Featured
Last news
Shooting for the moon: the Saudi spotting teams that herald Ramadan
Deep in the Saudi Arabian desert, a group of robed men are peering into the sky, trying to spot the crescent moon that signifies the start of Ramadan.
Saudi Arabia, Gulf neighbours say Ramadan to start on Saturday
For Muslims in Saudi Arabia and most Sunni-ruled Middle Eastern states Ramadan will begin on Saturday, but in Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq it will start the following day, authorities announced.
Ailing pope suffers breathing 'crisis', Vatican says
Pope Francis, in hospital with pneumonia, suffered a breathing "crisis" on Friday which caused him to vomit, but he was given air and responded well, the Vatican said.
Three dead as cyclone Garance batters French island
Cyclone Garance barrelled across La Reunion island on Friday killing three people as fierce winds left destruction across the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities said.
Released Israeli hostage recounts hunger, chains that 'cut into your flesh'
Eli Sharabi, who was held hostage in Gaza for more than 490 days, has recounted his suffering in captivity in a televised interview, an extract of which was posted on social media by Israel's foreign ministry Friday.
Immigrant parents remove teenage sons from UK over stabbing fears
Immigrant parents in the UK, fearful of gang knife violence, are sending teenage sons back to their countries of origin, a community worker said Friday, after a boy sued his family for putting him in a Ghana boarding school.
Over 20 missing after avalanche in Indian Himalayas: rescuers
Rescuers were racing against time to search for more than 20 construction workers missing after an avalanche in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday following heavy snowfall, the army said.
Suicide blast at Taliban religious school in Pakistan kills six
A suicide attack at an Islamic religious school in Pakistan known as the "University of Jihad" -- where key Taliban leaders have studied -- killed six people on Friday, police said.
Over 40 missing after avalanche in Indian Himalayas: rescuers
More than 40 construction workers were missing after an avalanche in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday following heavy snowfall, officials said.
Suicide blast at Taliban religious school in Pakistan kills 4
A suicide attack at an Islamic religious school in Pakistan known as the "University of Jihad" -- where key Taliban leaders have studied -- killed four people on Friday, police said.
US issues Thailand security alert after Uyghur deportations
The United States issued a security alert to its citizens in Thailand on Friday, warning of the possible risk of reprisal attacks after the kingdom deported dozens of Uyghurs to China.
Russian divers found dead near popular Philippines resort
Two Russian divers were found dead, one in the jaws of a shark, after a strong current separated them from their group in a popular Philippine scuba spot, a coast guard official said Friday.
Tokyo's all-seeing Skytree tower
Tokyo's Skytree soars 634 metres (2,080 feet) upwards, giving spectacular views of the Japanese megalopolis and -- on a clear day -- the majestic Mount Fuji.
Greece marks train crash anniversary with national stoppage
Greece is expected to come to a standstill Friday with sweeping strikes and protests to mark the second anniversary of the country's worst rail tragedy, that left 57 dead in 2023.
Feted at Carnival, Afro-Brazilian faiths face hate in daily life
In a busy workshop, Leandro Vieira oversees preparations for Rio de Janeiro's dazzling Carnival parade, where his samba school will celebrate the spiritual richness of Candomble, one of the main Afro-Brazilian faiths.
Under pressure from Trump, Mexico extradites cartel kingpins
Mexico on Thursday extradited some of its most notorious imprisoned drug lords to the United States in a bid to avert sweeping tariffs, including a cartel kingpin wanted for decades over the murder of a US undercover agent.
Under pressure from Trump, Mexico extradites cartel kinpins
Mexico on Thursday extradited some of its most notorious imprisoned drug lords to the United States in a bid to avert sweeping tariffs, including a cartel kingpin wanted for decades over the murder of a US undercover agent.
Influencer Andrew Tate in US despite charges in Romania
Andrew Tate, a right-wing influencer charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania, arrived in the United States on Thursday -- the first time he has been out of the eastern European country since his 2022 arrest.
Influencer Andrew Tate facing charges in Romania arrives in US
Andrew Tate, a right-wing influencer charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania, arrived in the United States on Thursday, the first time he has been out of the eastern European country since his 2022 arrest.
Accused of repression, Nicaragua's Ortega swears in hooded 'volunteer' force
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, under sanctions for human rights abuses, has sworn in 30,000 hooded civilians as a "volunteer police" force the opposition fears will be used as a tool of political repression.
Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker jailed over 2019 mob attack
A Hong Kong court jailed a former pro-democracy lawmaker and six others on Thursday for rioting in relation to a mob attack in 2019, despite lawyers arguing that the men were victims not aggressors.
Caution urged as ailing pope records slight improvement
Pope Francis, battling pneumonia in both lungs, slept well and is resting, the Vatican said Thursday, after revealing the 88-year-old's condition was slightly improving.
North Korea behind $1.5 billion crypto theft, FBI says
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday accused North Korea of being behind the theft of $1.5 billion worth of digital assets last week, the largest crypto heist in history.
'Escaping hell': Myanmar scam centre workers plead to go home
Hundreds of exhausted young men lie in an open-sided detention centre in a seedy Myanmar border town, sweating through thick tropical heat by day and prey to clouds of mosquitoes by night.
'Contemplated suicide': Ethiopians recount horror of SE Asia scam centres
Starved, beaten and electrocuted, Ahmed remains traumatised months after being trafficked to Southeast Asia, one of an untold number of Africans forced to work in scam centres far from home.
French paedophile surgeon's ex-wife 'suspected nothing', she tells court
The ex-wife of a French former surgeon on trial for allegedly assaulting or raping 299 patients insisted Wednesday that she "suspected nothing" of his crimes following accusations by the physician's brother that she was in the know and failed to act.
Mexican security cabinet heads to US seeking to avert tariffs
Top Mexican officials including the foreign and security ministers are heading to Washington seeking an agreement with President Donald Trump's administration to avoid sweeping tariffs, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday.
French paedophile surgeon's wife knew and 'did nothing', his brother tells court
The then wife of the French former surgeon on trial for allegedly assaulting or raping 299 patients was aware of his actions but "did nothing", the doctor's brother told the court Wednesday.
Power restored, curfew lifted after Chile's massive blackout
Chileans were able to return to a sense of normalcy on Wednesday after a curfew expired and authorities said power was restored to most homes following the country's worst blackout in well over a decade.
Sufi leader plans for Vatican-like state in Albania
In Albania's capital, Baba Mondi envisions a Vatican-like state for his Bektashi faith on a tiny scrap of land that would serve as a model for love and tolerance.
Power restored to most homes after Chile's massive blackout
Chilean authorities said they restored power to most homes on Wednesday, hours after a massive, rare blackout caused transport chaos in the capital and forced the president to declare a state of emergency and curfew across much of the country.
Australian says 'wasn't nice' sitting with corpse on long-haul flight
An Australian couple have criticised Qatar Airways after a blanket-draped corpse was seated next to them during a long-haul flight.