afghan war zone

  Thanksgiving Day for soldiers in this valley ringed by towering snowy peaks began with a 6-mile (10-kilometer) slog to aid village schools without desks and windows, and promises to end with five, once scrawny local turkeys soldiers have been fattening up for the past month.

• Contractor helicopter missing in Afghanistan

  A helicopter belonging to an international military contractor has gone missing in Afghanistan, officials said Thursday.

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  Mexican president says poverty now first priority

  Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Wednesday that the top priority in the second half of his term will be reducing poverty, after the war against drug cartels took center stage in the first three years of his administration.

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  Khmer Rouge prison chief could get 40 years

  Lawyers for the Khmer Rouge prison chief blamed for thousands of killings in Cambodia accused prosecutors Thursday of making him a scapegoat for all the horrors committed by the regime.

• Freed foreign journalists leave Somalia

  Two foreign journalists freed after more than a year in captivity flew to neighboring Kenya, said Somalia's national security minister on Thursday.

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  One year after, India remembers Mumbai attacks

  Mumbai held tearful memorials and police staged a show of strength on Thursday as India's financial hub marked the first anniversary of militant raids that killed 166 people and ratcheted up tensions with Pakistan.

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  Main suspect in Philippine massacre surrenders

  The main suspect in the massacre of 57 people in an election-related feud in the southern Philippines surrendered on Thursday as authorities moved to dismantle his clan's control over the region.

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  Chavez calls Israel "murderous" U.S. arm

  Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez used a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday to brand Israel as a murderous agent of Washington.

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  Fear of low China target casts cloud over climate talks

  China is preparing to unveil a target to curb carbon emissions ahead of a major climate summit in Copenhagen next month, but experts and negotiators worry Beijing's much-anticipated figure may disappoint.

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  Honduras Supreme Court backs Zelaya ouster

  Honduras' Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that ousted President Manuel Zelaya cannot legally return to office, dimming the possibility of his reinstatement after a June coup, court sources said.

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  Two journalists kidnapped in Somalia released

  Two freelance journalists released in Somalia Wednesday after 15 months captivity said they were tortured and feared being sold on to hardline rebels in the anarchic Horn of Africa nation.

• For Gaza's homeless, holiday is time for despair

  In the days leading up to Eid al-Adha, Zaid Khadar would usually be buying new clothes for his children and stocking up on traditional foods to celebrate one of the most important dates on the Muslim calendar.

• Fighting Afghan Taliban with Islamic credit unions

  After the Taliban made nine threatening phone calls and fired a Kalashnikov outside his house, Shah Mohammad Mir left his hometown for months before returning with a new car and a new telephone number.

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  Khmer Rouge torturer had to "kill or be killed"

  The Khmer Rouge's chief torturer and jailer had to "kill or be killed" and operate like an "obedient machine," his lawyer said on Thursday in defending the first member of Cambodia's murderous regime to face justice.

• Night-time theater returns to Iraq as courage grows

  As the clock strikes 8 p.m. Baghdad time, the curtains sweep apart at the Iraqi National Theater in what actors hope is a return to regular night-time performances 6-1/2 years after the U.S. invasion.

• Israel Offers a Pause in Building New Settlements

  The offer had been anticipated and offered previously to the Palestinians, but had been turned down on the grounds that it did not include Jerusalem.

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  Obama to Speak From West Point Tuesday on Afghanistan

  The White House said President Obama had completed his consultations and would formally announce his decision in a national address in the next week.

• Pakistan Charges 7 in Mumbai Attacks

  On eve of the anniversary of the attacks, the indictments mark one of the first steps toward what is expected to be a complex trial.

• Israel Offers Pause in New Settlement Building

  The offer had been anticipated and offered previously to the Palestinians, but had been turned out on the grounds that it did not include Jerusalem.

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  News Analysis: Afghan Strategy Will Contain Messages to Several Audiences

  As President Obama rolls out his plan, he will be adjusting his approach for voters, allies and enemies.

