Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday recommended taking the Tupolev-134 out of service after 45 people were killed in the latest disaster involving one of the Soviet-made jets.

Japanese shares fell 0.34 per cent on Thursday as expectations of a positive outlook for automakers were offset by the US Central Bank’s downbeat assessment of the world’s number one economy, dealers said.

Marine disaster warning measures will be tightened for nuclear plants in China’s coastal areas as typhoon-triggered storms are predicted in 2011, the China Daily said on Thursday.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum has pledged support to New Zealand captain Ross Taylor after being overlooked for the position following a lengthy contest to find a successor to Daniel Vettori.

South Korea’s Samsung Electronics said on Monday it has been chosen to provide next-generation communications equipment to KDDI, Japan’s number two mobile phone operator.

Tunisia’s deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the first leader toppled in a wave of Arab uprisings, went on trial in his absence on Monday, accused of plundering the country among other charges.

British foreign secretary William Hague said today that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must implement reforms in his country or step aside, as the embattled leader prepared to make a major speech.

The UN Security Council on Friday split the international sanctions regime for the Taliban and Al Qaeda to encourage the Taliban to join reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

The reconciliation meeting may have gone completely awry but the West Indies Cricket Board refuses to give up on Chris Gayle even after dropping him from the Test squad for the series against India starting on Monday.

The UN Security Council on Friday “adopted by acclamation” a resolution to nominate incumbent UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a second five-year term, the Council president told reporters here.