One million march in Brazil's escalating protests
At least one million people rallied across Brazil on Thursday in escalating mass demonstrations over the quality of public services and the high cost of staging the World Cup.
UN says refugees, displaced at two-decade high
War and other crises drove one person from their home every 4.1 seconds in 2012.
Saudi announces four new deaths from MERS virus
Four more people have died from the MERS virus in Saudi Arabia, bringing the death toll from the SARS-like virus in the kingdom to 32.
Vote shows Iranian people want 'different direction': Obama
US President Barack Obama said that Iran's election result showed the country's people wanted to back away from confrontation with the outside world but ruled out for the moment lifting economic sanctions on Tehran.
Thousands protest in Bulgaria, dismissing PM's olive branch
Thousands of people protested in Bulgaria for a third day on Sunday in a show of anger against the government.
Australian court agrees, we're not all male or female
A landmark ruling won by an Australian gender trailblazer which finds that sex does not just mean male or female could have broader implications as society becomes more accepting of diversity.
Google to beam Internet from balloons
Google revealed top-secret plans Saturday to send ballons to the edge of space with the lofty aim of bringing Internet to the two-thirds of the global population currently without web access.
World's oldest ever man dies aged 116
The world's oldest person and the oldest man ever to have lived has died of natural causes aged 116.
Consumers in crisis-hit Spain put brakes on spending
Spaniards are buying fewer cars, fewer clothes and even cutting back on smoking as a grinding recession and rising unemployment force them to slash spending, dealing a severe blow to manufacturers and shops.
Europe stepping up Internet surveillance on lower scale than US
European governments' ability to monitor citizens' online activity on security grounds has increased significantly in recent years.
Recurrent pneumonia not common: lung expert
Pneumonia is one of the most common of lung infections among the elderly but concerns of underlying conditions arise when it recurs.
UN food body approves $200 mn food aid to N. Korea
The UN food body on Saturday said it had approved $200 million of food aid for North Korea, targeting the country's most vulnerable people who remain dependent on external assistance.
The $20,000 pet lion that lives on a Kabul rooftop
For Kabul's wealthy elite some things are de rigueur: armed guards, a marble-clad mansion, a blacked-out SUV. But one man has taken the flamboyant lifestyle a step further and bought a lion.
Turkey PM urges end to protests, tells supporters to 'go home'
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an immediate end to mass protests against his rule Friday, but urged supporters to "go home" after they staged a major show of strength welcoming him back from an overseas trip.
Highway plan sparks fear for Beirut heritage
A new highway touted as a way to ease Beirut's notorious traffic has angered residents and activists who say it will destroy rare old houses that survived Lebanon's 15-year civil war.
New health threats for China as it grows richer: Lancet
The Chinese are increasingly facing diseases of affluence such as cancer, according to a study to be published Saturday in a leading medical journal, with threats to health including diet, pollution and city living.
Turkey defends democratic credentials as tear gas flies
Turkey's embattled government insisted on Wednesday it was "not a second-class democracy" even as police tear-gassed protesters massed in the streets calling for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to quit.
Toll from US tornadoes climbs to 20: officials
At least 20 people were killed by a series of tornadoes that swept through the Midwestern US state of Oklahoma last week, including seven children.
Online, at a price: Cubans get public Internet spots
Cubans barred from logging onto the Internet at home on Tuesday flocked to newly opened public access spots to surf an uncensored World Wide Web -- if they could afford the high prices.
Homelessness rising in Australia: study
Homelessness in Australia has surged 17 percent since 2006 mainly due to a spike in migrant numbers, though fewer people are sleeping rough on the streets.