Giant yellow duck explodes in Taiwan...againA giant yellow duck on display in a northern Taiwan port exploded Tuesday, just hours before it was expected to attract a big crowd to count down the new year.
01 January 2014
Strong cyclone hits western AustraliaA powerful cyclone lashed Australia's resources-rich west coast Tuesday, bringing torrential rains and destructive gales that ripped up trees and roofs and closed major global iron ore operations.
31 December 2013
Philippines allows phone use on planesThe Philippines' civil aviation authority said Tuesday it would allow passengers to use mobile phones and laptops to make calls and access the Internet during flights.
31 December 2013
Sparkling Sydney to kick off glitzy global 2014 partySydney promised an unprecedented fireworks spectacular to kick off global new year celebrations Tuesday, the first in a wave of pyrotechnics to usher in 2014 from Hong Kong to world record-chasing Dubai.
31 December 2013
Indonesia sharia stronghold bans New Year's festivitiesIslamic police in Indonesia's sharia stronghold seized thousands of firecrackers and cardboard trumpets after the city administration banned New Year's Eve celebrations for the first time, an official said Tuesday.
31 December 2013
New Year on ice as weather stalls Antarctic air-sea rescueAn icebound Russian research vessel prepared to ring in the New Year in remote Antarctica Tuesday as blizzards hampered a helicopter rescue planned after several icebreaking attempts failed.
31 December 2013
19,000 Indonesians flee erupting volcanoMore than 19,000 people have been displaced by a volcano in Indonesia that has been erupting for months and shot lava into the air nine times overnight, an official said Tuesday.
31 December 2013
China holds ex-security chief's colleague over graftA former close colleague of China's ex-chief of internal security Zhou Yongkang is under investigation for "law and discipline violations", authorities have announced, stepping up anti-corruption inquiries another notch.
31 December 2013
Prolific Padukone rises to top of Bollywood A-listIf any Bollywood star can claim 2013 as their year, it is Deepika Padukone. With four hit films, the former model has risen to the top of the A-list -- and now has Hollywood in her sights.
30 December 2013
Giant panda in Thailand pregnant, says zooA zoo in northern Thailand said Sunday that it was preparing for the birth of a second giant panda in the New Year thanks to artificial insemination.
30 December 2013
Eight police station 'attackers' shot dead in China's Xinjiang: govtEight "attackers" armed with knives and explosives were killed Monday during an assault on a police station in China's Xinjiang, according to authorities who have blamed "terrorists" for a string of deadly incidents in the largely Muslim region.
Gunman in deadly attack on Thai opposition rallyA gunman opened fire at an opposition rally in Thailand Saturday in a deadly attack that inflamed tensions in the politically divided kingdom, where anti-government protesters wreaked fresh havoc in election preparations.
30 December 2013
Rescue of stranded Antarctic ship stallsA Chinese icebreaker has failed to break through thick ice to free a ship carrying scientists and tourists stranded off Antarctica, forcing Australian authorities to look at other rescue options Saturday.
23 killed in fire on train in southern India: TVA fire on an overnight train killed at least 23 people Saturday in southern India as it ripped through a carriage packed with sleeping passengers, local television networks reported.
28 December 2013
India anti-graft hero takes subway to swearing-inAnti-corruption champion Arvind Kejriwal Saturday rode the subway to his swearing-in ceremony as the chief minister of Delhi, in what supporters hope will be a watershed moment in the country's graft-ridden politics.
28 December 2013
China formally abolishes labour camps: state mediaChina's top legislative committee on Saturday formally abolished the country's "re-education through labour" camps and approved a loosening of its one-child policy, state media reported.
28 December 2013
Thai government to ask army to secure electionThailand said Friday that it would ask the army to provide security for February elections after violent clashes between police and opposition protesters left two people dead and more than 150 wounded.
27 December 2013
UN urges Thailand to drop charges against websiteThe United Nations has urged Thailand to drop defamation charges against two Australian and Thai journalists for a report alleging military involvement in people smuggling, warning of a "chilling effect" on press freedom.