US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control of the country's security to the Afghan army and police....

A look at US-Taliban relations
Word that the Taliban and U.S. will hold formal talks to find a political solution to end nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan comes after years of failed efforts at peace talks. A look at the evolution of U.S. relations with the Taliban:...

Australian jailed for life for rape, murder
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- A serial sex offender was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for raping and murdering an Irish woman while he was free on parole after previous convictions for raping five women....

AP EXCLUSIVE: US war games send signal to Assad
ZARQA, Jordan (AP) -- Under the watchful eye of stern-faced American advisers, hundreds of U.S.-trained Jordanian commandos fanned across this dusty desert plain, holding war games that could eventually form the basis of an assault in Syria....

Cuban dissident: Repression forced family to flee
MIAMI (AP) -- One of several Cuban dissidents recently allowed to visit Europe and the U.S. after Cuba changed its travel laws said Tuesday she decided to seek refuge in Miami after facing continued repression on the island....

Especially grim encephalitis toll feared in India
GORAKHPUR, India (AP) -- A mosquito-borne disease that preys on the young and malnourished is sweeping across poverty-riven northern India again this monsoon season in what officials worry could be the deadliest outbreak in nearly a decade....

Turkey's `standing man' launches new protest wave
ISTANBUL (AP) -- After weeks of sometimes violent confrontation with police, protesters in Turkey have found what could be a more potent form of resistance: standing still....

G-8 seeks unity on Syrian peace talks, tax evasion
ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) -- President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other G-8 leaders attempted to speak with one voice Tuesday on seeking a negotiated Syrian peace settlement - yet couldn't publicly agree on whether this means President Bashar Assad must go....

The ins and outs of G-8 summit promises
ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (AP) -- Group of Eight summit participants are powerful people: the leaders of the U.S., Russia, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan, plus top officials from the European Union. But they only make promises....

Brazil protesters keep up pressure on government
SAO PAULO (AP) -- About 50,000 protesters energetically returned to the streets of Brazil's biggest city Tuesday night, a demonstration of anger toward what they call a corrupt and inefficient government that has long ignored the demands of a growing middle class....