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George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading

George and Amal Clooney attended a performance at New York’s Seaview Studio where the actor took part in a reading of the political comedy Smear!

Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge

Thomas Markle Sr, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, has been charged in Florida with one count of possessing child sexual abuse material and released on bond under house arrest.

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Rome's Pantheon to charge for tourist entry

One of Rome's oldest and best loved monuments, the Pantheon, will soon start charging for entrance, officials said Thursday -- drawing a mixed reaction from tourists.

Netanyahu defiant over legal reforms despite Berlin's 'great concern'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday fiercely defended disputed legal reforms on a visit to Berlin, where German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced "great concern" over the legislative overhauls.

Colombian mine explosion death toll rises to 21

An explosion at a coal mine in central Colombia has left 21 miners dead after 10 more bodies were found in the pit, President Gustavo Petro said on Thursday.

UK trophy hunting bill irks African conservationists

A bid to ban the import of hunting trophies to Britain has upset conservationists in southern Africa, with some saying the bill is counterproductive and smacks of colonialism.

French govt to force Paris binmen back to work as trash stacks up

France's government will force Paris rubbish collectors to return to work after a days-long strike against pension reforms has left many streets in the capital piled with stinking waste.

Indonesia policeman jailed over football stadium crush

An Indonesian court jailed a policeman for 18 months on Thursday over negligence contributing to one of the worst stadium disasters in the history of football but victims' families criticised the trial as two other officers walked free.

Fabled Antakya fears losing 'soul' in Turkish quake ruins

As they left Antakya, Turkey's earthquake-shattered home of ancient civilisations, its anguished residents scribbled farewell messages on the ruins: "We'll come back" and "Don't lose hope."

Urgent search for 10 trapped Colombian miners after blast kills 11

Rescuers and miners raced against the clock Wednesday to save 10 workers trapped in a central Colombian coal mine after an explosion killed at least 11 people.

Banned from school, Afghan girls turn to madrassas

In a madrassa in the Afghan capital, rows of teenage girls rock back and forth reciting verses of the Koran under the watchful eye of a religious scholar.

Second group of prisoners transferred to El Salvador mega-jail

A second group of 2,000 inmates were moved on Wednesday amid tight security to a new prison built in El Salvador to accommodate more than 40,000 suspected gangsters targeted in President Nayib Bukele's "war" on crime.

Court gives Bolsonaro 5 days to hand over Saudi jewels

A Brazilian court ruled Wednesday ex-president Jair Bolsonaro has five days to hand over pricey jewelry he received as a present from Saudi Arabia, and ordered an audit of all official gifts during his presidency.

Riyadh Air plans new orders ahead of 2025 take-off: CEO

Saudi Arabia's new national airline plans more aircraft orders as it prepares to operate its first flights in early 2025, its CEO told AFP on Wednesday.

Flash floods kill at least 14 in Turkish quake zone

Flash floods killed at least 14 people living in tents and container housing across Turkey's quake-hit region on Wednesday, piling more pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of crunch elections.

Flash floods kill at least 13 in Turkish quake zone: media

Flash floods killed at least 13 people living in tents and container housing set up across Turkey's quake-hit region on Wednesday, piling more pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of crunch elections.

Pakistan police halt bid to arrest ex-PM Khan after clashes

Pakistan police appeared Wednesday to have given up an attempt to arrest former prime minister Imran Khan, ending a siege of his residence after violent clashes with hundreds of his supporters.

Russia far-right sect tries to get foothold in Europe

Ines and Norman Kosin left everything behind to follow the teachings of Anastasia, a far-right Russian sect that preaches a return to the land.

Abortion pill under threat in Texas court case

US abortion opponents are hoping for a national ban on a widely used abortion pill when their lawsuit against government drug regulators is argued Wednesday in the Texas court of a deeply conservative judge believed to be sympathetic to their cause.

Pakistan ex-PM Khan defies arrest as supporters clash with police

Supporters of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan clashed repeatedly with police overnight as he remained holed up in his Lahore residence early Wednesday, defying attempts to arrest him.

Bolsonaro's Saudi jewels scandal: what we know

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro is in hot water over allegations he tried to illegally import millions of dollars' worth of jewelery given to him and his wife by Saudi Arabia.

Subway 'surfing' leaves a grisly, lethal toll in New York City

One-time subway "surfer" Isa Islam has a straightforward message for thrill-seeking youngsters sparking a surge in riders traveling on the roofs of New York City trains: don't do it.

Lawsuit filed in bid to halt Alaska oil drilling project

Environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to halt a controversial oil drilling project in Alaska approved by the Biden administration.

Argentina forests burn amid heat wave, drought

Fires in heat wave- and drought-stricken Argentina have devoured some 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres) of forests in the northern Corrientes province in just days, officials reported Tuesday.

Greek trains to resume 'gradually' from March 22 after crash: govt

Rail traffic will resume "gradually" in Greece from March 22 as the country reels from its deadliest train crash, the transport minister said on Tuesday.

Belgium razes house where child-killer Dutroux buried victims

Demolition crews have begun knocking down a second home used by notorious Belgian child-killer Marc Dutroux in a bid to erase the stain of his crimes, local officials said Tuesday.

Philippine police officer jailed for killing teens in rare drug war conviction

A Philippine police officer has been found guilty of killing two teenagers during former president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, court documents obtained by AFP Tuesday showed, a rare conviction of one of the crackdown's enforcers.

New York state vs New York City: the war over foie gras

In New York, one of the most celebrated culinary centers in the world, a war over foie gras is pitting the city, backed by animal rights activists, against duck farmers and restaurant owners, whose position is supported by the state.

Ref corruption case is Spanish football's worst ever moment - La Liga president

Spanish football is enduring its worst ever moment because of the refereeing corruption case involving Barcelona, La Liga president Javier Tebas said Monday.

California scrambles to fix levee as another storm looms

Emergency workers scrambled Monday to stabilise a California levee after a breach forced thousands from their homes, as another major storm loomed, threatening more flooding.

Hakimi named in Morocco squad amid French rape case

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, charged with rape in France, was called into the Morocco squad Monday for friendly games against Brazil and Peru.

Cyclone Freddy returns killing 15 in Malawi, Mozambique

Fifteen people have died in Malawi and Mozambique as Cyclone Freddy hit the two countries with torrential rains and strong winds upon its return to southern Africa's mainland, authorities said Monday.

Governments vet crucial UN climate science report

Diplomats from nearly 200 nations and top climate scientists began a week-long huddle in Switzerland on Monday to distil nearly a decade of published science into a 20-odd-page warning about the existential danger of global warming and what to do about it.

Norway's police train to reinforce words over weapons

Revolvers in hand, they advance slowly down the hallway past the panicked and wounded witnesses before the armed suspect suddenly comes into view, about to kill a man cowering on the floor.

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