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  New Belgian Prime Minister Named

  The Christian Democrat Yves Leterme was nominated on Wednesday to replace Herman Van Rompuy, who has been appointed the first president of the European Union.

• Blair Out of Running as Europe Picks Top 2 Posts

  Leaders of the European Union seemed to be pulling away from naming a widely known figure in Europe’s presidential post, as Britain made a pitch for the new foreign policy job.

• Iraq Sentences Sunni Leader to Death

  A leader of the Sunni Awakening Council was sentenced to death for the murder of a girl, sparking charges that the Shiite-dominated government was targeting Sunnis.

• Russia Angry Over Ukraine Warnings on Gas Supply

  A dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas supplies escalated on Thursday, with an aide to the Russian president calling Ukraine’s warnings of a possible gas crisis “political blackmail.”

• Pirates Off Africa Adapt to Survive

  Pirate attacks on shipping lanes around the Horn of Africa show no sign of relenting as the nations policing the seas struggle to find solutions to an increasingly long-term mission.

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  Pre-war intelligence doubted chemical weapons threat, Chilcot inquiry told

  Inquiry into Iraq war hears that earlier intelligence on WMDs was 'sporadic and patchy'The government had intelligence days before the invasion of Iraq in 2003 that Saddam Hussein might not be able t use chemical weapons, the inquiry into the war was told today.

• Michelle Obama 'racist' picture that is topping Google Images removed

  Hot Girls website apologises over 'monkey' picture that had been appearing at the top of Google Images searchesA blog hosting an offensive image of Michelle Obama with monkey features has removed it nd posted an apology.

• Afghanistan: time to go | Caroline Lucas

  One thing is clear: Nato's military mission has failed. We need to focus now on a power-sharing deal to enable an early withdrawalIt is easy to forget that the nine-year war in Afghanistan began its ife as "Operation Enduring Freedom".

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  President's allies suspected of massacre

  As death toll rises to 57, suspicion falls on political dynasty that has helped deliver votes for President Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoA powerful political clan allied to the Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is suspected of masterminding an election massacre that left 57 people dead, poli...

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  Rocket Man brought down to earth in strait of Gibraltar

  Engine failure said to have forced Yves Rossy to ditch jet-powered wing, wrecking Africa-Europe crossing attemptAs Yves Rossy, known as Rocket Man, sailed over the North Atlantic in his jet-powered wing today, one can only imagine that he was humming along to the Elton John song which shares his ni...

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  Swiss court approves £2.7m Roman Polanski bail offer

  Film director facing extradition to US would be kept under house arrest and electronic monitoring if releasedA Swiss court today approved a £2.7m bail offer for Roman Polanski to be released from prion and kept under house arrest and electronic monitoring.

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  Swine flu test positive on boy who died

  Five-year-old who died on Sunday had swine flu but cause of death not yet established, officials sayA five-year-old boy who died at Milton Keynes hospital on Sunday had swine flu, but it was not yet lear whether the virus caused his death, health chiefs said today.

• Alan Johnson's dilemma is unbalanced | Henry Porter

  The DNA database does not balance liberty with the needs of the state, the state's unreasonable demand has eroded libertyWhen a politician talks about balance I reach for my taser. The word "balance" has become one of the primary means of distorting the political debate and eroding the stock of lib...

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  British troops face second inquiry into Iraqi murder claims

  Former high court judge to look again at allegations 20 Iraqis were murdered and others mistreated at British baseA second public inquiry into allegations that Iraqis were ill-treated and unlawfully killed by British troops is to be set up under a former high court judge, the Ministry of Defence (M...

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  Burma watchers are right to be cautious about signs of change

  Flurry of activity could prove, as so often before, to be just window dressing, writes British ambassador Andrew HeynThis is a particularly interesting time for Burma watchers. A flurry of activity, both domestically and internationally, has aroused hopes that things might be starting to move in a ...

