WORLD TOPIC

• Troop contribution for Afghan surge

  AP – Mon Dec 7, 9:21 am ET

  Unofficial tally of pledges to the NATO-led international force in Afghanistan, made in response to the planned deployment of 30,000 U.S. reinforcements by President Barack Obama. Full Story »

• UN seeking $378M for food, medicine in Zimbabwe

  AP – Mon Dec 7, 9:08 am ET

  HARARE, Zimbabwe - The United Nations is appealing for $378 million for Zimbabwe to buy food and medicines and bolster health, education and sanitation in the economically crippled country. Full Story »

• Greek youths riot in Athens for 2nd day

  AP – Mon Dec 7, 8:59 am ET
  AP

  ATHENS, Greece - Masked youths smashed store windows and hurled rocks and firebombs at riot police who responded with tear gas Monday in a second day of violence during commemorations of last year's fatal police shooting of a teenager. Full Story »

• Brown urges rapid action on climate agreement

  AFP – Mon Dec 7, 6:55 am ET
  AFP

  LONDON (AFP) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged Monday world leaders to quickly seal in law any agreement on climate change made during this week's crunch talks in Copenhagen. Full Story »

• Basescu headed for victory in Romania runoff

  AP – Mon Dec 7, 5:37 am ET
  AP

  BUCHAREST, Romania - Incumbent President Traian Basescu was headed for victory in a tight presidential runoff in Romania, election authorities said Monday, in a race Romanians hope will pull the country out of its worst political and economic crisis in 20 years. Full Story »

• UN envoy meets former Sri Lankan child soldiers

  AFP – Mon Dec 7, 1:32 am ET
  AFP/File

  COLOMBO (AFP) - A top United Nations envoy for children held talks with senior Sri Lankan officials on Monday after meeting former child soldiers, an official said. Full Story »

• World's newspapers unite to urge climate change action

  AFP – Sun Dec 6, 5:03 pm ET
  AFP

  LONDON (AFP) - Newspapers in 45 countries will implore Monday world leaders to take decisive action at the Copenhagen climate change talks, warning failure will bring calamity, the London-based Guardian said. Full Story »

• Obama-mania lives on in Europe, but results wanted

  AP – Sun Dec 6, 4:43 pm ET
  AP

  PARIS - Europeans might have reason to feel disappointed with Barack Obama. Full Story »

• UN climate science head hopes for more US action

  AP – Sun Dec 6, 2:34 pm ET

  COPENHAGEN - "There is scope for going above what is going to be legislated," Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, told The Associated Press on the eve of the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen. Full Story »

• U.N. talks on climate "turning point" set to start

  Reuters – Sun Dec 6, 6:56 pm ET
  AFP/File

  COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - U.N. talks billed as a "turning point" in a bid to slow global warming open on Monday seeking to agree curbs on greenhouse gas emissions and raise billions of dollars for the poor in aid and clean technology. Full Story »

• President, challenger both claim victory in Romania vote

  AFP – Sun Dec 6, 4:49 pm ET
  AFP

  BUCHAREST (AFP) - Both candidates in Romania's presidential run-off vote claimed victory on Sunday, although most exit polls put Social-Democrat Mircea Geoana ahead of incumbent Traian Basescu. Full Story »

• Nobel laureates call for gender balance in science

  AP – Sun Dec 6, 12:24 pm ET
  AP

  STOCKHOLM - The two female winners of this year's Nobel Prize in medicine on Sunday urged scientific institutions to change their career structures to help more women reach top positions. Full Story »

• Queen Elizabeth II tells paparazzi to back off

  AP – Sun Dec 6, 11:53 am ET

  LONDON - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has warned newspapers not to run unauthorized paparazzi photos of the royal family, Buckingham Palace said Sunday. Full Story »

• Half of Britons deny climate change man-made: poll

  AFP – Sun Dec 6, 11:13 am ET
  AFP/File

  LONDON (AFP) - Almost half of Britons do not believe human behaviour is the main cause of global warming, a new poll showed Sunday, a day before world leaders begin crunch climate talks in Copenhagen.