Thailand crisis worsens ahead of shutdown

LINDSAY MURDOCH 5:44am Thailand's anti-corruption commission says it will seek to charge hundreds of ruling party politicians over a failed attempt to amend the constitution.

Syria hands over first batch of chemicals

3:21am The first batch of Syrian poison gas precursor chemicals have been taken out of the war-torn country, the UN announced.

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China, Japan draw on Harry Potter in row

5:58am London isn't usually the place to look for clues about rising tensions between China and Japan. But a surreal diplomatic tit-for-tat there speaks volumes about the fast-deteriorating situation in northeast Asia.

Iraq army prepares to take Falluja

2:32am The Iraqi army deployed tanks and artillery around Falluja on Tuesday, security officials said, as local leaders in the besieged city urged al Qaeda-linked militants to leave in order to avert an impending military assault.

Turkey sacks 350 police officers in scandal

9:42pm The Turkish government has sacked 350 police officers in Ankara, including heads of major departments, amid a vast corruption scandal that has ensnared key allies of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Rodman defends basketball game for Kim

4:57am Beijing: American basketball star Dennis Rodman defended his latest visit to North Korea in an interview with broadcaster CNN on Tuesday, saying it would help "open the door" to the reclusive state.

Bush not told of waterboarding: book

8:56pm The decision to waterboard al-Qaeda prisoners in 2002 was made by CIA managers and government lawyers, and was not initially approved by President George W. Bush, a former CIA lawyer says.

Frozen food contaminated by pesticide

8:48pm More than 300 people across Japan have fallen ill after eating frozen food products contaminated with pesticide.

Russian, Chinese ships escape Antarctic's icy grip

6:49am A shift in wind direction has freed a Russian-built research ship and a Chinese icebreaker that were both stuck trapped in Antarctic ice fields, according to Russian news media.

Michael Schumacher's wife chastises media

12:41am Berlin: Michael Schumacher's wife has called on reporters to stay away from the French hospital where he is being treated for life-threatening injuries from a skiing accident, and to leave her family alone.

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US man who slapped baby on plane jailed

5:28pm ATLANTA, Jan 7 MCT - A US man has been sentenced to eight months in prison for slapping a toddler on an Atlanta-bound jet last year, a tougher than expected punishment.

United States cold front: Wisconsin video shows boiling water turning to snow in seconds

AMANDA HOH 6:06pm As one of the coldest weather fronts in decades cancels flights and closes schools in the United States, one Wisconsin man took to the outdoors on Monday armed with a saucepan to show the world just how cold it is in his backyard. 

Thai government fears coup plan in the works

LINDSAY MURDOCH 4:02pm Thailand’s elected government fears the country’s powerful military will be lured into staging a coup next Monday.

Afghan girl, 10, 'forced to wear suicide vest'

2:07pm An Afghan girl believed to be about 10 years old was found wearing a bomb vest in Helmand province after her brother encouraged her to carry out a suicide attack, officials said on Monday.

Cold weather turns lethal across the US

NICK O'MALLEY 7:00am Chicago: As the 'polar vortex' bringing record low temperatures crept across America on Monday, the cold became so intense that for a time it became difficult to describe.

JetBlue cancels New York flights as weather cripples operations

11:10am JetBlue Airways, struggling to resume normal flights after winter storms that began last week, will temporarily halt service at all three New York-area airports and its base in Boston.

Rwandan exiles blame Kagame after ex-spy chief strangled

Rene Vollgraaff 1:37pm Rwandan exiles in South Africa are blaming President Paul Kagame after the east African country's ex-spy chief was last week found strangled in a Johannesburg hotel room.