Clashes in a western Libyan city left six dead and at least 20 injured on Wednesday, a government spokesman said.

www.topix.net | 5/16/12 9:23 PM

Jennifer Lopez is the world's most powerful celebrity, according to Forbes magazine Wednesday in a rankings based on a combination of earnings, press coverage and Internet presence.

Lopez headed the 100-strong list, up from 50th last year, while her American Idol colleague Ryan Seacrest was 29th. Lady Gaga, the pop singer, came in at number five, toppled from her top perch last year.

Television presenter Oprah Winfrey was second, followed by teen heartthrob Justin Bieber at third and singer Rihanna at fourth.

www.france24.com | 5/16/12 9:05 PM

Hundreds of Mexicans bade farewell to late novelist Carlos Fuentes on Wednesday, carrying books and flowers as they filed past the casket of one of the Spanish-speaking world's best-known writers.

During a public ceremony at the grand Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, President Felipe Calderon hailed Fuentes as "one of the greatest writers of all time."

"He helped give global prominence to Latin-American literature," the president said.

www.france24.com | 5/16/12 9:05 PM

Nearly half of transgender people in the Asia-Pacific region could have HIV as poor healthcare and high-risk lifestyles push infection rates to "critical levels", a UN report said Thursday.

The region's estimated 9-9.5 million transgender population is "bearing the brunt of the HIV epidemic", the UN Development Programme study said, adding that figures suggest 49 percent of the community could be infected.

www.france24.com | 5/16/12 9:05 PM

US shoemaker Skechers is to pay $40 million to settle claims that it deceived consumers by suggesting its sports shoes could help tone their butts and lose weight, officials said Wednesday.

In an agreement similar to one last year against Reebok, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said purchasers of the California-based firm's Shape-up, Resistance Runner, Toners and Tone-up shoe ranges can apply for refunds.

www.france24.com | 5/16/12 9:05 PM

More than two years after the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, NGOs and private contractors are continuing to provide 80 percent of the country's social services. ipsnews.net | 5/15/12 5:13 PM

Almost three months after the seat was left vacant when the former prime minister resigned due to disagreements and political wrangling with the president, as of Monday, Haiti finally has a new prime minister. ipsnews.net | 5/14/12 7:13 PM

As Jamaicans wait to hear how the $612-billion Budget will be financed, some private-sector leaders have suggested that the Government could be sitting on a potential gold mine if it can correct ... story.trinidadtimes.com | 5/14/12 8:50 AM

$(document).ready(function() { $("#hi-temp").html(tempF + "°F"); $("#lo-temp").html(tempC + "°C"); $("#ww-icon").html(""); ... story.trinidadtimes.com | 5/14/12 8:50 AM

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) is calling for the Government to speed up plans for the privatisation of the 16 public-sector entities picked out for removal from government control under the ... story.trinidadtimes.com | 5/14/12 8:50 AM