Frenchman in Australian hospital after prank goes awry
A French tourist was in an Australian hospital Monday with burns after a fellow traveller allegedly set fire to his fancy dress costume which was made of toilet paper.
Nigeria in back-channel talks with Islamists: official
Nigeria's government has reached out to members of Islamist militant group Boko Haram through back-channel talks in a bid to end an insurgency that has killed hundreds, the president's spokesman said Sunday.
'Expendables 2' holds lead in N. America box office
A-list action romp "The Expendables 2" held onto the top rung of the North American box office for a second weekend, keeping "The Bourne Legacy" at bay, industry estimates showed Sunday.
Kazakhstan enters International Astronomical Union
Kazakhstan has entered the International Astronomical Union, National Center for Space Research and Technologies says.
Brazil cracks down on cocaine trafficking in border areas
Faced with rising cocaine consumption linked to economic prosperity, Brazil is cracking down harder on trafficking along its borders with three top neighboring coca leaf producers: Bolivia, Peru and Colombia.
Atyrau oil refinery getting more money
Atyrau oil refinery is getting another major loan for construction of its advanced oil processing center.
Astana Arlans to move to Almaty
Kazakhstan Astana Arlans Boxing Club will train at Novo-Alekseyevka Sport Center near Almaty.
North Korea, Japan to hold first direct talks in four years
North Korea and Japan this week hold their first direct talks in four years with attention focused on whether they can show progress in overcoming deep-rooted suspicions that have hamstrung ties.
Beeline fined $1 million
KaR-Tel cellular operator has been fined $1 million for setting a threshold for connection to international roaming service.
BHP offloads Australian uranium project to Cameco
BHP Billiton on Monday said it was selling one of Australia's largest underdeveloped uranium mines to Cameco for US$430 million, just days after delaying its Olympic Dam copper and uranium project.
Typhoon Bolaven heads for Korea after lashing Japan
One of the most powerful typhoons in decades churned towards the Korean peninsula Monday after lashing Japan's Okinawa with heavy rains and wind, leaving at least five injured.
Superstition thrives in modern Singapore
Whenever Christina Tang is overseas and returns to her hotel room, she always knocks on the door before entering even if she is the only occupant.
Romney 'birther' line the latest in campaign distractions
A social policy debate has dogged Mitt Romney's campaign message, but he caused his own distraction Friday when he dredged up the conspiracy over President Barack Obama's birth certificate.
US court rejects graphic cigarette warnings
A US court on Friday shot down orders to slap graphic anti-tobacco messages on cigarette packs, saying the government overstepped its authority by trying to "browbeat" smokers into quitting.
Nike stands by Armstrong after he loses titles
US sporting goods giant Nike was one of several sponsors sticking by Lance Armstrong on Friday after the US Anti-Doping Agency stripped the cycling legend of his record seven Tour de France titles.
New UN envoy 'scared' by Syria conflict task
New UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said Friday that he was "scared" at the size of the task of ending the Syria conflict.
Can a splash of color change image of Republicans?
A black former top diplomat, a Cuban-born senator, an Indian-American governor -- the speakers list for next week's Republican National Convention reads like a conservative Rainbow Coalition.
British plans to arrest Assange accidentally revealed
British police accidentally let slip their plans to arrest Julian Assange should he leave the Ecuadoran embassy in London, with pictures of their notes appearing in newspapers Saturday.
Swiss lab to analyse Arafat remains for poisoning: hospital
A Swiss radiology lab said on Friday it has received the go-ahead from the widow of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to test his remains for poisoning by polonium, a highly radioactive element.
Mexico police shoot at US embassy car
Mexican federal police shot at a US diplomatic car as they chased criminals south of Mexico City on Friday, in a chaotic incident that left two US embassy employees wounded.