Christians most populous of world's religions: report Christians are the world's biggest religious group, numbering some 2.2 billion people, according to a study released Tuesday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
18 December 2012
Finding buyers, Malaysian art searches for a voice After art school, Haslin Ismail was the typical struggling artist, selling just a few of his mixed-media fantasy pieces for a few hundred dollars each over the next five years.
Kazakhstan Foreign Minister comments Strategy-2050Many people were skeptical about Kazakhstan’s future. Foreign analysts and observers believed that Kazakhstan would most probably not be growing a sovereign state, because the country had a demanding geopolitical surrounding, complicated ethnic composition of the population and backward economy: Yerlan Idrissov.
18 December 2012
China sees gloomy 2013 foreign trade environment China said Tuesday it faces a bleak foreign trade environment in 2013 due to ongoing global economic weakness, as the Asian export powerhouse appears set to miss this year's trade growth target.
18 December 2012
Signs of evolving US gun debate after school tragedy New signs emerged Monday of an evolving US gun law debate, with several top lawmakers appearing more open to stiffening controls on firearms after the Connecticut school massacre.
18 December 2012
China resists moves to sanction N. Korea: diplomatsChina is resisting US-led efforts to order new sanctions against North Korea over its rocket launch and the UN Security Council could take weeks to decide a formal move, diplomats said.
18 December 2012
IMF's Argentina censure motion set for late January The International Monetary Fund said Monday its executive board is unlikly to consider until late January any possible action against Argentina for failing to supply accurate economic data.
Popol Vuh: the Mayan holy book Before the creation of the Earth, there was only silence and darkness, only the sky and the sea until the deities Tepeu and Gucumatz created trees, animals and man -- so says the Mayan holy book.
18 December 2012
Toyota shares hit highest level this year Toyota shares on Tuesday jumped to their highest level this year, boosted by a weaker yen and after a report said the firm was on track to be the world's biggest automaker in 2012.
18 December 2012
New species, old threats to Mekong wildlife: WWF From a devilish-looking bat to a frog that sings like a bird, scientists have identified 126 new species in the Greater Mekong area, the WWF said Tuesday in a new report detailing discoveries in 2011.
18 December 2012
UN to increase contacts with Syrian opposition The UN humanitarian chief said Monday she has asked the Syrian government for 10 more aid groups to work in the country and will increase contacts with the opposition to help those in need.
Kyrgyz capital without gas at 20 below zero Residents of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek have no gas to heat their homes amid arctic temperatures because Kazakhstan cut off the supply.
Kazakh strongman backs switch to Latin alphabet Kazakh strongman Nursultan Nazarbayev on Friday called for a modernisation drive to turn the energy-rich Central Asian country into of the world's most developed, including a switch to the Latin alphabet.