Will the situation improve in 2013, or will the bloody stalemate continue?

Brazil-Teen-Sells-Virginity

Shopkeepers and school children in this remote Brazilian farming town giggle and point when Rebecca Bernardo pedals by on her rusty red bicycle. The unwanted attention started a few months ago when the Brazilian high school student posted a video on YouTube.

Uganda-Gay-Play-Court

A British theater producer who was briefly jailed in Uganda because of his play about the challenges facing gay people in the African nation said Wednesday the case against him had been dropped.

Angola-New-Year-Stampede

The death toll from a New Year's stampede during a church vigil at an Angolan stadium rose to 16 Wednesday, state media said, as details emerged of how the tragedy unfolded.

France-Apple-Store-Robbery

As officers were busy keeping an eye on New Years' revelry, robbers made off with as much as $1.3 million worth of goods from a Paris Apple store.

SPORT-Football-Liverpool-Daniel-Sturridge-Chelsea

English Premier League club Liverpool began its New Year shopping with the signing of Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge on Wednesday, in a deal worth an estimated $19.6 million.

SPORT-Tennis-Novak-Djokovic-Australian-Open

Novak Djokovic's Australian Open preparations have suffered a hiccup after he was beaten by home favorite Bernard Tomic at the Hopman Cup in Perth.

U.S.A.

Connecticut-Newtown-Back-to-School

For the first time since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Christine Wilford plans do something remarkable on Thursday that once was routine: drop her child off at school. The last time her 7-year-old son, Richie, was in class was on December 14, when a gunman smashed his way into his school in Newtown, Connecticut, and killed 26 children and adults. On Thursday, Richie will join hundreds of other Newtown students returning to class for the first time since the tragedy.

Pennsylvania-Penn-State-Lawsuit-NCAA

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced plans Wednesday to file an anti-trust lawsuit against the NCAA over its sanctions against Penn State University following the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

California-Clippers-Owner-Son

The son of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been found dead in Malibu, California, according to a spokesman for the team.

Florida-Plane-Theft

A thief stealing a trailer didn't count on the home's owner flying by in a plane at that exact moment.

US-Meteor-Shower

Skywatchers will be setting their alarm clocks for the early morning hours Thursday when the annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks.

US-background-checks-guns