Argentine grandmothers attack Pope over 'Dirty War' era
An Argentinian human rights group set up to find babies stolen during the country's "Dirty War" on Friday accused newly elected Pope Francis of failing to speak out against the country's former military rulers.
18 March 2013
Obama defends green energy push after budget cuts
US President Barack Obama defended green energy research spending Friday, two weeks after budget cuts kicked in, warning that those reductions would leave America trailing its global rivals.
17 March 2013
Cherry blossom season officially begins in Tokyo
Japan's weather agency announced the official beginning of cherry blossom season in Tokyo on Saturday, equalling the record for the earliest ever start.
16 March 2013
Canadian astronaut floats through chat with kids
The Canadian commander of the International Space Station delighted schoolchildren in a live question and answer session conducted from space on Friday.
16 March 2013
Muslim states agree to 'historic' UN statement on women
Muslim and western nations on Friday overcame deep divisions to agree a historic United Nations declaration setting out a code of conduct for combatting violence against women.
16 March 2013
Dead pigs show dark side of China food industry
Thousands of dead pigs in a Shanghai river have cast a spotlight on China's poorly regulated farm production, with the country's favourite meat joining a long list of food scares.
16 March 2013
French patients keep HIV at bay despite stopping drugs
A small French study of 14 HIV patients who have remained healthy for years after stopping drug treatment offers fresh evidence that early medical intervention may lead to a "functional cure" for AIDS.
15 March 2013
New Pope warns Church of dangers of inaction
Pope Francis has warned that the troubled Catholic Church risks becoming little more than a charity with no spiritual foundations if it fails to undergo renewal.
First military parade to be held in Kazakhstan on May 7
Kazakhstan Defense Minister Adulbek Dzhaksybekov has signed a decree to hold a military parade of Kazakhstan Armed Forces in commemoration of the Defender of the Fatherland Day (May 7).
Pope Francis hailed, urged to work for peace
World leaders and Catholics hailed the election of Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina as the first Latin American pope on Wednesday, urging him to work for religious reconciliation and peace.
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.