World News

Oil-exporting Venezuela is in recession, its socialist President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday, adding that the capitalist system of measuring economic growth was established in the United States.

After a year's delay, scientists at the world's biggest accelerator have restarted an experiment to recreate "Big Bang" conditions that had sparked suggestions the earth would be sucked in by millions of black holes.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Saturday ruled out any military retaliation against Venezuela after Venezuelan troops dynamited two cross-border footbridges.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited flood-hit Cumbria in north west England on Saturday to see the damage caused by record rainfall and pay tribute to a policeman who died when a bridge collapsed.

After a year's delay, scientists at the world's biggest accelerator have restarted an experiment to recreate "Big Bang" conditions that had sparked suggestions the earth would be sucked in by millions of black holes.

Honduras's post-coup de facto leader said on Friday he would give up his presidential duties for a week, a step Washington welcomed as a way to help ease a five-month-old political crisis.

The husband of Cuban dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez said he was attacked by government supporters as he waited on Friday to confront state security agents accused of detaining and beating his wife two weeks ago.

Colombia will not be provoked into armed conflict with Venezuela despite its neighbor's aggressive rhetoric and dynamiting of two border bridges, Colombia's defense minister said on Friday.

Atlantic City needs more flair, flesh and flash if it wants to take back business from the growing number of slot parlors in the Northeast, a senior executive with Harrah's Entertainment said on Friday.

There were hugs and handshakes all around on Friday as teams of older U.S. and Cuban softball players ended a "friendship" tournament they hope will set an example for their respective governments.

Belgians on Friday mixed pride with trepidation over Herman Van Rompuy's appointment as the first president of the European Union, fearing instability after his exit as prime minister.

A Canadian court ordered a new refugee hearing on Friday for a U.S. Army deserter who claimed she would face persecution because of her homosexuality if returned to the United States.

Six people, including two children, were killed when suspected Colombian FARC guerrillas stopped and set fire to bus traveling in the south of the country, a local state governor said on Friday.

Lifeboats and military helicopters rescued hundreds of people overnight in northern England and a policeman was feared dead as torrential rain flooded homes and washed away bridges.

A Briton who strangled his wife during a nightmare because he believed he was attacking an intruder, walked free from court on Friday after prosecutors withdrew their case against him.

Somalia has announced it plans to ratify a global treaty aimed at protecting children, leaving the United States as the only country outside the pact, UNICEF said on Friday.

Demonstrators gathered for a second day near the Algerian embassy in Cairo on Friday to protest against what they said was violence against Egyptians during a play-off for the World Cup soccer finals.

Slovenia expects to build its second nuclear power plant by 2025 at a cost of 3.5 billion to 5 billon euros ($5.21 billion to $7.44 billion), Economy Minister Matej Lahovnik said on Friday.

Two days of clashes between rival ethnic groups killed 11 people in isolated northern Democratic Republic of Congo this week, the country's United Nations peacekeeping mission said on Friday.

A Brazilian transsexual caught up in a scandal which prompted the resignation of a senior Italian politician -- the centre-left governor of Lazio region, which includes Rome -- was found burnt to death in his home on Friday.