US names new Afghanistan-Pakistan envoy US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday named veteran diplomat James Dobbins to be the new special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan at what he called "a pivotal moment" for the two nations.
Commodity prices hit by weak global outlook Global commodity markets were hit this week by weaker-than-expected manufacturing data in key consumers China and the United States.
04 May 2013
Obama does 'not foresee' US troops in Syria President Barack Obama came close Friday to ruling out deploying US troops to Syria, saying he did not foresee a scenario in which that would be beneficial to the United States or Syria.
Bodies of two US pilots found after Kyrgyzstan crash Rescuers on Saturday recovered the bodies of two US pilots whose refuelling plane crashed in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan shortly after taking off from a base that serves as a hub for military operations in Afghanistan.
Author Murakami sends message to Boston Japanese author and keen runner Haruki Murakami sent a "personal message" to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and said he also felt wounded by the attack on his favourite race.
04 May 2013
Pakistan election candidate shot dead: police A candidate running for parliament in next week's historic Pakistani election was shot dead on Friday along with his three-year-old son after praying in a mosque in Karachi.
04 May 2013
Penfolds pops cork on 'perfect' 2008 Grange Nestled in Australia's Adelaide hills, Penfolds Magill Estate has opened its double cellar doors to launch global sales of one of the most hyped "new world" wines in recent history.
04 May 2013
Raging California wildfire nearly triples in size A raging California wildfire nearly tripled in size Friday as it threatened 4,000 homes, although firefighters said they had gained more control over it.
TED tailors 'ideas worth spreading' for TV The prestigious TED gathering known for perspective-shifting presentations by the brilliant and famous is tailoring "ideas worth spreading" for a television audience.
04 May 2013
South Africa government in crisis over wedding scandal South Africa's government announced the suspension of a slew of officials and military personnel Friday, as it tried to limit the political and diplomatic fallout from a lavish Indian wedding.
Solar plane on cross-country US trip The first-ever manned airplane that can fly by day or night on the sun's power alone soared over the western United States late Friday on the first leg of cross-country journey.