Women start first election campaign

Saudi women running for public office next month for the first time ever begin campaigning Sunday in another step forward for women's rights in the conservative kingdom's slow democratic process.

Activist group warns Japan against resuming whaling

Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd warned Japan on Sunday against resuming "research" whaling in the Antarctic and called on the Australian government to intervene.

Voting begins after year of upheaval

Voters in Burkina Faso began voting on Sunday for a new president and parliament, hoping to turn the page on a year of turmoil during which the west African nation's people ousted a veteran ruler and repelled a military coup.

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Russian leader slaps sanctions on Turkey

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday called for sanctions against Turkey, following the downing last week by Turkey of a Russian warplane.

US has to 'do something', Obama says

Expressing what has become regularly repeated frustration on the issue, US President Barack Obama said on Saturday that the United States needs to "do something" to make it harder for criminals and psychologically people to get guns after a shooting in Colorado killed three people and injured nine.

ROK, DPRK agree to further talks

The Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea agreed to hold talks at the vice-minister level next month, after a meeting on Thursday aimed at further easing tensions following the end to an armed standoff in August.

IS affiliate claims responsibility for attack on mosque

An Islamic State group affiliate in Bangladesh said on Friday it was behind an attack on a Shiite mosque in the country's north that killed one man and wounded three others.

Opposition dismisses allegations of plotting attacks

Allegations by Thailand's prime minister that members of the opposition planned to attack senior officials are baseless and designed to deflect attention from a corruption probe, one of the main opposition groups said on Friday.

Turkish PM seeks unity against IS

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sought to ease tensions with Moscow on Friday over Tuesday's downing of a Russian warplane on the Syrian border, calling for unity against the Islamic State group.

NY parade takes place under tight security

US residents paused on Thursday to celebrate their blessings on Thanksgiving despite terrorism fears and racial tensions over fatal police shootings across the country. A record number of police officers patrolled the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, while St. Louis resumed its annual parade, canceled last year amid protests over the fatal police shooting of an unarmed young black man.

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Malian special forces have arrested two men over last week's attack on a luxury hotel in the capital that killed 19 people, according to a statement distributed Friday morning.