Australia and the Philippines began joint air and naval patrols in the South China. Sea on Saturday, in an effort to bolster strategic cooperation in countering China's assertiveness in the region. In a joint statement, Australia and the Philippines said the three-day patrols

Many wearing purple, the colour of women and gender equality, demonstrators wove through the chilly streets of Paris and other cities, carrying signs reading: "One rape every six minutes in France" and "Protect your girls, educate your boys". "We don't want

Israeli troops killed six Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. A 25-year-old doctor was killed early in the morning outside his home in Qabatiya, near Jenin, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups in the north of the territory,

At least 11 people have been killed and 35 injured in a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan’s commercial capital of Karachi, officials said. More than 60 people were inside the mall when the fire broke out on the fourth floor of the six-storey building in the southern port city.

A total of 39 Palestinian detainees have been released from Israeli prisons in exchange for a group of hostages held by Hamas. The deal - mediated by Qatar - includes a four-day pause in the fighting. They are accused of a range of offences, from throwing stones to attempted murder.

Families of 13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas have spoken of their relief at their return. The group, which includes young children and elderly women, are now back in Israel after being brought by the Red Cross from Gaza into Egypt. Soon after, 39 Palestinian detainees were

China is trialling visa-free travel for citizens from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia for a year, its foreign ministry said. From December to 30 November 2024, ordinary passport holders from these countries can do business or travel in China without a visa

A four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war took effect early Friday, setting the stage for the exchange of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza in return for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The halt in fighting promised some relief for Gaza's 2.3 million people, who have

Violent protests have erupted in Ireland‘s capital, Dublin, after four people including three young children were injured in a suspected knife attack. Crowds of protesters clashed with police in the city centre on Thursday hours after a five-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s

Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, the border between Lebanon and Israel has witnessed escalating exchanges of fire, primarily involving Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, along with Palestinian groups. The clashes have raised fears of a broader conflagration.

President Vladimir Putin is yet to formally announce his plans to run for re-election next year, but he might already have an unlikely potential competitor in Yekaterina Duntsova, a journalist from the Tver region who announced her bid for the presidency last week.  “Why did

Blue whales - the largest known animals on Earth - are making their home in a part of the Indian Ocean where they were wiped out by whaling decades ago. Researchers and filmmakers in the Seychelles captured footage of the whales in 2020 and 2021. It features in the Imax film Return of

North Korea has ripped up a five-year-old deal with Seoul aimed at lowering military tensions, in the latest escalation of a row between the two. It all started when Pyongyang claimed to have successfully launched a spy satellite into space on Tuesday. This led to South Korea part

Israeli officials said there would be no pause in the Gaza fighting or any release of hostages held by Hamas before Friday, despite the two sides agreeing a truce. The agreement was approved by the Israeli government early Wednesday and had been widely expected to take effect on

Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has barred the addition of the word "sahib" to the title of public servants, saying it unnecessarily elevates their status and makes them feel not accountable to the people. In a two-page order, Chief Justice Isa said that adding

India has resumed e-visa applications for Canadian nationals, two months after all visa services were stopped after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. While there is no announcement,

The European Union Council has given the green light for the digitalization of Schengen visa application procedures, promising a more efficient and cost-effective system.  The move, approved on Monday, involves eliminating consulate appointments and traditional visa stickers in

Chinese authorities have closed or altered hundreds of mosques in the northern regions of Ningxia and Gansu, homes to the highest Muslim populations in China after Xinjiang, as part of broader efforts to “sinicise” China’s religious minorities, according to a report.

North Korea claims it has successfully put a military spy satellite into space, after two earlier attempts failed this year. It comes after a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in September, where Moscow offered Pyongyang help with its space programme.

Israel’s government approves Qatar-mediated deal for a four-day truce in Gaza and release of 50 captives held in the enclave. Hamas confirms a temporary ceasefire has been reached, adding that 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails will be freed as part of the