Guatemalan High Court Rewinds the Country's First Genocide Conviction

AP

Guatemalan dictator José Efraín Ríos Montt, convicted of committing acts of genocide earlier this month, will not be headed to prison. For the time being he'll return to house arrest, after the country's highest court ordered a restart to his trial.

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 18, 2013

The Syrian Rebels' New Prime Minister Is a Texan

It's hard to decide how Ghassan Hitto's recent election as interim prime minister of the Syrian opposition will play out in the near future, but the United States must be a little bit pumped. Or at least optimistic.

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 18, 2013

11 Years Later, an Arrest Has Been Made in Daniel Pearl's Death

In February 2002, Wall Street Journal corespondent Daniel Pearl was killed after spending a month in captivity with Pakistani terrorists. In March 2013, someone was finally arrested in connection with his death.

Comments | 2,414 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 17, 2013

CNN's Not the Only One Peddling Sympathy for the Steubenville Rapists

As expected, the Internet lit up after the judge announced the guilty verdict in the Steubenville rape trial. As expected, some reactions were just awful. Unexpectedly, one of them came from CNN.

Comments | 68,390 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 17, 2013

This Is What St. Patrick's Day Really Looks Like

While most of the world is either face down or bleary-eyed by now, the rest of us are still stone cold sober and sitting straight up. Which is to say that some are celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Sunday and some are not. For the rest of us, this is what the holiday really looks like. 

Comments | 6,461 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 17, 2013

Don't Look Now but the Pope Is Tweeting Again

Your social media mess is blessed again. Amid a tour of firsts, the newly installed Pope Francis has finally fired up the Pontifex Twitter account since it was scrubbed and reset after Benedict stepped down. 

Comments | 3,276 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 16, 2013

How Pope Francis Got a Little Help from a Friend When Deciding His New Name

Pope Francis I held his first audience with reporters Saturday morning since surprising everyone Wednesday as the choice to succeed departing Benedict as new Pope. He seemed to dazzle reporters with his humility and humor. Oh, one other thing: he really wants the church to go broke. 

Comments | 3,449 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 16, 2013

Swiss Cycling Tourist Gang Raped In India

Three months after the death of a 23-year-old gang rape victim shocked India, a Swiss tourist who was brutally attacked and gang-raped in front of her husband is the latest in a long line of terrible attacks contributing to the country's "rape problem." 

Comments | 5,929 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 16, 2013

Rupert Murdoch's Phone Hacking Headache Won't Go Away Until (At Least) 2015

Just when you thought News International chief Rupert "Teflon Don" Murdoch might be powerful enough to beat the case, a suspect turned snitch is lighting a new fire under Murdoch's 2011 nightmares.

Comments | 345 Views

By Sara Morrison

Mar 15, 2013

Alaska Will Guard Us Against North Korea

The land once governed by Sarah Palin may yet yield more riches: protection from North Korea's likely nonexistent nuclear missiles. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced on Friday that the Pentagon is adding 14 missile-interceptors to Alaska's Fort Greely base at the cost of about $1 billion, pending Congressional approval.

Comments | 1,724 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 15, 2013

Pope Francis Can't Escape Argentina's Dark Past

The world is still learning much about the life and history of Pope Francis, and now the Vatican finds itself having to directly confront the most troubling story from his early life in Argentina.

Comments | 1,724 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 15, 2013

Chinese Police Detain British Reporter, Live, on Camera, in Tiananmen Square

Sky News' Mark Stone was in the middle of discussing efforts to ensure as little controversy as possible when he referred to the June 1989 protests. Then police stepped in, loaded him into a van, and transported him into the Forbidden City.

Comments | 517 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 15, 2013

North Korea Test-Fires Missiles and Fails to Provoke Much of Anybody

At a time of heightened awareness — and with U.S. and South Korean militaries in the middle of war games — North Korea has apparently decided that now would be the perfect time to start testing missiles.

Comments | 3,195 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 15, 2013

North Korea Complains of Cyberattacks From the U.S.

In the ongoing international spat over which country deploys the most evil cyber hackers, North Korea is lobbing accusations that the United States and South Korea took down the nation's webservers.

Comments | 336 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 15, 2013

How a Broken Heart Led a Young Man to Become the Pope

A woman in Argentina says that her rejection of a young male suitor more than 60 years ago, drove the heartsick boy to join the priesthood. Oh, and his name just happened to be Jorge Bergoglio.

Comments | 4,483 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 14, 2013

Archaeologists Just Found Another British Noble Buried Under a Parking Lot

There's a sad lesson about urban planning in the trend of major archaeological finds turning up under parking lots in the United Kingdom. Or maybe it's a happy lesson. It's hard to tell.

