Officials: US missile strike kills 9 in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (AP) -- A missile fired from a suspected U.S. unmanned plane destroyed a suspected militant hide-out in northwest Pakistan on Friday, killing at least nine people in a stronghold of a jihadi leader blamed for attacks in Afghanistan, intelligence officials said....

Lockerbie bomber freed, returns to cheers in Libya
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) -- The only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing returned home Thursday to a cheering crowd after his release from a Scottish prison - an outrage to many relatives of the 270 people who perished when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded....

Low turnout seen in Afghan election; 26 killed
KABUL (AP) -- Millions of Afghans defied threats Thursday to cast ballots in the country's second national elections since Taliban rule, but turnout appeared weaker this time because of continuing violence, fear and disenchantment. In much of the Taliban's southern strongholds, many people did not dare to vote, bolstering the hopes of President Hamid Karzai's chief rival....

Al-Qaida emerges as main suspect in Iraq bombings
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Al-Qaida in Iraq is the most likely suspect behind massive truck bombings targeting major government institutions in Baghdad....

WHO predicts 'explosion' of swine flu cases
BEIJING (AP) -- The global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up in coming months and governments must boost preparations for a swift response, the World Health Organization said Friday....

In runner's village, no doubts on her gender
FAIRLIE, South Africa (AP) -- She wore pants instead of a skirt to school, played soccer with the boys and was teased about her masculine looks....

Mexico decriminalizes small-scale drug possession
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico enacted a controversial law Thursday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging free government treatment for drug dependency....

Outgoing IAEA chief has tough choice on Iran
VIENNA (AP) -- For close to a year, diplomats say, a report on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons experiments has been sitting in a drawer of a U.N. nuclear monitoring agency, with access limited to only a few top officials....

40 dead in Somalia fighting, witnesses say
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- Fighting between government soldiers and Islamic insurgents killed at least 40 people in central Somalia on Thursday as the warring sides tried to gain ground in strategic towns....

Afghans turn to the Twitterverse for election
KABUL (AP) -- Afghans turned to the Twitterverse to share news of Taliban intimidation at the polls and voter turnout in the presidential election, even as the country was just trying to keep electricity running and attacks at bay....