Diana leaked phone numbers, journalist claims

Princess Diana leaked a royal phone directory to the now defunct News of the World tabloid, the paper's former royalty editor testified at a British phone-hacking trial on Thursday.

Worn-down rebels in Damascus halt fighting

Overwhelmed by hunger and outgunned by their opponents, Syrian rebels in the Damascus suburb of Barzeh finally bowed to the inevitable and agreed to a ceasefire with Syrian government forces.

Abe drops govt plan to review statement on 'comfort women'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday that his government would not revise a landmark 1993 "comfort women" apology and said he was "deeply pained" by the suffering of women drawn into a system of wartime brothels.

IN BRIEF (Page 7)

US, Russia hold last-minute Crimea talks

The United States and Russia launched a round of 11th-hour diplomacy on Friday just two days before Crimea votes on seceding from Ukraine in a referendum on Saturday.

Premier, Polish PM discuss Ukraine crisis

Premier Li Keqiang and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk discussed bilateral relations and the Ukraine crisis on Thursday.

US 'rejects' Crimea independence

US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that Washington would "completely reject" any decision by Crimean voters to break from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation in Sunday's referendum.

Militants in Gaza exchange fire with Israel

Mahmoud Abbas calls for a halt to 'escalation'

Leftist former rebel wins El Salvador presidency

Salvador Sanchez Ceren, a former commander of leftist guerilla forces, has won last Sunday's presidential election in El Salvador by a razor-thin margin, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal said on Thursday.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

CIA accused of snooping on US Senate

A bitter dispute between the CIA and the US Senate committee that oversees it burst into the open on Tuesday when a top senator accused the agency of spying on Congress and possibly breaking the law.

Libyan PM ousted after oil tanker escapes port

Libya's General National Congress removed the prime minister from office on Tuesday after a tanker laden with crude oil from a rebel-held terminal broke through a naval blockade and escaped to sea, underscoring the weakness of the central government.