Comments | 3,966 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 14, 2013

Russia and Iran Prop Up Syria's War Machine, and Tell the West to Butt Out

While Europe and the U.S. hem-and-haw about finding ways to support Syria's rebel army — and get threatened for even considering it — Iran appears to have no reservations about funneling money to their enemies.

Comments | 3,621 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 14, 2013

Is Francis the Most Humble Pope Ever?

Catholics are learning all kinds of fun new tidbits about the new Holy Father, and we're also starting to notice a pattern developing.

Comments | 5,244 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 14, 2013

Attention, World: China Elected a New Leader, Too

As you are aware, the 1.2 billion members of the Catholic Church on Wednesday identified a new leader. You may not have heard, however, that the 1.3 billion citizens of China did as well, and just a few hours later.

Comments | 1,379 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 14, 2013

Did Hugo Chavez Tell Jesus to Pick a South American Pope?

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was accused of rigging plenty of elections in his day, but his successor thinks he might have also decided one very important vote from beyond the grave. 

Comments | 1,501 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 13, 2013

Argentina's Congress Skipped Pope Francis's First Address to Honor Hugo Chavez

The Argentine Chamber of Deputies got into a little scuffle on Wednesday afternoon after Jorge Mario Bergoglio was named Pope Francis. Weird, right? You'd think they'd be celebrating.

Comments | 1,724 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Mar 13, 2013

Stat of the Day

After Catholicism Reached South America, It Took 520 Years for a South American to Reach the Papacy

Today's election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to the papacy is notable for two big reasons: he's the first non-European, and the first ordained member of the Society of Jesus, to occupy the highest seat of the Roman Catholic Church, both of which upend millennia of precedent.

Comments | 172 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Mar 13, 2013

A Strange Day to Be Named Francis Pope

As Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio emerged Wednesday at a joyous Vatican and took the papal name Francis, there was no joy on Facebook for guys with the name Francis Pope — or Frank Pope, for that matter. We got in touch with one, and he's used to it.

Comments | 2,931 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 13, 2013

Look at All These Happy Catholics at the Vatican on the Day of White Smoke

As the world began to meet Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 76-year-old virgin and Argentine Jesuit Cardinal with one lung who will be known as Pope Francis I, Catholics everywhere jumped and cried for joy. Here's the tale of celebration in St. Peter's Square, from smoke to wave.

Comments | 690 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 13, 2013

Meet Jorge Bergoglio, Pope Francis

After five ballots and just over a day, the 115 cardinal electors have selected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new successor to the Apostle Peter and head of the Catholic Church. He will assume the papal name Francis. Here's what you need to know.

Comments | 13,277 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 13, 2013

HABEMUS PAPAM — Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio Becomes Pope Francis

The papal conclave has concluded and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina is now the first Latin American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

Comments | 70,821 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 13, 2013

Dennis Rodman Arrives at Vatican on an Important Mission for Gambling Website

As threatened, Dennis Rodman has arrived in Rome, on a mission to promote world peace endorse a candidate for the papacy plug a website.

Comments | 1,724 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 13, 2013

The Dutch Are Worried the Syrian War Is Headed Their Way

The government of the Netherlands raised its terror threat level to "substantial" today, amid fears that terrorists trained in Syria will try to disrupt the coronation of their new king.

Comments | 690 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 13, 2013

North Korea's Sexism and Absurdity Are Progress for Its Propaganda, Sadly

The country's propaganda campaign against its neighbors and America continues to ratchet up — it's now calling the brand-new president of South Korea a nagging "prostitute," and it may have released another anti-U.S. video — but that's actually a mild improvement.

Comments | 1,819 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 13, 2013

3,000 More Dead Pigs Won't Make the Huangpu River Any Worse

Some 3,000 more decomposing pigs have been found in the river near Shanghai since Monday, bringing the number to about 6,000 dead hogs, but authorities claim that water is just fine.

Comments | 3,104 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 13, 2013

Ukraine Might Have Trained 'Killer' Dolphins That Might Have Escaped

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is denying the report that they've restarted their Cold War-era dolphin-training program and that three of their prized "killer" dolphins have escaped in search of sex.

Comments | 18,987 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos and Matt Sullivan

Mar 13, 2013

Enter the Trial in Steubenville, Where the Cast Is Not Merely Football Players

The spotlight returns to Ohio on Wednesday, and there's a new judge as hackers have returned, the 16-year-old alleged victim might testify after all, her friends can now testify against her, and the suspects are already speaking out.

Comments | 48,797 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Mar 12, 2013

Chart of the Day

What's in a Pope's New Name?

There was no new pope on Day One of the conclave at the Vatican, although there should be one soon. So what will his name be? Here's a look at the frontrunners, based on popularity over time.

Comments | 1,379 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 12, 2013

And Today's Vatican Smoke Color Is... Black!

