The chief judge formally charged Saddam Hussein on Monday with crimes against humanity, including torture of women and children, murder and the illegal arrest of 399 people in a crackdown against Shiites in the 1980s. A defiant Saddam refused to enter a plea. Read more…

The U.S. military on Monday announced the deaths of four American troops, including two soldiers who were killed when insurgents shot down their helicopter south of Baghdad. Read more…

Five people, of whom four may have been children, died in an early morning fire that ripped through a townhouse building in Vancouver Monday, officials said. Read more…

Gangsters stepped up their war against authorities in Brazilр# Sao Paulo state, torching buses and shooting at banks, security officials saidР Monday. Read more…

Indonesiaр# Mount Merapi volcano erupted with clouds of hot gas and rained ash on surrounding areas on Monday, sending some nearby villagers scurrying for safety. Read more…

Muslims are more likely than other religious minorities to be unemployed and live in poor housing in the most deprived parts of England, according to a study released on Monday. Read more…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel Monday to resume long-stalled peace talks, issuing his appeal on a day Palestinians set aside to mourn Israelр# creation. Read more…