Obama Announces Total Iraq Troop Withdrawal

Statement puts end to months of wrangling over whether the U.S. would remain into 2012

2011-10-21

Ben Feller AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Friday declared an end to the Iraq war, one of the longest and most divisive conflicts in U.S. history, announcing that all American troops would be withdrawn from the country by year's end. Read the complete article

Murdoch to Pay $3.2 Million to Schoolgirl's Family

News of the World reporters eavesdropped on voice messages of murdered 13-year-old

2011-10-21

Cassandra Vinograd The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) -- Rupert Murdoch's company said Friday it has agreed to pay 2 million pounds ($3.2 million) to the family of a murdered schoolgirl whose phone was hacked by the tabloid News of the World. Read the complete article

Gadhafi's Death Resonates With Lockerbie Relatives

Some hope killed Libyan leader left behind clues about Pan Am bombing

2011-10-20

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Relatives of the victims of the 1988 Pan Am bombing say they're relieved that Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi is dead. Read the complete article

VIDEO: Israeli Soldier Freed in Swap for 1,000 Prisoners

Gilad Schalit heads home after more than five years in captivity

2011-10-18

Daniella Cheslow and Josef Federman The Associated Press

TEL NOF AIR BASE, Israel (AP) -- Looking thin, weary and dazed, Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit emerged from more than five years in Hamas captivity on Tuesday, surrounded by Gaza militants with black face masks and green headbands who handed him over to Egyptian mediators in an exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. After a medical examination, Israeli officials said Schalit showed signs of malnutrition. Read the complete article

Iceland's Katla Volcano Is Getting Restless

Rumblings may be precursor to eruption that would dwarf the 2010 incident that wreaked transportation havoc

2011-10-16

Paisley Dodds The Associated Press

VIK, Iceland (AP) -- If Iceland's air-traffic paralyzing volcanic eruption last year seemed catastrophic, just wait for the sequel. That's what some experts are saying as they nervously watch rumblings beneath a much more powerful Icelandic volcano - Katla - which could spew an ash cloud dwarfing the 2010 eruption that cost airlines $2 billion and drove home how vulnerable modern society is to the whims of nature. Read the complete article

Low-lying Thai Capital Braces for Weekend Flooding

The worst floods in 50 years have submerged entire towns across country’s central plains

2011-10-15

Chris Blake and Todd Pitman The Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) -- Residents of Bangkok braced for possible weekend flooding as the runoff from high water that devastated parts of central Thailand flowed toward the low-lying metropolis, where many downtown buildings were fortified with walls of sandbags. Read the complete article

Activists Say Syrian Forces Kill 7; Deaths Top 3,000

UN official urges international community to take action in the country

2011-10-14

Bassem Mroue and Frank Jordans The Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) -- Syrian security forces opened fire Friday on protesters calling for the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, killing at least seven, activists said. Read the complete article

Clinton: Plot to Kill Saudi Ambassador a Dangerous Escalation by Iran

Secretary of state urges rest of the world to condemn alleged scheme

2011-10-12

Matthew Lee The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is calling an alleged Iranian plot to kill Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States a "dangerous escalation" in Iran's support for terrorism that must draw an international response. Read the complete article

Kidnappings of Foreigners Ravage Kenyan Tourist Area

Many lose jobs as US, British and French governments issue travel warnings

2011-10-11

Malkhadir M. Muhumed The Associated Press

LAMU, Kenya (AP) -- During high season in this Kenyan luxury resort area, foreign tourists snorkel by day and sleep in rustic dwellings with woven coconut leaves for doors. Now they're leaving town early and canceling reservations after gunmen kidnapped two Europeans and killed another in only a month. Read the complete article

Prince Harry Arrives in US for Military Training

British Army captain at California base for helicopter training course

2011-10-07

LONDON (AP) -- Buckingham Palace said Friday that Prince Harry has arrived in the United States for a two-month military helicopter training course. Read the complete article