Top Stories - AFP

SEOUL (AFP) - A North Korean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with South Korea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as cross-border tensions rose a week before a scheduled US presidential visit. Full Story »

BEIJING (AFP) - China on Tuesday defended its handling of the executions of nine people over deadly ethnic unrest in its far-western Xinjiang region in July, saying the cases were dealt with "according to law". Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Washington sniper John Allen Muhammad, who killed 10 people in a 2002 shooting spree around the US capital, was due to be put to death Tuesday after the nation's top court denied a stay of execution. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Maclaren has recalled around a million pushchairs from the American market after saying they posed a risk of "fingertip amputation" to babies and toddlers. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian student sparked fears of a new era of computer viruses on Tuesday after creating a worm which infects Apple's iconic iPhone with pictures of 1980s pop star Rick Astley. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, said on Tuesday that pre-tax profits during the third quarter were "significantly ahead" compared with the equivalent period a year earlier. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Barclays reported on Tuesday sharp falls for third-quarter net profits as the British banking group's bad debts soared. Full Story »

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez refused to concede that the title is out of his side's reach despite being 11 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea after a 2-2 draw with Birmingham on Monday. Full Story »

MELBOURNE (AFP) - Tiger Woods says he is proud of his comeback year from knee surgery and is looking forward to adding to his 14 major titles next year now he is pain-free. Full Story »

BANGKOK (AFP) - The car jumps another red light at breakneck speed as Paitoon Kaewkieu, one of Bangkok's so-called "bodysnatchers", dodges through the city's notorious traffic to the scene of yet another accident. Full Story »