Japan, Australia eye sub deal, closer defense ties

Japan and Australia intend to move ahead this week with plans to develop stealth submarine technology, as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushes to give his country a more assertive global military role.

Study: Red meat possibly linked to breast cancer

Women who often indulge their cravings for hamburgers, steaks and other red meat may have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer, a new study suggests.

Poppy crop is seen as threat to progress in Afghanistan

Afghans are growing more opium poppies than ever before and it is threatening to wipe out gains made to help the impoverished country improve health, education and governance, the US watchdog for spending in Afghanistan said on Tuesday.

FM: Iraq facing 'mortal threat' from militants

The fall of the major northern Iraqi city of Mosul to insurgents must push the country's leaders to work together and deal with the "mortal threat" facing Iraq, the country's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Syria pledges support against terrorism

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday it is willing to help Baghdad in the fight against "terrorism", a day after jihadi fighters overran Iraq's second-largest city Mosul.

Brazilian leader backs spending on World Cup

Brazil's president took to the prime-time airwaves on Tuesday night to deliver a prerecorded speech in which she tried to rally the nation behind the World Cup, an event that has stoked countless protests from those angered by the billions spent on it.

Israeli parliament chooses veteran hard-liner as president

Israel's parliament has chosen Reuven Rivlin, a veteran nationalist politician and supporter of the Jewish settlement movement, as the country's next president, putting a man opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state into the ceremonial but influential post.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

South Korean ferry crew go on trial

With hostile spectators cursing, shouting and weeping behind them, 15 crew members from the sunken South Korean ferry, the Sewol, appeared in court on Tuesday to enter pleas on charges of negligence and failing to save more than 300 dead or missing passengers.

Egypt arrests 7 for attacks on women

Egyptian authorities have arrested seven men for sexually harassing women near Cairo's Tahrir Square while thousands celebrated the inauguration of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Rebels in Iraq take control of 2nd-biggest city

Gunmen seized Iraq's second-largest city on Tuesday as troops threw away their uniforms and abandoned their posts, officials said, in another blow to the authorities, who appear incapable of stopping militant advances.

Pakistan repels second Taliban assault on Karachi airport

Taliban gunmen attacked a security post outside Pakistan's Karachi airport on Tuesday, a day after an all-night siege by the militants left 37 dead and shredded a tentative peace process.