Pope opens critical week for reform, family issues
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is opening the most critical week of his year-old papacy: Two commissions of inquiry on Vatican finance will report their recommendations for reform and preparations get underway for a summit on family issues that will deal with the widespread rejection by Catholics of church teaching on contraception, divorce and gay unions.
Kerry accuses Assad of stonewalling in peace talks
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday accused Syrian President Bashar Assad of stonewalling in peace talks and called on Russia to push its ally to negotiate with opposition leaders.
After UAW defeat, can GOP fulfill promise of jobs?
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Republicans fighting a yearslong unionization effort at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee painted a grim picture in the days leading up to last week's vote. They said if Chattanooga employees joined the United Auto Workers, jobs would go elsewhere and incentives for the company would disappear.
Pakistani polio strain threatens global campaign
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Just a few weeks ago, 11-month-old Shaista was pulling herself up, giggling as she took her first wobbly steps with the helping hand of her teenage mother.
Gay activist says she was detained at Olympics
SOCHI, Russia (AP) — An Italian gay-rights activist said she was detained by police at the Olympics after being stopped while carrying a rainbow flag that read in Russian: "Gay is OK." Police on Monday denied this happened.
NY fashion designer found dead in Hudson river
NEW YORK (AP) — Police have identified the body of a man found floating on the Manhattan side of the Hudson River as that of a fashion designer who was reported missing last week.
Thick fog causes delays at Sochi Olympics
KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Thick fog lingering over the mountains Monday caused the biggest weather disruptions of the Sochi Olympics so far, with a biathlon race and a snowboard event both postponed until Tuesday.
Italy's Renzi gets nod to form government
ROME (AP) — Italy's president asked the brash young leader of the Democratic Party, Matteo Renzi, to try to form a government Monday after Renzi engineered the sacking of the previous premier in a power grab within their party.
Snake-handling Ky. pastor dies from snake bite
MIDDLESBORO, Ky. (AP) — A snake-handling pastor who appeared on the National Geographic television reality show "Snake Salvation" has died after being bitten by a snake during a weekend church service in Kentucky.
No criminal wrongdoing in Schumacher ski accident
PARIS (AP) — French investigators have ruled out any criminal wrongdoing in the debilitating ski accident of Formula One great Michael Schumacher, a state prosecutor said Monday.
Ethiopian plane hijacked to Geneva by co-pilot
GENEVA (AP) — An Ethiopian Airlines co-pilot hijacked a plane bound for Rome on Monday and flew it to Geneva, where he wanted to seek asylum, officials said.
Irving, LeBron help East end its All-Star skid
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — LeBron James usually has his fun in June, when the Miami Heat have won NBA championships the last two years.
Fog causes weather delays at Sochi Olympics
KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — After days of warm weather at the Sochi Olympics, fog up in the mountains is causing an even bigger disturbance.
South Africa: rescued miners face charges
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African police say 11 miners who were trapped by debris in an abandoned mine shaft and later rescued face charges of illegal mining.
Augusta ice storm puts an end to Eisenhower Tree
The Eisenhower Tree, so much a part of Augusta National that not even a sitting U.S. president could have it taken down, was removed from the 17th hole this weekend because of damage from an ice storm, the club said Sunday.
Missing Nepal passenger plane found, no survivors
The plane was carrying 15 passengers, including an infant, and three crew members.
Jet stream shift could prompt harsher winters: scientists
A warmer Arctic could permanently affect the pattern of the high-altitude polar jet stream, resulting in longer and colder winters over North America and northern Europe, US scientists say. The jet stream, a ribbon of high altitude, high-speed wind in northern latitudes that blows from west to east, is formed when the cold Arctic air clashes with warmer air from further south. According to Jennifer Francis, a climate expert at Rutgers University, the Arctic air has warmed in recent years as a result of melting polar ice caps, meaning there is now less of a difference in temperatures when it hits air from lower latitudes. "The jet stream is a very fast moving river of air over our head," she said Saturday at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Romney: Bill Clinton 'embarrassed the nation'
But if Hillary Clinton becomes the 2016 nominee, she "will have plenty to discuss about her own record."
Obama: Anti-gay bill step backward for Ugandans
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — President Barack Obama warned Uganda Sunday over its plans to further criminalize homosexuality, saying it would "complicate our valued relationship."
Powerball estimated jackpot surges to $400M
Without a Powerball jackpot winner this weekend, the prize has climbed to $400 million.
