Amazing Drone Animation in the Skies of Tianjin, China-Guinness World Records

Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday aged 88

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.

NASA's oldest active astronaut returns to Earth on 70th birthday

Cake, gifts and a low-key family celebration may be how many senior citizens picture their 70th birthday.

Christie's to host auction of artifacts in South Korea to support Sung-Taek's Himalayan expeditions

Christie's, a world-leading art and luxury business, is set to auction China's national treasure-class artifacts in June to support an ambitious Himalayan project.

Myanmar frees around 4,900 prisoners

The head of Myanmar's military government granted amnesty to around 4,900 prisoners to mark the country's traditional new year, state-run media reported Thursday, and an independent watchdog said they included at least …

World Heritage Day being celebrated today

The World Heritage Day is being observed today to raise public awareness about heritage preservation.

Telescope finds promising hints of life on distant planet

Scientists have found new but tentative evidence that a faraway world orbiting another star may be home to life.

Visa cancellations sow panic for international students

At least 790 students at more than 120 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated in recent weeks.

Xi meets Malaysia's king

Chinese President Xi Jinping met here Wednesday with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

Australian doctor dies at Gorakshep near Everest Base Camp

A 54-year-old Australian doctor died in Gorakshep in the Khumbu region while returning from Everest Base Camp.

Trump freezes $2bn in Harvard funding after university rejects demands

The Trump administration has said it is freezing more than $2bn (£1.5bn) in federal funds for Harvard University, hours after the elite college rejected a list of demands from the White House.

6 injured in U.S. Texas house explosion

Six people were injured and at least 24 homes damaged after a two-story house exploded on Sunday in Austin, the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, authorities said.

Quake recovery blunts water festival

Several Southeast Asian countries kicked off their annual water festival holiday on Sunday, but in the wake of a devastating earthquake last month, Myanmar is missing out on the fun.

China raises additional tariffs to 125% on U.S. imports

China will raise the additional tariffs on products imported from the United States to 125 per cent, effective from Saturday, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Friday.

African conservationists struggle to save vultures

Vultures have an image problem. Seen as ugly and associated with death, they are among the least loved animals in the world. But conservationists in Africa are trying to change that.

At least 16 dead in flooding and tornadoes as storms slash from Texas to Ohio

Another round of torrential rain and flash flooding came Saturday for parts of the South and Midwest already heavily waterlogged by days of severe storms that also spawned deadly tornadoes.

Torrential rain, flash flooding expected in South and Midwest US

Another round of torrential rain and flash flooding was expected to hit Saturday in parts of the South and Midwest already heavily waterlogged by days of severe storms that in some cases spawned deadly tornadoes.

Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 3,085 as more bodies found

The death toll from the massive earthquake that hit Myanmar nearly a week ago rose Thursday to 3,085 as more bodies were found by search and rescue teams, the military-led government said.

Myanmar earthquake death toll surpasses 2,700 as hope fades for finding more survivors

The death toll from the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar has surpassed 2,700, with thousands more injured, Myanmar media reported Tuesday.

Tajik, Kyrgyz and Uzbek presidents sign historical treaty to boost regional cooperation

The presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a treaty on the junction point of their national borders in Khujand, Tajikistan's second-largest city, on Monday.

Earthquake compounds Myanmar's humanitarian crisis as the death toll passes 2,000

The death toll in last week's massive earthquake in Myanmar has passed 2,000, state media said Monday, as accounts of some people's last moments emerged: Two hundred Buddhist monks crushed by a collapsing monastery.

Chinese rescuers save 4 lives in 7 hours in quake-stricken Myanmar

Chinese rescuers successfully pulled out another survivor at the Sky Villa residential area in Mandalay, Myanmar, at about 7:20 local time on Monday.

Myanmar quake death toll rises to 1,644 as resistance movement announces partial ceasefire

A unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts was announced on Saturday by Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government, which coordinates the popular struggle against the ruling military.

Over 1,000 dead in Myanmar's devastating quake, with int'l aid and rescue operations underway

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock minutes later, struck Myanmar's Mandalay region on Friday, causing massive casualties and damage in multiple countries.

King Charles briefly hospitalised after suffering side effects from cancer treatment

King Charles III was briefly hospitalized on Thursday after suffering side effects from his cancer treatment, according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace, The New York Times reported.

Tourist submarine sinks off Egypt, 6 dead, 9 injured

Six people died and nine others were injured after a tourist submarine sank in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada, two municipal officials said Thursday.

