In Indonesia's shrinking forests, a glimmer of hope
A test case for a carbon-trading plan may be set in a province where deforestation had been proceeding at a breakneck pace.

In another setback, China recalls toy paint
A face-and-body paint made in China that Hong Kong authorities say poses a high risk of poisoning children was withdrawn from the market Wednesday.

In Havana, a patchwork of restoration thanks to historian's 40-year campaign
While much of Cuba's infrastructure has crumbled, official historian Eusebio Leal Spengler has rebuilt and refurbished many buildings in Old Havana.

Iran's allies expect less pressure over Tehran's nuclear program
Chinese and Russian officials indicated Wednesday that the sudden U.S. downgrading of the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear program might lessen pressure for new sanctions.
- U.S. intelligence reports: The struggle to get it right
- Line between 'civilian' and 'military' nuclear programs is a thin one

OPEC keeps oil output unchanged
World oil stocks are sufficient and there is no reason for oil prices to hit $100 a barrel, Abdalla Salem El-Badri, OPEC's secretary general, said Wednesday.

Car bombs kill at least 23 in Iraq as Gates meets leaders
The attacks served as a vicious reminder that the months-long decline in daily violence was not a sure harbinger of any kind of lasting peace.
- Gates said to oppose shift of marines to Afghanistan
- A calmer Iraq: Fragile, and possibly fleeting

High income taxes in Denmark worsen a labor shortage
With a top tax rate of 63%, companies find it hard to keep talented Danes at home or to attract professionals from abroad.

Shuttle to add European laboratory to space station
Atlantis is poised for a launching to the International Space Station on Thursday on an 11-day mission that will make the orbital outpost more international.

Russia complains about U.S. proposals on missile shield
Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, accused the United States of a "serious rollback" in its proposals for cooperation with Russia.
- Russia sends aircraft carrier group to Mediterranean

German court convicts three men of aiding Al Qaeda
Prosecutors said one of the men convicted Wednesday was part of Al Qaeda's command structure and had contact with top leaders.

Man declared dead reappears in U.K.
Looking tanned, fit and healthy, John Darwin, who disappeared in 2002, walked into a police station in London on Saturday, claiming to have no idea what he had been doing all this time.

Does building new roads help or hurt global warming?
New roads can benefit the environment by removing bottlenecks, but long-term they also tend to increase traffic.

How a long campaign robs voters of time
It is easy enough to say the American election campaign lasts too long and starts too early. After all, candidates start seeking their parties' nominations two years before Election Day.
- Clinton volunteer coordinator resigns over e-mail claiming Obama is Muslim

A dying turtle breed points to a battered China
A male and a female turtle, believed to be the last of their species, symbolize China's threatened state of wildlife and biodiversity.

The End User: Stop Internet fraud before it costs you
Shopping online this holiday season? Its convenience is compromised by one critical drawback: fraud, in the form of stolen credit card numbers or bank account information. How to avoid the risks.