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Muslim pilgrims mass in Mecca for hajj

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world began moving on Tuesday from the holy city of Mecca to nearby Mina for the start of the hajj.

Emissions-cheating probe spreads to Asia

The scandal engulfing Volkswagen AG, which has admitted cheating diesel vehicle emissions tests in the United States, spread east on Tuesday as South Korea said it would investigate three of the maker's diesel models.

Moscow urges 'action' after shelling

Russia's foreign ministry on Monday called for "concrete action" after a shell landed on its embassy compound in the Syrian capital, blaming forces battling the Syrian government.

Army enters capital as president and PM freed

Burkina Faso army troops have entered the capital Ouagadougou without resistance and begun negotiating the surrender of coup leaders, police said on Tuesday, as the interim president and prime minister were freed.

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11 gunmen kidnap 4 at resort island

Unidentified gunmen have abducted a Norwegian resort manager, two Canadians and a Filipino woman from a southern Philippine island, the military and police said on Tuesday.

Govt moves against companies over haze

Indonesia has ordered four companies to suspend operations for allegedly causing forest fires that have sent smoke across a swathe of Southeast Asia, an environment ministry official said on Tuesday.

Palestinian dies, another injured as tensions increase in West Bank

A Palestinian died during an Israeli army operation in the southern West Bank before dawn on Tuesday as he handled a makeshift explosive, while troops shot a woman who allegedly tried to stab a soldier.

Pre-Roman tomb unearthed at Pompeii

Archaeologists have discovered a pre-Roman Empire tomb in perfect condition at Pompeii, the team at the archaeological site announced on Monday.

Military faulted in deaths of 3 soldiers

The deaths of three Australian soldiers killed in an insider attack in Afghanistan may have been prevented had the military passed down a NATO order to tighten security, a coroner found on Tuesday.

Teenager withdrawn from school that suspended him over clock

The family of a 14-year-old Muslim student who got in trouble over a homemade clock mistaken for a possible bomb withdrew the boy on Monday from his suburban Dallas high school.