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• US pledges carbon emissions cuts

  President Obama will vow to cut US carbon emissions by 17% by 2020, when he attends the climate summit in Copenhagen.

• US consumer spending sees rebound

  US consumer spending rose by more than expected in October, raising hopes that the economic recovery is continuing.

• Iran leader pushes Venezuela ties

  A range of accords are set to be signed as Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

• US pledges major emissions cuts

  President Obama will vow to cut US carbon emissions by 17% by 2020, when he attends the climate summit in Copenhagen.

• Clubs named in match-fixing probe

  Uefa names five clubs who will be subjected to further investigation into allegations of match fixing.

• In-form Soderling beats Djokovic

  Robin Soderling causes his second upset of the ATP World Tour Finals as he sees off defending champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

• UN-DR Congo rebel fight 'failing'

  UN-backed forces are failing to stop Rwandan-Hutu rebels in eastern DR Congo, a report seen by the BBC reveals.

• Afghanistan: An unholy madness?

  Hugh Sykes reports on the deeply complex political puzzle that poverty-stricken Afghanistan is facing.

• Pakistan charges seven for Mumbai

  A court in Pakistan charges seven people over last year's attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai which killed more than 170.

• Philippine 'poll' deaths reach 57

  The death toll from a politically motivated attack in the southern Philippines rises to 57, after 11 more bodies are recovered.

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  U.S. intelligence chief in Afghanistan wages battle for resources

  Maj. Gen. Michael Flynn encounters military resistance in his task of overhauling U.S. intelligence-gathering in Afghanistan to boost efforts to defeat the Taliban. The peaks of the Hindu Kush mountins create a stunning backdrop for the U.

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  Aiding North Korea defectors: A high-stakes spy mission

  A recent operation offers a peek inside the 'underground railroad,' a network of safe houses and secret border crossings that assists in the escape of North Korean refugees. As he cased the securityat the foreign embassies in Hanoi, the 78-year-old retiree was seized with sudden self-doubt.

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  Britain's war inquiry panel opens hearings on Iraq

  One of the first officials interviewed about the decision by Tony Blair's government to join the U.S.-led war speaks of 'drumbeats in Washington' before 9/11 to oust Hussein. The British government was aware of "drumbeats in Washington" in early 2001 calling for the toppling of Iraqi leader Saddam...

• Zhou Libo's distinctly Shanghai shtick

  The Chinese comedian's use of 'Shanghainese' gives him flexibility that most Mandarin-speaking performers don't have -- the government in Beijing can't understand him. And his fan base is growing. Zou Libo is an impeccably dressed comedian.

• Obama tells Singh that U.S. values its ties with India

  After talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the president says the nations have agreed to boost cooperation in areas including the economy, agriculture, technology, trade and security. President Obama reassured India's prime minister Tuesday that the partnership between their two countries wou...

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  IED threat shadows Marines' every move

  Marines in Afghanistan confront the problem of improvised explosive devices with skill and intuition, while making an extra effort to avoid civilian casualties. A long, dusty road under a bright blu Afghan sky.

• Wary India seeks reassurance in U.S. visit

  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official visit to Washington will seek to reaffirm the importance of ties between the two nations. Today's summit between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and Pesident Obama is laden with symbols.

• Israel, Hamas said to be near deal on prisoner swap

  Israeli officials are tight-lipped as negotiators hammer out details in Cairo to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, being held by Hamas, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Expectations of a swap of hundreds of jailed Palestinian militants for an Israeli soldier held by Hamas soared...

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  At least 24 dead in Philippine election massacre

  The victims -- many of them beheaded -- include 13 women, who were among those accompanying an official's wife carrying papers to nominate him for governor. Reporting from Seoul and Zamboanga City, Philippines -- Twenty-four people were found dead in the southern Philippines after scores of gunmen...

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• What to Read on the Financial Crisis

  November 25, 2009 In July 2007, the U.S. economy looked fairly healthy. There had not been a recession in more than five years, and the unemployment rate was under five percent. Housing prices hadbeen rising at an unsustainably rapid rate, but this was generally seen as a containable problem.

