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Iran executed 975 people in 'horrifying' 2024 escalation: rights groups
Iran executed at least 975 people last year in a "horrifying escalation" of its use of capital punishment, two human rights groups said on Thursday.
Sri Lanka train derailed after smashing into elephants
A Sri Lankan passenger train derailed Thursday after smashing into a family of elephants, with no passengers injured but six animals killed in the island's worst such wildlife accident, police said.
Myanmar returns first batch of Chinese scam workers to Thailand
Myanmar on Thursday handed over the first batch of hundreds of Chinese scam centre workers who are set to be repatriated through Thailand in the coming days.
S. Korean president's lawyer says martial law bid sought to stop 'dictatorship'
Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol's lawyer on Thursday said his bid to impose martial law was aimed at thwarting a "legislative dictatorship" by the opposition-controlled parliament, as the president became the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case.
Delta offers $30,000 each to Toronto plane crash passengers
US airline Delta will offer $30,000 to each passenger on a plane that crashed as it landed at Toronto airport this week, the carrier told AFP on Wednesday.
Yoon becomes South Korea's first sitting president to go on criminal trial
Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol became the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings opened Thursday on his bid to impose martial law.
Could 'terrorist' designation lead to US strikes on drug cartels?
US President Donald Trump's decision to designate eight Latin American drug trafficking groups as "terrorist" organizations has raised speculation about possible military action on foreign soil.
No immediate ruling on 'unusual' move to drop New York mayor corruption case
A US federal judge peppered a top member of Donald Trump's Justice Department with questions Wednesday during a hearing over the office's extraordinary move to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Yoon to become South Korea's first sitting president to go on criminal trial
Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol will become the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings open Thursday on his bid to impose martial law.
Latin America's 'terrorist' cartels in Trump's sights
From Mexico's most ruthless drug cartels to Central America's most notorious street gang, these are the eight drug trafficking groups being designated terrorist organizations by US President Donald Trump's administration:
Pope's tests show improvement, Italy PM visits
Pope Francis's blood tests show a "slight improvement" as he receives hospital treatment for pneumonia, the Vatican said Wednesday, while Italy's prime minister found the 88-year-old joking "as always".
Syrian Jews say held first group prayer in decades in Damascus synagogue
Syria's tiny Jewish community said they held their first group prayer in decades Wednesday, in a synagogue in Damascus's Old City, expressing joy at the long-awaited return to public worship.
Call for 'maximum' sentence for Bosnian Serb leader
Prosecutors demanded a near five-year jail sentence Wednesday for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik for defying the envoy who oversees the peace accords that ended the country's bloody 1990s war.
UK accusers of influencer Tate urge US to stay away from case
Four British women who have accused notorious influencer Andrew Tate of rape said Wednesday they were "concerned" by reports the US government was petitioning Romania to ease his travel restrictions.
Teamwork key to smashing European doping networks: WADA investigations chief
A collaboration between the Serbian anti-doping agency and law enforcement operatives who seized 3,000 kilogrammes of performance-enhancing drugs and broke up an organised crime gang last year is "the future in the fight against doping", WADA's Director of Intelligence and Investigations Gunter Younger has told AFP.
Pope 'breathing on his own' despite pneumonia: Vatican source
Pope Francis's heart is holding up very well despite his pneumonia, a Vatican source said Wednesday, amid growing concerns over the hospitalised 88-year-old's condition.
UK govt cracks down on online knife sales
A new law introduced after a spate of high-profile knife crimes will make it harder for young people to purchase knives online, the UK government announced Wednesday.
Pope, suffering from pneumonia, had 'peaceful night'
Pope Francis, who has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, passed a "peaceful night", the Vatican said Wednesday, amid growing concerns over the 88-year-old's condition.
Peru's 12-Angle Stone vandalized, causing 'irreversible damage'
An allegedly intoxicated man vandalized a 500-year-old archaeological artifact known as the 12-Angle Stone in Peru, authorities said Tuesday.
UN watchdog chief visits Fukushima as Japan returns to nuclear power
The UN nuclear watchdog chief visited Japan's stricken Fukushima plant on Wednesday, the day after Tokyo approved an energy plan that marks a return to nuclear power to meet growing demand for AI.
Top South Korean judge faces disinformation deluge as Yoon impeachment looms
Bogus child pornography claims, fabricated support for communism and fake posts showing Elon Musk calling for his removal -- a deluge of disinformation is targeting a top judge in suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial.
Rapper A$AP Rocky found not guilty in assault trial
Rapper A$AP Rocky was found not guilty of two counts of felony assault at the conclusion of a trial in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Hospitalised pope has double pneumonia: Vatican
Pope Francis, who was admitted to hospital last week, has developed pneumonia in both of his lungs, the Vatican announced on Tuesday, adding that the 88-year-old was in "good spirits".
Argentine Olympic sailor's ex-trainer arrested for alleged abuse
The former trainer of an Argentine Olympic sailor has been arrested in Buenos Aires over claims by the athlete and others that he sexually abused them in their teens, legal sources said Tuesday.
Video shows Toronto plane's hard landing before flipping
The passenger plane that crashed in Toronto appeared to hit the runway hard before bursting into flames and flipping upside down, new video showed Tuesday.
'Let out your inner granny': Knits at the flicks craze grips Vienna
Armed with yarn, needles and hooks, dexterous moviegoers flock to a cinema in Vienna every month to combine their favourite hobbies: knits and flicks.
Delta plane flips upside down in Toronto crash, at least 18 injured
A Delta Air Lines jet with 80 people onboard crash-landed Monday at Toronto's main airport, officials said, flipping upside down and leaving at least 18 people injured but causing no deaths.
Argentina's Milei denies role in 'cryptogate' as prosecutors launch probe
Argentine President Javier Milei on Monday denied promoting a cryptocurrency that crashed, losing investors billions of dollars and prompting a flood of complaints, as prosecutors reportedly prepare an investigation into the scandal.
Delta plane flips upside down in Toronto crash, at least 17 injured
A Delta Air Lines jet with 80 people onboard crash landed Monday at the Toronto airport, officials said, flipping upside down and leaving at least 17 people injured but causing no fatalities.
Muhsin Hendricks: S.Africa's gay imam who broke the mould
Muhsin Hendricks, considered the world's first openly gay imam who was gunned down last weekend in South Africa, stood as a man who valued authenticity -- both in action and words.
Italy probing Amazon over 1.2b euros in third-party seller VAT
Italian prosecutors are examining whether online giant Amazon.com evaded 1.2 billion euros in value-added tax (VAT) it should have paid on behalf of certain third-party sellers, sources told AFP Monday.
Singapore opposition leader fined for lying to parliament
Singapore's opposition leader was fined Monday for lying to parliament while helping a fellow party member cover up a false witness account, but narrowly avoided being barred from contesting upcoming national elections.