South Sudan warring parties set for direct peace talks
South Sudan's warring parties were set to begin direct talks Saturday in a bid to end the conflict pushing the world's youngest nation towards civil war as fighting intensified for control of a key oil town.
05 January 2014
NATO soldier killed in Afghan multiple suicide attack
Six Taliban suicide attackers launched an assault on a joint Afghan-NATO base in the east of Afghanistan on Saturday, killing one NATO soldier during a prolonged firefight, officials said.
05 January 2014
Attacks, strike plague Bangladesh on election eve
Dozens of polling booths were torched on the eve of Bangladesh's violence-plagued election Saturday as the opposition staged a general strike in a final act of defiance against the "farcical" polls.
05 January 2014
Cambodian police disperse opposition rally
Cambodian authorities Saturday dispersed opposition protesters from their rally base in the capital and halted further protests against the kingdom's strongman premier, a day after police launched a deadly crackdown on striking garment workers.
05 January 2014
Indonesian volcano erupts 30 times as 20,000 displaced
An Indonesian volcano that has erupted relentlessly for months shot volcanic ash into the air 30 times on Saturday, forcing further evacuations with more than 20,000 people now displaced, an official said.
05 January 2014
Relief at Antarctic rescue turns to fear for Chinese ship
Australian authorities expressed relief Friday after 52 passengers were safely evacuated by helicopter from a Russian ship stranded in Antarctica, but then raised concern for a Chinese rescue vessel caught in heavy ice.
Two Mexican clowns detained over kidnapping
Two men who worked as clowns named "Pistachon" and "Freski Star" in western Mexico have been arrested in connection with an alleged kidnapping, authorities said Thursday.
Thai protests push rebel peace talks down agenda
Stuttering peace talks to end Thailand's bloody southern rebellion are under threat from political turmoil in Bangkok, observers say, as the conflict enters its second decade with no end in sight.
Strong cyclone hits western Australia
A powerful cyclone lashed Australia's resources-rich west coast Tuesday, bringing torrential rains and destructive gales that ripped up trees and roofs and closed major global iron ore operations.
31 December 2013
Children beheaded in C.Africa fighting: UNICEF
At least two children have been beheaded in the fighting which has gripped the Central African Republic, the UN agency for children said Monday, adding "unprecedented" levels of violence were being committed against youngsters.
31 December 2013
Russia buries dead as bombings toll hits 33
Russia beefed up security and mourned its dead on Tuesday as the toll from jarring successive-day suicide strikes in the run-up to the Sochi Winter Olympic Games rose to 33.
