All Global News Blog
Why Pope Francis is something of a surpriseCardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina - now Pope Francis - was not widely considered the top candidate heading into this week's conclave.
Iran to sue Hollywood for fear-mongering with 'Argo'This is not the first time Iranian officials have complained about the portrayal of Iran in Hollywood cinema.
Papal conclave through the Twitter looking glassAs the Papal conclave gets underway in Rome, the Twittersphere is lighting up with final farewells from some of the 115 cardinals, as well as comedians.
Good Reads: Saving the Amazon, Kenya's 'Iron Lady,' drones, Depardieu the RussianThis week's round-up of Good Reads includes climate-change diplomacy in the Amazon, a profile of a Kenyan politician to watch beyond the elections, the future of drones, and a look at Gérard Depardieu's new Russian citizenship.
Saudi dissidents jailed – a post Arab Spring crackdown?A judge recently sentenced two activists to a decade in prison and ordered their civil rights organization, which lobbied against government corruption, to be shut down.
Now we can talk: Steaks raise stakes for Taiwan-US trade tiesTaiwanese officials let in US beef this summer after years of wrangling over health concerns. Now, Taiwan is getting what it wants: trade talks.
Dead pigs in Shanghai water supply don't ring alarm bells for Chinese officialsMore than 2,800 pig carcasses were discovered in the Huangpu River, which feeds Shanghai taps. Rivers are apparently a popular repository for swine that die of disease.
Two prominent Saudi human rights activists receive 10 years in jailMohammed Fahd al-Qahtani and Abdullah Hamad were sentenced to at least 10 years in jail Saturday for sedition and providing foreign media with false information.
Chávez funeral: How do you spot a true Chávista?For millions of Hugo Chávez’s supporters, waiting in line for 12 hours or more is a small sacrifice for the opportunity to spend a few seconds in front of his coffin.
Attack highlights how a corner of Afghanistan is falling apartThe ambush and killing of 16 Afghan soldiers last weekend is one of the worst setbacks for the country's military in years.
China voted for new North Korea sanctions. Will it enforce them?The real test will be in China's follow-through on 'little brother' North Korea.
China pushes for Arctic foothold, from a thousand miles awayAs global warming pushes back the Arctic Sea ice, uncovering new natural-resource deposits, China is looking to establish its presence in the north.
In crisis, Bulgarians aware they are on the 'periphery' of world attentionWhile reporting on Bulgaria's political upheaval, Monitor correspondent Tom Peter found that, while concerned, Bulgarians understood how their internal crises are viewed outside their borders.
A changed Venezuela after Chávez?A survey of opinions about what Hugo Chávez's passing means for Venezuela, and the region.
North Korea threatens 'preemptive nuclear attack' on US as UN readies new sanctionsThe UN Security Council is expected today to approve a new round of sanctions against Pyongyang in response to its nuclear weapon test last month.
Why North Korea is turning up the heat againNorth Korea's military is vowing to cancel the 1953 cease-fire that effectively ended the Korean War, straining frayed ties in the region as the UN moves to impose new sanctions.
How a cold, irradiated Siberian city hopes to cash in on meteor touristsBefore last month's meteor strike, Chelyabinsk was best known for a 1957 nuclear waste disaster. Now officials there are trying to turn the meteor into a tourist attraction.
Did Kim Jong-un and his wife have a baby?Speculation over the possibility of North Korea's first couple having a child hit a high point in January, when South Korean media closely analyzed photos of Ri.
Forbes 2013 billionaire list: rich get richer, women ascendThe aggregate wealth of the world's billionaires is at an all-time high, and 210 new names, including 34 women, have joined the list.
How many frogs does it take to make a handbag? Tokyo museum has the answerTucked away in Tokyo is a little trafficked museum that houses bags from the world over. It is an unexpected reminder of how much more than a bag a piece of luggage can be.
