Tributes, fireworks as Cuba marks Fidel Castro’s 90th birthday

Thousands partied along Havana's Malecon seafront into the early hours of Saturday, celebrating retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro turning 90 to the tune of Latin beats as an electric storm in the distance lit up the night sky.

American democracy faces "crisis" with money's corrupt influence in politics

American democracy is facing a "crisis" due to the increased influence of money in politics while common citizens are left out in the process, a US political activist who helped organize recent massive political protests, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

World governments probe 'Panama Papers' claims

Governments across the world began investigating possible financial wrongdoing by the rich and powerful following a leak of documents from a Panamanian law firm which allegedly showed how clients avoided tax or laundered money.

Huge data leak shows how world's rich hide their money

A huge leak of 11.5 million documents from a Panama law firm reveals how the world's rich hide their money, Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper said.

Record 1.25 mln migrants in EU in 2015

A record 1.25 million asylum seekers arrived in the European Union in 2015, more than double the figure from the previous year, official data showed on Friday as EU leaders prepared for a crucial summit with Turkey to try to stem the flow of refugees.

Thousands pay homage in Mao’s hometown during Spring Festival

More than 70,000 people traveled to the hometown of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong in Shaoshan, Central China's Hunan Province during the Spring Festival as part of a local tradition to pay tribute to the Great Helmsman at the start of each lunar year.

Richest 1% own more than the rest - Oxfam

The richest 1 percent of the world's population now own more than the rest of us combined, aid group Oxfam said Monday, on the eve of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

Giant Mao statue demolished in Henan

A giant golden statue of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong has been demolished due to lack of government approval in Zhushigang village, Tongxu county, Central China's Henan Province. (Photo: CFP)

Taiwan, China leaders to meet for first time since 1949. More than 620 journalists from around the world will cover the event.

Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou are to meet at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, marking the first face-to-face exchange and communication between the two leaders across the Taiwan Strait since 1949.

Tibet calls for more autonomy

Tibet’s leadership in exile reiterated its call for more autonomy, saying that its mountain homeland is being occupied by China, Reuters reported.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Receive 2015 Liberty Medal

DHARAMSHALA: The National Constitution Center, based in Philadelphia, United States, has announced that Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama will receive the 2015 Liberty Medal in recognition of his advocacy for human rights worldwide.