Battling time and protests, Putin turns 60
Russian President Vladimir Putin hits retirement age on Sunday but he appears determined to prove that 60 is the new 40.
Guessing game starts as Nobel season nears
Early October means it's time for the annual Nobel Prize announcements and frenzied guessing over possible winners, with 231 Peace Prize nominees.
US, British universities top in academic excellence
US and British universities continue to dominate in academic excellence but Asia is catching up fast, said an influential education rankings report.
Australia hits out at Japan at whale research launch
Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke Thursday hit out at Japan's "alleged" scientific whaling as researchers hailed the testing of new acoustic tracking technology for the endangered blue whale.
Apple smartphones gaining on Samsung in US
Apple narrowed the gap with Samsung smartphones in the precious US market in the months before the release of the hot-selling iPhone 5 model.
Nigeria student massacre leaves 26 dead
Gunmen massacred at least 26 people in a student housing area of northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, calling victims out by name before shooting them or slitting their throats.
Bond fans set to mark 50 years of big-screen style
A series of events are to be held on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the James Bond films, the iconic spy saga that helped define half-a-century of cultural, political and technological upheaval.
Maghreb becoming a 'terrorist' hub: Tunisia president
Jihadists pose a "great danger" to the Maghreb region, which is turning into a "terrorist" hub, Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki warned in an interview with Arabic daily Al-Hayat published Tuesday.
Gold mine evicts workers as S.African strikes spread
A leading gold mine in South Africa started evicting thousands of its striking workers from company dormitories on Tuesday as work stoppages spread to more gold and platinum mines.
Zimbabwe vote body seeks $104 mn for referendum
Cash-strapped Zimbabwe's electoral commission needs $104 million to organise a referendum on a new constitution that would pave way for a vote on a successor to the country's shaky coalition government.
Questions mount over Benghazi attack
Three weeks after a deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi little is known about how and why the assault happened or who was behind it, amid mounting concern over possible security lapses.
Honeybees, with a sting, at McQueen show in Paris
Honeycomb dresses, insect-like visors and caramel corsets cinching their waists, designer Sarah Burton sent a procession of queen bees buzzing into Paris at the Alexander McQueen spring-summer show.
Ai Weiwei gets first big US show, shaped by his plight
The first US survey of the work of Ai Weiwei opens this weekend in Washington, shaped -- in the words of the dissident artist himself -- by his ongoing struggle with the powers that be in Beijing.
Google backs off patent complaint against Apple
Google-owned Motorola Mobility withdrew a patent complaint filed with a US commission but remained quiet Tuesday as to the reason for the legal ceasefire.
Iran says will not retreat on nuclear issue despite woes
Iran will press on with its nuclear programme despite the problems caused by Western sanctions, including a dramatic slide in the value of its currency.
Syria army steps up operations in Aleppo, Damascus
Syria's army rained shells on rebel bastions in and around Damascus Tuesday and sent extra troops to second city Aleppo, as a watchdog said the death toll from 18 months of violence now topped 31,000.
US court blocks controversial voter ID law
In a win for President Barack Obama's Democrats, a judge in Pennsylvania ordered state officials Tuesday not to enforce a controversial voter ID law in the coming presidential election.
Bus plunges into ravine in Peru, killing 22
A bus riding along a foggy road in Peru plunged into a ravine, killing 22 people and leaving 16 injured, a news agency reported Tuesday.
Georgian Dream to ease, not end Russia nightmare
The defeat in Georgia's parliamentary polls of Russia's bitter foe President Mikhail Saakashvili may remove some poison from venomous bilateral relations, but Moscow should not expect major policy changes from Tbilisi.
KazMunaiGas' prospects remain optimistic even in pessimistic scenario
Production of oil and gas condensate will grow 1.6-fold in Kazakhstan by 2022: KazMunaiGas chairman.