AP Interview: Libya wants to invest billions in US Libya wants to open a new chapter in relations with the United States by investing some of its $100 billion sovereign wealth fund in U.S.

Iraqi Shiites burn Bush effigy in anti-US protestIraqi Shiites burn Bush effigy in anti-US protest Chanting "no to America," supporters of a radical Shiite cleric burned an effigy of President George W.

Bulgarian archaeologists unearth ancient chariotBulgarian archaeologists unearth ancient chariot Archaeologists have unearthed an elaborately decorated 1,800-year-old chariot sheathed in bronze at an ancient Thracian tomb in southeastern Bulgaria, the head of the excavation said Friday.

Myanmar court hands comedian 45-year prison term Myanmar's courts continued a crackdown on activists Friday, handing out a 45-year prison sentence to a comedian who went to the delta to help cyclone victims and criticized the junta's slow relief

Mexico: Former drug czar took cartel money Mexico's former drug czar was accused Friday of taking $450,000 from a powerful cartel, further evidence the country's drug gangs are being protected by the highest levels of government.

European library site crashes hours after launch European culture went digital—but it only lasted a day.

Iraqi Shiites burn Bush effigy to protest US pactIraqi Shiites burn Bush effigy to protest US pact Thousands of followers of a radical Shiite cleric protested a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security deal Friday, burning an effigy of President George W.

Kenya: Somali pirates make $150M in a year Kenya's foreign minister says Somali pirates have collected more than $150 million in ransoms over the past year.

China: 19,000 victims identified from May quake A little over a quarter of the 70,000 people who died in a massive earthquake that struck Sichuan province in May have been identified, a Chinese official said Friday, as authorities rushed to prep

Shiites in Baghdad protest planned US-Iraq pact Thousands of protesters have converged on a central square in Baghdad for a mass prayer called by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in protest of a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security pact.

Mexico: Ex-drug czar allegedly took cartel money Mexico accused its former drug czar Friday of taking $450,000 from a cartel he was supposed to destroy, going public with a scandal that deals a serious blow to the country's U.S.-backed drug war.<

Congo refugees suffer shooting, rape, lootingCongo refugees suffer shooting, rape, looting Looting soldiers tried to rape one woman and fatally shot another at a refugee camp, witnesses said Friday, as the United Nations prepared to send more peacekeepers to help protect traumatized civi

Tibetan exiles debate the future of the movementTibetan exiles debate the future of the movement Out of the hundreds of Tibetan leaders who have flocked here for a pivotal summit on Tibet's future, few understand the hardships there better than a recently arrived barley farmer.

UN: Congo refugees suffer shooting, rape, lootingUN: Congo refugees suffer shooting, rape, looting Shootings, looting and rape plague the already desperate lives of refugees in eastern Congo, where people caught between soldiers and rebels live in constant fear, U.N. officials said Friday.

Bulgarian archaeologists discover ancient chariot Archaeologists have unearthed a well-preserved 1,800-year-old bronze chariot at an ancient Thracian tomb in southeastern Bulgaria, the head of the excavation said Friday.

Islamists say they'll fight Somali pirates A fighter with a radical Islamic group in Somalia says it will go after the pirates holding a Saudi supertanker.

Bush effigy burned in anti-US protest in BaghdadBush effigy burned in anti-US protest in Baghdad Followers of a Shiite cleric on Friday stomped on and burned an effigy of President George W.

Rocket hits Israeli town, Gaza still sealed Israeli police say Palestinian militants have fired a rocket at an Israeli town near the Gaza Strip. No casualties have been reported.

Blast kills 8 mourners at Pakistani funeralBlast kills 8 mourners at Pakistani funeral A blast killed at least eight mourners Friday at the funeral of a Shiite cleric in northwestern Pakistan who was gunned down hours earlier, police said. At least 28 others were wounded.

Chinese official corrects figure on quake deaths A Chinese official says 19,065 of the people who died in May's massive earthquake in Sichuan province have been identified.

Unusual or Off-Beat

Venerable Texas cowboy boot maker hit by $3M theft A truck-driving thief made off with more than $3 million worth of merchandise from a venerable maker of cowboy boots and other footwear, authorities said.

Cops: Man steals woman's rings after grabbing dog Police are looking for a man they say stole two rings worth nearly $25,000 from a woman after grabbing her dog.

Bus driver accused of braking hard to topple pupil A school bus driver will be charged with endangering a 10-year-old boy for intentionally braking suddenly so the boy would fall down, police said.

Robber apologizes during Vt. general store holdup A thief who robbed a general store apologized to the owner and left the singles behind so workers on the next shift would have something in the till.

Man says cell phone saved him from stray bullet R.J. Richard says he doesn't normally put his cell phone in his chest pocket. But he says it saved his life the one time he did.