World News: CBSNews.com

Norbert Hits Mexico, Weakens To Category 1

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:00:02 EDT

Hurricane Norbert swept across Mexico's southern Baja California peninsula, tearing off roofs and forcing hundreds of people to flee flooded homes.

French, German Leaders Nix Rescue Fund

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:30:04 EDT

The leaders of France and Germany rejected the notion of creating a common financial rescue fund for Europe, but insisted that a coordinated response will emerge after a weekend summit.

Thousands Of Christians Flee Mosul

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:22:10 EDT

Hundreds of terrified Christian families have fled Mosul to escape extremist attacks that have increased despite months of U.S. and Iraqi military operations to secure the northern Iraqi city, political and religious officials said.

North Korea OKs Nuke Inspection Demands

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:00:06 EDT

North Korea has agreed to all U.S. nuclear inspection demands, allowing the Bush administration to remove the communist country from a U.S. terrorism blacklist.

Officials: U.S. Strike Kills 3 In Pakistan

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:00:02 EDT

Two Pakistani intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed three people near a market close to the Afghan border.

Opponents Of U.S. Gloat Over Fiscal Crisis

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:00:02 EDT

America's opponents in the Middle East are gloating over the financial meltdown in the United States, painting it as divine retribution for past misdeeds against Muslims and the last gasps of a dying empire.

Israel Hosts Cancer-Stricken Iranian Boy

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:01 EDT

The head of an Israeli hospital where an Iranian boy is being treated for a brain tumor said Friday he hoped the gesture will help improve understanding between the bitterly divided countries.

Afghanistan Facing "Downward Spiral"

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:30:03 EDT

The situation in Afghanistan now is the worst since the U.S.-led invasion of 2001 and the country is in danger of a "downward spiral" into violence and chaos, according to an intelligence report draft.

Freed Americans Back In Jordan

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:16:56 EDT

Two American journalists who went missing during a vacation in Lebanon were quoted as saying they were "kidnapped" by their taxi driver and taken into Syria, where they were held in custody for a week before being released.

U.N.: Migrants Forced Overboard Near Yemen

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:30:06 EDT

The U.N. refugee agency says 100 migrants are feared drowned after being forced overboard by smugglers in the Gulf of Aden.

Beijing Bans Cars In High Pollution Days

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:00:05 EDT

Beijing will ban half of its 3.4 million cars from the roads during periods of very heavy pollution.

10 Dead, 50 Hurt By Pakistani Suicide Bomb

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:54:06 EDT

An official says a suicide bomber attacked a group of anti-insurgent tribesmen in a Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border, killing at least 10 and wounding more than 50.

Doctors Remove Gallstone From Dalai Lama

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:10:12 EDT

Surgeons have successfully removed a gallstone from the Dalai Lama just days after doctors had cleared the Tibetan spiritual leader during a medical checkup, a spokesman says.

Martti Ahtisaari Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:00:06 EDT

Martti Ahtisaari, a primary school teacher who joined Finland's Foreign Ministry in 1965 then went on to lead the country, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation between warring groups including Iraq's Shiites and Sunnis.

Global Credit Still In Deep Freeze

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:30:06 EDT

Governments around the world have slashed interest rates and ramped up their lending, but banks are still charging each other extremely high borrowing rates - a bad sign for the credit markets that remain close to paralysis.

U.S., N. Korea Reportedly Make Nuke Deal

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:30:06 EDT

The United States and North Korea have agreed on a compromise to get the communist nation to resume dismantling its nuclear program, a news report said Friday.

U.S. Missile Strike Suspected In Pakistan

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:30:02 EDT

A suspected U.S. missile strike targeted two areas in a Pakistani tribal region near the Afghanistan border on Thursday, killing at least nine people, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Libya Starts Paying U.S. Terror Victims

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:00:02 EDT

Libya has started making payments into a nearly $2 billion fund to compensate the families of American victims of Libyan-linked terror attacks in the 1980s, the State Department said.

N. Korea Ending Its Nuclear Freeze

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:30:04 EDT

North Korea has told the International Atomic Energy Agency that it is placing all its main nuclear complex off-limits to inspectors and will stop its program of dismantling the site.

Hurricane Norbert Weakens To Category One

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:00:02 EDT

Hurricane Norbert has weakened to a category one storm as it approaches Mexico's Baja California peninsula.

Suicide Blast Targets Pakistan Police

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:00:08 EDT

An explosives-laden vehicle blew up an anti-terrorist squad building and wounded at least four people in a police complex in Pakistan's capital, and another attack has struck a prison vehicle in the country's volatile northwest.

