» US income gap widens as poor take hit in recession

The recession has hit middle-income and poor families hardest, widening the economic gap between the richest and poorest Americans as rippling job layoffs ravaged household budgets.

» World's tallest tower Burj Dubai to open on December 2

The world's tallest tower Burj Dubai will open this year on December 2, which is the UAE National Day.

» Second powerful quake strikes Indonesia

The U.S. Geological Survey says a 6.8 magnitude earthquake has shaken western Indonesia, less than 24 hours after a 7.6 temblor struck the region.

» Father of AK-47 rings in his 90th birthday

The creator of the AK-47 assault rifle-known for its unsurpassed durability and reliability for the past 70 years-celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday.

» 12 killed in blast near Indian embassy in Kabul

A suicide bomber blew up his car outside the compound of the Indian Embassy.

» Taliban to be flushed out of South Waziristan within a month

Taliban militants based in Pakistan's restive South Waziristan tribal area, where army has launched a major offensive, will be flushed out "within a month," the country's Defence Minister, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, has said.