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A packed commuter train slammed into a retaining wall at a railway terminus in Buenos Aires during rush hour Wednesday, leaving at least 49 dead, 600 injured, and dozens trapped in the wreckage.

AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces rained rockets and bombs down on opposition-held neighbourhoods of the city of Homs on Wednesday, reducing buildings to rubble and killing more than 80 people, including two Western journalists. The barrages marked an intensification of a nearly three-week offensive to crush resistance in Homs, one of the focal points of a nationwide uprising against Assad's 11-year rule, and prompted further international condemnation. ...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Shortly before the United States ended a two-month pause in missile strikes on militants in Pakistan last month, senior U.S. officials telephoned their Pakistani counterparts and told them Washington would be resuming its covert drone program despite mounting objections in Islamabad. Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were among those who spoke with Pakistani officials shortly before the eight-week pause in the drone program ended, sources familiar with the issue said. General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. ...

KABUL (Reuters) - The Taliban urged Afghans on Thursday to target foreign military bases and kill Westerners in retaliation for burnings of copies of the Koran at NATO's main base in the country as a third day of violent protests began. Thousands of demonstrators rallied across the country, some chanting "Death to America!", Reuters witnesses and officials said. In eastern Kabul, hundreds of youths threw rocks at police, who fired shots into the air to try disperse the crowds. ...

India's home ministry urged the country's Supreme Court on Thursday to reverse a landmark decision to decriminalise gay sex, saying homosexuality was immoral, "against nature and spreads HIV."

Manchester United's march towards the latter stages of the Europa League looks set to continue on Thursday when they line up against Ajax at Old Trafford leading 2-0 from the first leg in the round of 32.

Tens of thousands of Vladimir Putin supporters were to mass in Moscow on Thursday, seeking to prove his bid for the Russian presidency enjoys popular support despite an outburst of opposition protests.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday called a ballot on the leadership of the ruling Labor party, bringing to a head an increasingly bitter and ugly row with her predecessor Kevin Rudd.

The "Baby-faced Beauty" star will return to the music scene with a new album due in March

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps was left to revel in an Italian-style victory after Andre Ayew's injury-time header gave his side a last-gasp 1-0 win over Inter Milan.

Struggling Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney clashed repeatedly with his surging rival Rick Santorum on Wednesday, in a crucial TV debate as the pair battle for frontrunner status.

FT Island and CNBlue's agency widens its scopes to include various entertainment fields

Anti-American protests erupted in Afghanistan for a third straight day on Thursday to protest against the burning of copies of the Koran at a US-run military base, witnesses said.

Half a million Afghans displaced by war have been left homeless and struggling to survive because of government and international neglect, Amnesty International said Thursday.

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dared her political rival, former foreign minister Kevin Rudd, to challenge her in a leadership vote next week, hoping to end infighting that threatens to sink the minority government and its reform agenda. Gillard called on Thursday for the vote to be held by ruling-party lawmakers next Monday, gambling that a victory for her would silence Rudd whom she accused of trying to destabilise her unpopular government and regain the top job. ...

Iran accused Israel of assassinating its nuclear scientists as part of a "war game" while it denied any role in attacks on Israeli diplomatic targets in several countries.

Jeremy Lin scored 17 points and added nine assists to spark the New York Knicks over Atlanta 99-82, improving the team to 9-2 since the Asian-American star emerged from a reserve role.

Indonesian authorities said Thursday they would evacuate foreigners and women from a Bali island prison after rioting inmates retook control of the jail, sparking a tense standoff with security forces.

Top-ranked defending champion Luke Donald was hammered by Ernie Els while Tiger Woods had a narrow first-round escape at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship.

Struggling Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney clashed repeatedly with his surging rival Rick Santorum on Wednesday, in a crucial TV debate as the pair battle for frontrunner status.

