Asia-Pacific

Terrorists issue threats to embassies in Pakistan

British, French and Australian embassies in Islamabad respectively received parcels, which might contain poisonous materials, and threatening letters.
Crashed Russian jet's black box found incomplete

The Russian-made plane that went down last Wednesday slammed into a steep mountainside outside the capital Jakarta during an exhibition flight.
Basic living expenses double since 2004 in India

Basic living expenses have doubled from 2004 to 2012 in India due to inflation of food commodities.

Obama welcomes Beckham to the White House

US first lady Michelle Obama (C) plays host to a Let's Move! soccer event with students from across the country and members of the reigning Major League Soccer champion LA Galaxy including David Beckham, in the state dining room at the White House in Washington, May 15, 2012.
US limits F-22 flights after pilots' complaints

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Tuesday announced new measures to restrict the flight missions by the 5th-generation F-22 Raptor fighters.
Americans see Obama to win election

Fifty-six percent of Americans think President Barack Obama will win the 2012 presidential election, compared with 36 percent who think Republican challenger Mitt Romney will win.

UK PM criticized for not reaching out to Hollande

British Prime Minister David Cameron was criticized on Wednesday for not reaching out to the new French president and being unable to propose a "proper" growth plan for Britain and Europe.
Assets in euros 'must be protected'

The government must guard against losses in euro assets amid uncertainty in the eurozone, experts said.
A glance at Swiss Army Knives factory

Workers at the Victorinox factory, founded in 1884, produce 28,000 Swiss Army Knives a day, many hand-assembled.

Rich smartphone users play games, tweet less

Wealthier smartphone users are less likely to play games or tweet and will opt for news, travel or finance apps, according to a new study.

US soldier recalls little

The US soldier implicated in the massacre of 16 villagers in Afghanistan "has no memory" of the incident, his lawyer said on Monday after their first face-to-face meeting.

Curtains for Humphries' Dame Edna Everage

Australian comedian Barry Humphries said on Sunday he would retire iconic character Dame Edna Everage, a gaudy lilac-haired parody of suburbia, because he felt a "bit senior" and was ready to move on.

James Murdoch: 'I could have asked more questions'

News Corp executive James Murdoch has acknowledged that he could have done more to get to grips with the phone hacking scandal.

Huangyan Island dispute might soon be resolved as discussions with China had taken a clearer direction.

NATO not to pivot to Asia Pacific

NATO will not do it even as it is increasingly engaged with partner nations from that region.

Syria's violence extends its reach

The incessant violence in Syria extended its reach on Tuesday and targeted the UN observers.

India to cut oil imports from Iran

India Tuesday said it had decided to reduce crude oil imports from Iran by 11.1 percent this fiscal year.

Middle East

Syrian election unlikely to reduce tensions

Even though more than 50 percent of eligible Syrian voters turned out to vote in the country's recent parliamentary election, that will do little to ease tensions in the country, experts said.
Afghans reap wheat harvest

An Afghan boy carries wheat as he works on a wheat field in Nangarhar province May 16, 2012.
Iran warns against GCC union plan

Iran warned that Saudi Arabia's plan to form a Gulf Cooperation Council union leads to further crisis in Bahrain.

Nigeria inflation rises, driven by non-food

Nigeria's inflation rate rose to 12.9 percent in April.
Ethiopia urges foreign investment in railways

Ethiopia has called for more foreign investment into the country’s railways, as it plans to build a railway network of nearly 6,000 kilometers in the coming decade.
Police kill four armed robbers in SW Nigeria

Nigerian police in the southwestern state of Ogun on Tuesday foiled a bus robbery attempt along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, killing four suspects on the spot.

British, French and Australian embassies in Islamabad respectively received parcels, which might contain poisonous materials, and threatening letters.

The Russian-made plane that went down last Wednesday slammed into a steep mountainside outside the capital Jakarta during an exhibition flight.

Basic living expenses have doubled from 2004 to 2012 in India due to inflation of food commodities.

US first lady Michelle Obama (C) plays host to a Let's Move! soccer event with students from across the country and members of the reigning Major League Soccer champion LA Galaxy including David Beckham, in the state dining room at the White House in Washington, May 15, 2012.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Tuesday announced new measures to restrict the flight missions by the 5th-generation F-22 Raptor fighters.

Fifty-six percent of Americans think President Barack Obama will win the 2012 presidential election, compared with 36 percent who think Republican challenger Mitt Romney will win.

British Prime Minister David Cameron was criticized on Wednesday for not reaching out to the new French president and being unable to propose a "proper" growth plan for Britain and Europe.

The government must guard against losses in euro assets amid uncertainty in the eurozone, experts said.

Workers at the Victorinox factory, founded in 1884, produce 28,000 Swiss Army Knives a day, many hand-assembled.

Huangyan Island dispute might soon be resolved as discussions with China had taken a clearer direction.

Even though more than 50 percent of eligible Syrian voters turned out to vote in the country's recent parliamentary election, that will do little to ease tensions in the country, experts said.

An Afghan boy carries wheat as he works on a wheat field in Nangarhar province May 16, 2012.

Iran warned that Saudi Arabia's plan to form a Gulf Cooperation Council union leads to further crisis in Bahrain.

Nigeria's inflation rate rose to 12.9 percent in April.

Ethiopia has called for more foreign investment into the country’s railways, as it plans to build a railway network of nearly 6,000 kilometers in the coming decade.

Nigerian police in the southwestern state of Ogun on Tuesday foiled a bus robbery attempt along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, killing four suspects on the spot.

Kaleidoscope