Japan nuke plant gets safety clearance

A nuclear power plant in southern Japan cleared an initial safety hurdle on Wednesday, which could make it the first such facility to restart under tough new safety regulations after the industry was idled by the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Ukraine calls on EU to punish Russia as nations waver on new sanctions

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has urged the European Union to take tough action against Russia over the separatist conflict in Ukraine's eastern regions at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Wednesday.

IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Fans face 'death with Archie'

Fatal shooting of US comic book icon praised as 'perfect tribute'

Windsurfing makes waves in Turkmenistan

Better known for its inhospitable desert plains than beach breaks, Turkmenistan this month welcomed an unlikely group of visitors: a sun-tanned crop of the world's top windsurfers.

Farmers strive to feed DPRK

Pressure mounts for achievement of agricultural self-sufficiency

Commitment to inclusive Afghan leadership seen

Declaring that his nation "is not Iraq", one of the two contestants in Afghanistan's deadlocked presidential election said on Monday that both he and his rival are committed to lead their war-ravaged nation inclusively in cooperation with international partners.

Suicide attack kills 89

A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into a busy market in southeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing 89 people and wounding around 40, officials said.

Filipinos flee as typhoon roars in eastern coast

Tens of thousands of people in the Philippines took shelter in evacuation centers on Tuesday as a typhoon began pounding the country's eastern coast and authorities warned of giant storm surges and heavy floods.

Australian bushfire survivors get record settlement

Survivors of a devastating 2009 bushfire in Australia won a nearly $470 million payout on Tuesday in the biggest class action settlement in the nation's history.

Egypt truce call met with rocket fire

Israel warns of harder strikes if Hamas does not abide by proposal

Britain's Cameron makes major changes in Cabinet

British Prime Minister David Cameron pushed through his biggest government shake-up since coming to power in 2010, promoting women and Euroskeptics on Tuesday to senior roles ahead of the national election in May.