BEIJING — China will send two giant pandas to an Australian zoo this Friday as part of a joint research program.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Eight women set out Monday from their base camp on Antarctica to ski to the South Pole in a trek to mark the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth grouping of 53 former British colonies.

Dozens of asylum seekers injured in Australian immigration detention center riot

Gunman who killed 4 in Saipan rampage identified as Chinese caretaker of shooting range

Gunman in deadly Saipan rampage identified as Chinese caretaker of shooting range

Bangladeshi mother says formerly conjoined twins should grow up in Australia

Bangladeshi mother tells newspaper formerly conjoined twins should grow up in Australia

Resort island Saipan reeling after gunman opens fire; 2 children among dead

Gunman opens fire on Pacific island of Saipan; 5 dead, including 2 young children

Sri Lankan asylum seekers leave Australian boat, ending monthlong standoff in Indonesia

Swedish museums return Maori remains to New Zealand at ceremony in Goteborg

NFL, union contributing $50,000 to aid victims of tsunami that struck American Samoa

This Scotch was on the rocks for 100 years: Antarctic team to drill for lost cache of liquor

Britain, Australia apologize for mistreatment of child migrants sent to ‘better life’ overseas

Britain to apologize for mistreatment of child migrants sent to ‘better life’ overseas

Sweden returns 22 skulls to native Hawaiian community in solemn ceremony in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM — With a solemn ceremony in Stockholm’s antiquities museum, Sweden marked the return of 22 skulls looted from a native Hawaiian community more than a century ago.

Obama says US will join Asia-Pacific free-trade area in strong show against protectionism

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Groups challenge discharge of heavy metals from TVA’s Kingston Plant into Clinch River

Groups challenge TVA river discharge from plant

World markets subdued after S&P’s failure to close above 1,100

Australia OKs extradition to Hungary of accused Nazi war criminal

Australia OKs extradition of accused Nazi criminal

Asian stock market rally peters out as investors turn cautious; European shares little changed

Asia markets slip as rally peters out; Europe flat

Australia reports surprise surge in jobs as unemployment edged up slightly to 5.8 percent

Australian jobs surge; jobless rate at 5.8 percent

Bomb-sniffing dog comes back to Australian troops in Afghanistan 14 months after going MIA

MIA dog found in Afghanistan after 14 months

APEC: Nations must rein in stimulus spending, ensure stable growth in post-crisis period

President Barack Obama speaks briefly on Afghanistan

Asian stock market rally peters out as investors turn cautious, Tokyo off nearly 1 percent

Asian markets slip as rally peters out

TOKYO — Asia’s four-day stock market rally petered out Thursday as investors turned cautious.

APEC ministers brainstorm strategy to sustain global economic recovery, back food security

Rare iceberg spotted off island south of Australia; uncommon sight in such waters

Rare iceberg spotted off island south of Australia

Iceberg alert in southern ocean as ice chunks float north toward New Zealand

China to send two giant pandas to Australian zoo for joint research

Kangaroo startled by a man walking his dog attacks the pair in Australia

Kangaroo tries to drown dog, attacks owner during rescue

8 women marking Commonwealth anniversary by ski journey to South Pole