Brazil says it is investigating corruption and price-fixing allegations against 18 companies, including Siemens of Germany and Alstom of France.

EU leaders sign an accord on closer ties with Ukraine just as Russia's parliament rubber stamps Crimea's entry into the Russian Federation.

At least two people have been killed in northern Lebanon bringing to 16 the death toll since clashes linked to the conflict in Syria began a week ago.

A court in the Indian city of Mumbai sentences four men to life in prison for the gang rape of an 18-year-old telephone operator.

Thousands of people rally in Taiwan in support of students who have been occupying parliament for three days to protest against a trade agreement.

French authorities investigate an Indian couple after finding their children living in appalling conditions.

The governor of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state seeks federal help to quell attacks against police bases ahead of the World Cup in June.

A prosecutor has cleared an FBI agent in the May shooting death of a Chechen man linked to one of the accused Boston Marathon bombers, media report.