Chavez can stay in office without Jan 10 oath taking: VP
Venezuela's cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez can continue in office even if he is unable to be sworn in to a new term on January 10 as scheduled.
An Italian teacher who kills celebrities on Twitter
Fidel Castro, Mikhail Gorbachev and Pope Benedict XVI -- Italian Tommasso Debenedetti has killed them all in fake tweets aimed at exposing shoddy journalism that have earned him global notoriety.
Thousands flee wildfires in southern Australia
Thousands fled wildfires raging on the Australian island of Tasmania, destroying at least 80 properties and leaving unconfirmed reports of one man dying in the blaze.
Google maps New Year's resolutions around the world
Google is letting people peg their New Year's resolutions to an online map and see what promises others around the world have set out to keep in 2013.
US politician hopes for 'positive' Pyongyang trip
Former US governor Bill Richardson said Friday he hopes to assess what is happening in North Korea under its new leader Kim Jong-Un during what he hopes will be a "positive" visit.
Giant rubber duck brings Sydney festival to life
A gigantic, bright yellow rubber duck floated into Sydney's Darling Harbour on Saturday as part of the Australian city's annual arts festival, a celebration where high-art meets popular entertainment.
Venezuela assembly meets amid Chavez health crisis
Venezuela's National Assembly meets Saturday to elect its leadership in a session that also is expected to thrash out the country's political future as President Hugo Chavez battles cancer in Cuba.
China 'biggest' nuclear plant construction resumes
China has resumed construction on a "fourth generation" nuclear power plant, suspended after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which will be its biggest-ever nuclear facility.
Myanmar mediators urge Suu Kyi help in Kachin war
Mediators trying to broker a peace deal between the military and ethnic minority rebels in northern Myanmar on Saturday appealed to Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to help end the bloody conflict.
Syria's Alawite area Assad's last resort: analysts
The last option for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who is determined not to back down after 21 months of deadly conflict, is to battle to the end from a fortified Alawite statelet, analysts believe.
Malawi's Banda assures IMF of economic reforms
Malawi's President Joyce Banda has assured visiting IMF managing director Christine Lagarde that the impoverished southern African country will not backtrack on reforms to help the economy recover.
Japan scrambles jets to head off China plane
Japan scrambled fighter jets Saturday to head off a Chinese state-owned plane that flew near islands at the centre of a dispute between Tokyo and Beijing.
Sudan, South Sudan meet to push security, oil deals
The rival presidents of Sudan and South Sudan met for face-to-face talks Saturday to push forward stalled security, oil and border deals, and discuss the fate of the contested Abyei region.
Church of England to allow gay bishops in civil partnerships
The Church of England has dropped its opposition to gay clergymen in civil partnerships becoming bishops, provided the men concerned promise to remain celibate.
Snowmobile accident kills six in Italian Alps
A snowmobile accident in the Italian Alps left six tourists dead and two others seriously injured Friday, the ANSA news agency reported.
Giant tuna sells for record $1.8 million in Japan
A monster bluefin tuna sold for a record-breaking $1.8 million in the year's first auction at Japan's Tsukiji fish market on Saturday, nearly three times the previous high set last year.
141 journalists killed in 2012: media watchdog
Last year was one of the deadliest on record for journalists, with 141 killed in 29 different countries and Syria the most dangerous place on earth for reporters.
Study reveals new info on how bacteria survive drugs
Researchers have disproved a long-held theory about how some bacteria survive antibiotics and opened the door to new treatments to fight drug-resistant bugs.
Ancient Afghan papers shed light on Jewish life
A cache of 1,000-year-old documents written by the Jewish community in Afghanistan and unveiled in Jerusalem on Thursday sheds unprecedented light on the mediaeval Jewish community in central Asia.
Canadians protest for India women after gang rape
Protesters have rallied in two of Canada's main cities in solidarity with women in India after the deadly gang rape of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi sparked outrage.
