AP - St. Patrick's Day revelers took a break from worries about the global economy to enjoy a day of shamrock-themed frivolity, dyeing city fountains green, taking icy ocean plunges and crowding sidewalks along parade routes to see and be seen.

Reuters - An Austrian man who fathered seven children with a daughter he held in a cellar for 24 years pleaded guilty to incest Monday but denied murdering their newborn son.

Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested in a taped interview on Sunday that the U.S. recession could last most of the year and said the biggest risk was that the political will needed to fix the fractured financial system could be lacking.

AFP - Pakistan pledged on Monday to restore its deposed top judge and end a crackdown on activists, caving in under mass protests to try to defuse a crisis that took the nation to the brink of chaos.

Reuters - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana handed power to the armed forces Tuesday, paving the way for an opposition takeover after a months-long power struggle on the Indian Ocean island.

AP - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday Congress will force executives of American International Group to pay back at least some of the $165 million in bonuses they received after the insurance giant got billions in federal bailout money.

AP - Pakistan's opposition leader defied house arrest on Sunday to join anti-government protests that quickly descended into violence and chaos, with running battles between stone-throwing protesters and police.

AP - Rep. Barney Frank charged Monday that a decision by financially strapped insurance giant AIG to pay millions in executive bonuses amounts to "rewarding incompetence."

Reuters - Pope Benedict arrived in Africa on Tuesday on his first trip to the continent as pontiff, seeking support for the continent during the world economic crisis and hoping to encourage peace and help tackle corruption.

AP - Reassuring words from Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke and strong gains overseas have Wall Street poised to extend a four-day rally. Futures pointed to a higher opening Monday.

Reuters - The U.S. Federal Reserve this week is likely to restate a vow to do whatever is needed to battle the nation's severe recession but no new steps are expected as it keeps its focus on plans already in the works.

Reuters - OPEC ministers began talks on Sunday to decide whether to set new output targets or stick to existing curbs against a backdrop of swelling oil inventories and a shattered world economy.