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.