Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Saturday dissolved the country's parliament, following the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Monti.

Ukraine-Cold-Deaths

A cold snap in Ukraine has killed 83 people, while hundreds more have sought treatment for hypothermia and frostbite, according to state media reports.

Pakistan-Violence

A Pakistani provincial government official openly targeted by the Pakistani Taliban was killed Saturday in a suicide bomb attack, officials said.

Spain-El-Gordo

In Spain's deep economic crisis, the lucky ones could hardly believe their good fortune on Saturday --- holding a $26 share of a winning lottery ticket pays out a return of $528,000.

U.S.A.

US-BP-Spill-Settlement

A federal judge signed off on BP's settlement with businesses and people hard hit by the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

New-York-Portuguese-Model-Journalist-Sentencing

He was a 20-year-old male model. His lover was a 65-year-old man who was a television journalist. They were from Portugal, visiting New York City. The older partner broke off the relationship and ended up mutilated and dead. Now, almost two years later, a New York judge has sentenced model Renato Seabra to 25 years to life in prison -- the maximum sentence -- for the grisly second-degree murder of Carlos Antonio De Castro in their InterContinental Hotel room in Times Square.

California-Gay-Therapy-Ban

An appeals court slapped an injunction on a new California state law that bans conversion therapy for minors-- a method some say can help turn a gay person straight.

Iowa-Irresistible-Worker

Can a boss fire an employee he finds attractive because he and his wife, fairly or not, see her as a threat to their marriage? Yes, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday.

POLITICS

POL-Republicans-Weekly-Address-

It was clear from House Speaker John Boehner's weekly address on Saturday that the fiscal cliff negotiations with President Barack Obama weren't going anywhere soon.

POL-Obama-weekly-address

President Barack Obama continued on Saturday a four-year Christmas tradition of thanking the U.S. military servicemen and women in his weekly address.

POL-Hagel-Controversy

Calls of concern and support over President Obama's possible pick to be the next secretary of defense are piling up as former colleagues and special interest organizations take aim at and defend the independent-thinking former senator.

FEATURES

US-Dave-Brubeck-Appreciation