Sharif asserts control of Pakistani parliament

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a joint session of parliament on Tuesday as a deepening crisis over violent protests demanding his resignation prompted fears of an army intervention.

Palmer digs govt out of hole on mining tax

Australia agreed on Tuesday to dump a hotly disputed profits tax on mineral resources after the government struck a surprise deal with senators, including mining tycoon Clive Palmer.

Sailor suicide highlights Japan's violent culture

Japan's navy has admitted that a sailor killed himself aboard ship earlier this year after being persistently bullied by a superior officer. It was the latest incident to come to light related to the country's little-discussed hazing culture.

Modi courts investors during trip to Tokyo

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sought to reassure investors that his reformist agenda would translate into better governance for Asia's third-largest economy.

Ebola outbreak threatens food security

The world's worst Ebola epidemic has put harvests at risk and sent food prices soaring in West Africa, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said on Tuesday, warning the problem will intensify in coming months.

EU weighs additional sanctions on Russia

European Union governments will decide on a package of new sanctions against Russia by Friday, incoming EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini told the European Parliament on Tuesday, calling for "the strongest possible response".

More than 1 million displaced

More than 1 million people have been displaced by the conflict in Ukraine, including 814,000 Ukrainians now in Russia, the UNHCR United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

Support grows for Scottish independence

A poll showing support for Scottish independence at its highest ever level threw the fate of the United Kingdom into question on Tuesday, just two weeks before Scots vote on whether to secede.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Cuba restricts inflow of foreign-bought products

Cubans braced on Monday for a clampdown on the flow of car tires, flat-screen televisions, bluejeans and shampoo in the bags of travelers who haul eye-popping amounts of foreign-bought merchandise to the country, where consumer goods are scarce and expensive.

Bad weather delays kickoff of Japan's dolphin hunting season

The controversial six-month dolphin hunting season began on Monday in the Japanese town of Taiji, but bad weather will delay any killing, a local official told AFP.

Wounded Gazans struggle to find treatment

Still in shock weeks after a blast from an Israeli shell shredded his arm and killed four members of his family, Ahmed Ayyad is one of many wounded Gazans now in need of long-term care.