Iraq: Bomb Kills Senior Shiite Lawmaker

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:00:04 EDT

A bomb struck a convoy carrying lawmakers loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Baghdad, killing a prominent member of the Shiite bloc, officials said.

Rate Cuts Calm Nervous Stock Markets

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:10:29 EDT

Asian markets were mixed but European bourses showed as investors weighed enthusiasm over rate cuts around the world against persistent fears over the severe strains in credit markets and the prospect of a global recession.

How Technology Helped Win Sadr City Battle

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:00:06 EDT

Highly secret hi-tech tactics and technology helped defeat Muqtada al-Sadr's militia fighters in the battle for Sadr City. Lesley Stahl reports for 60 Minutes.

U.S. May Rethink Talking To Taliban

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:00:03 EDT

With U.S. and NATO forces suffering their deadliest year so far in Afghanistan, some officials have endorsed efforts to reach out to members of the Taliban considered willing to seek an accommodation with President Hamid Karzai's government.

Missing Americans Freed From Syrian Jail

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:00:05 EDT

Syria says it is holding two missing American journalists for illegally crossing the border from Lebanon. A Foreign Ministry statement says Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23 were aided by smugglers.

France's Le Clezio Wins Nobel Lit Prize

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:00:05 EDT

French novelist Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio won the 2008 Nobel Prize in literature for his poetic adventure and "sensual ecstasy."

2 American Journalists Missing In Lebanon

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:00:05 EDT

Two American journalists vacationing in Lebanon have not been heard from since Oct. 1 and are believed missing, the U.S. Embassy said, appealing for information on their possible whereabouts.

U.S. Says Kim Jong Il Is Still In Power

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:05 EDT

U.S. intelligence has detected no sign of North Korean activity to suggest the communist nation's reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, has been disabled or otherwise lost his grip on power, the commander of American military forces in South Korea said.

Hurricane Norbert Bears Down On Mexico

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:06 EDT

Hurricane Norbert strengthened to a powerful Category 3 storm in the Pacific Ocean and was forecast to hit Mexico's Baja California peninsula by the weekend.

Russia, Georgia Dispute Troop Pullback

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:30:05 EDT

Russian troops pulled back from their positions outside Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia but held their ground in contested areas, setting the stage for more tension between the two countries that waged war in August.

European, Asian Markets Hemorrhage

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:05 EDT

European markets have tumbled amid ongoing fears about the state of credit markets despite the British government's $87.5 billion rescue package. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei suffered its worst day since the 1987 stock market crash.

Woman Free-Falls Over Everest

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:30:03 EDT

British skydiver Holly Budge is the first woman to ever try it, and she told Maggie Rodriguez all about it, on The Early Show.

U.S. Ups Afghan Civilian Death Toll

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:05 EDT

U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan on Aug. 22 killed some 33 civilians, far more than the military has previously acknowledged, Defense officials said.

Plane Crash Near Mt. Everest Kills 18

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:30:05 EDT

A small airplane crashed and caught fire as it tried to land in foggy weather at a tiny mountain airport near Mount Everest, killing 18 people, including 16 tourists from Germany, Australia and Nepal, officials said.

Iran Gave U.S. Help On Al Qaeda After 9/11

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:30:05 EDT

Iran rounded up hundreds of Arabs to help the United States counter al Qaeda after the Sept. 11 attack after they crossed the border from Afghanistan, a former Bush administration official said Tuesday.

Afghan Refugees Fleeing Pakistan War Zone

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:30:04 EDT

Afghan refugees ordered out of a Pakistani war zone have begun flowing over the border into their homeland, worsening a humanitarian crisis resulting from an army offensive against Taliban militants, officials said.

Interest Rates Slashed Worldwide

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:05 EDT

The Federal Reserve and six other major central banks from around the world slashed interest rates in an attempt to prevent a mushrooming financial crisis from becoming a global economic meltdown.

Double Amputee Armed With Optimism

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:06 EDT

A German farmer who received the world's first complete double arm transplant said that incredulity gave way to joy when he woke from surgery to discover he had arms again.

Iceland Teeters On Brink Of Bankruptcy

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:30:04 EDT

Iceland is on the brink of becoming the first "national bankruptcy" of the global financial meltdown.

Germany To Extend Afghan Mission 14 Months

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:05 EDT

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet decided Tuesday to extend Germany's military mission in Afghanistan for 14 more months.

Half-Ton Mexican Dies After Pleas For Help

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:30:04 EDT

A 990-pound, bedridden man who had appealed on Mexican television for help tackling his weight problem died Tuesday of heart failure, his family said.

