New Earth observation satellite in development

Democratic People's Republic of Korea space agency officials said the country is developing a more advanced Earth observation satellite and are defending their right to conduct rocket launches whenever they see fit, despite protests by the United States and others that the launches are allegedly aimed at honing technologies for military use.

Court rejects euthanasia request

New Zealand's High Court refused on Friday a bid by a brain cancer patient to allow doctors to assist terminally ill patients to end their lives, just hours after the applicant died.

Minister threatens early elections if debt deal is not reached

Greece's government may call early elections if the country's international lenders do not soften their terms for a cash-for-reforms deal, Deputy Social Security Minister Dimitris Stratoulis said on Friday.

Death toll tops 150 in gas station fire, floods

The number of people killed in a devastating gasoline station fire and heavy flooding in Ghana's capital, Accra, has exceeded 150, the country's Red Cross disaster management coordinator, Francis Oben, said on Friday.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Officials squabble as MERS kills 4

South Korean authorities squabbled on Friday over their handling of an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome, as a fourth person died and five new cases were reported.

Colorful businessman Bond dies at 77

Alan Bond, the high-flying Australian businessman, America's Cup hero and convicted fraudster, died on Friday at age 77 following complications from open heart surgery.

Napoleon still divides opinion 200 years on

Under the glittering dome of the Invalides military hospital in Paris, where Napoleon lies buried, France's great general continues to divide opinion, 200 years after his historic defeat at Waterloo.

New zoo takes people's minds off conflict

A young girl in a bright pink dress tiptoes around the edge of a cage containing a white Bengal tiger, as young couples walk by with strollers.

MERS fears escalate; more cases reported

Hundreds more schools closed on Thursday in South Korea as officials struggled to ease growing panic over an outbreak of the MERS virus that has infected 35 people, killed two and caused thousands to cancel travel plans.

ROK helps DPRK screening efforts at joint industrial zone

The Republic of Korea said on Thursday it had agreed to a request from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to install thermal-imaging cameras at their Kaesong joint industrial zone to prevent the spread of the MERS virus into the DPRK.

Tracing the path of 'patient zero'

Eight days after returning from a business trip to the Middle East, a 68-year-old man in South Korea developed a cough and fever.