MESA, Arizona (Reuters) - Mitt Romney is fighting his way back into the driving seat in the Republican presidential race, putting in a strong debate performance in Arizona and gaining in polls against conservative rival Rick Santorum. An aggressive Romney repeatedly put Santorum on the defensive in a CNN debate on Wednesday and attacked the former U.S. senator and staunch social conservative for supporting big-spending government programs. Romney has also battled his way into a slight lead in a new poll in Michigan, which along with Arizona will hold a primary contest on February 28. ...

Belgian veteran Xavier Malisse upset US second seed Andy Roddick 7-6 (10/8), 7-5 to reach the second round of the $1.375 million ATP and WTA Memphis Open.

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi takes her party's election campaign to the country's conflict-riven far north Thursday in a bid to bolster support among ethnic minorities.

China could face an economic crisis if it does not implement major reforms in the next 20 years, the Wall Street Journal said Thursday, citing a report by the World Bank and Chinese government researchers.

Australian researchers Thursday revealed they had filmed a pod of extremely rare Shepherd's beaked whales for the first time ever.

Tickets for JYJ's documentary movie, "The Day" sold out in record time causing Lotte Cinema's server to crash

Japanese Emperor Akihito should cut down his duties following his heart bypass last weekend, his son and heir Crown Prince Naruhito said in comments released to mark his 52nd birthday on Thursday.

A packed commuter train slammed into a retaining wall at a railway terminus in Buenos Aires during rush hour, leaving at least 49 dead, 675 injured, and dozens trapped in the wreckage.

VIENNA/TEHRAN (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest mission to Iran failed to budge a defiant Tehran over its disputed nuclear programme, sending oil prices to a nine-month high over fears of an increasing risk of confrontation with the West. The United States criticised Iran on Wednesday over the collapse of the International Atomic Energy Agency's talks in Tehran, saying it again showed the Islamic Republic's refusal to abide by international obligations over its nuclear programme. ...

Actress Kim Tae-hee was pulled out of a cosmetics brand event for her safety in light of Japanese "Takeshima Day"

Chinese oil giant CNOOC is negotiating with Uganda to invest in the African country's first oil refinery, state media said Thursday, as Beijing ramps up investment in the resource-rich continent.

Former Japanese SDN48 member announced that she is seven months pregnant

Indonesia said Thursday it would evacuate all 60 foreigners as well as female prisoners from a jail on Bali island currently under the control of rioting inmates.

AKB48 member Oshima Yuko would be the leading actress in the theatrical version of "Yamikin Ushijima-kun"

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan (Reuters) - Very little was left standing in the Japanese city of Rikuzentakata after a huge tsunami tore through nearly a year ago. Even the centuries-old pine forest by the sea that had long been a symbol of the city was obliterated. But amidst the destruction that killled about one in 12 of the city's residents, one lonely pine tree out of more than 60,000 has clung to life along the ravaged coast. It came to embody residents' hopes for renewal. "We didn't have any hope at the time. ...

MESA, Arizona (Reuters) - Rivals piled criticism on U.S. presidential candidate Rick Santorum at a testy debate on Wednesday, attempting to blunt his suprise surge at a pivotal period in the Republican race. Looking to build on a late rise in polls, Santorum instead went though an uncomfortable two hours fending off criticism of his Senate record, in his first appearance at center stage of the debates which have defined the Republican campaign. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney joined forces with libertarian Congressman Ron Paul in questioning Santorum's conservative credentials. ...

Anti-American protests erupted in Afghanistan for a third straight day on Thursday to protest against the burning of copies of the Koran at a US-run military base, witnesses said.

MANILA (Reuters) - Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pleaded not guilty on Thursday to electoral fraud on the first day of a trial seen as a landmark test of the government's ability to tackle entrenched corruption in the Southeast Asian nation. Arroyo, a 64-year-old who ruled the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, sat quietly beside her husband and son during the court proceedings, only speaking out loud to confirm her widely expected plea. ...

A smiling ex-Philippine president Gloria Arroyo pleaded not guilty on Thursday to rigging an election, denouncing the charge that could see her jailed for life as part a vilification campaign against her.

Russell Westbrook scored 31 points and Kevin Durant added 28 points and nine rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Boston Celtics 119-104.