Tokyo dismisses fresh setback in bid to relocate US air base
Japan said Monday it was sticking with plans to relocate a controversial US military base in Okinawa, despite the election of a local politician strongly opposed to the move.
Beyonce, John Legend fete Michelle Obama at birthday bash
Michelle Obama's 50th birthday bash featured performances by pop stars Beyonce and John Legend, and appearances by a host of A-list celebrities.
Iran nuclear deal comes into force as US sanctions loom
Iran is due Monday to unplug key nuclear equipment for six months in return for a slight easing of crippling Western sanctions, as an interim deal between Tehran and world powers takes effect.
Nintendo forecasts net loss, slashes Wii U sales target
Japanese gaming giant Nintendo on Friday warned it would swing back into the red this fiscal year as it slashed its annual sales target for the Wii U game console.
Cigarettes more dangerous than ever: US health report
Smoking cigarettes can cause even more health problems than lung cancer, including blindness, diabetes, erectile dysfunction and liver cancer.
Germany welcomes Obama's pledge to curb mass spying
Berlin welcomed on Friday President Barack Obama's pledge to curtail the reach of the secretive US spy agency, stressing that German law must be respected on German soil.
Intel to cut staff in face of stagnant earnings
US chip giant Intel said Friday it will trim its workforce by five percent this year as it shifts from personal computers to powering mobile gadgets.
Lighting costs Rio's iconic Christ statue tip of thumb
The iconic statue of Jesus overlooking Rio de Janeiro, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks, has lost a thumb tip to lightening, a report said Friday.
Kerry praises Greece for tough economic choices
US Secretary of State John Kerry praised the Greek government Friday for making "tough choices" to resolve the country's economic crisis and said he believed the situation was improving.
Nine indicted in Haiti journalist's murder
A Haitian judge on Friday indicted nine people, including several with close ties to former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in the murder of a prominent journalist, officials said.
Two teens injured in Philadelphia school shooting
Two teenage American high school students were shot and injured Friday by a student gunman who whipped out a handgun at the end of the school day, police said.
Syrian opposition meets to decide on peace talks
The divided Syrian opposition will meet Friday in Istanbul to decide whether to join next week's landmark peace talks, as its Arab and Western allies ratchet up the pressure for it to attend.
Two Canadians killed in Kabul attack: Foreign Ministry
Two Canadians are among those killed in an attack on a popular restaurant in Kabul, the country's foreign minister said Friday.
NSA scoops up millions of text messages a day: report
The US National Security Agency has collected almost 200 million mobile phone text messages a day from around the world, a report said Thursday, in the latest revelations from the Edward Snowden files.
EU envoy criticises 'tightening' curbs on China human rights
The European Union's outgoing ambassador to China on Friday criticised growing curbs on human rights in the country, raising several individual cases including an arrested activist and a detained Uighur academic.
Kazakhstan and Brazil agree to cancel visas
Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrissov and his Brazilian colleague Luiz Figueiredo signed an agreement to mutually cancel visas.
US driver acquitted over Google Glass ticket
A US woman thought to be the first person to get a traffic ticket for wearing Google Glass was found not guilty Thursday.
New sanctions against Iran would sabotage deal: Gates
Proposals by US lawmakers to impose new sanctions against Iran would be a mistake that would sabotage a possible diplomatic deal with Tehran: Gates
UN warns of 'genocide' in C. Africa as parliament seeks new leader
The UN has warned that bloodshed in the Central African Republic could turn into genocide as horrors continue to unfold in the country where parliament is preparing to choose a new leader.
Dakar's 9th stage no piece of cake for Kazakhstan racers
Kazakhstan racers completed the ninth stage of Dakar rally with stable results.