Indonesia sharia stronghold bans New Year's festivities
Islamic police in Indonesia's sharia stronghold seized thousands of firecrackers and cardboard trumpets after the city administration banned New Year's Eve celebrations for the first time, an official said Tuesday.
31 December 2013 15:10
Royal baby birth doctor knighted, Beckham snubbed
The gynaecologist who helped deliver the first child of Prince William and his wife Kate was given a knighthood and veteran actress Angela Lansbury was made a dame in Britain's New Year Honours List released Tuesday.
Giant panda in Thailand pregnant, says zoo
A zoo in northern Thailand said Sunday that it was preparing for the birth of a second giant panda in the New Year thanks to artificial insemination.
30 December 2013 15:26
Final amnestied foreign Greenpeace activist leaves Russia
The last of the 26 foreign Greenpeace activists who were detained after an Arctic protest flew out of Russia on Sunday, the group announced, finally ending a saga that had caused global concern.
India anti-graft hero takes subway to swearing-in
Anti-corruption champion Arvind Kejriwal Saturday rode the subway to his swearing-in ceremony as the chief minister of Delhi, in what supporters hope will be a watershed moment in the country's graft-ridden politics.
Russia to bury Kalashnikov in new 'pantheon' of heroes
Russia was Friday to bury Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of the iconic AK-47 assault rifle that was the favoured weapon of guerrillas worldwide, at a newly-opened cemetery for national heroes.
Parsis confront threat to existence at Mumbai gathering
The world's tiny but hugely successful Zoroastrian community will confront a demographic crisis which threatens its very existence when it gathers en masse in its spiritual home of Mumbai this week.
Japan PM Abe visits Yasukuni war shrine
Japan's nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid tribute at Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni war shrine on Thursday, in a move Beijing condemned as "absolutely unacceptable".
26 December 2013 15:55
Vaccine fears in China after hepatitis B scare
Chinese state-run media and Internet users demanded action Wednesday after the deaths of at least seven babies since November following their vaccinations against hepatitis B.
Arctic protester vows to fight on after Russian case closed
A British Greenpeace protester Tuesday said he was "jubilant" after Russia closed the criminal case against him for staging a protest on an oil rig, and vowed to keep fighting for environmental issues.
25 December 2013 18:07
NYC first daughter confesses to drug, alcohol abuse
The teenage daughter of New York's incoming mayor confessed on Christmas Eve to smoking pot and underage drinking in a video aimed at helping others battling depression.