Iran’s president ups uranium enrichment

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered Iran’s atomic chief on Sunday to enrich uranium to 20 percent, in a fresh challenge to Western powers bidding to rein in Tehran’s galloping nuclear drive.

Scientists at NASA have discovered a nearly invisible ring around Saturn — one so large that it would take 1 billion Earths to fill it.

Armed militants were holding hostages at Pakistani army HQ in Rawalpindi Saturday after an earlier attack left at least 10 people dead. One military official said the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the assault.

Bosnian war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic launched a full-throated attack on the International War Crimes Tribunal Tuesday, as he appeared at a hearing to discuss his refusal to appear for trial.

French soccer star Thierry Henry palmed the ball to his feet and then flicked it a teammate who then scored, eliminating Ireland from the 2010 World Cup and raising tempers on the Emerald Isle.

A rocket struck the grounds of the Afghan interior ministry Saturday, but did not cause any casualties, authorities said.

Some private security guards hired to protect the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan say their contractor has allowed widespread mistreatment, sexual activity and intimidation within their ranks, according to the watchdog group Project On Government Oversight (POGO).

China “resolutely opposes” a planned trip by the Dalai Lama to Taiwan, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Thursday, hours after Taiwan’s president announced the visit.

A former Brazilian state legislator and TV host who allegedly dealt drugs and ordered rivals killed, is missing and considered a criminal fugitive, state police in Brazil said Wednesday.

A jury has convicted Pakistani scientist Aafia Siddiqui of attempting to kill Americans in Afghanistan in 2008.

Rachel Chandler, a Briton held captive by pirates off Somalia, tells her brother her captors are “very hospitable people, so don’t worry. … Physically we’re fine; physically, we’re healthy.”

North Korea resumed firing near its sea border with South Korea on Thursday, South Korean media said, citing cited Seoul officials.

The message blaring out of the speakers on the van was stark: “Any black person who is hiding in Rosarno should get out. If we catch you, we will kill you.” Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of African migrants left.

The son of Gabon’s former president was declared the winner of the country’s presidential elections on Thursday, sparking violent protests in some parts of the West African nation.

Protesters clashed with police at a central Tehran square on Wednesday while government supporters nearby marked the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy capture with chants of “Death to America.”

Colombian military forces killed 18 leftist guerrillas Friday in two operations, the National Defense Ministry said.