The fate of Iran’s Islamic revolution now rests in the hands of an enigmatic cleric who is little understood at home, let alone by the outside world. For the past 20 years, pictures of Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, with his oversize glasses, black turban and untrimmed white beard, have adorned shops, government offices and living-room walls throughout Iran. His modest childhood home in Mashhad has become a virtual shrine, his edicts are binding and his powers absolute
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Guinea-Bissau killings raise coup fears
Two high-profile political officials linked to Guinea-Bissau’s recently assassinated president were killed Friday, according to a statement from the West African country’s interim army chief. The killings raised fears that a military coup may be under way
Study: Early Therapy Can Save Teens from Depression
Depression is one of the dark demons of adolescence. Up to 1 in 12 American teenagers is affected, according to the National Institute of Mental Health , and three times as many will experience depression at some point by age 18. Studies show that at least 20% of teenagers with clinical depression will go on to develop chronic cases that will haunt them throughout adulthood.
Obama to reach out to Muslim world with Mideast trip
President Obama will arrive in Saudi Arabia Wednesday, his first stop on a Middle East trip that will include a major speech intended to repair a damaged U.S. image
Who is Sonia Sotomayor?
Judge Sonia Sotomayor is touted by supporters as a justice with bipartisan favor and historic appeal.
Obama to name Sotomayor as Supreme Court nominee
President Obama has chosen federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee for the U.S.
Sri Lankan president says civil war in ‘final phase’
Sri Lanka’s quarter-century-long civil war is in its final phase, the government suggested Friday, as its troops pounded Tamil Tiger rebels in the country’s north.
Former Mexican president calls for legalizing marijuana
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox has joined three other ex-leaders of Latin American nations calling for the decriminalization of marijuana. Fox, who was Mexico’s president from 2000 to 2006, said the current policy is clearly not working. “I believe it’s time to open the debate over legalizing drugs,” he told CNN on Tuesday.
Former ‘Top Gun’ leads Hubble repair mission
So, what’s harder, steering a space shuttle or out-machoing Tom Cruise on the set of "Top Gun"? Scott Altman laughs when he answers the question. “Flying a space shuttle is a little more challenging than what we did in the movie, although the flying was a lot of fun,” said Altman, who knows more than a little about both.
With exit deadline looming, U.S. battles insurgents in Mosul
As the deadline nears for U.S. troops to exit major Iraqi cities, units in Mosul are in the midst of a months-long operation to sweep out extremist fighters.