Top court upholds Berlusconi's acquittal

Italy's highest court confirmed on Tuesday the acquittal of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who had been charged with abuse of office and paying for sex with a minor. The ruling boosts his effort to retain his role as conservative leader.

Utah lawmakers vote to bring back firing squads

State lawmakers have passed a bill that would make Utah the only US state to allow firing squads for carrying out a death penalty if there is a shortage of execution drugs.

Sports stars among 10 dead in crash

Two helicopters carrying French sports stars filming a popular European reality show crashed in a remote part of Argentina killing 10 people, including two Olympic medal winners and a sailing champion, authorities said.

Ex-PM: Abe risks alienating neighbors

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe risks further alienating Asian neighbors China and South Korea if he does not stick to the substance of a 1995 apology for wartime aggression, former prime minister Tomiichi Murayama said on Tuesday.

Venezuela accuses US of 'colossal mistake'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounced on Monday the new US sanctions as an attempt to topple his government.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Still too few women at the top, study says

Three women in the public eye - Hillary Clinton, Melinda Gates and Chelsea Clinton - released a report on Monday showing that women are still far from winning equality in leadership positions.

Female candidates set for high spots in Israel

A minor revolution is under way in Israel, with female candidates catapulting to the top of party lists across the political spectrum ahead of the country's March 17 election, setting them up to claim key positions of power in the next government.

Owners claim winning dog poisoned

An investigation is under way after the owners of a prizewinning Irish setter who died after competing at the renowned Crufts dog show claimed on Sunday their dog had been poisoned at the British event.

Survivor fears Japan on path to war

Katsumoto Saotome was 12 the night he ran for his life through a sea of flames, jumping over smoldering railroad ties along a train track as US B-29 bombers rained incendiary bombs down around him.

Australian families unite on death row

The families of two Australian drug smugglers facing imminent execution in Indonesia visited them on Monday for the first time on a prison island where they are expected to be put to death.

ROK lawmakers make case for adoption of US missile defense

Ruling party lawmakers in the Republic of Korea have suggested it's necessary to adopt a US-developed missile defense system to enhance defense capabilities against nuclear and missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.