The mayor of Indonesia's second-largest city has officially shut down "Dolly," one of Southeast Asia's biggest red-light districts, but the world's oldest profession is still up and running despite warnings to stop.
Dolly — believed to have been named years ago after a colonial Dutch madam — was supposed to have closed June 18, but on the main drag, young women in skin-tight miniskirts and heels continue to lure guests into rooms lit only by faint red and pink lights.
Full Story
U.S. teams of special forces going into Iraq after a three-year gap will face an aggressive insurgency, a splintering military and a precarious political situation as they help Iraqi security forces improve their ability to battle Sunni militants.
The Army Green Berets, who are expected to make up much of the U.S. force, have been assessing and training other militaries for decades as a core part of their job. But while much of what they will be doing in Iraq will be familiar, it will be complicated by the stunning collapse of the Iraqi military, left leaderless by internal Sunni-Shiite divisions.
Full Story
The price of oil fell Tuesday as fears receded that the insurgency roiling Iraq would affect its oil production and exports.
Islamic militants have been steadily expanding their grip on the country's north, where they control a broad swath of territory. But the bulk of the country's production and export operations are in the south, which have so far been spared in this month's advance by the al-Qaeda inspired group. Iraq's daily oil production hit 3.5 million barrels this year, up from nearly 2.4 million a day in 2009.
Full Story
U.S. authorities have stressed that thousands of underage migrants rushing to make it into the United States, most of them from violent regions of Central America, will face deportation.
"While some might make asylum requests, I want to make very clear that asylum is very difficult to obtain. Very few people get asylum in the United States," Esther Olivarria, an adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, said Monday.
Full Story
Monaco's Prince Albert II isn't holding back the superlatives when he talks about the baby that his wife is expecting later this year — his first royal heir.
He told The Associated Press in an interview that he and Princess Charlene are "overjoyed," ''thrilled," and "very excited," and that the baby is due in December.
Full Story
After three games at the World Cup, it could come down to a lottery to decide which of two teams advances to the second round.
Because of their previous results in Brazil, and the quirks of the FIFA tiebreaker system, there's a possibility that Iran and Nigeria will face exactly that scenario after their last group games on Wednesday.
Full Story
Former U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur and 18th-seeded American Sloane Stephens were among the early losers Monday on the opening day of Wimbledon.
Stosur, the 17th-seeded Australian, fell in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to Belgium's Yanina Wickmeyer.
Full Story
AC Milan vice president Barbara Berlusconi has not ruled out selling Italy striker Mario Balotelli.
On Monday, Berlusconi sadi: "Balotelli is a great player but in my mind I don't believe that someone can be irreplaceable, we will see what happens."
Full Story
FIFA has banned Cameroon midfielder Alex Song for three games for elbowing Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic in the back during a 4-0 loss on Wednesday.
Song was already automatically suspended for Cameroon's final Group A match against Brazil on Monday.
Full Story
Mexico coach Miguel Herrera says he's happy to be lucky if that means advancing in the World Cup.
Mexico wraps up Group A play Monday against Croatia, whose star midfielder, Luka Modric, said Sunday that Mexico benefited from some luck in its scoreless draw with Brazil last week.
Full Story