The results of the first papal conclave vote are in and ... we still don't have a pope. 

Comments | 3,966 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 12, 2013

The Favorite to Become the Next Pope Might Have Mafia Ties

If the papal conclave were set up like college basketball's March Madness, Cardinal Angelo Scola would have been a No. 1 seed — until today's anti-mafia investigation caught up with him.

Comments | 12,308 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 12, 2013

How Long the Pope Vote Might Last, According to 900 Years of Data

An electoral process that's been around for over 1,000 years provides a lot of data. For those of you interested in historical trends, or those of you betting on voting results, here's the numeric breakdown of what past conclaves have offered.

Comments | 4,138 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 12, 2013

Dennis Rodman Is Rushing to Rome to Hang Out with the New Pope

Fresh off of his success luring the Korean peninsula back to the brink of war, basketball star and self-appointed diplomat Dennis Rodman has decided on his next mission for the greater good of mankind: meeting the new pope.

Comments | 2,242 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 12, 2013

Here's How the Papal Conclave Will Go Down

In just a matter of hours, the College of Cardinals will gather to cast their first vote on a new pope, but don't expect a winner to be chosen today.

Comments | 6,552 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 12, 2013

This Is How Kim Jong-Un Gets Pumped Up for War

With North Korea continuing to agitating things with their enemies to the South, Kim Jong-un is doing his best to prepare his troops to break some waists.

Comments | 21,586 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 11, 2013

The Gay Cardinal Meme Is Not Going Away Any Time Soon

With the papal conclave arriving, the College of Cardinals must not have been pleased as reports circulated that the Vatican shared a block with Italy's top gay sauna. It's just the latest in a brand of secrecy that's let the conspiracy theorists run rampant.

Comments | 8,882 Views

How Your Papal Conclave News Gets Made

Can it possibly be believed that these TV and newspaper reporters, being dropped by parachute into Vatican City, hanging around near (but never really among) the cardinal electors, can in a few days time make friends and forge alliances with sources that are likely to deliver them credible news?

Comments | 3,966 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 11, 2013

The Superbug Scare Is This Bad

There's reason to believe that a drug-resistant bacteria could be a "catastrophic" health crisis, especially given the lack of a response plan and especially for older people in the United States. No location is exactly safe, but before you freak out, here's some much needed context.

Comments | 13,017 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Mar 11, 2013

The Long, Dark History of the Russian Ballet

In this week's New Yorker, David Remnick takes us behind the scenes of the Bolshoi, the institution at the center of the acid-throwing attack, revealing that, behind all the pirouettes, there has long been strife that mirrors Russian society.

Comments | 1,552 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 11, 2013

How to Run for Pope

The papal election begins tomorrow, but just because the vote is done in secret, that doesn't mean there isn't a campaign.

Comments | 3,104 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 11, 2013

Hagel Speaks Out on Taliban Collusion as Afghan Shootings Go Both Ways

An attack at a police station in Afghanistan's Wardak province that reportedly killed two American soldiers is only the most recent challenge faced by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel as he visits the country — including accusations that the U.S. is conspiring with the Taliban.

Comments | 517 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 11, 2013

Meanwhile in China, 3,000 Decomposing Pigs Were Found in Shanghai's Drinking Water

No one knows how over 2,800 rotting pigs got into Shanghai's Huangpu river, but we do know that it also happens to be a source of drinking water for the city's 23 million citizens.

Comments | 2,069 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 11, 2013

Iran Does Not Approve of Ahmadinejad Hugging Hugo Chavez's Mom

It's just a friend consoling his friend's mother at a funeral, but to Iran's religious conservatives this was a grave offense.

Comments | 11,207 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 11, 2013

North Korea Shuts Off Their Emergency Hotline to Seoul

After last week's threat to call off their armistice with South Korea, officials disconnected the hotline built to avert disaster.

Comments | 3,708 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 11, 2013

India Gang Rape Suspect Dies In Jail, but Was It Suicide or Murder?

The alleged leader of the brutal and widely-publicized Delhi gang rape that killed 23-year-old Jyoti Singh Pandey was found dead in in his cell on Monday morning, but his family isn't buying the official story

Comments | 1,708 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 10, 2013

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Kicks Off Presidential Campaign with Conspiracy Theories

Henrique Capriles, the 40-year-old politician who lost the Venezuelan presidential election to Hugo Chávez last October, did something bold and entered the race to succeed the legendary leader on Sunday.

Comments | 2,432 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 10, 2013

Framing Itself as a Victim, China Calls for a Global Crackdown on Hackers

In between swipes at the United States, China's foreign minister Yang Jiechi called for new "rules and cooperation" against cyber attacks at the annual session of the National People's Congress this weekend.

Comments | 2,242 Views

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