UN rights panel challenges N. Korea over 'slander' claim
The head of a UN inquiry into human rights in North Korea challenged Pyongyang on Monday to back its allegation that testimony gathered by his commission in Seoul amounted to "slander"
26 August 2013
Karzai calls for head-to-head race in Afghan election
Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for next year's crucial election to be a US-style head-to-head contest between two candidates, and named three possible runners in the wide-open race.
25 August 2013
Even stupid Chinese officials don't discuss graft by phone: Bo
Fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai Saturday launched a scathing attack on a key witness in his corruption trial, saying even the most stupid official knows not to discuss bribery where they can be overheard.
24 August 2013
Egypt's Mubarak leaves jail for house arrest
Egypt's toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak was transferred from prison to house arrest at a military hospital on Thursday, in a move overshadowed by a blistering crackdown against his Islamist successors.
23 August 2013
One year on, tough times for fragile Somalia government
Hopes that Somalia may soon turn the page on decades of anarchy have been dealt a string of blows, giving the internationally-backed government little to cheer as it marks its first birthday.
Final batch of secret Nixon tapes released
The final batch of taped conversations secretly recorded by US president Richard Nixon and then used to help bring him down during the Watergate scandal were released on Wednesday.
Assange blames Manning, Snowden for WikiLeaks Party chaos
Julian Assange on Thursday took responsibility for the resignation of a key candidate from his WikiLeaks Party running in Australian elections, blaming his focus on Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning.
Obama, top aides, review Egypt strategy
President Barack Obama and top aides Tuesday scrutinized US strategy on Egypt, while the White House denied it had quietly frozen millions of dollars in aid after Cairo's military crackdown.
Hezbollah turns Beirut bastion into fortress
Streets leading into powerful Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital have been cordoned off, as guards in civilian clothes search a long line of cars.
Obama congratulates Mali's Keita on election win
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday congratulated Mali's new leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on his election victory and vowed to work with him as the country emerges from months of conflict.
Eritrea dreams of ending isolation to boost development
Long criticised for backing rebel groups across the Horn of Africa, Eritrea has said that ending its isolation is crucial for economic growth, blaming external threats for its slow development.