Hollande backs ban on 'anti-Semitic' comedian
President Francois Hollande has backed attempts to ban controversial French comedian Dieudonne as a furore intensified over his sketches that have been widely condemned as anti-Semitic.
Morsi arrives in court for new hearing in murder trial
Egypt's deposed president Mohamed Morsi arrived at the courthouse on Wednesday for the second hearing in his murder trial, as police braced for rallies by his Islamist supporters.
Interior Ministry suggests DNA fingerprinting
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan has developed a draft law to introduce fingerprinting and DNA profiling in Kazakhstan.
Obama didn't believe his own war strategy: Gates
Former defense secretary Robert Gates has delivered a scathing critique of President Barack Obama's handling of the war in Afghanistan in a revealing new memoir, US media reported Tuesday.
Kazakhstan MP offers to raise benefit at child birth
Member of the Majilis (Lower Chamber of the Parliament) Tursynbek Omurzakov has offered to increase one-time benefit at child birth.
Japan PM to visit Africa, Mideast with cash pledge: reports
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Africa and the Middle East this week, reports said Monday, bearing development cash pledges as Tokyo pushes back against growing Chinese influence in the resource-rich region.
Commercial catching of sturgeons at Caspian banned
A moratorium on commercial fishing of sturgeons at the Caspian Sea came into force on January 1, 2014.
Turkey PM says 'favours' retrial of coup plot officers
Turkey's embattled Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday he would favour retrials for hundreds of military officers jailed for coup-plotting.
Harry Potter wizard invoked again as Japan hits back at China
The diplomatic bickering between Japan and China has descended into name-calling in the British press, with claim and counter-claim by the countries' ambassadors invoking the fictional evil wizard of the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort.
Obama proposes new gun rules for mentally ill
The Obama administration proposed two new federal gun control rules Friday to ensure more information about the mentally ill reaches background check databases, after a series of high-profile US shootings.
Deadly clashes kill 11 as Morsi backers rally in Egypt
At least 11 people were killed Friday in clashes across Egypt as police dispersed thousands of protesters demanding the reinstatement of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, the health ministry said.
Nepal's court rules out amnesty for serious war crimes
Nepal's top court has rejected a demand by ultra-leftists that an amnesty be granted to people who committed serious rights abuses during the country's civil war, an official said Saturday.
Indian PM Singh says will step down after 2014 elections
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced Friday that he will step down after elections this year and said reluctant political scion Rahul Gandhi should take his place if the ruling Congress party wins an unlikely third term.
Kerry on second day of new Mideast peace push
US Secretary of State John Kerry launched a second day of talks with Israelis and Palestinians Friday, seeking to hammer out a framework to guide negotiations towards a peace deal.
Panama president warns Spain and Italy over canal row
Panama's president warned Thursday he would visit Europe to force a consortium to drop a threat to suspend expansion work on the Panama Canal, as a row over a $1.6 billion cost overrun escalated.
Ban on export of oil products from Kazakhstan prolonged until July 2014
Ban on export of petroleum products from Kazakhstan has been prolonged until the second half of 2014.
Australia's WikiLeaks Party under fire for Assad talks
Whistleblowing group WikiLeaks said Tuesday it had no knowledge of and did not approve a delegation to Syria which met President Bashar al-Assad and included members of Australia's WikiLeaks Party.
New Mayor of Taraz appointed
Nurzhan Kalenderov has been appointed the new Akim (Mayor) of Taraz city in southern Kazakhstan.
Turkey 'takes $100 billion hit' from political turmoil
The political crisis engulfing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cost the economy $100 billion, a top official said Monday, as financial markets rebounded after days in freefall.
Putin to keep within the law in terror hunt: UN
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Monday to stay within international law in the hunt for the perpetrators of two bomb attacks in the city of Volgograd, the United Nations said.