Troubled New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder was in a critical condition in hospital on Thursday after an “extremely vicious” attack as he left a bar in Christchurch, police said.

Same-sex marriage takes center stage today as the US Supreme Court starts hearing oral arguments on the divisive issue in a landmark case.

Syria’s main Opposition group took the country’s seat at the Arab League for the first time today as the 22-member bloc opened a summit in the Qatari capital Doha.

At least 13 South African troops deployed in the Central African Republic were killed and 27 wounded in clashes with rebels who captured the capital Bangui over the weekend, President Jacob Zuma said today.

Arab nations and Turkey, helped by the CIA, have dramatically increased military aid to Syrian rebels in recent months, The New York Times reported today.

The police sealed off the British home of exiled Russian oligarch and Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky on Sunday and sent in hazardous material experts following the discovery of his body at the house.

China’s new President Xi Jinping hailed the strength of ties with African nations today, in a keynote speech given on his first trip as head of state to the continent.

Australian Test captain Michael Clarke today said it was unlikely his back and hamstring issues would keep him out of the Ashes tour to England later this year.

Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf flew home on Sunday, landing at Karachi airport after more than four years in exile, defying a Taliban death threat to contest historic general elections.

The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday threatened to assassinate former President Pervez Musharraf when he returns to the country.