Spy agency: Retaining call records 'critical'

Australia's domestic spy agency said it was "pleased" with the recently passed data retention laws that will result in customer call and Internet records being kept for two years, local media reported on Wednesday.

ICC entry may start war crimes probe

Palestine became a member of the International Criminal Court on Wednesday, with a low-key ceremony at the court's headquarters marking the high-stakes move.

Strikers at shoe plant object to new law

Thousands of Vietnamese workers at a footwear factory were on strike for a sixth day on Wednesday over a social insurance law in a rare challenge to government policy.

Airstrike on dairy kills at least 37 workers

At least 37 workers were killed when a dairy in western Yemen was bombed overnight, an official said on Wednesday after a seventh night of Saudi-led airstrikes against Shiite rebels.

Attacker of US envoy denies intention to kill

Prosecutors in the Republic of Korea formally charged the man who injured US ambassador Mark Lippert in a knife attack with attempted murder on Wednesday, despite his denials of any intention to kill.

Buhari hails 'historic' win

Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of Nigeria's opposition All Progressives Congress, was declared president-elect on Wednesday, the first time in Nigeria's history that a sitting president has been defeated at the polls.

Help us against 'menace' of Boko Haram

The international community must step up to support countries facing attacks by Boko Haram militants, who are accused of a litany of atrocities, African nations told the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday.

Lufthansa CEO: Full picture will take time

Lufthansa said on Wednesday the reconstruction of the events that led to the Germanwings plane crash last week will not be quick.

Govt wraps up win in battle for Tikrit

Iraqi forces battled the last jihadists in Tikrit on Wednesday to seal a victory the government described as a milestone in efforts to rid the country of the Islamic State group.

Sanctions program targets cyberattack

The Obama administration on Wednesday launched the first-ever sanctions program to financially punish individuals and groups outside the United States that are engaged in malicious cyberattacks.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Ford unveils return of the Continental

Elvis Presley had one; so did Clark Gable. It was even the sedan of presidents. Then the name vanished amid an invasion of luxury cars from Europe and Asia.