Beijing's 'rat tribe' scurry from high costs underground
Near Beijing's $600 million Olympic stadium, migrant worker Ye Yiwen, her husband and two children cram into a tiny underground room, sheltering from the Chinese capital's biting winter and soaring property prices.
Thai teen pregnancy on the rise as sex education misses the young
Days away from giving birth and living apart from her family, 16-year-old Ying is one of a growing number of Thai teenagers to fall pregnant every year in a country where sex education is focused on the married.
Spain blind association puts disabled to work
After completing high school, 46-year-old Spaniard Ricardo Velesar struggled to hold down a job as a degenerative eye disease slowly robbed him of his sight.
Australia to go ahead with shark 'kill' zones
A controversial policy to catch and kill sharks off popular west coast beaches got the green light in Australia, in a move the Humane Society Tuesday termed a "complete disgrace".
Transplantology pushes forward in Kazakhstan, so as organ donorship
The public opinion in Kazakhstan has been changing towards becoming more positive about transplantations from deceased donors.
Schiaparelli makes whimsical couture comeback in Paris
Sixty years after Elsa Schiaparelli's last runway show, the house on Monday made a highly-awaited comeback with an elegant collection studded with whimsy, in a nod to the Italian fashion legend.
Vietnam reports first bird flu death in nine months
Vietnam has recorded its first death from bird flu in nine months, according to the country's Health Ministry, amid growing regional concerns over a potential resurgence of the deadly virus.
Czech billionaire sets aside business for power politics
The Czech Republic's second richest man whose fledgling party came in second in parliamentary elections, Andrej Babis, said Monday he is setting aside his business portfolio to take up a political one, as finance minister.
First lung transplantation to be performed in Kazakhstan in 2014
We are looking forward to it and I think that we will have full capacity to make this surgery in 2014: Kazakhstan Vice-Minister of Health.
Lifestyle disorders top health issues in Arab world
Heart disease and stroke have replaced infectious disease as the top causes of early death in the Arab world, tracking the West in a trend towards lifestyle disorders.
Ethiopia's Timkat draws crowds to ancient royal baths
The sun has not yet come up, but hundreds of people -- cloaked in white shrouds and chanting biblical hymns -- are already gathered at the holy baths in northern Ethiopia to celebrate Timkat.
British teen claims new South Pole trek record
A 16-year-old British schoolboy on Saturday became the youngest person ever to trek to the South Pole.
Fugitive campaigner hails Japan anti-dolphin hunt messages
Fugitive eco-activist Paul Watson said Monday he hoped anti-dolphin hunting comments like those by US ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, would put pressure on Tokyo to halt the practice.
Beyonce, John Legend fete Michelle Obama at birthday bash
Michelle Obama's 50th birthday bash featured performances by pop stars Beyonce and John Legend, and appearances by a host of A-list celebrities.
Polish Church uncovers hidden painting to foster religious ties
Poland's Catholic Church on Thursday unveiled a painting kept hidden because of its controversial depiction of Jews murdering Christian children, saying it wanted to foster interfaith dialogue.
Cigarettes more dangerous than ever: US health report
Smoking cigarettes can cause even more health problems than lung cancer, including blindness, diabetes, erectile dysfunction and liver cancer.
New whale stranding on notorious New Zealand beach
More than 50 pilot whales beached themselves Saturday on the same remote New Zealand coast where another 52 whales have either died or been put down in the past two weeks.
Lighting costs Rio's iconic Christ statue tip of thumb
The iconic statue of Jesus overlooking Rio de Janeiro, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks, has lost a thumb tip to lightening, a report said Friday.
83yo Kazakh man crushes rocks with his bare hands
83yo Seken Tolebekov lives in Almaty Oblast, Kazakhstan. It spite of his age, his hands possess an unusual strength: he crushes rocks with his bear hands.
Kazakhstan goes ice-swimming in January
Lifeguards have shared tips and warnings about ice swimming.