World - Top Stories
China's 'greatest' Games to begin amid new terrorism threat
Posted | Updated
China says its ready for its Olympic Games, however pollution concerns and a new terror threat cloud the Game's kick off.
Credit crisis hits world's largest insurer
Posted
The world's largest insurer, American International Group (AIG), has become the latest financial services company to suffer the brunt of the global credit crisis.
Explosion kills 2 in Russian resort city
Posted | Updated
An explosion in Russia's southern resort city of Sochi has killed two people and injured three others.
Eight Iraq family members killed by old landmine
Posted
Eight members of one Iraqi family, including three woman and two children, have been killed when an old mine brought home by one of their children exploded inside their house, police have said.
Egypt to test foetuses for Tutankhamun family tree
Posted
Egyptian scientists are doing DNA tests on stillborn children found in the tomb of the Pharoah Tutankhamun in the hope of identifying their mother and grandmother, who may be the powerful queen Nefertiti, Egypt's chief archaeologist says.
Mugabe, S Africa hail progress in Zimbabwe talks
Posted | Updated
The South African Government says talks on resolving Zimbabwe's political crisis are progressing extremely well.
7yo girl allegedly married off, Afghan cleric arrested
Posted
Afghan police have detained an Islamic cleric for allegedly presiding over the marriage of a seven-year-old girl to a teenage boy in a remote northern town, police have said.
China hits back at Bush on human rights
Posted | Updated
China says it is opposed to any outside interference in response to US President Bush criticising its human rights record.
Tomkins chosen as Australian flag bearer
Posted | Updated
Rower James Tomkins has been confirmed as Australia's flag bearer for tomorrow night's opening ceremony.
Tibetans protest in Nepal on eve of Olympics
Posted | Updated
An estimated 1,500 Tibetans have staged a protest in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, expressing their anger towards China on the eve of the Beijing Olympics, police and eyewitnesses said.
Thaksin to return to Thailand as planned: spokeswoman
Posted
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, facing a spate of corruption charges at home, will return to Thailand from an overseas trip by August 11 as planned, his spokeswoman said.
Pakistan coalition agrees to impeach Musharraf
Posted | Updated
Pakistan's ruling coalition has agreed to begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf.
Mauritania junta pledges free, transparent elections
Posted
Leaders of a military coup in Mauritania have released a statement saying they will hold "free and transparent" presidential elections "in the shortest time possible".
Northern Pacific faces escalating drugs problem: DEA
Posted
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has warned northern Pacific nations they are facing a growing problem with illegal drugs.
Georgia preparing for war in rebel region: Russia
Posted
Russia's Foreign Ministry says Georgia is preparing for war in its breakaway region of South Ossetia, after reports of overnight fighting in the area.
Rudd touches down in Beijing for Olympics opener
Posted
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has arrived in Beijing for the opening of the Olympic Games.
Another human rights protest in Beijing
Posted | Updated
As the Olympic Games draw closer, more human rights protests are breaking out in Beijing.
27 killed in Pakistan clashes: government
Posted
At least 25 pro-Taliban militants and two Pakistani soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in a tribal region along the Afghan border, government officials said.
Chinese political prisoners 'worse-off' in Games lead-up
Posted | Updated
A letter from a jailed Chinese dissident to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claims the treatment of pro-democracy supporters in China has worsened in the lead-up to the Games.
Quake damages houses on Indonesia's Sumbawa island
Posted
A shallow earthquake has shaken Indonesia's Sumbawa island, damaging several hundred houses, but there was no tsunami warning or immediate reports of casualties, officials said.
Bush chides China on human rights
Posted | Updated
George W Bush has used some of his bluntest language yet in publicly pressing China to improve its human rights record.
Malaysia's Anwar charged with sodomy, bailed
Posted | Updated
Malaysia's leading opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim was charged with sodomy, but was granted bail.
Beijing smog no obstacle to doing the job: AOC
Posted | Updated
The Australian Olympic Committee says it is business as usual in Beijing today despite the city being shrouded in smog.
Ledger drug probe closed: report
Posted | Updated
How Heath Ledger obtained pills that led to his fatal overdose remains a mystery.
Man arrested in UK over French student murders
Posted
British police investigating the frenzied killings of two French students in London say they have arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of murder, the seventh arrest in the case.
