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Syrian opposition groups gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday, as the factions attempt to form a more unified front. This Sunday, the opposition factions, including the main Syrian National Council, will be joined by diplomats in a meeting of the "Friends of Syria."

Diplomats Gather, But Syrian Truce Remains Elusive

The opposition is keeping up the pressure on Syrian security forces with repeated attacks, and Syria President Bashar Assad has shown no signs of moving toward a cease-fire. Against this backdrop, the "Friends of Syria" are gathering in Turkey.

Former MF Global Exec Takes 5th At Hearing

Members of the House Financial Services Committee were hoping assistant treasurer Edith O'Brien would shed some light on the actions of the firm's CEO, ex-New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine.

Carrots: Beyond The Relish Tray

A staple on raw veggie platters and relish trays, or commonly tossed into a soup or pot roast, carrots often just blend into the background. But carrots are so complex in both flavor and aroma, they deserve much more.

The Marines' most senior officers — including top commander Gen. James Amos (shown here in 2011 in Afghanistan's Helmand province) — are weighing in on recent incidents involving misconduct by troops serving in Afghanistan.

U.S. Military Wages Battle Against Misconduct

The recent scandals surrounding the behavior of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is prompting some soul-searching within the military. After a decade of war, leaders are seeking ways to ensure that troops uphold proper standards of conduct.

Two self-employed florists prepare bunches of flowers in Havana last year. The Cuban government is stepping up economic reforms and estimates that in four or five years, nearly half the workforce will be employed in the private sector.

Cuba's New Mantra: Viva Private Business

Cuban President Raul Castro's economic reforms are taking on a new urgency as the island's biggest benefactor, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, battles cancer and faces re-election. Havana says nearly half of Cuba's economic activity will shift to the private sector in the next several years.

Tens of thousands of people in Paris used the annual May Day workers' events this year to denounce the world of finance amid the Europe-wide debt crisis. If elected, France's Socialist presidential challenger, Francois Hollande, says he will pursue a growth-oriented strategy.

Will French Election Mark A Reversal Of Austerity?

The possibility that French Socialist Francois Hollande may unseat President Nicolas Sarkozy in Sunday's election is making waves. Hollande's promise to boost growth and job creation would mark a change from the fiscal austerity pact championed by Sarkozy and Germany's Angela Merkel.

The Shaolin Warriors, from Shaolin Monastery in central China, put on a demonstration of traditional kung fu fighting techniques, with some crowd-pleasing stunts thrown in. They had never performed with a circus before this year.

UniverSoul Circus Co-Host: 'Soul Is Not A Color'

In the beginning, all of the talent was black, but the UniverSoul Circus evolved into an eclectic mix of acts from around the world. Now, the circus is pushing to diversify its audience, with a show called "Us."

Boston Red Sox left fielder Cody Ross looks down during a seven-run third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on May 5. The Red Sox trail their division, losing 11 of their last 12 home games.

Red Sox Slump Threatens Home Sellout Streak

The Boston Red Sox have sold out Fenway Park ever since 2003. But they're stuck in the basement of their division, losing 11 of their last 12 home games — and ticket resale prices are plunging. The Sox's skid is putting Major League Baseball's record sellout streak in jeopardy.

A foreigner pauses to look at the glittering Shwedagon Pagoda, a famous landmark in Myanmar, in Yangon in February. The country's tourism industry is racing to keep up with the rush of visitors now that Myanmar is opening to the outside world.

Myanmar's Isolation Gives Way To A Flood Of Visitors

The rapid pace of political change in Myanmar in the past year — capped by the recent election of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to Parliament — has tourists and foreign investors rushing to the country. And it's starting to get a little crowded.

New In Paperback May 7-13

It's a rich week for fiction, with new novels from Ann Patchett and Jennifer Weiner, and a debut by Chad Harbach that marries a literary sensibility with a love of baseball — plus Jorie Graham's new poetry collection. In nonfiction, Erik Larson is back with the story of an American ambassador in Germany in 1933.

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