Man who oversaw Saddam hanging recalls dictator's endMowaffak al-Rubaie sits in his office with a statue of Saddam Hussein behind him, the rope used to hang the dictator around its neck, recalling his final minutes.
27 December 2013
Red Cross recovers dozens of bodies in C. Africa capitalThe Red Cross said Thursday it had recovered some 40 bodies on the streets of Bangui as the United States expressed alarm at the latest eruption of fighting in the Central African Republic.
Israel says to free Palestinians and build more settlementsIsrael will announce plans for new settlement construction next week, coinciding with the release of a third batch of Palestinian prisoners as part of peace talks, an official said Thursday.
Oil prices up on escalating South Sudan violenceCrude edged higher in Asian trade Thursday on supply concerns following escalating violence in oil-producer South Sudan, but gains were capped as dealers sat on the sidelines awaiting fresh leads after the festive season.
26 December 2013
US 'concern' over Uganda anti-gay billThe United States voiced concern on Tuesday over a draconian anti-homosexuality bill passed by Uganda's parliament.
26 December 2013
Ralph Fiennes reveals other Dickens in 'Invisible Woman'For his second film as director, British actor Ralph Fiennes lifts the cover on a little-known secret about classic English author Charles Dickens: his decade-long adulterous affair with a young actress.
NYC first daughter confesses to drug, alcohol abuseThe teenage daughter of New York's incoming mayor confessed on Christmas Eve to smoking pot and underage drinking in a video aimed at helping others battling depression.
Rockets explode in Kabul as foreigners mark ChristmasTwo rockets exploded in Kabul on Wednesday morning, causing no reported casualties but underlining Afghanistan's continuing security problems as many foreigners in the capital marked Christmas Day.
25 December 2013
Italian 'Slave' posters pulled amid racism claimsThe US studio behind Golden Globe-nominated historical drama "12 Years a Slave," has asked the film's Italian distributors to withdraw posters which triggered an online storm over alleged racism.
25 December 2013
Crude prices down in quiet Asian tradeOil prices edged lower in quiet Christmas Eve trade in Asia Tuesday as dealers engaged in profit-taking, with a lack of leads to spur fresh market movement, analysts said.
25 December 2013
Zimmerman painting sells for $100,000A painting by George Zimmerman, whose fatal 2012 shooting of a black teenager triggered an outcry across the United States, sold for just over $100,000 on eBay.
Images show N. Korea efforts to restart nuclear complexSatellite imagery suggests North Korea is making "wide-ranging, extensive" efforts to fully reactivate its main nuclear complex, a US think tank said Tuesday, in line with Pyongyang's vows to strengthen its weapons programme.
24 December 2013
Flu vaccine more effective for women than men: studyThe flu vaccine is generally less effective for men than for women, scientists said in a study Monday, tracing the effect to higher levels of testosterone that curb the immune response.
24 December 2013
Santa cleared for entry to US: officialSanta Claus was officially cleared for entry into the United States on Monday as federal agriculture officials waived stringent livestock checks on his nine reindeer.