Death toll rises to 26 as nation battles worst-ever wildfires in North Gyeongsang

Wind-fueled wildfires that ravaged the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang have killed at least 26 and injured another 30, as the nation is battling the worst-ever forest fires.

World’s longest-serving death row prisoner awarded $1.4 million after acquittal – that’s $85 for each day

A Japanese man who spent more than 40 years on death row until he was acquitted last year has been awarded $1.4 million in compensation, a court said on Tuesday – roughly $85 for each day he was wrongfully convicted.

1,300-year-old temple destroyed as wildfires ravage South Korea, killing 18 people

A centuries-old Buddhist temple has been destroyed as South Korea struggles to contain ‘unprecedented’ wildfires ravaging the country’s southeast that have killed at least 18 people.

Choppers, troops deployed to battle wildfire

South Korean authorities said Monday they would deploy dozens of helicopters and thousands of firefighters and soldiers as they struggle to control multiple wildfires in the southeast, which have been burning for days.

Chinese electric carmaker BYD sales beat Tesla

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has reported annual revenue for 2024 that has leapfrogged rival Tesla.

Samsung co-CEO Han Jong-Hee dies at 63

Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-Hee died from cardiac arrest on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the South Korean tech giant. Han was 63.

Europe pressures USAID to return unspent money

Three European allies provided millions of dollars that the United States was supposed to spend for low-income countries.

Mexicans protest for victims of latest mass grave discovery

Protesters gathered across Mexico on Saturday to demand justice following a grisly discovery of charred bones, shoes and clothing at a suspected drug cartel training ground.

At least 34 dead as tornadoes tear through southern US

At least 34 people have died in the US - including 12 in Missouri alone - after deadly tornadoes tore through several south-eastern states, flipping cars and flattening homes.

Measles cases double in Europe in 2024 to 25-year high

Measles cases doubled in Europe in 2024 to a 25-year high, the World Health Organization said on Thursday, stressing the importance of vaccinations to curb the illness' spread.

New Zealand's food prices up 2.4 pct annually: statistics

New Zealand's food prices rose by 2.4 percent in the year leading up to February 2025, after a 2.3 percent increase in the 12 months to January 2025, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Friday.

No injuries reported after American Airlines plane catches fire at Denver Int'l Airport

Passengers were evacuated Thursday evening from an American Airlines plane after a fire was reported, and no injuries were reported, according to Fox 8.

Ex-Philippines President Duterte on ICC warrant

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested Tuesday on a warrant from the International Criminal Court accusing him of crimes against humanity, the Philippine government said.

Hundreds of flights cancelled as strikes hit German airports

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled across Germany as airport workers stage a nationwide strike over pay, posing a major disruption for air travellers.

Indonesians seek escape as anger rises over quality of life

Anger at the quality of life in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Global food prices rise in February: FAO

The FAO Food Price Index rose 1.6 percent compared to January and was 8.2 percent higher than a year earlier.

Storm death toll hits 15 in southern Argentina

The death toll from the intense storm that struck the southern Argentine port city of Bahia Blanca on Friday has risen to 15, local authorities said Sunday.

Update: China to impose additional tariffs on some Canadian products after anti-discrimination probe

China announced Saturday that it will impose additional tariffs on some products imported from Canada

South Korean fighter jets accidentally bomb homes, injuring at least 29 people

South Korean fighter jets accidentally bombed homes during a live-fire drill with US forces, injuring more than two dozen people on Thursday

Israel cuts off food and supplies to Gaza

Israel's cutoff of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza's 2 million people.

Roundup: Chinese toy brands draw attention at New York toy fair

The tariff policies brought in by the Trump administration have created new challenges for toy manufacturers. While innovating product designs, Chinese toy makers are also rethinking pricing and production strategies to …

Chinese yuan strengthens to 7.1739 against USD Tuesday

Chinese yuan strengthens to 7.1739 against USD Tuesday

Chinese company signs 557-mln-USD infrastructure construction contracts in Kuwait

China Gezhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC) on Monday signed two major contracts worth a total of 557 million U.S. dollars with Kuwait's Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW).

China Focus: China hits new landmark in global quantum computing race

Chinese scientists unveiled a superconducting quantum computer prototype named "Zuchongzhi 3.0" with 105 qubits.

South Korea birth rate rises first time in decade

South Korea's birth rate rose last year for the first time in a decade, official data showed on Wednesday, bucking a trend for a country battling a demographic crisis.

