Wine-drinking in Italy has reached record lows thanks to the economic crisis and changing consumer habits, according to a report by the country’s main farmers’ association released on Saturday.

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, whose family still dominates India’s ruling party, may have been a middleman for an arms deal in the 1970s, according to diplomatic cables published Monday.

Jose Juan Bigas Luna, a Spanish director and screenwriter who gave Penelope Cruz her first big screen break, has died aged 67 after a long struggle with cancer, the Spanish media reported on Saturday.

The United States’ top diplomat warned Iran today that time is running out on nuclear negotiations between the Islamic republic and world powers.

Foreign diplomats in Pyongyang huddled today to discuss a North Korean evacuation advisory as concerns grew that the isolated state was preparing a missile launch at a time of soaring nuclear tensions.

A major 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern Indonesian province of Papua today, the US Geological Survey said, sending panicked crowds running into the streets.

Scientists in Japan said Friday they had found a way to “read” people’s dreams, using MRI scanners to unlock some of the secrets of the unconscious mind.

The deep oceans have yielded many mysteries that have puzzled people for centuries, from the giant squid to huge jellyfish that look like UFOs. To that list add a fish with totally transparent blood.

A bomb strapped to the back of a donkey killed one policeman and wounded three civilians in eastern Afghanistan today, officials said.

President Jacob Zuma announced today that South Africa will pull troops out of the Central African Republic, after 13 paratroopers died in a nine-hour firefight with rebels.