Anger in New Zealand at 'close your legs' rape defence
Victims' rights advocates in New Zealand on Thursday condemned a defence lawyer who told a rape victim she should have "closed her legs" if she wanted to avoid having sex.
Chinese man gives future bride 8.88 mn in cash
A Chinese suitor who gave his future bride an auspicious 8.88 million yuan ($1.5 million) in cash drew ire Thursday for the extravagant display of wealth in the still-developing country.
Scientists study evolution of 'Little Red Riding Hood'
"Little Red Riding Hood" may have been heading to her grandmother's house -- but anthropologists wanted to know where she came from and just how her story spread.
Two Kazakhstan films nominated for Asian Oscar
Kazakhstan films Shal (The Old Man) by Yermek Tursunov and Harmony Lessons by Emir Baigazin have been put on the nominees list of the 7th Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Aid steams in to Philippines as Obama launches appeal
The United States said relief channels were belatedly opening up to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines on Thursday as President Barack Obama urged Americans to dig deep and other countries upped their aid.
Rosneft to supply crude to Kazakhstan in exchange for transit to China
Rosneft will supply Kazakhstan with additional crude in exchange for the oil transit to China.
Australia Church child sex inquiry urges sweeping changes
An Australian state inquiry into the handling of child sex cases by the Catholic Church on Wednesday said religious leaders trivialised the problem and recommended concealment of abuse should be a crime.
Putin in S. Korea to push new 'Silk Road' via N. Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin was in South Korea Wednesday to push a pet project for a new major trading route linking Asia and Europe by rail that requires prying open North Korea.
Kazakhstan to open embassies in RSA and Vietnam
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has decreed to open Kazakhstan embassies in the Republic of South Africa and Vietnam.
China Singles Day online shoppers spend almost $6 bn
Chinese shoppers spent a record 35.0 billion yuan ($5.7 billion) at the country's biggest online marketplaces on Singles Day, their operator said Tuesday, after the festival created by e-tailers to persuade the loveless to console themselves with retail therapy.
Football: Australia concern at World Cup security
Australian football officials on Tuesday expressed concern at the security situation in World Cup host nation Brazil, admitting that dealing with the issue was going to be a challenge.
Man charged with posting 'Anonymous' symbol on Singapore website
Singapore on Tuesday charged a local man with hacking a council website and posting a symbol associated with international hacker group Anonymous, amid concerns about new Internet laws in the city-state.
Tibetan monk sets himself on fire in China: reports
A Tibetan monk has set himself on fire in an act of protest in China, reports and campaign groups said Tuesday, as top Communist Party leaders hold a key gathering.
Sydney's 'Asian high-roller' casino wins state backing
Gambling mogul James Packer on Tuesday said international tourists want to see man-made attractions and not spend their holidays "looking at Ayers Rock" as his plan for a $1.5 billion Sydney casino won crucial support.
Japan gov't report finds serious abuse of disabled
The abuse of disabled people has emerged as a major problem in Japan with the violence most often inflicted by family members or domestic carers, according to a government survey.
Indian Mars mission suffers glitch but 'no setback'
India's Mars spacecraft suffered a brief engine failure Monday as scientists tried to move it into a higher orbit around Earth, but controllers denied any setback to the ambitious low-cost mission.
China to allow more private investment in state firms: report
China will open its state-owned firms to greater investment by private companies, a state-run newspaper reported Monday, as media raise expectations over a top Communist Party meeting on economic reforms.
Gaps seen narrowing despite Iran nuclear deal failure
Diplomats insisted they are closing in on an agreement to curb Iran's nuclear programme despite the failure to clinch a long-sought deal in marathon negotiations in Geneva.
More than 10,000 feared dead in typhoon-ravaged Philippines
Survivors of a super typhoon that may have killed more than 10,000 people in the Philippines were growing increasingly desperate for aid Monday, as authorities struggled to cope with potentially the country's worst recorded natural disaster.
'Vive la France!' say US opponents of Iran nuclear deal
Conservative US leaders, fond of finger-pointing at France in recent years, lavished praise on Paris Sunday for blocking an agreement between Western powers and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.