Some normally warm California spots shivered Sunday as early morning temperatures plunged, leaving even polar bears at the San Diego Zoo seeking shelter. But growers in the Central Valley were relieved to learn most orange and lemon crops probably avoided significant damage despite temperatures in the high 20s Fahrenheit (-4 to -1 Celsius).

Canada will not send troops to fight against Islamist insurgents in Mali despite a request for NATO assistance from the African Union.

A Jordanian, who found a bank money bag containing nearly half a million dollars on the street in the northern city of Zarqa on Monday, called a local radio station for help in returning the cash.

Australia's Whitehaven Coal on Monday said it had been the victim of a hoax after its share price plunged on a fake press release claiming funding for a major project had been withdrawn.

The purchasing managers index (PMI) hit its highest point in December 2012 over the previous seven months, an optimistic sign of the nation's economic recovery, said Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER) President Wu Chung-shu (吳中書).

The ex-con turned sniper who killed two firefighters in New York state wanted to make sure his goodbye note was legible, typing out his desire to “do what I like doing best, killing people” before setting the house where he lived with his sister ablaze, police said.

Struggling Australian media giant Fairfax said Monday it is selling its remaining 51-percent stake in New Zealand's largest online auction site Trade Me for AU$616 million (US$650 million).

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways was again linked with a move into India on Tuesday, as a report claimed it was considering taking a 48-percent stake in stricken carrier Kingfisher.

Australia posted a surprise drop in unemployment to 5.2 percent Thursday, despite data showing the mining-powered economy is cooling due to China's slowdown.

Australia's economic growth slowed in the third quarter due to falling prices for iron ore and coal as Chinese industrial demand cooled, according to government data released Wednesday.