President weeps for ferry disaster

Tears rolling down her cheeks, South Korean President Park Geun-hye formally apologized on Monday for a ferry disaster that killed about 300 passengers, mostly school children, and said she would break up the coast guard for failing in its duties.

Brazil aims to prevent child-sex tourism at World Cup

As night falls, Adriana de Morais patrols the clubs and bars of Natal, one of Brazil's World Cup host cities, looking for underage prostitutes and trying to get them off the streets.

Fighting between rebels and army in Mali claims 36

Fighting between the Malian army and Tuareg rebels in Mali's northern region of Kidal left at least 36 people dead, eight of them soldiers, while 87 others were injured, Malian Defense Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga confirmed on Sunday.

Australian government battered over austerity budget

Support for Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's conservative government has collapsed following the release of an austerity budget that has emboldened opponents and even sparked calls for early elections.

Libya on alert after Congress attack

Army calls on Islamist militias to help defeat renegade ex-general

Syrian air defense chief dies in battle

Syria's air defense chief has been killed during an offensive by government forces against rebels east of Damascus, according to Islamist rebels and a monitoring group.

Colombia bus blaze kills 31 children

Thirty-one children were burned to death when their bus caught fire and exploded in northern Colombia on Sunday, the Red Cross said.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Iraq cafe walls are picture-perfect

Photographs in business reflect recent history, leaders of nation

Once-decimated European bison returned to wild

Seventeen European bison were released into Romania's Carpathian mountain range on Saturday, one of the largest reintroductions of the endangered mammal in Europe.

Security jitters mount ahead of Ukraine vote

Ukraine's election body has voiced fears that it may be impossible to hold Sunday's presidential poll in the east, where a pro-Moscow insurgency is threatening to plunge the country into all-out civil war.

Biden's son gets energy job

Hunter Biden, the son of US Vice-President Joe Biden, has been appointed to the board of directors of Burisma Holdings, Ukraine's largest private gas producer, according to Russia Today.