Health workers make ultimate sacrifice to battle Ebola

Placed in a disinfected coffin and driven alongside two bagged bodies on a flatbed truck, Modupeh Cole was buried without ceremony, tribute or tears, far away from his loved ones.

Outbreak 'vastly' underestimated

The World Health Organization said the magnitude of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa has been "vastly" underestimated and extraordinary measures are needed to contain the disease.

Robin Williams had Parkinson's disease, wife says

Robin Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson's disease at the time of his death, his wife said on Thursday.

Rare crocodiles survive in Philippine 'Noah's Ark'

A chorus of chirps filled the room as one of the Philippines' top crocodile breeders checked on his wards in an overcrowded "Noah's Ark" for one of the world's most endangered animals.

Childhood growth hormone linked to stroke risk

Children who receive growth hormone to treat short stature or hormone deficiency may be at an increased risk of strokes caused by burst blood vessels as young adults, a new European study has said.

69 years on, mixed feelings about war

Sixty-nine years after the fact, sentiment among Japanese people about Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allies at the end of World War II is still mixed.

Indian PM calls recent rapes 'source of shame'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned a spate of rapes as a source of shame for India and urged an end to communal violence on Friday as he vowed to improve the lives of the nation's poor in his first Independence Day speech.

Clashes reported as Pakistan protesters advance on capital

Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan said he and his followers were fired on by government supporters during a rally on Friday, but police said that although there were clashes between the two sides, no shots were fired.

Thailand won't let surrogate moms' babies leave country

Four couples from the United States and Australia have been prevented from leaving Thailand with surrogate babies as part of a government crackdown on the burgeoning commercial surrogacy industry, an Australian broadcaster reported on Friday.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Iraq's Maliki steps down, backs rival

The decision by Iraq's embattled Nouri al-Maliki to step down as prime minister revived hopes on Friday for the formation of a new government that could take on a growing insurgency by Sunni militants that has engulfed much of the country.

Gaza truce holds as peace talks continue

A fragile ceasefire around Gaza held for a second day on Friday as Israel's relations with its US ally showed new signs of strain, with tough talks looming on a more lasting peace.