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TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote a letter to President Bush proposing “new solutions” to rising international tensions, a move announced Monday apparently timed to avert the possibility of U.N. action against the Islamic regime. The U.S., along with Britain and France, is pushing for a U.N. Security …

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The United Nations humanitarian chief warned Tuesday of a catastrophic situation developing in Darfur unless international donors act soon to bolster a beleaguered African peacekeeping force in the Sudanese province. “We either get good news in the next few weeks, or we have catastrophic news later,” Jan …

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Brazilians angered by gang violence that rocked South America’s largest city demonstrated across the country, with many blaming the bloodshed that left 172 people dead on rampant corruption. Lawmakers were also focusing on corruption as they investigated a leak from a closed-door congressional session that may …

MILWAUKEE – A U.S. lawmaker’s son and three Democratic campaign workers were sentenced Wednesday to four to six months in jail for slashing tires outside a Bush-Cheney campaign office on Election Day 2004. The men pleaded no contest in January to misdemeanor property damage. A fifth worker was found not …

TIJUANA, Mexico – It looks like any Southern California traffic jam — except you can buy a cappuccino and a 4-foot statue of Jesus from your car while watching dogs sniff vehicles for drugs. This is the U.S.-Mexico border’s most congested crossing, where local residents say already epic lines into …

WASHINGTON – Presidential adviser Karl Rove blamed the war in Iraq on Monday for dragging down President Bush’s job approval ratings in public opinion polls. “People like this president,” Rove said. “They’re just sour right now on the war.” Rove said that Bush’s likeability ratings are far higher than his …

LONDON – Bono was a guest editor of Tuesday’s edition of The Independent newspaper, filling its pages with stories on HIV/AIDS in Africa, poverty and global warming. The 46-year-old Irish rocker, who has long complained that Africa‘s problems get little attention in the news, was invited to sit in the …

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Wednesday that Iraqi forces are capable of taking control of security in all of Iraq within 18 months, but still need more recruits, training and equipment. Drive-by shootings killed 17 people Wednesday, including a provincial official in northern Iraq and two of …

UNITED NATIONS – Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that Israel’s offensive in Gaza was aimed at toppling the Hamas-led government, but assured his people he is working with international mediators to try to resolve the stand-off over a kidnapped Israeli soldier. Israel kept up the pressure in Gaza, …

SYDNEY, Australia – Australia’s hottest celebrity couple, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, jetted out of Sydney on Monday, likely bound for a secluded honeymoon getaway on the golden sands of the South Pacific. The Oscar-winning actress exchanged vows with the Grammy award-winning country music star in a tearful, candlelit ceremony …