French stats institute warns of period of no growth The French economy appears to be settling into a period of no growth according to the INSEE national statistics institute, which halved late Thursday its 2012 growth forecast to 0.2 percent.
05 October 2012
Japan insurers stop China riot coverage: report Big Japanese insurers have stopped covering firms against riots in China, a report said Friday, a move seen likely to hit investment there as the countries remain stuck in a festering territorial row.
05 October 2012
Argentine police protest after giant pay error Thousands of police took to the streets across Argentina on Wednesday after their pay was slashed by 30 to 60 percent in what the government said was an administrative error.
05 October 2012
Odd species of wee dinosaur identified in US Researchers have identified a species of puny dinosaur so odd looking -- quills like a porcupine, a parrot-like beak and fangs like a vampire -- it probably deserved a small part in "Jurassic Park."
Facebook hits billion users amid revenue worries Facebook on Thursday celebrated eclipsing the billion-member mark, touting its mission to make the world more social while investors wondered how the service would cash in on its popularity.
05 October 2012
Activists building ship in Gaza to defy Israel A ship built in Gaza will sail next year carrying Palestinian exports to international customers, and to challenge Israel's blockade from the inside out.
05 October 2012
Clinton vows to answer all questions on Libya attack US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed Wednesday to answer lingering questions about last month's deadly attack on a US mission in Libya, seeking to counter a barrage of Republican criticism.
05 October 2012
Chinese actress sues US website over Bo link claims Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is suing a US-based Chinese online news outlet over claims that she was a prostitute who had sex with top official Bo Xilai and others.
Economic minnow Laos set to join WTO club After years of preparation, communist Laos is on the verge of joining the World Trade Organisation, a milestone that the small landlocked nation owes to a slew of reforms it must now enforce.
05 October 2012
Hong Kong mourns victims of boat tragedy Flags flew at half mast and leaders observed three minutes of silence Thursday as Hong Kong mourned the 38 victims of a ferry collision which sent shockwaves through the Asian financial centre.
05 October 2012
US daredevil to perform million volt show David Blaine, the US magician, stuntman and all-round daredevil, is going electric -- standing for three days and nights in the middle of a million volts of fiery electric currents.
05 October 2012
Last will and testament of Alfred Nobel, prize creator Swedish inventor and scholar Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), who made a vast fortune from his invention of dynamite in 1866, ordered the creation of the Nobel Prizes in his will.
05 October 2012
Romney turns in strong debate performanceRepublican challenger Mitt Romney performed strongly Wednesday in his first presidential debate, putting Barack Obama on the back foot as he reignited hope in his flagging campaign.