Maori bear brunt of NZ's inequality gap

Social inequality in New Zealand has grown worse over the last decade, with the indigenous Maori and ethnic Pacific island groups faring worst in measurements of health, education and employment, according to research published on Thursday.

Thai army chief named prime minister

Move seen as latest effort by military to consolidate its power in country

Canadian drug dealer handed a 27-year sentence

A Canadian drug kingpin dubbed the "Pot Playboy" was sentenced to 27 years in prison for leading a $1 billion international drug trafficking enterprise, prosecutors said.

Airstrike kills 3 senior Hamas leaders

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed three senior leaders of the Hamas military wing on Thursday, the militant group said, in what is likely to be a major blow to the organization's morale and a significant scoop for Israeli intelligence.

US unleashes new attacks on Islamic militants

The United States launched a new barrage of airstrikes against the Islamic State extremist group that seized a swath of territory across Iraq and Syria and beheaded US journalist James Foley.

Beheading puts spotlight on british jihadists

The distinct English accent of the militant seen beheading US journalist James Foley in a grisly online video has forced Britain once again to confront the question of how it became an exporter of jihadist fighters.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

111-year-old recognized as oldest living man

A Japanese man born months before the Wright brothers carried out the first human flight was recognized on Wednesday as the world's oldest male at the age of 111.

Marvel creative legend Stan Lee keeps busy at 91

Marvel Entertainment chief emeritus Stan Lee may be in his ninth decade, but it hasn't stopped him from adding outposts to his creative empire as he hopes to interest a new generation of children in superheroes of all shapes and sizes.

Aug 22, 1914: The day 27,000 Frenchmen died

With 27,000 French soldiers cut down by German machine-gun fire, Aug 22, 1914, was by far the bloodiest day in France's military history and quite likely the most deadly single day in the "war to end all wars".

Lesser-known animals at risk from poachers

Wildlife poachers, hindered by India's efforts to protect majestic endangered animals including tigers and rhinos, have begun to think smaller. And activists say scores of the country's lesser-known species are vanishing from the wild as a result.

Landslides engulf homes, kill at least 36

Huge landslides in western Japan killed at least 36 people and left rescuers scrambling to find another seven still missing, authorities said Wednesday, after a wall of mud smashed into their homes.