One hundred years ago Wednesday, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole. His team became the first to make it traveling on skis. Felicity Aston is nearing another first. The veteran traveler is close to becoming the first woman to ski across Antarctica alone.

The French parliament has approved, in a non-binding resolution, a proposal to make using the services of a prostitute a crime punishable by fines and prison. Lawmakers are expected to follow the resolution with a law in the new year.

Italy's new prime minister is trying to impose a strict austerity plan to rein in runaway debt and reassure the markets. But it's not going down well. Particularly hard to swallow is the announcement that the retirement age will be immediately raised by five or six years.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is in the Afghan capital Kabul to meet with Afghan officials, and try to smooth relations with Pakistan. His trip follows a deadly attack on Pakistani troops by a U.S. drone based in Afghanistan. In response, Pakistan has blocked two routes used to supply U.S. troops.