Peacekeepers to use 'deadly force'

Seventy-five Filipino members of a UN peacekeeping force besieged by Syrian rebels on the Golan Heights are ready to use "deadly force" to defend themselves, their commander in Manila said on Friday.

Australia seeks surrogacy case aid

Australia urged Thailand on Friday to allow Australian couples with babies birthed by Thai surrogate mothers to return home with their children following a crackdown on commercial surrogacy that has left many couples in limbo.

Malaysia Airlines to cut 6,000 in radical overhaul

Malaysia Airlines will slash nearly a third of its 20,000-strong workforce and cut back its global route network as part of a radical 6 billion ringgit ($1.9 billion) restructuring following the devastating impact of back-to-back jetliner disasters.

Putin urges release of Ukrainian soldiers

Humanitarian situation 'alarming', fighting killed nearly 2,600, UN says

PM: Ukraine wants to seek NATO membership

Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Friday that his government is seeking to join NATO and is submitting a bill to parliament to end the country's official "non-bloc" policy.

Scientists probe Ebola's deadly genes for clues

Scientists tracking the spread of Ebola across West Africa released 99 sequenced genomes of the deadly and highly contagious hemorrhagic virus on Thursday, hoping the data might accelerate diagnosis and treatment.

Illegal giant African snails invading US

The giant African snail damages buildings, destroys crops and can cause meningitis in humans. But some people still want to collect, and even eat, the slimy invaders.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

103-year-old challenges world's fastest man

Japan's 'Golden Bolt' proves that age is no obstacle to staying in shape

'Roofers' enjoy life on the tiles in Russia's old capital

St. Petersburg has long been a tourist favorite, but if this band of young Russian thrill-seekers is to be believed, the best way to see the country's imperial capital is by hopping roof to roof.

Dog loses its bite with diners in ROK

For more than 30 years, chef and restaurant owner Oh Keum-il built her expertise in cooking one traditional Korean delicacy: dog meat.

Tim Hortons is big part of Canadian identity

Few things unite Canadians the way Tim Hortons does. For half a century, Canadians have warmed themselves on chilly mornings with the chain's coffee and Timbits - known to US residents as doughnut holes.