Esther Tanquintic-Misa

Pope Francis wants the powers and authority of the Vatican decentralized.

The collapse of a supermarket roof in the Republic of Latvia's capital Riga, which killed 54 people, has forced the resignation of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis.

Cheap imitation of luxury Burberry products could surge in China after its national trademark office rejected the company's copyright claims on its tan, black and red tartan iconic symbols. China has a company which similarly makes products bearing the same design.

New Zealand wants to partake in the growing global market for lifestyle wines, described as lesser-alcohol and lower-calorie content. In fact, New Zealand wants to be the world's global top diet wine maker.

A group of paleontologists from Alberta, Canada has discovered an intact and complete fossilized skeleton of a baby dinosaur. They believed the creature died from drowning thousands of years ago.

Two months after, Italy wants to buyback the pristine Budelli Island it has sold to New Zealand Businessman Michael Harte for $4.8 million at an auction.

Officials from the Japan Sport Council has conceded to public rage and announced it has decided to scale back the proposed 70-metre mammoth stadium intended for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

About 800 employees working for Sears Canada's repair services and head office posts stand to lose their jobs in the next six months, as part of the company's reorganisation and restructuring.

Poverty incidence among Canadian seniors and the elderly has been found rising based on a comprehensive study on global pensions of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The current 23 million Australian population will soar to more than 46 million by 2075, according to recent projections released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Shares of Air New Zealand dropped on Wednesday when it resumed trading, following the government's divestment of 20 per cent to the tune of $NZ365 million ($324 million).

Australian athletes vying for the 2014 Winter Olympics as well as on other succeeding Olympic games have been slapped with stringent alcohol rules.

It seems Canadian PM Stephen Harper may be forced to reconsider his word on maintaining the number of the country's military ranks.

Indonesia has been hit by a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. No immediate reports of fatalities and damages have so far been reported on the temblor that struck off eastern Indonesia. The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency ruled out any potential tsunami occurrence.

Canadian firm Ferus Natural Gas Fuels on Tuesday announced it has entered into a joint venture with a Chinese-owned liquid natural gas (LNG) distributor to build two liquefaction plants in Edmonton and Vancouver in Western Canada for $100 million.

Japan's side of the "Ring of Fire" seems to be getting quite active these days. The country has received another 5.7 magnitude earthquake jolt on Tuesday, a week after it experienced a tremor with the same intensity.

In what could be a slap in the face to protesters of Canada's proposed pipeline project in Alberta, an economist from International Energy Agency has clarified that such projects do not exacerbate or give any supporting contribution to the world's burgeoning climate change.

China has set to open its next carbon emissions trading markets in Beijing and Shanghai before the end of November 2013.

At least 100 stores located inside Westfield Hornsby Mall remain closed on Tuesday as authorities continued to assess the damages inflicted by a mini tornado that ripped Australia's Central Business District on Monday afternoon.

Thousands of protesters from more than 130 communities all around Canada staged rallies to protest Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project.

The death toll from the Category 5 super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) has breached the 2,500 maximum head count estimated by Philippine President Benigno Aquino. As of 6am local time on Monday, Philippine authorities said the official number of the dead has been counted at 3,976 people.

The Philippine government has launched on Sunday a Web site which contains the details of the international aid the country has been receiving for the victims and survivors of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

China has been reported mulling to send a medical team to assist the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

A mighty 7.8 magnitude undersea earthquake has occurred in the Scotia Sea on Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Scotia Sea is a distant region in the far south Atlantic near Antarctica.

China is most likely to snatch the world's largest gold consumer title from India this 2013, according to the World Gold Council on Thursday.

In what could it be its biggest product recall, German automaker Volkswagen is set to withdraw a whopping 2.64 million cars worldwide to fix a number of problems that came with a number of different models. The biggest recall was in China at 640,309 cars and minivans.

It was this day exactly last week when Category 5 super typhoon Haiyan ripped across the central Philippines, leaving a trail of massive infrastructure rubble, downed agriculture livestock and lots of lost lives.

China has bowed down to international pressure and has decided to give an additional $1.4 million worth of relief supplies for the victims of the Category 5 super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines. China's humanitarian assistance now totals $1.6 million.

The Philippines has launched a Web site where people searching for loved affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) can look into.