Syrian rebels capture villages

Syrian rebels captured four villages in the heartland of President Bashar Assad's minority Alawite sect.

• German town hunts for 'dangerous' turtle

  An attack on an 8-year-old boy has left a small German town living in fear.

• Alleged drug mules say they're innocent

  Video of a British and Irish woman arrested in Peru on suspicion of drug smuggling shows the two pleading their innocence.

• Bulger verdict brings closure for families

  The guilty verdicts against James "Whitey" Bulger brought closure to relatives of the 11 victims in whose killings he was convicted of playing a role.

• Mugabe: 'Enemy' tossed like 'garbage'

  Robert Mugabe said Monday his party will not yield its victory in disputed elections and proclaimed he has disposed of his main political rivals.

• Futuristic 'Hyperloop' transport concept revealed

  Imagine strapping into a car-sized capsule and hurtling through a tube at more than 1100 km/h - not for the thrill of it, but to get where you need to go.

• David Cameron urges UK to 'get behind' fracking

  Prime Minister David Cameron is urging the whole country to "get behind fracking".

• VIDEO, PHOTOS: Villa collapses into Florida sinkhole

  A sinkhole has caused a villa at a central Florida resort to partially collapse while another section of it is sinking.

• First tank biathlon takes place in Moscow

  The World Athletics Championships aren't the only sporting event taking place in Moscow this week.

• No suprises in anticipated debate

  Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have faced off in the first of three pre-election debates in Australia.

• Navy on mission to defend against Somali pirates

  The Navy set sail today on New Zealand's first-ever mission to defend ships against Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Africa.

• Milk scare causes rethink for Fonterra in China

  Fonterra says it will have to rethink how it plans to go about launching its own infant formula brand in China, following the contamination scare.

• Snowden's father gets Russian visa

  NSA leaker Edward Snowden's father plans to discuss how his son could fight espionage charges when he visits him in Russia.

• Iraq bombs target military

  Two bombings targeting an army checkpoint and a convoy near the Iraqi capital have killed five soldiers, officials say.

• Teen found safe in Idaho; alleged abductor killed

  A harrowing weeklong search for a missing California teenager ended Saturday when FBI agents rescued the girl and shot and killed her apparent kidnapper at a campsite deep in the Idaho wilderness.

• Kiwi WWII veterans presented with feather cloaks

  Two New Zealand World War II veterans living in Sydney had a special ceremony held in their honour today.

• Tongans back controversial royal wedding

  A controversial royal wedding between Tongan royalty and a commoner has taken place in Auckland without the king's approval.

• Obama laments 'backward' Russia

  President Barack Obama said Friday he was reassessing the US relationship with Russia.

• Australian election campaign's worst moments

  Australia will hold its election four weeks from today, and the first week of campaigning has been notable for the number of cringe-worthy moments.

• Protest over Russia's gay rights stance

  Around 30 demonstrators gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Wellington this afternoon protesting against Russia's gay rights issues.

• 2 British women attacked with acid

  Assailants on the East African island of Zanzibar threw acid on two British women volunteering at a primary school on the Tanzanian island.