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Japan official apologizes for political funds misuse

Obuchi regarded as contender to become first woman premier

Nepal continues search for missing trekkers

Mountain rescue teams in Nepal searched for scores of missing trekkers on Thursday after unseasonable blizzards and avalanches killed at least 30 people along the high altitude Annapurna mountain route popular with backpackers.

Catacombs in Paris open at night ahead of Halloween

As if visiting the Paris catacombs in the daytime wasn't creepy enough, you can now explore the underground maze of skeletons after nightfall, too. That is if you dare defy the warning at the entrance: "Stop, this is the empire of Death."

Thai soaps trigger outcry over romance

In a famous scene from Thailand's award-winning soap opera The Power of Shadows, the protagonist gets drunk and rapes the leading lady. He later begs her forgiveness, and the producers say they will live happily ever after in the sequel.

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Colony on Mars - mission impossible?

Space enthusiasts planning a move to Mars may have to wait to relocate: Conditions on the Red Planet are such that humans would likely begin dying within 68 days, a new study says.

Wounded reporter relives brush with death

Time and again Kathy Gannon has relived the decisions that led to her close friend's death - and almost her own - in Afghanistan.

DPRK, ROK top military talk to ease animosity

Military generals from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea met on Wednesday for talks on how to ease animosity between the rival countries following two shooting incidents last week, media said.

Obama says 'no quick fixes' in campaign against Islamic State

US President Barack Obama acknowledged on Tuesday that the fight against the Islamic State group is "a long-term campaign", after recent bombing raids against the group failed to produce significant progress on the battleground.

Malaysia arrests 13 suspects

Malaysian authorities said on Wednesday they had arrested 13 Malaysians suspected of having links to Islamic State and who were planning to leave for Syria.

New Zealand, Spain, Turkey vie for UN Security Council

Venezuela has taken the spotlight in this year's campaign for coveted seats on the UN Security Council, but the hottest race is between New Zealand, Spain and Turkey, who are each trying to win one of the two contested openings.