Brazil family: We won't appeal boy's return to U.S. dad

Brazil family: We won't appeal boy's return to U.S. dad
Anti-Drug Push in Afghanistan Lacks Strategy, Report Says
Jewish Exodus ship skipper dies
IMF approves $1.2 billion payment to Pakistan
UK 'friendly fire' soldier named
Vatican Defends Move to Sainthood for Wartime Pope
10 Red States Now Questioning Nelson Deal
Schumacher targets 2010 title
Sick Nigeria leader 'must quit'
Fresh protests, clashes reported in Iran
Madoff moved to prison hospital
Bin Laden Children Reportedly Held in Iran
Ship seized with cocaine worth $600M
Music: The Trials of the Hardest-Working Man in Hip-Hop
New Fire Chief Is More Than a Department Lifer
UN extends mandate of Congo peacekeeping force
Battling time
In pictures
Alexis Glick Leaves Fox Business
Deaths in Iraq bomb attacks

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 11:55 AM PST

Brazilian relatives of a boy in an international custody battle won't appeal a court ruling and will work on giving the boy to his dad immediately, their attorney says.

Anti-Drug Push in Afghanistan Lacks Strategy, Report Says

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 12:10 PM PST

The U.S. effort lacks a long-term strategy, clear objectives and a plan for handing over responsibility to Afghans, according to a State Department report.

Jewish Exodus ship skipper dies

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 12:29 PM PST

The captain of Jewish immigrant ship the Exodus, which was refused entry to Palestine in 1947, dies at the age of 86.

IMF approves $1.2 billion payment to Pakistan

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 11:42 AM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has approved a $1.2 billion aid payment to Pakistan after concluding a review of the country's economic performance, the fund said in a statement on Wednesday.

UK 'friendly fire' soldier named

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 11:51 AM PST

The second British soldier to be killed in a suspected friendly fire incident this week in Afghanistan is named by the Ministry of Defence.

Vatican Defends Move to Sainthood for Wartime Pope

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 12:11 PM PST

The decision on Pope Pius XII was not an "act of hostility," the Vatican said in an effort to calm tensions with Jewish groups.

10 Red States Now Questioning Nelson Deal

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 11:43 AM PST

At least 10 states are now raising questions about the legality of the deal that Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat, cut for his home state of Nebraska during the health care negotiations.

Schumacher targets 2010 title

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 11:35 AM PST

Michael Schumacher says he will be challenging to win another Formula 1 title in 2010 after announcing his return to the sport.

Sick Nigeria leader 'must quit'

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 11:41 AM PST

A senior politician in Nigeria takes court action to force the country's sick president, Umaru Yar'Adua, from office.

Fresh protests, clashes reported in Iran

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 12:08 PM PST

Reports of more demonstrations filtered out of Iran on Wednesday, including some that mentioned attacks on people mourning the death of a prominent cleric who was critical of the government.

Madoff moved to prison hospital

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 12:01 PM PST

Disgraced Wall Street financier Bernie Madoff is moved to the medical centre within his North Carolina jail.

Bin Laden Children Reportedly Held in Iran

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 10:20 AM PST

On Wednesday a Saudi-owned newspaper based in London reported that six of Osama bin Laden's children have been held under house arrest in Iran they escaped Afghanistan in late 2001.

Ship seized with cocaine worth $600M

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 10:15 AM PST

Spanish police have seized a ship carrying nearly $600 million worth of cocaine, in a joint operation with London's Metropolitan Police, Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency, and maritime authorities, Scotland Yard announced.

Music: The Trials of the Hardest-Working Man in Hip-Hop

Posted: 22 Dec 2009 10:59 PM PST

For someone who made ubiquity his art form, Lil Wayne has done a stupendous job of disappearing this year.

New Fire Chief Is More Than a Department Lifer

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 11:29 AM PST

Salvatore Cassano, who has served for four decades, is also a war veteran, a baseball fan, a grandfather and a New Yorker.

UN extends mandate of Congo peacekeeping force

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 11:20 AM PST

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council voted on Wednesday to renew the mandate of peacekeepers in Congo by five months instead of the usual year amid plans to shift its role in the war-torn country.