World
In advance of Monday's scheduled arrival of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad, Pakistan rounded up hundreds of opposition activists viewed as potential threats to the government of President Pervez Musharraf. Sharif, whose elected government was ousted by Musharraf's 1999 military takeover, has vowed to lead the people of Pakistan again.
In arrests that shocked Israel, eight young neo-Nazis who emigrated from the former Soviet Union and became Israeli citizens were placed in custody Sunday on charges that they committed a series of attacks on foreign workers, religious Jews, drug addicts, and gays.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for talks with his Taliban foes after his speech at a Kabul stadium was cut short when shots from an unknown source were fired outside. Karzai was whisked back to his palace unharmed. His speech commemorated the 2001 assassination of an anti-Taliban commander.
Iraq appealed to its neighbors during a day-long regional conference in Baghdad Sunday to prevent "terrorists and killers" from crossing into their country lest the violence spill over to other Middle East nations.
ETA, the Basque separatist group considered a terrorist organization by Spain, said in a published statement Sunday that it will continue its militant campaign until "democratic conditions" are achieved.
British couple Kate and Gerry McCann, whose 4-year-old daughter Madeleine disappeared May 3 during a family vacation in Portugal, flew home Sunday after being grilled by Portuguese police about new forensic evidence authorities believe ties them to the case.
Pope Benedict XVI concluded a three-day visit to Austria Sunday with a mass in central Vienna, where a gust caught his red cloak (above). During the trip, the pontiff appealed to thousands of Austrian Catholics who have renounced their church affiliations because of disillusionment with clergy sex scandals and a government-imposed church tax.
Shepherds from around the world, including an African woman (above), herded a flock of sheep through the streets of downtown Madrid Sunday as part of an annual protest urging protection for ancient grazing routes threatened by urban sprawl. Herdsmen use 78,000 miles of Spanish paths in seasonal livestock migrations.
At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney, Australia, leaders of the 21 member nations agreed to an "aspirational" goal for tackling climate change. Called a milestone by some and merely symbolic by others, the declaration is aimed at providing the impetus to complete long-running global trade talks, known as the Doha round. Negotiators moved closer to reaching a consensus on farm subsidies and tariffs.
Australia and Indonesia signed a deal Sunday to plant up to 100 million trees in an effort to restore Indonesia's vast deforested peat lands. By clearing the land to create rice fields, combustible material was left to burn during the dry season, leading to massive greenhouse- gas emissions.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said 108 countries have signed on to a plan to protect endangered livestock breeds. Although less popular with farmers than high-yield animals, endangered stocks of cattle, pigs, goats, horses, and poultry may be naturally suited to adapt to climate change, scientists believe.
Renewal of Japan's refueling mission in support of US-led antiterrorism operations in Afghanistan is expected to be a main topic of debate as the Japanese parliament convenes Monday. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he is ready to resign if parliament does not continue the Indian Ocean operation that Japan's Navy first undertook in 2001.
