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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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US train company boss vows better safety after toxic derailment

The head of US rail operator Norfolk Southern pledged Thursday to improve safety practices and quickly address clean-up needs after its train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals in an Ohio town last month.

Tens of thousands rally in Georgia despite backtrack on 'foreign agent' bill

At least 30,000 protesters took to the streets of Georgia for a third day running Thursday despite the ruling party's promise to drop a controversial "foreign agent" bill reminiscent of Russian legislation used to silence critics.

NASA to reveal crew members in April for flight around Moon

NASA will announce the names next month of the four astronauts -- three Americans and one Canadian -- who will fly around the Moon next year, the head of the US space agency said Thursday.

Ex-Goldman banker sentenced to 10 years in 1MDB scandal

A US judge in New York on Thursday sentenced former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng to 10 years in prison following his conviction in the massive 1MDB bribery scandal.

Italian PM vows harder line against traffickers at migrant shipwreck site

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pledged to crack down on human traffickers Thursday, after leading her cabinet on a visit near the site of a migrant shipwreck that claimed at least 72 lives.

Chief exec for US derailed toxic chemicals train pledges better safety

The head of US rail company Norfolk Southern pledged Thursday to improve safety practices and to quickly address clean-up need after its train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals in an Ohio town last month.

Spain confirms three dead in mine collapse

Three people trapped deep inside a Spanish potash mine when a gallery collapsed earlier on Thursday have died, Catalan leader Pere Aragones said.

Rescuers 'fear worst' for three trapped deep down Spanish mine

Rescuers were struggling on Thursday to reach three people trapped deep underground after an accident at a Spanish potash mine, with officials admitting they "feared the worst".

Uganda introduces anti-gay bill in parliament

Ugandan lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation to parliament that proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relations in a country where homosexuality is already illegal, defying criticism from human rights groups.

Four bodies found after Swiss house explosion

Four bodies were on Thursday found in the rubble from an explosion and fire that destroyed a residential home in western Switzerland, police said.

Uncertainty over fate of three trapped Spain miners

The fate of three miners trapped deep underground at a potash mine in Spain was unclear Thursday after a tweet by a regional leader confirming their deaths was deleted.

JPMorgan sues former exec over Jeffrey Epstein links

JPMorgan Chase is suing former high-level executive Jes Staley over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, naming him as the official involved in a sexual assault case against the firm, court filings showed.

Italian cabinet to meet near fatal shipwreck site

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will hold a cabinet meeting on Thursday near the site of a fatal shipwreck, as a debate rages over whether her hard-right government's migration policies cost lives.

Pope John Paul II helped 'cover up' child abuse in Poland, says book

John Paul II "knew" about cases of child abuse by Catholic priests in Poland and helped cover them up before becoming pope in 1978, a new book claims.

Three arrested in Japan for 'sushi terrorism' pranks

Three people have been arrested in Japan over unhygienic pranks at a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant after footage of their antics -- dubbed "sushi terrorism" -- sparked outrage online.

What we know about kidnapping of four US citizens in Mexico

Two US citizens have died and two others survived after they were taken captive by suspected drug traffickers after entering crime-ridden northeastern Mexico for medical reasons.

EU court halts sanctions against Wagner chief's mother

A European court on Wednesday cancelled EU sanctions imposed on the mother of Russian paramilitary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, in an embarrassing setback for Brussels' punitive response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Two dead in failed Chile airport heist

An aviation worker and a would-be robber died in a shootout Wednesday during a failed heist at the international airport in Santiago, Chile, officials said.

Man City's Walker faces indecent exposure investigation

Police have launched an investigation into allegations that Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker indecently exposed himself in a bar.

Thousands of women rally in Pakistan despite legal hurdles

Thousands of women took part in rallies across Pakistan on Wednesday despite efforts by authorities in several cities to block the divisive marches.

Antique shop's defiance brings hope to Turkish quake zone

The sounds of music waft in from the antique shop, where Turkish flags hang defiantly, bringing hope to the earthquake-ravaged city of Antakya as it mourns its dead.

German prosecutors searched ship over Nord Stream blast

German investigators probing the Nord Stream gas pipeline blasts searched a ship suspected of having transported explosives used in the incident, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

Two US citizens kidnapped in Mexico found dead, two survive

Two US citizens kidnapped by suspected Mexican drug traffickers were found dead Tuesday while two others survived, in what officials said appeared to be a tragic case of mistaken identity.

Clashes in Georgia over contentious 'foreign agents' law

Georgian police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters Tuesday as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the capital Tbilisi to oppose a controversial "foreign agents" bill.

UN wants action from China on human rights concerns

United Nations rights chief Volker Turk on Tuesday demanded action from Beijing to address "grave concerns" over the human rights situation in China's Xinjiang province.

Iran arrests school poisoning suspects as cases top 5,000

Iran announced Tuesday it had made the first arrests in a spate of mystery poisonings of schoolgirls that has affected more than 5,000 pupils since late November.

17 killed, 100 injured in Bangladesh building blast

At least 17 people were killed and more than 100 injured after an explosion struck an office building in the Bangladeshi capital's commercial district on Tuesday, police and medics said.

Indonesia sends more rescuers as extreme weather hampers search after landslide

More rescuers and heavy machinery will be sent to Indonesia’s disaster-hit Serasan Island to search for dozens still missing after a deadly landslide, a disaster official said on Tuesday.

Two strong earthquakes rock southern Philippines

Two strong earthquakes jolted the southern Philippines on Tuesday, authorities said, with the second damaging buildings and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of villagers from their homes.

6.0-magnitude earthquake rocks southern Philippines

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake jolted the southern Philippines on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no reports of casualties or major damage.

Small victories as women challenge Vatican patriarchy

Once a rare sight in the Vatican's halls of power, women are increasingly being seen in senior posts under Pope Francis, but the gender battle is far from won.

Pakistani migrants play deadly 'game' chasing future abroad

When Muhammad Nadeem left home in eastern Pakistan, he asked his mother to pray for his safe passage to Europe then slipped away before she could object.

The Japan Times - Boulevard (English)