Family planning official snared in China trafficking ring
Police have detained two officials including one involved in family planning in China's latest crackdown on child trafficking that has ensnared 355 suspects.
Bangladesh slaughters 150,000 birds over avian flu
Bangladesh's livestock authorities are slaughtering around 150,000 chickens at a giant poultry farm near Dhaka after the worst outbreak of avian flu in five years.
Russia's brutal early winter claims 123 lives
A bitter cold snap in Russia has claimed 123 lives in the past 10 days, an official said Tuesday, with the early freeze testing authorities in a country used to notoriously tough winters.
Saudi liberal writer arrested for Islam 'insults': relatives
A Saudi Arabian liberal writer was arrested on Monday for making comments on his Twitter account that were allegedly insulting to Islam.
Steve Jobs' estate pays to free impounded superyacht
Steve Jobs' superyacht Venus was free to leave Amsterdam port Monday after the late Apple co-founder's estate paid a deposit to resolve a dispute with designer Philippe Starck, who had had the yacht impounded.
First Israeli university in West Bank recognised
Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Monday confirmed a government decision to officially recognise the status of the first Israeli university established in the occupied West Bank.
'Lost tribe' members migrate from India to Israel
Fifty members of an Indian community believed to be descendants of one of the lost tribes of Israel arrived on Monday in the Jewish state, completing their immigration.
In Xmas mass, Holy Land patriarch urges peace efforts
Addressing the faithful in his Christmas Eve midnight mass in Bethlehem on Tuesday, Latin Patriarch Fuad Twal urged "men of good will" to seek peace amid "the sufferings in the Middle East."
'Irresistible' Iowa woman fired for being too sexy
An "irresistible" Iowa dental assistant fired for threatening her boss's marriage -- even though she turned away his advances -- has lost her discrimination lawsuit.
Kazakhstan created its own Lapland
Rixos Lake Borovoye is the first five-star hotel at Borovoye resort. 200 rooms are available for visitors of the resort.
Homeless man in video asks for Timberlake's help
A homeless man featured in a mock video produced by a friend of Justin Timberlake for the actor's wedding is now asking the actor-singer for help.
Thousands flock to Bethlehem for Christmas
Thousands of Palestinians and tourists were flocking to the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born.
Nepal campaigners plead for killer elephant's life
Nepalese animal rights groups pleaded Monday for the life of a lovelorn elephant which has trampled several people to death and is being hunted down by an army execution squad.
Mayan temple damaged in tourist 'apocalypse' frenzy
Tourists flocking to Guatemala for "end of the world" parties have damaged an ancient stone temple at Tikal, the largest archeological site and urban center of the Mayan civilization.
Revealed: secrets of ancient Chinese medicinal herb
Scientist in the United States on Sunday offered a molecular-level explanation for how a Chinese herbal medicine used for more than 2,000 years tackles fever and eases malaria.
Chile volcano alert raised
Chile issued a top-level red alert Sunday for its Copahue volcano, in the south on the Andean border with Argentina, as it rumbled to register a greater potential threat.
Indian PM appeals for calm, vows to protect women
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged calm and vowed to protect women as police on Monday struggled to quell increasing outrage over sex crimes following the gang-rape of a student.
Shock and sadness as Irish minister found dead
The Irish political world was in shock Saturday after a member of Prime Minister Enda Kenny's government was found dead in circumstances that police said were not suspicious.
Judge clears BP's $7.8 bn settlement in US oil spill
British oil giant BP won US court approval Friday of a $7.8 billion settlement with people and businesses who lost money and property due to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Queen's chaplain says Church of England has racism problem
Queen Elizabeth II's chaplain Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, tipped to become one of Britain's first women bishops, said Saturday that the Church of England is struggling with "institutional racism".