Somali Pirates Reduce Ransom Demand To $8M

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:00:08 EDT

A Somali pirate on a hijacked cargo ship transporting tanks reduced the ransom to $8 million, but it was unclear if he was speaking officially for the bandits holding the Ukrainian vessel.

Skinny Dipper Causes Scene At Japan Palace

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:00:08 EDT

Police have apprehended a Western man who went skinny dipping in a moat ringing the Imperial Palace in a busy Tokyo business district, attracting a huge crowd, officials said.

Bush Talks With European Leaders On Crisis

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:00:03 EDT

President Bush reached out to European leaders to urge coordination on efforts to solve the financial crisis spreading around the globe. The White House said Mr. Bush was open to the idea of a leaders' summit on the economic upheaval.

Iran Forced Hungarian Plane To Land

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:08 EDT

Iran forced an aircraft carrying Hungarian military officials to land after it entered its airspace, Hungary's Defense Ministry said Tuesday. The plane was allowed to continue to Afghanistan after it was determined the entry was accidental.

Thailand Political Crisis Turns Bloody

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:30:04 EDT

Thai riot police have clashed with thousands of protesters who barricaded Parliament and vowed to block the government from leaving, a bold new tactic that intensified a six-week political crisis and left 100 people wounded.

U.S. Troops To Remain In Kosovo 1 Year

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:30:03 EDT

The United States will continue its troop presence in Kosovo until at least late next year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said just before he arrived in the world's newest nation, in the face of stern opposition from Russia.

Interest Rate Cut Boosts World Markets

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:30:04 EDT

Asian stocks are mixed as a big interest rate cut in Australia helps spur recoveries in several regional markets, sparking hopes that other central banks will lower rates to help loosen the global credit crunch.

2 Japanese, 1 American Share Physics Nobel

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:00:05 EDT

Two Japanese citizens and an American won the 2008 Nobel Prize in physics for discoveries in the world of subatomic physics, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced.

U.S. Anti-Obama Author Booted From Kenya

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:30:04 EDT

A Kenyan airport official says the American author of a book attacking Barack Obama is being deported.

Pope: Meltdown Shows Money Is "Nothing"

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:30:04 EDT

Pope Benedict XVI says the global financial crisis shows the futility of money and ambition.

Earthquake Kills At Least 60 In Kyrgyzstan

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:00:02 EDT

Officials in Kyrgyzstan say an earthquake has leveled a town, killing at least 60 people and injuring dozens more.

U.S. Nears Deal To Keep Troops In Iraq

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:10:28 EDT

Iraq's foreign minister says the U.S. and Iraq are close to a deal to keep U.S. troops in the country next year, but it will take "bold political decisions" to overcome the final hurdles.

Russian Troops Dismantling Georgia Posts

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:11:59 EDT

Russian troops began dismantling positions in the so-called security zones inside Georgia that they have occupied since August's brief but intense war, in the first reported sign a promised pullback was under way.

A Setback For "Milkshake Murder" Convict

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:30:03 EDT

An American woman sentenced to life in prison in Hong Kong for the death of her banker husband lost her bid for a new trial.

Black Hawks Collide; Iraqi Soldier Killed

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:30:04 EDT

Two U.S. helicopters collided while landing at a base in Baghdad on Saturday, killing one Iraqi soldier and wounding two American troops and two other Iraqis, the military said.

World Markets Plummet Despite Bailout

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:30:03 EDT

Asian markets have plunged and European stocks are on the same downward slope as global investors take scant comfort from Washington's passage of a $700 billion bank bailout.

Israel Takes Indirect Heat Over Nukes

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:30:04 EDT

A U.N. nuclear conference of 145 nations indirectly criticized Israel on Saturday for refusing to put its atomic program under international purview.

Austrian Man Sets In-Laws On Fire

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:00:07 EDT

The 48-year-old man used a home-made flame-thrower to attack the elderly couple as they slept, police say. The suspect is in an induced coma following emergency surgery after he stabbed himself in the stomach.

"Modesty Patrols" Sow Fear In Israel

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:30:06 EDT

Patrols of ultra-Orthodox Jews are on a campaign to end behavior they consider unchaste. They have been accused of beating a Jerusalem woman for allegedly consorting with men and have attacked stores selling devices that can access the Internet.

9 Bodies Found Dumped In Tijuana

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:04 EDT

Police have found nine more bodies dumped around the Mexican border city of Tijuana, where nearly 50 people have been killed in a week of violence related to the drug trade.