Taliban: NATO nations should pull back

Sun, 20 May 2012 15:25:48 GMT

The Taliban on Sunday urged all NATO nations in Afghanistan to follow France's lead and pull their forces from the war.

Serbia votes for a new president

Sun, 20 May 2012 14:37:20 GMT

Serbians voted Sunday for a new president in a run-off with the incumbent Boris Tadic, who has vowed to lead the Balkans nation into the EU, set to beat nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic.

29 Chinese held in North Korea freed

Sun, 20 May 2012 14:27:05 GMT

All 29 Chinese fishermen kidnapped earlier this month by unidentified armed North Koreans have been freed and are on their way home, Chinese state media said on Sunday.

Saudi beheads two Pakistanis over murders

Sun, 20 May 2012 12:15:22 GMT

Saudi authorities today beheaded two Pakistanis in the holy city of Mecca after finding them guilty of two murders, the interior ministry said.

Strong earthquake hits North Italy, at least 3 dead

Sun, 20 May 2012 05:37:41 GMT

A strong earthquake rocked a large swathe of northern Italy early on Sunday morning, causing at least three deaths and collapsing rural factories and ancient bell towers in towns.

G8 backs Greece, vows to combat financial turmoil

Sun, 20 May 2012 04:55:53 GMT

World leaders backed keeping Greece in the euro zone on Saturday and vowed to take all steps necessary to combat financial turmoil while revitalizing a global economy increasingly threatened by Europe's debt crisis.

Lankan president orders release of ex-army chief

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:01:16 GMT

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has signed the papers for the release of the former army chief Sarath Fonseka from jail prior to his departure to Qatar.

Blind Chinese activist Chen arrives in US

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:53:24 GMT

Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng arrived in the United States on Saturday and declared "equality and justice have no boundaries" after China let him leave a Beijing hospital to quell a sensitive diplomatic rift between the two countries.

Murdoch: No plan to hive off British newspapers

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:28:43 GMT

Rupert Murdoch has denied reports that News Corp is considering spinning off its British newspapers to protect the rest of his media empire from a phone hacking scandal.

At Camp David, G8 leaders grapple with euro crisis

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:24:40 GMT

Obama opened the morning session by promising to seek ways to restore healthy growth and jobs and address concerns in Europe.

Nato supply routes to reopen: Pak

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:18:20 GMT

The Nato trucks were carrying office supplies for the US embassy in Kabul.

US House OKs bill for rider on Pak aid

Sat, 19 May 2012 20:05:16 GMT

Defying the White House veto threat, the Republican-majority US House of Representatives has passed the $643 billion defence authorization bill for 2013 that among other things calls for certain conditions for American aid to Pakistan.

73-yr-old Japanese beats own Everest record

Sat, 19 May 2012 19:58:55 GMT

At an age when most women keep busy playing with their grandchildren or take to gardening, a 73-year-old Japanese pensioner on Saturday bettered her decade-long record to remain the oldest woman to conquer the 8,848m Mount Everest.

SpaceX rocket launch aborted in last second

Sat, 19 May 2012 13:45:32 GMT

A new private rocket bound for the International Space Station roared to life for a history-making liftoff today, but remained stuck on the ground following a last-second abort.

US House passes $643 billion defence bill

Sat, 19 May 2012 13:39:38 GMT

Defying the White House veto threat, the Republican-majority US House of Representatives has passed the USD 643 billion defence authorisation bill for 2013 that among other things calls for certain conditions for American aid to Pakistan.

First Bangladeshi woman to climb Everest

Sat, 19 May 2012 12:13:25 GMT

A 31-year-old Bangladeshi accountant Saturday became the first woman from her country to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain.

Blind Chinese activist leaves for US

Sat, 19 May 2012 11:37:52 GMT

A blind Chinese activist was hurriedly taken from a hospital Saturday and boarded a plane that took off for the United States, closing a nearly monthlong diplomatic tussle that had tested US-China relations.

Pakistan to test-fire nuclear-missile

Sat, 19 May 2012 05:53:34 GMT

Pakistan will test fire a new nuclear-capable missile by the end of this month, a media report said Saturday.

US targets 2 Taliban, Haqqani leaders

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:11:29 GMT

The US has slapped sanctions on two Afghan men linked with the Taliban and the Haqqani network based along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, barring American citizens from any dealings with them.

Indian-origin man is first Muslim mayor of UK town

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:09:47 GMT

Indian-origin councillor Abdul Razak Osman has become the first Lord Mayor of the Islamic faith to hold the high office in the multi-cultural town of Leicester, which has a large minority of Indian origin people.

Pak link to terror plot against Indian mission in France

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:04:46 GMT

Two months after he was shot dead by French special forces, a 23-year-old Algerian-origin terrorist was found to have been plotting to attack the Indian embassy in Paris on the direction of his Taliban handlers in Pakistan.

Carla had an affair with new minister?

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:03:16 GMT

Carla Bruni is facing embarrassing revelations about her past love affair with France's new foreign minister. The former supermodel reportedly had a "brief but very passionate" relationship with Laurent Fabius.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano to visit Iran

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:13:19 GMT

Amano's visit comes ahead of a crunch meeting in Baghdad on Wednesday between Tehran and a group of world powers to discuss concerns over Iran's suspected nuclear weapons drive.

US House votes to sell fighter jets to Taiwan

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:55 GMT

The House of Representatives has voted to require the United States to sell 66 new fighter jets to Taiwan, with lawmakers saying the deal would close a growing military gap with China.

Obama touts $3bn in pledges for Africa

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:11:47 GMT

Obama said the US has a "moral obligation" to help lead the fight against hunger and malnutrition, announcing $3 billion in private sector pledges to help feed Africa's poor.