ROME (AP) — The second shortest-lived Parliament in Italy’s postwar history was sent packing Wednesday, and Italians will return to ballot box in April for an election that could propel conservative Silvio Berlusconi back to power….

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A delegation sent by the U.N.’s top human rights official began a mission Wednesday to look into allegations of grave violations in the weeks of deadly violence since the country’s disputed presidential election….

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas militants fired a rocket into an Israeli border village, wounding two young sisters as they played outside their home. The attack followed Israel air strikes against Gaza militants and threats of an “all-front” war on the Islamic group….

TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s minority Conservative government said Wednesday it will ask Parliament to extend the country’s combat mission in Afghanistan, and indicated it might be willing to put itself on the line to make sure the unpopular measure passes….

BAGHDAD (AP) — Boys in soccer jerseys don black masks and grab weapons. They scramble over mud-brick walls, blast down doors and hold guns to the heads of residents inside….

N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Chad’s president declared himself in control of the country Wednesday, even while acknowledging that three-fourths of his government had disappeared since rebels attacked the capital….

BEIJING (AP) — China tackled its snow crisis with a striking - and uniquely Chinese - display of communist mass mobilization, propaganda and state control….

ROME (AP) — Italy’s president dissolved Parliament Wednesday and called early elections that could return conservative Silvio Berlusconi to power after the collapse of the center-left government….

N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — Chad’s president told reporters that his government was in control of the entire country Wednesday, speaking publicly for the first time since rebels tried to unseat him….

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched airstrikes against militants firing rockets from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and vowed to maintain a war “on all fronts” until the territory’s Hamas rulers halt attacks….