North Korea says wants end to hostile U.S. ties »
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea called for an end to hostile ties with the United States and an atomic-free peninsula in a New Year message that comes weeks after it indicated it could end its year-long boycott of nuclear disarmament talks.
Taliban behead six Afghan ‘spies’ »
Taliban militants have beheaded six Afghans they accused of spying for the government of President Hamid Karzai.
Probe says key intelligence on bomber not shared »
A first probe into lapses that almost led to an explosion on a transatlantic airliner reportedly found Thursday that US government agencies failed to share key information about the would-be bomber.
New Zealand welcomes New Year »
New Zealanders partied noisily with fireworks and music to welcome the New Year and a new decade.
Rockers happy to join establishment »
Status Quo’s ageing rockers, Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi, have joined the establishment — accepting OBEs in Britain’s New Year honours list.
Record US aid goes on armaments »
Just before Christmas, US President Barack Obama signed into law one of his country’s biggest aid pledges of the year. It was bound not for Africa or any of the many struggling countries on the World Bank’s list.
Obama probes security failings »
US President Barack Obama was to receive a report last night detailing how government agencies failed to act on information about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab before he allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day.
Suicide attack kills 8 at CIA base near Pakistan border »
A suicide bomber has infiltrated a CIA base in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least eight Americans in what is believed to be the deadliest single attack on US intelligence personnel in the eight-year-long war and one of the deadliest in the agency’s history.
Gamblers seek visions via vultures »
It’s a tiny organ that, the superstition goes, holds the secrets of the future.
Indonesia mourns charismatic and unpredictable ex-president »
History is likely to judge Mr Wahid’s controversial 21 months in power kindly.