Australian sorry for 'surfing' on dead whale

An Australian who climbed on a dead whale as it floated offshore, attracting the attention of large sharks, apologized on Monday for his "idiot" act.

Donkey barber passes skills to son, one shear at a time

In the shadow of Cairo's medieval aqueduct, Mohammed Mustafa teaches his 5-year-old son the family's trade, one shear at a time.

India, Pakistan alerted to threat

Indian and Pakistani intelligence agencies both detected plans for an imminent strike on their Wagah border ahead of a suicide blast that killed 57 people on Sunday, and heightened security possibly averted a more devastating attack.

Death sentence of top Islamist allowed to stand

Bangladesh's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence given to a senior Islamist leader on Monday who was convicted by a special tribunal last year for his role in mass killings and other atrocities during the country's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

US navy halts Subic Bay visits in wake of local death

The US navy has canceled visits to the Philippine port of Subic Bay amid public anger over accusations that a US marine killed a transgender Filipina in the adjacent city of Olangapo, officials said on Monday.

Kurdish separatists suggest Washington mediates dispute

Kurdish separatist fighters want an international mediator, possibly the United States, to help get peace talks with Turkey back on track, the head of the group's political wing told an Austrian newspaper.

Thai government vows to end insurgency in south

Thailand's military government promised on Monday to bring peace to the Muslim-dominated south within a year, despite stalled peace talks aimed at ending an insurgency that has cost thousands of lives in the past decade.

Ferguson no-fly zone 'aimed at media'

The US government agreed to a request from the police to restrict more than 95 square kilometers of airspace surrounding Ferguson, Missouri, for 12 days in August for safety, but audio recordings show that local authorities acknowledged privately that the purpose was to keep away news helicopters during street protests.

Vote proceeds in E. Ukraine; turnout 'high'

Two independence-seeking regions in eastern Ukraine held "presidential and parliamentary elections" on Sunday amid criticism from Kiev and the West.

Brisbane Airport bans climate ad ahead of G20

A bid by environmentalists to confront world leaders with a digital billboard highlighting climate change has been thwarted by Brisbane Airport authorities, who deemed the message too political.

Singapore to join coalition against IS militants

Singapore said on Monday it will provide military support to the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group but would not take part in combat operations, while Canadian jet fighters attacked IS positions in Iraq for the first time on Sunday.

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