Argentina's Bergoglio elected first Latin American pope
Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope Francis on Wednesday, becoming the first Latin American pontiff in an astonishing decision that raises hopes of greater openness for the troubled Catholic Church.
14 March 2013
Britain's giant pandas get in the mood
He is performing handstands and eating constantly, and she is spraying her home with alluring scents -- all the signs point to mating season for Britain's giant pandas.
14 March 2013
China city searching for 'modern Marco Polo'
A Chinese city is searching for a foreign traveller to become a "modern Marco Polo", with a 40,000 euro ($52,000) salary on offer to the winner.
14 March 2013
Church pays $10m to US Catholic abuse victims
The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay nearly $10 million to four men who alleged they were molested by a former priest in the 1970s.
13 March 2013
All eyes on Vatican chimney as world awaits new pope
Cardinals prepared for a second day of conclave behind the Vatican's walls to elect a pope on Wednesday, with all eyes on a chimney that will signal when there is a new leader for the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
Saudi death from SARS-like virus: WHO
A SARS-like virus that has struck in Britain and the Middle East has claimed a new victim in Saudi Arabia, bringing the global toll from the mystery illness to nine.
Technology to detect Alzheimer's takes SXSW prize Technology capable of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease long before its symptoms appear won a coveted honor for innovation Tuesday at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.
13 March 2013
Dead pigs in Shanghai river jump to almost 6,000 The number of dead pigs found in Shanghai's main river doubled in two days to nearly 6,000, the government said, as officials from a nearby area blamed for the porcine deluge sought to deny it was the source.
13 March 2013
Chilean poet Neruda to be exhumed April 8 The remains of Chilean Nobel prize winning poet Pablo Neruda will be exhumed on April 8 to determine if he died of cancer or was poisoned.
Odds stacked against an Asian popeCatholics in Asia and other parts of the world where the Roman Catholic Church is growing fast would dearly like to see the cardinals choose an Asian pope for the first time in history.
Breaking the silence -- secrets of the pope elections The conclaves of cardinals which elect a new pope are laden with rituals and shrouded in secrecy, but tantalising details have emerged from previous votes of what really happens behind the sealed doors of the Sistine Chapel.
12 March 2013
Miss Military Kazakhstan selected in Astana14 female officers of armed forces and military departments of Kazakhstan, who passed regional selection stages, participated in the contest.