US Navy deploys ships before North Korean launch
The United States has deployed naval ships equipped with ballistic missile defenses and is monitoring North Korea "very closely" ahead of an anticipated rocket launch.
Ghana's emergence put to test in tight presidential polls
Ghanain voters head to the polls Friday, with two main presidential candidates vying to lead a booming economy in a country seeking to live up to its promise as a beacon of democracy in turbulent West Africa.
Washington state lights up as marijuana legalized
Pot smokers lit up in Washington state Thursday as recreational marijuana became legal in a historic first for the United States, clouded by the fact that federal law still bans the practice.
With Romney filing, 2012 election spending tops $2 bn
Republican Mitt Romney raised $85.9 million in the final weeks of the White House race, his campaign said Thursday, bringing the total spent on the presidential election to a record $2 billion.
Mexico gay rights groups cheer court's marriage ruling
Mexican gay rights groups voiced hope Thursday that a Supreme Court ruling against an Oaxaca state law that banned same-sex marriages will lead to similar decisions across the nation.
Egypt's Morsi defies protesters, pushes on with referendum
Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Morsi has defied calls to curb his sweeping powers or suspend proposed changes to the constitution.
Kazakhstan President instructed to improve cellular communications
If the cellular operators continue working as bad as they do now in Astana, we will disgrace ourselves: Nazarbayev.
UN urges Palestinians to stay out of Syria conflict
The half a million Palestinian refugees living in Syria should keep out of the country's conflict and their neutrality be respected.
Bieber miffed at Grammys snub, Brubeck gets nod
Justin Bieber's manager has lambasted the Grammys organizers after the Canadian teen sensation failed to garner a single nomination for this year's music awards.
Miss Kazakhstan 2012 beauties ready for final show
Organizers of the pageant has decided to completely change the concept of Miss Kazakhstan-2012 and to arrange a festive fashion show in Astana.
Cutting over 400 jobs in Pavlodar linked to suspension of export to Iran
Pavlodar oblast authorities have linked firing of over 400 employees of the steel plant with suspension of export of goods to Iran.
World's biggest, oldest trees are dying: research
Scientists Friday warned of an alarming increase in the death rates of the largest living organisms on the planet, the giant, old trees that harbour and sustain countless birds and wildlife.
Romanian millionaire hopes for upset in Sunday polls
He's under investigation for fraud and on trial for blackmail, but populist millionaire Dan Diaconescu drives a white Rolls Royce and promises to be a reforming figure whose goal is to "uproot the newly rich who have plundered Romania".
Tablet technology takes teaching into 21st century
In September, the British School of Paris (BSP), where McCluskey teaches, became one of a handful of schools across Europe to take the plunge and decide to restructure their teaching around the technology.
Philippine leader pledges action on typhoon disasters
Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Friday visited communities devastated by a deadly typhoon, and vowed to work to find ways to prevent storm disasters.
Judge calls for "global peace" in Apple-Samsung war
A judge mulling whether to trim or overturn Apple's billion-dollar damages award against Samsung on Thursday called for a ceasefire in the ongoing patent war between the smartphone titans.
Beer is good for you: study finds anti-virus powers
Consuming large quantities of a key ingredient in beer can protect against winter sniffles and even some serious illnesses in small children, a Japanese brewery said citing a scientific study.
No extremist organizations among re-registered religious institutions in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has completed compulsory re-registration of religious institutions.
Smartphones to light up Sydney's New Year show
Sydney's world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks will go interactive with a smartphone-powered light show, officials announced Thursday, with ambassador Kylie Minogue calling on the city to embrace.
Malaysia to teach lawmakers what is corruption
Malaysia's government will offer training to lawmakers to teach them how to avoid corruption, a key issue ahead of national elections that must be held by the middle of next year.