Rights to explore Brazil's biggest oilfield are auctioned to the sole bidder - a Brazilian-led consortium - amid angry clashes in Rio.

The US space agency says it will allow Chinese scientists to attend an astronomy conference in California next month, reversing an earlier ban.

Singer and television star CeeLo Green is charged with giving the drug ecstasy to a woman over dinner at a Los Angeles restaurant last year.

A man in the US state of Oregon has been arrested on charges of aiming a laser pointer at commercial aeroplanes, authorities say.

Arab and Western foreign ministers are to meet Syrian opposition officials in London in an effort to persuade them to attend peace talks next month.

The Australian Capital Territory has become the first part of Australia to legalise same-sex marriage, but a high court challenge is expected.

CIA drone attacks in Pakistan and Yemen are responsible for unlawful killings, some of which could amount to war crimes, human rights groups say.

Coffee chain Starbucks is under fire in China for reportedly charging locals higher prices than in other major markets.