Taliban attack Afghan presidential palace, CIA office
Taliban militants targeted the presidential palace and national CIA office in central Kabul on Tuesday morning, with gunfire and explosions erupting at one of the gates of the complex in the Afghan capital.
Pesticides tainting traditional China herbs: Greenpeace
Traditional Chinese herbs are being contaminated with a toxic cocktail of pesticides that poses a threat to consumer health and the environment.
At least 50 plots foiled by US spy programs: NSA chief
Secret US surveillance has foiled more than 50 terror plots since 2001, including a planned bomb attack on the New York Stock Exchange, a US spy chief said Tuesday, defending leaked programs.
Environmentalists warn of Nicaragua canal disaster
A proposed Nicaraguan waterway rivaling the Panama Canal would cause an environmental disaster threatening drinking water supplies and fragile ecosystems.
N. Korea in fresh vow to build up nuclear deterrent
North Korea on Saturday made a fresh vow to build up its nuclear deterrent in the face of "threats of war" from the United States and a "policy of confrontation" from the South.
Venezuela threatens to end support for Colombia peace
Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles on Thursday denounced as "blackmail" a threat by Caracas to end support for Colombia's peace process with leftist rebels.
Threatening letter, powder sent to S. Korea minister
South Korea's defence minister received Tuesday a package containing a threatening letter and suspicious powder, in what his ministry described as an attempted act of "terror".
N. Korea threatens South over 'monstrous' act
North Korea's military on Tuesday threatened the South with imminent "sledge-hammer" retaliation unless Seoul apologised for anti-Pyongyang protestors burning effigies of its revered leaders.
S. Korea, US upgrade surveillance status: report
South Korea and the United States upgraded their coordinated military surveillance status on Wednesday, a report said, ahead of an expected mid-range missile launch by North Korea.
US plans tit-for-tat response to N. Korea actions: report
The United States and South Korea have drawn up plans for a measured tit-for-tat response to North Korean actions, which will be limited in order to prevent an escalation to broader war.
Evacuation warnings, missile fears stoke N. Korea crisis
Foreign diplomats in Pyongyang huddled on Saturday to discuss a North Korean evacuation advisory as concerns grew that the isolated state was preparing a missile launch at a time of soaring nuclear tensions.
US boosts missile defence, N. Korea warns of nuclear strike
The United States has scrambled to reinforce its Pacific missile defences, preparing to send ground-based interceptors to Guam.
N. Korea blocks access to key industrial zone
North Korea blocked South Korean access to a key joint industrial zone Wednesday, matching its angry rhetoric with action as Washington condemned Pyongyang's "dangerous, reckless" behaviour.
S.Korea leader vows to strike back at North
South Korea's new president on Monday promised a strong military response to any North Korean provocation after Pyongyang announced that the two countries were now in a state of war.
Pakistan election campaign heats up despite attacks
Pakistan's political parties organised huge rallies on Sunday but campaigning for historic general elections in May was marred by a bomb attack which killed two people in the country's northwest.
US warns ready for 'any eventuality' on N.Korea
The United States warned Thursday that the danger from North Korea was rising and that Washington was ready for "any eventuality" after flying two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers over ally South Korea.
Combat-ready' N. Korea threatens Hawaii, US mainland
North Korea's military put its "strategic" rocket units on a war footing Tuesday, with a fresh threat to strike targets on the US mainland, Hawaii and Guam, as well as South Korea.
North Korea places South island in crosshairs
North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un threatened to "wipe out" a South Korean island as Pyongyang came under new economic and diplomatic fire Tuesday from US sanctions and UN charges of gross rights abuses.
Iran exploring second route to nuclear bomb: report
Satellite images show that Iran's Arak heavy-water plan is operational, raising fears that it is trying to produce plutonium for a nuclear bomb.
Syria rebels threaten to fire on Lebanon's Hezbollah
A commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum, has warned his forces will target Lebanon's Hezbollah unless the militant group stops shelling territory held by the insurgents.