In Iran, love is rarely a many-splendoured thing
Mahnaz divorced after marrying young because of the pressures of a society that she feels often ignores a relationship's most important ingredient: love.
Mobile use bad for school test scores: Japan study
Children who spend more than four hours a day on their mobile phone perform worse on school tests than those who are limited to just 30 minutes.
Turkey's moderate president bows out - for now
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul moves out of the presidential palace in Ankara on Thursday.
Tosca opera to open Silk Road Festival in Astana
Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca with Anna Pirozzi, Massimo Giordano and Alberto Gazale will open the Silk Road festival at the Astana Opera theater.
Japanese PM visits Hiroshima after killer landslides
Prime Minister pledged full support for victims of last week's massive landslides in Hiroshima, as he made his first visit to the Japanese city.
Japan's Sony hit by cyber attack, bomb threat
Japanese entertainment giant Sony said its online music and gaming sites came under a cyber attack by a hacker group.
Chinese media warn US over warplane interception
China's state-run media warned Washington that Beijing could treat its surveillance flights as an "act of hostility"
Speaking in tongues: China divided over the common language
Throughout China, Mandarin -- known as Putonghua, the "common language", with its roots in Beijing's northern dialect -- is the medium of government.
Australian spider grows bigger in city: study
Australian spiders may live happily in the bush, but a new study has found that at least one species also thrives on city life.
China independent film festival shut by authorities.
A Chinese independent film festival was closed by authorities on its opening day.
Facing new flight, Turkish Kurds in Iraq long for home
Families who once fled a Turkish crackdown on Kurdish rebels in the 1990s after escaping from brutal jihadists, longing to return home.
Philippines to repatriate UN troops in Golan, Liberia
The Philippines said it will repatriate over 400 of its troops serving as UN peacekeepers amid security threats and concerns over the Ebola virus.
Hamas executes 'collaborators', Israeli boy killed
Hamas executed 18 alleged collaborators in Gaza City as Israeli Prime Minister vowed harsh retribution for the killing of a four-year-old boy.
Thailand vows 'leniency' in surrogacy cases
Thailand's junta has pledged leniency in the cases of babies born to surrogate mothers.
China's Xi reassures Mongolia over "independence, integrity"
Chinese President told Mongolia that Beijing respected its independence and integrity as he concluded a visit looking to forge closer ties.
Indian state of Kerala announces alcohol ban
Authorities in Kerala have announced a ban on alcohol to tackle a growing abuse problem in the southern Indian state.
Japan death toll feared to double as landslide fears halt rescue
The death toll from landslides in western Japan could more than double, as fears of a fresh collapse halted the search for 51 people still missing.
Marathon bombing suspect's friend pleads guilty
A college friend of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleaded guilty Thursday to removing evidence of the deadly 2013 attack.
Malaysia falls silent in honour of returning MH17 dead
Malaysians paused for a minute of silence on a nationwide day of mourning held to sombrely welcome home the first remains of its 43 citizens.
Calls to ban new Indira Gandhi assassination film
A controversial film on the assassination of Indira Gandhi was scheduled for release on Friday amid calls for it to be banned.