YouTube announces shutdown in April Fool's prank
In an elaborate April Fool's prank, YouTube announced Sunday it was going dark for a decade, and that the site was merely an eight-year contest to find the best video.
Annual jazz festival to be held in Almaty in April
The Kazakhstan jazz fest will include performances of musicians from France, Holland, Hungary, Austria, the U.S. and Turkey.
Forex markets calm as Easter weekend starts
Foreign exchange rates were calm Friday as financial markets in Europe, the United States and elsewhere were closed for Easter weekend.
Ambassadors present credentials to Kazakhstan Secretary of State
Ambassadors of 8 countries presented their credentials to Marat Tazhin of Kazakhstan.
China's Xi signs multi-million-dollar deals in Congo
China's new President Xi Jinping on Friday signed deals worth several million dollars with his Congolese counterpart in sectors as varied as banking and infrastructure, on the final leg of his three-nation Africa tour.
Titanic II titan unveils Australian dinosaur park plan
An eccentric Australian mining magnate who is building a replica of the ill-fated Titanic on Saturday unveiled his latest scheme -- a park of giant robotic dinosaurs.
Robert Redford to appear in new 'Captain America' film
Robert Redford will appear in the next "Captain America" blockbuster -- and the Hollywood legend and independent movie guru insists he is not selling out.
Cyprus will not quit the euro, vows president
President Nicos Anastasiades vowed on Friday to keep Cyprus in the euro but had harsh words for international lenders behind the huge bailout that saved the island from bankruptcy.
Paris's landmark Crillon hotel closes for makeover
The Hotel de Crillon in Paris, one of the world's oldest luxury hotels, is closing this weekend for a two-year-long makeover that includes a new spa and sweeping renovations.
'Facebook phone' may ring true April 4
Facebook fueled fresh talk Friday about its own mobile phone after the leading social network scheduled a press announcement for next week.
Seven killed in Mexican bar shooting
A gunman opened fire in a bar in northern Mexico on Thursday, killing seven people and wounding two others in the latest burst of violence in the country.
Scores of bodies discovered in C.Africa capital
The Red Cross said Friday it had found some 78 bodies in the streets of the Central African Republic's capital since it fell to rebels last weekend, as jittery residents waited to hear about a new government.
Classic Philly cheesesteak joint drops 'Chink' name
A classic Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant is changing its name after almost seven decades from "Chink's" because of fear of causing racial offense.
Pope to celebrate first Easter vigil
Pope Francis is to celebrate his first Easter vigil on Saturday after praying for peace in the Middle East and stronger Christian-Muslim dialogue at a torch-lit ceremony for Good Friday.
Russia accuses US of meddling after 'witch hunt' remarks
Moscow on Saturday accused Washington of interfering in its domestic affairs after the State Department compared searches of Russian non-governmental organisations to a "witch hunt."
Argentina presents conditions for debt repayment
Argentina on Friday offered two New York hedge funds to repay its debt to them with cash and new bonds on conditions similar to those used in a 2010 debt swap.
Mobile shines in exploding world of games
The booming popularity of play on smartphones or tablet computers in a realm once dominated by videogame consoles was a hot theme at the major Game Developers Conference that ended here Friday.
Italy government talks end with no solution in sight
Italy remained in political limbo on Friday after talks to break a deadlock created by inconclusive polls ended with no solution in sight.
New quest to study 'living fossil' coelacanth
French and South African biologists will dive to deep-sea caves in the Indian Ocean next month in a bid to locate the coelacanth, the "living fossil" fish whose history predates the dinosaurs.
Guatanamo hunger strikers ready for death - lawyer
His body ravaged and weakened by a 50-day hunger strike staged in protest at alleged mistreatment of Korans at Guantanamo jail, Abd al-Malik Abd al-Wahab has a message for his loved ones.
