WASHINGTON: The US military has eased restrictions on religious tattoos, hairstyles or apparel that troops can display while in uniform, as long as it does not jeopardize "unit cohesion."

MADRID: International tourist numbers surged to nearly 1.1 billion in 2013 in defiance of global economic troubles, with Asia-Pacific destinations enjoying the fastest growth, a United Nations body said on Monday.

TEHRAN: The chances of Syria peace talks in Switzerland succeeding without the participation of Damascus ally Iran are "not that great", an Iranian minister said on Tuesday.

MANILA: The Philippines said on Tuesday it has banned imports of poultry and related products from China after it confirmed an outbreak of the HN52 strain of bird flu in the northern province of Hebei.

SYDNEY: A Chinese icebreaker that went to the aid of a Russian ship stuck in heavy floes in Antarctica has now itself become trapped by ice, Australian officials said on Saturday.

JERUSALEM: US secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday that he remained "hopeful" that Israel and the Palestinians could achieve a deal in the short term, Israel's Ha'aretz daily reported.

 PHNOM PENH: Cambodian riot police on Saturday dispersed opposition protesters from a park in the capital where they have held daily rallies against the kingdom's strongman premier, a day after authorities launched a deadly crackdown on striking garment workers

BEIJING: Global retail giant Wal-Mart Stores has recalled a donkey meat product from some Chinese stores after tests found traces of other animals' DNA, the company said today, after authorities said it contained fox meat.

BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces and allied tribesmen battled on Thursday to put down al-Qaida-linked gunmen who, in a coordinated surge, ran rampant in two of the country's main Sunni cities, overrunning police stations and sweeping through the streets, emboldened by mounting sectarian tensions between minority Sunnis and the Shia-led government.

SEOUL: South Korea on Friday dismissed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's calls for improved ties and urged his government to take nuclear disarmament steps first.