• From the Archives: Afghanistan

  November 25, 2009 Over the past few months, the Obama administration has been grappling with questions about the nature of the enemy in Afghanistan and the best way to fight the war there. As the administration prepares to announce its revised military strategy, we are pleased to bring you a sel...

• The Root of All Fears

  Why Is Israel So Afraid of Iranian Nukes? November 24, 2009 The special relationship between Israel and the United States is about to enter perhaps its rockiest patch ever. Israel is growing exasperated with the Obama administration’s effort to use diplomacy to roll back Iran’s growing ura...

• The Tajik Solution

  A Model for Fixing Afghanistan November 22, 2009 As the Obama administration and the rest of the international community grapple with the challenge of stabilizing Afghanistan, analogies haveproliferated as fast as insurgents.

• The World Next Week Podcast: November 20, 2009

  November 19, 2009 Foreign Affairs Managing Editor Gideon Rose and CFR.org Editor Robert McMahon preview major world events in the week ahead. In this week's podcast: U.S. President Barack Obama returns from his tour through Asia; Honduras holds presidential elections; Indian Prime Minister Manm...

• Where the Wild Things Were

  How Conservation Efforts are Faltering November 19, 2009 On the eve of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, I argued that wild nature was in deep distress and that the international institutions charged with the planet's care were managing it poorly ("The Futur...

• The L-Word in Afghanistan

  Can the United States Provide What Kabul Needs? November 15, 2009 One would be hard-pressed to find a news article or editorial on the Afghan election that did not mention the word "legitimay.

• Current Issues in International Affairs

  November 13, 2009 U85 IA 550, Current Issues in International Affairs Professor Marvin MarcusWashington University Course Description This interdisciplinary seminar is the gateway' course for te M.

• The World Next Week Podcast: November 13, 2009

  November 13, 2009 Foreign Affairs Managing Editor Gideon Rose and CFR.org Editor Robert McMahon preview major world events in the week ahead. In this week's podcast: the Obama administration make a decision on Afghanistan; U.

• Marvin Marcus

  November 11, 2009 Summary -- Associate Professor of Japanese and Comparative Literature at Washington University in St. Louis and director of the graduate program in International Affairs, dministered through University College.

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• Hamas: No Deal Likely Over Israeli Prisoner

  Hamas has said no deal is likely this week on a prisoner exchange involving Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

• Car Giants GM To Axe 9,000 Jobs In Europe

  General Motors is to cut 9,000 jobs across Europe as part of restructuring plans, it has announced.

• 'Jetman' Rescued After Ditching Into The Sea

  The pilot known as the 'Jetman' has been rescued from the sea after coming up short in his attempt to fly between two continents.

• Obama To Go To Copenhagen Summit

  President Barack Obama has revealed he will travel to Copenhagen for the UN climate change conference next month.

• 'Jetman' In Sea After Failed Record Attempt

  The pilot known as the 'Jetman' has landed in the sea after coming up short in his attempt to fly between two continents.

• 'Jetman' Leaps Into Sky To Make Aviation History

  The pilot known as 'Jetman' has jumped from a plane travelling at 6,500ft in an attempt to make aviation history by flying across the waters between Morocco and Spain.

• More Bodies Found After Philippines Slaughter

  Troops have found 11 more bodies at the site of a gruesome election-related massacre in the Philippines - taking the death toll to 57.

• Torture Camp Chief's Sorrow For 14,000 Killed

  The Khmer Rouge's chief torturer and jailer has expressed "excruciating remorse" for more than 14,000 people killed under his watch.

• 'Jetman' Attempts New Aviation Record

  The pilot known as 'Jetman' is taking off to make aviation history once again in an attempt to cross the waters between Morocco and Spain.

• HIV In Decline As Infections And Deaths Fall

  The global HIV pandemic is finally in decline, according to an official report.

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