Troops withdraw
UNITED NATIONS - Sudanese troops have withdrawn from the disputed territory of Abyei, a UN spokesman says.
Rival South Sudan had already pulled its security forces out of Abyei in line with a UN Security Council demand for both sides to demilitarise the territory.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei, UNISFA, has confirmed that the withdrawal of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) from the Abyei area was completed today late in the evening, said UN peacekeeping spokesman Kieran Dwyer on Tuesday.
Corby term
JAKARTA - An anti-drugs group in Indonesia has promised to challenge a presidential decision to shave five years off the 20-year jail term of Australian drug trafficker Schapelle Corby.
The National Anti Narcotics Movement will file a lawsuit in a state administrative court in a bid to overturn President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonos decision last week to grant clemency to Corby, the groups lawyer said on Wednesday.
In Indonesias history, not one narcotics convict, local or foreigner, has ever received clemency from the president. This is the first case, Yusril Ihza Mahendra told AFP.
Gay march
BRISBANE - Thousands of same-sex supporters have marched on Queenslands Parliament house chanting, Campbell Newman and LNP, we want equality.
The gay, bisexual and transgender community have accused the Queensland government of discrimination after the state government pulled funding for a not-for-profit health service that focuses on supporting gay men with HIV.
Zuma image
JOHANNESBURG - South African President Jacob Zuma has withdrawn his legal case against a gallery that displayed a portrait depicting his genitals.
The agreement, in which the Goodman Gallery said it regrets the pain that the display of the painting has caused, was announced on Wednesday by Zumas governing African National Congress and the gallery director at a news conference at the Johannesburg gallery.
Gallery director Liza Essers says the image will also be removed from the gallery website as a gesture of goodwill.
Bieber fever
SYDNEY - Justin Bieber fans in Australia are abuzz after the pop star tweeted news of a whirlwind visit.
Bieber Fever is set to reignite when the Canadian singer lands for a three-day stay in Sydney from July 15-18.
Currently on tour in Norway, the 18-year-old took to Twitter to tell fans: oh ye-ah...Australia Im coming July 15th ;).