June 23, 2016 Colombia's half-century conflict at a glance A look at Colombia's half-century guerrilla conflict: HOW IT STARTED The 1948 assassination of populist firebrand Jorge Eliecer Gaitan led to a political bloodletting known as "La Violencia," or "The Violence." Tens of thousands died, and peasant groups joined with communists to arm themselves.
June 23, 2016 Pakistan province gives $3 million to Taliban-linked school A Pakistani provincial minister says his local government has allocated $3 million to a Taliban-linked seminary in the region, along the border with Afghanistan.
June 23, 2016 Mexican government meets with radical teachers' union Leaders of a radical teachers union have held an initial meeting with Mexican government representatives to try to defuse tensions after eight people died in clashes in the southern state of Oaxaca.
June 23, 2016 Abortion pill requests spike in Zika outbreak countries NEW YORK (AP) -- Online requests for abortion pills spiked dramatically this year in Brazil, Ecuador and some other Latin American countries that ban abortions, an indication that women may be choosing to end pregnancies rather than risk birth defects stemming from a Zika virus outbreak.
June 23, 2016 Brazil budget crisis slows supercomputer from studying Zika Scientists will have to do without an ally in the race to combat the Zika virus.
June 23, 2016 Pope travels to Armenia after genocide flap and new tensions Pope Francis is making his first foray into the former Soviet Union with a weekend visit to Armenia, a year after he riled Turkey by declaring the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians genocide and amid fresh tensions with rival Azerbaijan.
June 23, 2016 Islamic State militants push back in Syria, Iraq and Libya Even as internationally backed forces chip away at Islamic State-held territory in Syria, Iraq and Libya, the militants have demonstrated a stubborn resilience this week in the face of recent losses.
June 23, 2016 Police: Inmates take guard hostage in Quebec courthouse Quebec's Public Security Department says inmates have taken a female security guard hostage in the basement of a courthouse in a northern town.
June 23, 2016 US and Japan request urgent UN meeting on North Korea launch The United States and Japan have requested an urgent meeting of the U.N.
June 23, 2016 Panama Canal to open amid shipping downturn The $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama canal is set to open Sunday at a difficult moment for the international commercial shipping market.
