Hundreds of Zimbabweans from political parties, civil rights organizations, churches and ordinary citizens gathered Wednesday for the first public hearings towards a new constitution organized by the transitional four-month-old government of nationa...
In Sri Lanka, media groups have asked the government to scrap moves to re-establish a media panel which could jail journalists. The reactivation of the Press Council is being seen as a means to control the media in a country where concerns have been...
Australia's once dominant wine industry is facing its biggest challenge, as competition increases from lower-cost rivals and consumer tastes change. Producers are being encouraged to target exports to Asia to revive the industry. Penfolds 1962 vinta...
Thailand is struggling to end a Muslim insurgency in the south that since 2004 has claimed more than 3,400 lives. The Thai government plans to tackle the violence with more security and development assistance. But, political analysts say the focus s...
Russian historians widely recognize June 27, 1709 as the date their country became a great power. Russia that day defeated an invading Swedish army at Poltava in Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces allied with Sweden were also vanquished. The Battle of...
A meeting of India's top military brass is under way - the first since last November's terror attack on Mumbai, in which more than 160 people died. The country's defense chief is telling his commanders they must be prepared to meet emerging threats...
The top U.S. military officer is in Moscow for talks on missile defense, arms control and other issues in advance of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to the Russian capital in 10 days. Admiral Mike Mullen, (file photo) The Chairman of the Joint C...
In Somalia's capital, the radical Islamist al-Shabab militia amputated a hand and a foot each from four young men accused of stealing guns and mobile phones. The militia has imposed a harsh brand of Islamic law in areas of Somalia under its control....
Fire authorities from around the world have been meeting in Australia to learn from the devastating bush fires in the southern state of Victoria earlier this year. Firefighters using mobile tanker trucks work to keep fire under control at containmen...
Indonesia reported its first two confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu virus. One of the cases is an Australian tourist, who was visiting the island of Bali. Indonesia's Minister of Health says more must be done at Bali's international airport to pr...