Ten people are jailed for illegally detaining petitioners who travelled to Beijing to appeal to the central government, Chinese state media say.

The traditional Academy Awards Nominees luncheon has been held in Hollywood, with more than 160 Oscar contenders including Ben Affleck, Jessica Chastain and 9-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis.

A blast that killed 37 people at the Mexico City headquarters of state oil company Pemex was caused by a build-up of gas, the attorney general says

British retail sales rose in January thanks to tablet computers and smart phones, says the British Retail Consortium.

Seven tourists have been raped by armed men at a beach resort near the Mexican city of Acapulco, local authorities say.

UN, European and African officials meet in Brussels to discuss holding democratic elections in Mali in the summer, as well as security and aid issues.

UN, European and African officials meet in Brussels to discuss holding democratic elections in Mali in the summer, as well as security and aid issues.

Zisiqiao, where snakes outnumber residents by 3,000 to one

A kidnapper in the US state of Alabama has died after police raided his bunker, saving a five-year-old boy held captive inside for six days.

A kidnapper in the US state of Alabama has died after police raided his bunker, saving a five-year-old boy held captive inside for six days.

A kidnapper in the US state of Alabama has died after police raided his bunker, saving a five-year-old boy held captive inside for six days.

A kidnapper in the US state of Alabama has died after police raided his bunker, saving a five-year-old boy held captive inside for six days.

Cockroaches groom their antennae to improve their sense of smell, scientists say.

Cockroaches groom their antennae to improve their sense of smell, scientists say.

Boeing asks US aviation authorities to allow test flights of its 787 Dreamliner passenger plane, after battery problems forced the plane to be grounded.

Boeing asks US aviation authorities to allow test flights of its 787 Dreamliner passenger plane, after battery problems forced the plane to be grounded.

Russian novelist Boris Akunin is tired of street politics

Russian novelist Boris Akunin is tired of street politics

The natural ability of sea urchins to absorb CO2 could be a model for an effective carbon capture and storage system, researchers say.

Young men who spend much of their spare time watching TV have lower sperm counts than more active men, a study suggests.