PARIS (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad urged France on Friday to support Turkish mediation efforts to get momentum in the Middle East peace proces. » Full Story

BEIJING (AP) — Unusually early snow storms in north-central China have claimed 40 lives, caused thousands of buildings to collapse and destroyed almost 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares) of winter... » Full Story

LONDON (AP) — The crew of a Royal Navy vessel watched as a British couple was abducted by Somali pirates, unable to rescue them without endangering their lives, the British military said Friday. » Full Story

MOSCOW (AP) — Huge explosions and flames ripped through a Russian military arsenal for hours, killing two firefighters and sending personnel fleeing to a bomb shelter to wait out the worst of the... » Full Story

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A suicide attack on the northwestern headquarters of Pakistan's spy agency Friday showed how militants have turned against an institution that once nurtured them and marked an... » Full Story

KABUL (AP) — Europe may send 5,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan, Britain's prime minister said Friday — affirming support for the NATO mission as the Obama administration nears a decision on... » Full Story

VIENNA (AP) — Iran's recently revealed uranium enrichment hall is a highly fortified underground space that appears too small to house a civilian nuclear program, but large enough to serve for... » Full Story

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide car bomb devastated Pakistan's main spy agency building in the northwest Friday, killing at least 7 people and striking at the heart of the institution overseeing... » Full Story

KABUL (AP) — The Taliban is claiming responsibility for a suicide bombing attack that wounded at least six people near Camp Phoenix, a logistics support base for U.S. forces just outside Kabul. » Full Story

BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese have learned English from his speeches and celebrated the way he rolls up his sleeves. » Full Story