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週刊文春がスクープ「レコード大賞の闇」：買収疑惑と審査委員企業の営業

週刊文春は日本レコード大賞をめぐる一連の疑惑をスクープした。審査委員企業の不可解な高額営業資料や新人賞枠の突然増加などが明らかになり、音楽業界で大きな話題となっている。年末恒例の風物詩がカネで動かされているとの指摘だ。

Katy Perry Tells Fans Ex-Husband Russell Brand 'Should Be in Jail' During UK Concert

Katy Perry has recalled a past concert moment where she told fans that her ex-husband Russell Brand 'should be in jail,' a statement that has taken on renewed significance following his recent criminal convictions. The singer made the remark during a question-and-answer session at the Blenheim Palace Festival last July, before Brand was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.

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Canadian cardinal accused of sex assault says was 'never' improper

A Canadian cardinal who is a close advisor to Pope Francis on Tuesday personally denied accusations he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in the 1980s, telling his congregation by video he has never behaved inappropriately towards anyone.

Spain MPs reject Catalan amnesty bill in blow for PM

Spanish lawmakers on Tuesday rejected a deeply divisive Catalan amnesty bill with the hardline separatist party that demanded it voting against it on the grounds it did not go far enough.

Businesses on strike in western Iran after Kurds executed: activists

Businesses and shops in several cities in Kurdish-populated western Iran shut down Tuesday in a general strike protesting the hanging a day earlier of four Kurds convicted of collaborating with Israel, activists said.

Palestinians in Lebanon protest halt in funding to UN agency

Dozens demonstrated Tuesday outside the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees in Beirut against several countries' decision to suspend funding for the body after Israel charged some staff participated in Hamas's October 7 attack.

Corruption trial shines harsh light on Norway's biathlon boss

Fancy watches, hunting parties and suspicions of Russian influence-buying all figure prominently in the trial of Norway's biathlon honcho Anders Besseberg, accused of accepting improper gifts during his reign as the sport's global chief.

Hong Kong to create own version of national security law

Hong Kong will create its own national security law "as soon as possible", city leader John Lee said Tuesday, adding insurrection and other crimes not covered by existing legislation imposed by Beijing four years ago.

130 poisonous frogs seized at Bogota airport

Authorities in Colombia seized 130 poisonous frogs being trafficked through the Bogota airport on Monday and arrested the Brazilian woman carrying them.

Bolivia blockades over Morales lead to fuel, food shortages

A week of road blockades in Bolivia has led to food and fuel shortages as supporters of former president Evo Morales protest his disqualification from 2025 elections, authorities said Monday.

Amazon scraps buyout of iRobot vacuum maker after EU objections

Amazon on Monday said it was dropping its plans to buy the iRobot vacuum maker after the EU's antitrust authority objected to the plan over competition concerns.

Parents of alleged Serbia school shooter go on trial

The parents of a 13-year-old accused of killing 10 people in a school shooting in Serbia last year went on trial in the capital Belgrade on Monday.

Parents of Serbia school shooter go on trial

The parents of a 13-year-old accused of killing 10 people in a school shooting last year went on trial in the Serbian capital Belgrade Monday.

Notorious Japanese fugitive dies after 50 years on the run: media

Long hair, youthful smile, thick glasses slightly askew: for decades, the black-and-white photo of one of Japan's most wanted fugitives has been a ubiquitous sight at police stations nationwide.

Lawsuit filed over 'everyday' racial profiling by Japan police

Racial profiling by police is an "everyday occurrence" in Japan, one of three foreign-born residents who sued the government over the issue on Monday said.

Haiti govt still hopeful after ruling against Kenya support mission

Haiti's government said Sunday it remains hopeful for a "swift and positive outcome," after a Kenyan court ruled against Nairobi's plan to deploy police officers to support the troubled island nation's security forces.

Bullfighting brings out protesters in Mexico City

Activists protested on Sunday against a resumption of bullfighting in Mexico City, after the Supreme Court revoked an earlier suspension.

One killed after shooting at Catholic church in Turkey

One man was killed after gunmen opened fire inside a Catholic church in Istanbul during Sunday mass in what appeared to be a targetted attack.

Iran wraps up trial of Swedish EU diplomat

The trial of a Swedish EU diplomat wrapped up in Tehran on Sunday, with Iranian prosecutors seeking the maximum penalty for the man accused of spying for Iran's arch-foe, Israel.

UK Post Office chief sacked as firm reels from IT scandal

UK Business Minister Kemi Badenoch on Sunday said she had sacked the chairman of the Post Office amid tensions over the scandal of hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly convicted of theft due to faulty accounting software.

Ancient Antioch turns into container city year after quake

Mevlude Aydin cannot bring herself to visit the graves of her daughter and husband or the dozen other relatives she lost in Turkey's catastrophic earthquake one year ago.

Turkey quake survivors seek justice one year on

Zahide Seker contemplated suicide many times after losing almost her entire family in Turkey's massive earthquake one year ago.

Bogota closes dozens of parks as fires rage in Colombia

Colombian capital Bogota has closed some 40 parks and hiking trails due to heavy smoke from wildfires raging in the area, the mayor's office announced Saturday.

Fighting rages in battleground Gaza city

Intense fighting raged Saturday in the Gaza city of Khan Yunis, the main theatre of conflict where the Israeli army is targeting the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas.

Over 17,000 hectares destroyed in Colombia forest fires

Forest fires have destroyed more than 17,000 hectares in Colombia since November, authorities said Friday, as the country faces its hottest January in decades.

Canadian cardinal denies sex assault claims, will pause duties

A Canadian cardinal who is a close advisor to Pope Francis on Friday "categorically" denied accusations he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in the 1980s, but he will step back from his duties, the archdiocese of Quebec said.

White House 'deeply troubled' by Alabama nitrogen gas execution

The White House said Friday it was "deeply troubled" by the first-ever execution in the United States using nitrogen gas, an untested method which also drew condemnation from the United Nations and European Union.

Hero or vigilante? Speed camera saboteur divides Italy

Hailed by exasperated motorists or condemned as a vigilante who risks lives, a saboteur known as "Fleximan" has been destroying speed cameras across northern Italy, sparking a national debate.

Kenya vows to challenge court ruling against Haiti deployment

Kenya's government vowed Friday to challenge a court ruling against its decision to send a police contingent to Haiti to lead a UN-backed law and order mission in the gang-plagued Caribbean nation.

S.Africa hails 'decisive victory' at UN court

South Africa on Friday hailed a ruling by the United Nations' top court that Israel should do everything it can to prevent any acts of genocide in Gaza.

Israel must prevent genocidal acts in Gaza: UN court

The UN top court on Friday said Israel must prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and facilitate "urgently needed" humanitarian aid into the besieged territory, handing down rulings in a case that has drawn global attention.

UN and EU condemn first US execution using nitrogen gas

The UN and European Union condemned the United States on Friday after the country's first execution of an inmate using nitrogen asphyxiation, an untested method that has reignited a debate about capital punishment.

Pope defends blessings for same-sex 'people'

Pope Francis defended Friday the Catholic Church's recent approval of blessings for same-sex couples, while attempting to soothe his conservative critics.

Top UN court starts ruling on landmark Israel Gaza case

The head of the top United Nations court on Friday began reading the initial decision in the case against Israel over alleged genocide in Gaza, a landmark case that has sparked global interest.

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