Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issues a stern rebuke after one of his lawmakers sparked a row by saying US President Barack Obama has "the blood of slaves".

About 900 migrants are rescued near the Greek island of Lesbos by a patrol vessel, the EU border agency Frontex says.

A gas well near Los Angeles that has caused a massive methane leak for four months has been "permanently sealed", state officials say.

US President Barack Obama signs off new expanded sanctions on North Korea, after the country fired a test missile.

A rural Australian city is considering vacuuming away "hairy panic" tumbleweed that is clogging up homes.

The European Union will hold a special summit with Turkey on the migration crisis in early March, EU officials have announced.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump heaps praise on Pope Francis, hours after the pontiff questioned his Christian faith.

US online car-hire service Uber is losing more than $1bn a year in China, as it struggles against "fierce" local competition, its CEO says.