Trump says 25% tariffs on EU will be announced soon

US President Donald Trump has said he is planning to hit goods made in the European Union with tariffs of 25%, claiming the bloc was created to "screw the United States".

Animals and plants losing genetic diversity

Two-thirds of animal and plant populations are declining in genetic diversity, which makes it harder to adapt to environmental changes, according to research published Wednesday.

Tanahun Hydropower builds resting place to protect vultures

The under-construction 140-megawatt Tanahun Hydropower Project has built a 'vulture resting place' to protect vultures.

Dozens killed as fire engulfs Turkish ski hotel

At least 76 people have been killed in a fire that engulfed a popular Turkish ski resort hotel, leaving some to jump out of windows.

Rain-triggered landslide kills 16 in Indonesia

A landslide triggered by heavy rain on Indonesia's main island of Java has killed at least 16 people with three others missing, disaster officials said Tuesday.

Oscars push back nominations announcement amid California wildfires

The Oscar nominations are being pushed back almost a week from their original date amid the ongoing California wildfires.

Scientists identify new blood group after 50 year mystery

When a pregnant woman had her blood sampled back in 1972, doctors discovered it was mysteriously missing a surface molecule found on all other known red blood cells at the time.

Myanmar releases thousands of prisoners to mark Independence Day

Myanmar's military government has released more than 6,000 prisoners and has reduced other inmates' sentences as part of a mass amnesty marking the 77th anniversary of independence from Britain on Saturday.

Human Rights Day being observed today

International Human Rights Day is observed globally on December 10th every year.

Earth experiences second-warmest November on record

Earth just experienced its second-warmest November on record — second only to 2023 — making it all but certain that 2024 will end as the hottest year ever measured, according to a report Monday by European climate ser…

Tsunami warning cancelled after magnitude 7 earthquake strikes California coast

A strong 7.0 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of northern California, according to the US Geological Survey.

$300bn a year deal for climate cash at UN summit sparks outrage

United Nations climate talks adopted a deal to inject at least $300 billion annually in humanity's fight against climate change, aimed at helping developing nations cope with the ravages of global warming in tense negot…

Thousands flock to NZ capital in huge Māori protests

More than 40,000 people have protested outside New Zealand’s parliament against a proposed bill seeking to reinterpret the country's founding document between British colonisers and Māori people.

Int'l Red Cross bags Sydney Peace Prize

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has bagged the Sydney Peace Prize for this year.

Tropical Storm Sara makes landfall in northern Honduras and brings heavy rain to Central America

Tropical Storm Sara made landfall in northern Honduras late Thursday and threatened to dump torrential rains across parts of Central America and southern Mexico.

COP29 kicks off today: Nepal presenting glaring examples of climate change induced risks

The 29th Conference (COP29) of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has begun in Baku, Azerbaijan, today. The COP will continue till November 22.

Donald Trump wins the White House in a political comeback

Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday.

Spain sends more troops to flood zone as public anger rises

Another 2,500 soldiers arrived in the flood-hit east of Spain on Monday to reinforce efforts to locate bodies and clear debris, as government officials traded blame over how the worst flooding in decades has been handled…

USA goes to presidential polls today

Election Day is nearly upon us. In a matter of hours, the final votes in the 2024 presidential election will be cast.

At least 158 killed in Spain’s catastrophic floods as authorities continue search for bodies

Crews searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings Thursday as residents salvaged what they could from their ruined homes following monstrous flash floods in Spain that claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 d…

Slight progress in global biodiversity protection efforts

Global efforts to protect the world's plants and animals have made slight progress and some species remain in serious decline, according to two reports released Monday at a major United Nations biodiversity summit in Col…

Japan’s ruling coalition loses a majority in the lower house, creating political uncertainty

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’ s ruling coalition lost a majority in the 465-seat lower house in a key parliamentary election Sunday, a punishment by voters’ outrage over the governing party’s extensive finan…

Brazil reaches a $23 billion settlement with mining firms

Brazil's federal government on Friday reached a multibillion-dollar settlement with the mining companies responsible for a 2015 dam collapse that the government said was the country's worst-ever environmental disaster.

Israel conducts 'precise strikes' against Iran

Israel announced the launch of "precise strikes" on military targets in Iran on Saturday in retaliation for Iranian attacks, as an AFP journalist in Tehran reported hearing several explosions.

