Ex-finance minister Ghani bullish as Afghan election race begins
He collected a meagre three percent of the vote last time, but Ashraf Ghani is not short of self-confidence, believing he will win elections in April and be a transformative president of Afghanistan.
Political chaos pushes US up against debt deadline
A day of political disarray Tuesday pushed America to within hours of a debt default deadline, but two veteran senators chased a last-gasp deal to stave off a sudden shock to the global economy.
Conflicts, energy top agenda as Hollande visits S.Africa
French leader Francois Hollande arrived in South Africa Monday for a two-day state visit in which he is set to push for greater cooperation on African crises with the continental powerhouse.
'You should be afraid of me': S.Africa's MalemaSouth Africa's fiery young politician Julius Malema told a rally of his new party on Sunday that a "giant" has been born which should be feared and will fight for the poor.
14 October 2013
World powers set for nuclear talks with Rouhani's IranWorld powers will meet for fresh talks with Iran on its controversial nuclear programme on Tuesday, as hopes rise for a more conciliatory approach from the new Tehran government.
UN names envoy for Syria chemical weaponsThe head of the United Nations on Sunday named Sigrid Kaag to lead the UN's joint mission with the chemical weapons watchdog tasked with eliminating Syria's arsenal.
14 October 2013
US lawmakers split despite October 17 debt deadlineThe United States is still facing a potentially devastating sovereign debt default, after senators failed to agree on terms to reopen the federal government and raise the country's borrowing limit.
14 October 2013
Venezuela holds US-operated oil ship in spat with GuyanaVenezuela on Friday said it has detained a US-operated oil exploration ship sent from Guyana in disputed waters off its coast, in a fresh border spat between the two neighbors.
African summit attacks 'unfair' ICCThe ICC was under fire over its "unfair" and "totally unacceptable" treatment of Africa, with African Union ministers calling for cases against Kenyan and Sudanese leaders to be deferred.