US hits out over Jewish homes for E. Jerusalem

Israeli authorities gave preliminary approval on Wednesday for 200 homes to be built in a Jewish area of East Jerusalem, a move that threatens to push Israelis and Palestinians deeper into conflict after weeks of unrest over the city's holiest sites.

Israel won't cooperate with UN investigation

Israel said on Wednesday that it will not cooperate with a United Nations Human Rights Council investigation into this year's Gaza conflict because its findings are "pre-determined".

Eggs, reptiles and surfboards banned for G20

Eggs, tinned food, reptiles and surfboards will be banned in parts of Brisbane this week as Australia's largest peacetime deployment of police and soldiers braces for everything from unruly protests to mass hostage-taking at the Group of 20 summit.

Doctor arrested over 13women's deaths

A doctor who carried out sterilization procedures on 13 women who later died in central India has been arrested.

Eight S.Korean ferry crew appeal convictions

Eight of the 15 surviving crew members from a South Korean ferry that capsized in April are appealing their convictions on charges of negligence in the country's worst maritime disaster in more than four decades.

Iran plans to build 4 versions of seized US drone

Iran will manufacture four versions of the US RQ-170 drone, which was downed inside the country's airspace in December 2011, a top military commander said on Wednesday.

Russia to conduct bomber patrols over three oceans

Russia's top defense official said on Wednesday that Russia will conduct long-range bomber training patrols over the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans to guarantee its military presence there in response to the current geopolitical situation.

Republicans eye strategy to block immigration plan

A growing number of Republicans in the US Congress want to use government spending bills as leverage to prevent US President Barack Obama from taking unilateral action to ease the country's immigration policies.

Suicide attacker in Nigeria injures 4

A female suicide bomber injured four people at a teachers' college in northwest Nigeria on Wednesday, while the United States hit back at allegations it has not done enough to tackle Boko Haram militants.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Smartphone 'zombies' wreak havoc in Tokyo

When the lights change at the Shibuya crossing in Japan's capital, one of the world's busiest pedestrian thoroughfares, hundreds of people with their eyes glued to smartphones pick their way over the road.

Monroe's lost love letters to be auctioned

It's no secret that baseball legend Joe DiMaggio loved Marilyn Monroe. The famed New York Yankee cried at her funeral and for 20 years had flowers placed at her crypt several times a week.