President Barack Obama says the U.S. role in Afghanistan will shift to a support role later this spring and he will soon get recommendations from his top military advisers on U.S. troop drawdowns.

The new five euro bank note is "state of the art in terms of security and technology," the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi said during an unveiling ceremony in Frankfurt on Thursday (January 10).

Two Swiss trains collided on Thursday (January 10), injuring 17 people, none of them seriously, and closing the line near the German border, police said.

The worst snowstorm in 20 years brought Jerusalem to a standstill on Thursday (January 10).

Legislators in Kenya have voted themselves a hefty pay package in a late-evening vote on the last day of session before national elections.

An international consortium developing a major natural gas field in the Caspian Sea has agreed in principle to acquire 50 percent of the company operating the Nabucco pipeline, a major project to bring gas to Europe.

The pace of deadly fires in Australia has eased slightly-- but officials say that the threat is not over yet.

A European space telescope has captured new images of the huge asteroid Apophis, revealing that the potentially hazardous object is actually bigger than previously thought - and you have a chance to see the space rock yourself in two free webcasts tonight (January 9).

A trainee pilot has been praised for his cool handling of an emergency landing of his light plane, after a wheel fell off.

Unusually heavy winter rains forced the closure of main access routes to Tel Aviv on Tuesday (January 8), causing gridlock in and around Israel's commercial capital, authorities said.

Four horses ran wild against traffic on the national highway in Nuevo León, Mexico.

Asian stocks cooled off today as some investors sold shares to lock in profits following recent rallies.

Business is booming for the Japanese fish market with a sale of a single tuna clocking in at a whopping 1.7 million USD (155 million JPY) at the New Year opening tuna auction in Tokyo on Saturday (January 5).

French actor Gerard Depardieu flashed his new Russian passport for reporters on Sunday (January 6) minutes after getting off of a plane in the Russian city of Saransk.

Canadian who sheltered American hostages in Iran dies... China plunges to worst chills in 28 years... Pakistan accuses India of deadly cross-border raid... British Spitfire search team arrives in Myanmar... Syrian president to give speech Sunday... Reports: Indonesia police kill 5 alleged terrorists and Senior al-Qaida in N Africa member killed... Violence in Northern Ireland for 3rd day over flag... Libya authorities search for key security official

Merkel highlights economy in German election year... Salvaging crew ready Shell drill ship for tow attempt... Sudan, South Sudan agree to implement oil deal... WSJ says Hostess in talks to sell bread brands... Iran building software to control networking sites

Australia broke the Guinness World Record for the most number of burnouts happening at the same time.

Heavy rains triggered mudslides and flooding in Rio de Janeiro, leaving hundreds of residents homeless and at least one dead.

An American tourist believed to be in his 20s visiting from Los Angeles, Californian, fell one story through a glass and plasterboard wall at Surfers Paradise. Police say the incident may be an assault.

It's "cash only" now for tourists at the Vatican wanting to pay for museum tickets, souvenirs and other services after Italy's central bank decided to block electronic payments, including credit cards, at the tiny city state.

The government of the Bahamas says it has prepared a two-part referendum that could legalize certain forms of gambling on the islands.

A military judge has denied a request to allow television broadcast coverage of the Guantanamo Bay war crimes tribunal for five men charged in the Sept. 11 attacks.

A new Israeli law is taking on eating disorders. It bans underweight models from catwalks and commercials.

Around 400 NATO troops on Monday (December 31) attended a party at NATO's main headquarters in Kabul and celebrated New Year's Eve away from their families and friends on their mission in Afghanistan.

2008 was the last large scale fashion show of Hungary's most international haute couture designer, Kati Zoob.