In this image provided by the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica, the Turrialba volcano emits an ash-filled gas plume in Costa Rica, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Park rangers activated a green alert, the lowest of three levels, after the Turrialba volcano rumbled loudly and emitted thick clouds of ash.

Costa Rican volcano spews ash, smoke

Scientists say one of Costa Rica's largest volcanos is spewing clouds of ash and gas, setting off a small-scale evacuation.

Opposition in Burkina Faso vow to fight Senate law

Opposition parties walked out of a meeting in parliament this week in protest over the creation of a Senate. The opposition claims the Senate is a backhanded way for the ruling party to stay in power in the event of the death in office of President Blaise Compaore.

El Salvador's ambassador to the Holy See Manuel Lopez poses next to a brochure of slain Archbishop Oscar Romero at the end of an interview with the Associated Press, in the embassy's office, in Rome, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. El Salvador's president Mauricio Funes meets with Pope Francis on Thursday amid mounting indications that the stars have finally aligned to move slain Archbishop Oscar Romero onto the first key stage on the path toward possible sainthood. El Salvador now has a government made up of former guerilla fighters who battled the same military hierarchy that Romero denounced and support his beatification. The Vatican now has a Latin American pope who channels many of Romero's concerns for the poor and marginalized. And a generation of Salvadorans who would have been vehemently opposed to a church honor for Romero has passed. President Funes' "principal objective" in his whirlwind, one-day trip to see Francis is to encourage "a push" for Romero's beatification and to thank Francis for the support he has already shown, El Salvador's ambassador to the Holy See, Manuel Lopez, told The Associated Press.

El Salvador president meets pope amid Romero hopes

El Salvador's president meets with Pope Francis on Thursday amid mounting indications that the stars have finally aligned to beatify assassinated Archbishop Oscar Romero. Photo Gallery Available

A Pallbearer stands by the coffin of author Chinua Achebe on stage, as part of an event in Awka, Nigeria, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. People gathered Wednesday to celebrate the life of author Chinua Achebe, who died in March at the age of 82. His family plans to bury the literary icon Thursday in his home village of Ogidi.

AP PHOTOS: Nigeria prepares to bury writer Achebe

Writer Chinua Achebe, whose works focused on the conflict between modernity and the way of life in rural Nigeria, has returned home for the final time. Photo Gallery Available

FILE - In this March 24, 1977 file photo, Gen. Jorge Rafael Videla is seen commemorating the first anniversary of the military coup in Asuncion, Argentina. The former Argentine dictator died of natural causes Friday, May 17, 2013, while serving life sentences at the Marcos Paz prison for crimes against humanity. Videla took power in a 1976 coup and led a military junta that killed thousands of his fellow citizens in a dirty war to eliminate "subversives." He was 87.

Argentine dictator Videla's burial protested

Argentines in the hometown of former dictator Jorge Rafael Videla are upset at the prospect that he may be buried there. 1369259755 Photo Gallery Available

Bahrain opposition group snubs crisis talks

Bahrain's main Shiite opposition group says it will temporarily boycott talks aimed at easing the Gulf nation's more than two-year unrest because of increased crackdowns by security forces.

Israeli air force chief warns of Syrian attacks

Israel's air force chief warned Wednesday that tensions with Syria could escalate into a "surprise war" and that Israel needs to be ready.

Artillery Place road is closed in Woolwich southeast London near the scene where British officials said one person has died and at least two people have been wounded in an attack on Wednesday May 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Nick Ansell/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE

Brutal attack in London heightens terror fears

Two men with butcher knives hacked another to death Wednesday near a London military barracks and one then went on video to explain the crime - shouting political statements, gesturing with bloodied hands and waving a meat cleaver. Soon after, arriving police shot and wounded the unidentified assailants and took them into custody. 1369272338 Photo Gallery Available

Ousted premier seeks return to power in Cayman

A former Cayman Islands premier who faces 11 criminal charges and was ousted from leadership last year is heading into Thursday's general elections with an outside chance of returning to power in the British Overseas Territory.

'Boom Town Baby': African stock markets see gains

The barrage of hourly tweets sent out by Aly-Khan Satchu - East Africa's version of CNBC's Mad Money host Jim Cramer - cheers on what Satchu says is a growing sentiment among investors: If you're not investing in Africa, you should be. Or as Satchu loudly proclaims on his Twitter feed or newspaper column: "ITS BOOM TOWN BABY."

Bahrain claims Iranian drone found

Bahrain's Interior Ministry says an Iranian drone has been found in the strategic Gulf kingdom that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the chancellery, in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Germans, French eye plan to create jobs for young

Germany and France are preparing to launch a drive to combat the problem of high European youth unemployment, which officials in Berlin say will center on trying to get business involved and make better use of already-pledged public money. Photo Gallery Available

Polio cases found in Kenya and Somalia, WHO says

The World Health Organization says the Horn of Africa is experiencing an outbreak of polio with cases confirmed in Kenya and Somalia.

An Afghan policeman sits on a wall on a mountain overlooking Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, May, 22, 2013.

Afghanistan: Suicide bomb kills anti-Taliban elder

A suicide bomber on foot killed an anti-Taliban village elder and at least three other people in a busy marketplace Wednesday in central Afghanistan, the latest in a wave of assassinations and bombings.

Malawi finds buyer for presidential jet

Malawi's cost-cutting president is selling her predecessor's jet.

Pope issues first appeal for Chinese Catholics

Pope Francis has issued his first appeal directed at Catholics in China, long the source of concern for his predecessor Benedict XVI.

Russian drunk driver who killed orphans sentenced

A Russian drunken driver who sparked a nationwide debate after killing seven, including five orphan children, in a road accident last year has been sentenced to prison.

African Union celebrates 50th year

African nations this week mark the 50th year since the founding of a continentwide organization that spearheaded efforts to liberate Africa from colonial masters. Now leaders want to map out the next 50 years of political and economic integration.

Vienna official: Looted Nazi goods returned

An official for the city of Vienna says the Austrian capital has handed over nearly 6,000 valuable objects looted by the Nazis to their rightful owners or their heirs since it started taking inventory of them 14 years ago.

Zimbabwe's president signs new constitution

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday signed into law a new constitution and vowed to hold peaceful and clean elections later this year.

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