Syrian government forces shelled the city of Homs, resident opposition activists and a rights activist said, as a six-person advance party of UN observers is due to arrive in Syria to monitor a ceasefire meant to start four days ago.
After a year of sanctions and sabre-rattling over Iran's nuclear programme, negotiators from Tehran and six world powers finally resumed talks and found at least enough common ground to agree to meet again next month.
Gunmen launched multiple attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul, assaulting Western embassies in the heavily guarded, central diplomatic area and at the parliament in the west.
US President Barack Obama said there would be more sanctions imposed on Iran if there is no breakthrough in nuclear talks with global powers in the coming months, responding to Israeli accusations that Tehran has been given a "freebie."
Pope Benedict marks two milestones this week and while his health appears stable, signs of frailty have again prompted speculation over whether he will be the first pontiff in seven centuries to resign.
A prostitution scandal involving US security personnel in Colombia and an unprecedented regional push to end the isolation of Cuba threatened to eclipse President Barack Obama's charm offensive to Latin America.
Support for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy fell sharply in April after his government announced deep spending cuts and health and education reforms to fight the sovereign debt crisis, an opinion poll showed.
President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announcement on the government’s plans to send a bill to Congress to take 51 percent control of YPF, made headlines in the Spanish media today , as well as in the international press.
New Zealand's Anglican church will build a temporary cathedral made of cardboard in earthquake-devastated Christchurch as it works towards a permanent replacement for its 131-year old landmark destroyed last year.
The death toll rose to six from a tornado that ripped through an Oklahoma town during a weekend outbreak of dozens of twisters across the Great Plains, officials said.