WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell, Friday ripped the Senate majority leader's haste to push healthcare reform to a vote before Christmas.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Broader research is needed in the area of healthcare utilization in regards to minorities in the United States, an expert says.

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Mayon Volcano in the Albay Province of the Philippines is nearing possible eruption after days of volcanic activity, state volcanologists said Friday.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Washington is committed to a strategic partnership with Pakistan that extends beyond plans for a regional U.S. military withdrawal in 2011, officials said.

JAKARTA, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Police are hunting more suspects after killing a Papua separatist fighter believed to have been involved in the slaying of two Americans in 2002.

TEHRAN, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Iranian response to the opposition movement that emerged in the wake of disputed June elections has failed to quiet the voice of dissent, an activist says.

KARACHI, Pakistan, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Pakistani authorities announced they arrested a suspect believed to be a close personal aide to Taliban leader Hakeemullah Mehsud.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Agriculture will benefit from energy and climate change legislation having strong carbon offset programs, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Friday.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- A Pakistani corruption agency issued arrest warrants for Interior Minister Rehman Malik following a government decision to revoke an amnesty law.

BAGHDAD, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Two Iraqi government officials said Friday Iranian security forces took control of an oil well in Iraq's Maysan province.

ASUNCION, Paraguay, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Venezuela's incorporation in Mercosur, considered a certainty after Brazilian ratification, now faces a new hurdle in Paraguay, which says the man and not the country is the problem.

SANAA, Yemen, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Yemeni government pledged to continue to fight terrorists in its country who are moving to destabilize the region, the Yemeni president said.

HARTSEL, Colo., Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Authorities in Park County, Colo., said nearly 100 dogs were seized from an area kennel after allegedly being found starving and severely neglected.

DAMASCUS, Syria, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Security and political progress in Iraq are included in the foreign policy interests of the government in Damascus, the Syrian president told Iraqi leaders.

ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Lawmakers in Turkey announced plans to stay in Parliament by joining forces with the Peace and Democracy Party following the closure of a pro-Kurdish party.