Storm blows away from northern Philippines leaving 65 dead but forecasters warn it may do a U-turn

Tropical Storm Trami blew away from the northwestern Philippines on Friday, leaving at least 65 people dead in landslides and extensive flooding that forced authorities to scramble for more rescue boats to save thousands…

Huawei releases homegrown HarmonyOS NEXT operating system

Chinese tech giant Huawei on Tuesday released HarmonyOS NEXT, its self-developed operating system built independent of Android architecture.

Musk v Ambani: Billionaires battle over India's satellite internet

The race between two of the world’s richest men, Elon Musk and Mukesh Ambani, is intensifying as they prepare to face off in India’s satellite broadband market.

Blinken heads to Israel to revive Gaza ceasefire talks after Sinwar death

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel on Tuesday, the first stop of a wider Middle East tour aimed at reviving Gaza ceasefire talks and discussing the enclave’s future following the death of Hamas leade…

Cuba grid collapses again, hurricane heaps on misery

Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed again on Sunday, the fourth such failure in 48 hours, with a hurricane making landfall to compound the island’s misery and threaten further havoc on its decrepit infrastructure.

Trump and Harris trade bitter attacks in battleground blitz

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have been ramping up personal attacks on each other as the White House rivals blitzed battleground states 16 days before the election.

National-level AI, digital education to be launched for adults over 30 in South Korea

To enhance the nation’s digital skills and competitiveness, South Korea is rolling out a new initiative aimed at improving digital capabilities among adults aged 30 and older.

Drone maker DJI sues Pentagon over Chinese military listing

China-based DJI sued the US Defense Department on Friday for adding the drone maker to a list of companies allegedly working with Beijing’s military, saying the designation is wrong and has caused the company significan…

In Modi’s Delhi, Indian Muslims segregate to seek security

In February 2020, Nasreen and her husband Tofik were living in Shiv Vihar, an upcoming neighbourhood in northeast New Delhi.

India’s alleged interference in Canada was ‘horrific mistake,’ Trudeau says

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday said India made “a horrific mistake” by thinking it could interfere as aggressively as it allegedly did in Canada’s sovereignty.

Nobel Prize in medicine honors 2 US scientists

Two scientists won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine on Monday for their discovery of microRNA, tiny bits of genetic material that serve as on and off switches inside cells that help control what the cells do and…

School bus catches fire in Thailand with 44 people on board

At least 16 people were hospitalised in Thailand on Tuesday when a school bus carrying an estimated 44 students and teachers on a field trip caught fire on the outskirts of the capital Bangkok, the government said.

Ancient African tree providing 'superfood' to people yet

Since childhood, Loveness Bhitoni has collected fruit from the gigantic baobab trees surrounding her homestead in Zimbabwe to add variety to the family’s staple corn and millet diet. The 50-year-old Bhitoni never saw th…

Lebanon hospitals race to treat surge of injuries caused by pager attack

Hospitals in Lebanon raced to treat a sudden surge of thousands of patients, including Hezbollah members, who were wounded in a coordinated attack targeting hundreds of pagers used by the militant group.

At least 15 dead and thousands hectares scorched as wildfires sweep Peru

Wildfires in Peru have left at least 15 dead and more than 3,000 hectares (11.58 square miles) of cultivated land and natural areas scorched, authorities said Monday.

The Taliban have suspended polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan

The Taliban have suspended polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan, the U.N. said Monday.

Trump rules out another presidential debate against Harris

Donald Trump has ruled out another presidential debate against his rival Kamala Harris before November's election.

At least 17 pupils killed in Kenya school fire - police

At least 17 pupils have died after a school in central Kenya caught fire on Thursday night, police said.

A rusty smudge: What will happen as the Titanic wreck disintegrates

The wreck of the Titanic is showing clear signs of decay on the sea floor at its resting place miles below the surface. What will its final fate be?

Māori king's daughter crowned as king buried

A new queen was crowned as the eighth Māori monarch in New Zealand as her father, Kiingi Tuheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, was laid to rest.

Israel says bodies of six Gaza hostages recovered

Israel says its forces have recovered the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israel agrees to pauses in fighting for polio vaccine drive

Israel has agreed to a series of “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza to allow for the vaccination of children against polio, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

Strong storm lashes Japan with torrential rains, winds

A strong storm lashed southern Japan with torrential rain and strong winds Thursday, causing at least three deaths as it started a crawl up the length of the archipelago and raised concerns of flooding, landslides and ex…

Three dead as Typhoon Shanshan hits southern Japan

Aug.29: A powerful typhoon has made landfall in Japan, with three people already confirmed dead.

Debate showdown between Trump and Harris set for September

ABC News has said it will host the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on 10 September.