An effort by the F.H.A. to prop up real estate prices amid rising defaults has put taxpayers at risk.

KABUL (AP) -- A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle killed 16 people, including two children and a policeman, and wounded at least 23 others Friday in a busy city square in western Afghanistan, officials said.

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands (AP) -- A gunman went on a rampage on the Pacific resort island of Saipan on Friday, killing four people and wounding six others before fatally shooting himself, officials said.

In Rome, the archbishop of Canterbury called for clarity on the future of Catholic-Anglican dialogue.

Secret scholarships to study in China that were awarded to the offspring of top officials in Namibia have angered the public there.

The story of a deadly fire in Woodside, Queens, illustrates how dangerous, illegal apartments remain common.

SEOUL (Reuters) - At least four people were shot dead and six South Korean visitors wounded when a gunman fired into a crowd of tourists on the resort island of Saipan, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Advocating civil disobedience to resist laws compelling institutions to perform abortion or recognize unions.

Senator Harry Reid scheduled the first crucial procedural vote on the major health care legislation for Saturday, after what is expected to be two marathon days of debate.

The Michigan Wolverines, who play rival Ohio State on Saturday, are 1-6 in the Big Ten and could have their first two consecutive losing seasons since 1963.

The recent unpopularity of President Asif Ali Zardari and resentment of America follow a familiar script.

Prior to a climate change meeting scheduled for Copenhagen, industrialized countries, except the United States, are offering targets to curb greenhouse gases.

The commander of military forces protecting North America has ordered a review of the costly air defenses intended to prevent another Sept. 11-style terrorism attack.

At hearings on Thursday, some senators characterized the suspect as a homegrown extremist who slipped past law enforcement and military authorities.

The country is modernizing rapidly, sometimes too fast, but this spectacular old region still endures.

The former mayor had been viewed as a potentially strong challenger to Gov. David A. Paterson in 2010.

New York’s latest large-scale public art project is being exhibited in an unlikely space: the backs of millions of MetroCards.

Rejecting warnings by the Obama administration, a committee approved a plan by Rep. Ron Paul to carry out sweeping new audits of the central bank’s policy decisions and operations.

Jeanne-Claude worked with her husband, Christo, on dozens of environmental arts projects, including “The Gates” in Central Park in 2005.

National leaders of the European Union picked Herman Van Rompuy for the new presidency and Catherine Ashton of Britain for its foreign policy post.