International Top Stories from Associated Press (AP)

The United States will join 29 other naval powers for a massive sea drill to practice mine-sweeping and ship-escort maneuvers in the Persian Gulf. The International Mine Countermeasures Exercise is set for May 3-30, The Jerusalem Post reported.

It's not uncommon for former government officials or politicians to enter academia when they leave Washington. Former Rep. Ron Paul has gone a few steps further by creating his very own curriculum. The Texas Republican, libertarian hero and three-time presidential candidate aims to teach home-schooled students four core tenets: liberty vs.

Thieves stole a truckload of hazelnut-chocolate Nutella spread, taking off with roughly 5 tons valued at thousands of dollars from a parked semitrailer, police in Germany said. The seven palettes of Nutella were valued at about $20,800, Agence France-Presse reported. The heist occurred over the weekend in the central German city of Niederaula.

Alex Ovechkin carried the Washington Capitals from the dregs of the Eastern Conference to first place in the Southeast Division with 15 goals and six assists in the past 12 games. But when he was asked about how fun the past couple of weeks have been, the captain had a curious response. Unprompted, he put a spotlight on the vast change from coach Dale Hunter to Adam Oates.

On his second trip to the Middle East in two weeks, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Monday the U.S. won't stop Israel from taking whatever action is necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Although the Obama administration still favors diplomacy, Mr.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan said Monday that the "very special relationship" her husband and Margaret Thatcher had with each other helped to keep the globe safe during their times in office. "Ronnie and Margaret were political soul mates, committed to freedom and resolved to end communism," Mrs. Reagan said in a statement after Thatcher's death earlier in the day.

Pope Francis ordered his staff on Friday to take "decisive action" against the sexual violation of minors. In a statement, the Vatican said the pontiff had ordered the Congregation for the Doctrine...

LISBON, Portugal (AP) , Portugal's prime minister says his bailed-out country must make deeper cuts in public services to compensate for a court ruling that prohibited some tax increases. Pedro Passos Coelho said in a televised address to the nation Sunday that Portuguese lives "will become more difficult," though he said he won't increase taxes.

ISTANBUL (AP) , U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry struggled Sunday to convince Turkey's leaders they should promptly restore full diplomatic ties with Israel, two American allies counted on by President Barack Obama to help calm the turbulent Middle East.

U.S. drug agents have disrupted a suspected major drug smuggling operation accused of engaging in narcoterrorism, conspiring to import drugs into the United States, and providing aid and weapons , including surface-to-air missiles , to a South American paramiltary terrorist group.

Appearing on separate news talk shows Sunday, two influential Republicans praised President Obama for his administration's response to the recent wave of antagonistic rhetoric and nuclear threats from North Korea.

A mob in Cairo threw rocks and fired birdshot at several hundred Christians marching in a protest against the Muslim Brotherhood on Sunday. The Christians chanted slogans against Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) , Iran and six world powers failed to reach agreement Saturday on how to reduce fears that Tehran might use its nuclear technology to make weapons, extending years of inconclusive talks and adding to concerns the diplomatic window on reaching a deal with Tehran may soon close.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. , California Gov. Jerry Brown has designs on building some of the most expensive public works projects in the nation and wants to keep the state moving forward in its slow recovery from the recession.

CAIRO (AP) , Clashes between Egyptian Muslims and Christians erupted early Saturday in a town near Cairo, leaving at least five people dead, security officials said. Investigators said they were waiting for autopsy reports to confirm how the men , four Christians and a Muslim , were killed in the small town of Khosoos, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital.