Japan pop idol shaves head after sex scandal
A Japanese starlet who shaved her head and issued a tearful YouTube apology after spending the night with a man was scrambling Friday to redeem the girl next door image of all-female group AKB48.
Clinton to continue her work for Afghan women
Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Thursday that the United States remains very concerned about the future of women in Afghanistan as US troops prepare to leave the country.
US archbishop releases abuse records, strips cardinal
The archbishop of Los Angeles stripped his predecessor of all church duties Thursday as he released files on more than 100 clerics, as required under a 2007 lawsuit deal over alleged sex abuse.
N. Korea camouflages nuclear test site: report
North Korea has covered the entrance to a tunnel at its nuclear test site in an apparent effort to avoid satellite monitoring ahead of a widely expected detonation.
US dodges Super Bowl chicken wing shortage
In the run-up to Super Bowl Sunday, millions of American football fans can rest assured: there is no looming shortage of their beloved chicken wings.
Australia failing UNESCO demands on Barrier Reef: WWF
Australia insisted Friday that protecting the Great Barrier Reef was a top priority, but conservationists WWF said not enough had been done to prevent UNESCO deeming it a world heritage site "in danger".
As Indian art world meets, prices stay depressed
India's art world has converged on New Delhi for the industry's biggest annual event where upbeat talk and parties are likely to disguise a market that is still in the doldrums since crashing in 2008.
Samsung chairman wins $4 bn family court case
Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-Hee won a court ruling Friday against demands from his siblings to hand over billions of dollars in shares in various Samsung Group companies.
No new bases in Asia: US commander
The United States' pivot to Asia will not mean any new bases in the region, but existing alliances will be strengthened and modernised.
Hong Kongers turn to Obama over milk shortage fears
More than 12,500 people have petitioned US President Barack Obama to help Hong Kong avoid a baby formula shortage, saying infants in the city are facing malnutrition due to mainland Chinese "smugglers".
14-y.o. patient raped in Ekibastuz hospital
Criminal police officers apprehended a 26-y.o. unemployed citizen, previously unconvicted, who raped the 14-y.o. school gird in the pediatric department of Ekibastuz city hospital.
CSTO prepares package plan on Afghanistan based on Kazakhstan's data
Kazakhstan initiated a follow-up analysis of the situation in Afghanistan: CSTO Secretary General.
Boxing: Golovkin hopes to fight Sturm and Geale in 2013
Gennady Golovkin also named American Peter Quillin, the WBO world champion, as his possible future rival.
China steel industry says profits plunge
The combined profits of China's major steelmakers crashed by more than 98 percent in 2012 as growth in the economy of the world's largest steel producer slowed.
5.3-magnitude earthquake hits east Kazakhstan
The shocks were registered at 12:36 p.m. Astana time on February 1.
Taiwan premier resigns over flagging economy
Taiwanese Premier Sean Chen said Friday he has stepped down for health reasons, after the cabinet he heads came under fire for its poor handling of the economy.
Armenian presidential candidate shot: police
An Armenian presidential candidate was shot and wounded late Thursday by an unknown assailant in the capital Yerevan less than a month before election day.
Solomons seeks to prevent mass dolphin killings
The Solomon Islands on Friday urged villagers to stop the mass slaughter of dolphins, saying the traditional practice was damaging the Pacific nation's tourism industry.
Columbia space tragedy, 10 years on
NASA will commemorate the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts a decade ago, a landmark incident that triggered the end of the shuttle mission.
Wall Street Journal says also hit by Chinese hackers
The Wall Street Journal said Thursday its computers had been hit by Chinese hackers, becoming the latest US media organization to report an effort to spy on its journalists covering China.
