Iran talks failure sparks confrontation fears
VIENNA/TEHRAN (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest mission to Iran failed to budge a defiant Tehran over its disputed nuclear program, sending oil prices to a nine-month high over fears of an increasing risk of confrontation with the West.

Taliban urge Afghans to kill "invaders" amid new Koran protests
KABUL (Reuters) - The Taliban urged Afghans on Thursday to target foreign military bases and kill Westerners in retaliation for burnings of copies of the Koran at NATO's main base in the country as a third day of violent protests began.

Baghdad bombings kill at least 20
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Car bombs struck across Baghdad Thursday, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens, in the latest wave of attacks on the Iraqi capital since a political crisis erupted in December, security officials said.

Bomb kills 13 at Pakistani bus station
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - A bomb exploded at a bus station in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Thursday, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens, police and emergency officials said.

Australian PM Gillard calls for leadership vote
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dared her political rival, former foreign minister Kevin Rudd, to challenge her in a leadership vote next week, hoping to end infighting that threatens to sink the minority government and its reform agenda.

Philippines' Arroyo pleads not guilty in poll fraud trial
MANILA (Reuters) - Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pleaded not guilty on Thursday to electoral fraud on the first day of a trial seen as a landmark test of the government's ability to tackle entrenched corruption in the Southeast Asian nation.

Assad forces renew barrage on Syria's Homs
AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces rained rockets and bombs down on opposition-held neighborhoods of the city of Homs, reducing buildings to rubble and killing more than 80 people, including two Western journalists.

Putin praises Cold War moles for stealing U.S. nuclear secrets
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin praised Cold War-era scientists on Thursday for stealing U.S. nuclear secrets so that United States would not be the world's sole atomic power, in comments reflecting his vision of Russia as a counterweight to U.S. power.

Argentine commuter train crashes, killing 49 people
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A packed commuter train crashed at a Buenos Aires station during Wednesday's morning rush hour, killing 49 people and injuring more than 600 in Argentina's worst rail disaster in three decades.

Chavez surgery rocks Venezuela ahead of election
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's imminent departure for more cancer surgery in Cuba has thrown his re-election campaign into uncertainty and once again shaken the socialist leader's passionate supporters.