Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday he will ask supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reverse what he branded the unjust disqualification of a close aide from next month's presidential election.

Unknown gunmen dragged the father of Afghanistan's cricket captain from his car on the outskirts of Jalalabad city and have taken him hostage, officials said on Wednesday.

TOKYO - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is banking on close ties and mutual trust to entice Japanese investors to support the Dawei deep-water port and other megaprojcts.

Sony chief Kazuo Hirai said Wednesday the company was examining a hedge fund proposal to sell off part of its entertainment unit in a bid to boost profits in its core business.

Borussia Dortmund's international stars Mario Goetze and Mats Hummels both remain doubtful for Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich at Wembley, as they struggle to recover from leg injuries.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says controversial striker Luis Suarez will not be sold, as the Merseyside club target Champions League qualification next season.

LONDON — David Cameron said Wednesday he was proud MPs had voted to back gay marriage but admitted the debate has been divisive and said his focus would now be on economic matters.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau on Wednesday released photographs of two men suspected of setting fire to the CentralWorld department store on May 19, 2010, and six others believed to have been involved in the destruction.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) on Wednesday apologised for the massive power blackout in 14 southern provinces on Tuesday night and explained how it happened.

The energy minister has reasons to upset about the southern power outage, as no one at the electricity supplying agencies made the decision to save the region.

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has withdrawn from the England squad for the friendly games against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil because of a foot injury, the Football Association have announced.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday said it had rejected an appeal by Japanese hammer-thrower Koji Murofushi against his exclusion as a candidate for election to the IOC Athletes' Commission on the grounds of unfair campaigning at the 2012 London Olympics.

About 70 opposition MPs are lining up to take part in the 2014 Budget Bill debate in parliament on May 29-30, opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanavisit said on Wednesday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Myanmar's government has made progress in reducing the recruitment of children into the armed forces but still needs to stamp out the practice.

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei released a foul-mouthed heavy rock song titled "Dumbass" on Wednesday, with a video parodying his months in police detention.

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei released a foul-mouthed heavy rock song titled "Dumbass" on Wednesday, with a video parodying his months in police detention.

Leaders of the People's Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) have agreed to end their rally outside Government House tomorrow after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with government representatives.

Myanmar's economy could grow by 6.75% this fiscal year, led by natural gas sales and investment as the country moves to modernise its financial system, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

A total of 211 million parasitoid wasps will be released nationwide to fight an insect pest that has destroyed large areas of coconut plantations throughout the country, the Agricultural Extension Department announced.

An Indian woman who lost her leg after she was thrown from a moving train two years ago has become the first female amputee to climb Everest, expedition organisers said Wednesday.