World news
Pakistan earthquake kills 20 in Balochistan province

At least 20 people have been killed after an earthquake struck Pakistan's Balochistan province early on Thursday, officials have told the BBC. Authorities say the death toll may increase, and that many people were killed when structures collapsed. Many of the dead wer
Nobel in chemistry honours pair for new way to make molecules

Stockholm(AP): The Nobel Prize for chemistry has been awarded to German scientist Benjamin List of the Max Planck Institute and Scotland-born scientist David WC MacMillan of Princeton University. They were cited for their work in developing a new way for building molecules known as asymmetric org
Pandora Papers: World leaders deny wrongdoing after leaks

Several world leaders have denied wrongdoing after featuring in a huge leak of financial documents from offshore companies. Dubbed the Pandora Papers, the 12 million files constitute the biggest such leak in history. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Jordan's King Abdull
California oil spill sparks concern for wildlife

An oil slick off the coast of California has started washing ashore, killing fish, contaminating wetlands and closing beaches. About 3,000 barrels of oil have spread over an area covering 13 square miles (33 sq km), off the Orange County coast. Huntington Beach Mayo
Taiwan says dozens of Chinese planes entered defence zone

Taiwan says a total of 39 Chinese military jets flew into its air defence zone on Saturday - the largest incursion by Beijing to date. The defence ministry said the planes entered the area in two waves, during the day and during the evening. It comes after 38 planes, including
North Korea says it fired new 'hypersonic missile'

North Korea has claimed that it successfully tested a new hypersonic missile called Hwasong-8 on Tuesday. State media said the new missile was one of the "five most important" new weapons systems laid out in its five-year military development plan. They called the missile a "st
North Korea fires missile, says South's military

North Korea has fired a short-range missile towards the sea off its east coast early on Tuesday, said South Korea's military. The test happened as North Korea's ambassador said at the UN that no-one could deny Pyongyang's right to self-defence and to test weapons. Earlier this
Somalia: Seven killed in suicide attack near presidential palace

A suicide car bomb which exploded near the presidential palace in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday has killed at least seven people. District police chief Mucawiye Ahmed Mudey told reporters that at least eight others had been injured. In a short statement, the Islamist
Air pollution: Even worse than we thought - WHO

Air pollution is even more dangerous than previously thought, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, as it slashes maximum safe levels of key pollutants such nitrogen dioxide. An estimated seven million people die prematurely each year from diseases linked to air pollutio
Melbourne earthquake: Tremor rattles southeast Australia

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake has rattled southeast Australia, damaging buildings in the city of Melbourne. The earthquake happened about 09:15 local time (23:15 GMT) on Wednesday at Mansfield, not far from the Victorian state capital. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said "we have h
Russia shooting: Gunman kills several at Perm University

A gunman has killed six people at a university in the Russian city of Perm, officials say. The assailant walked on to the campus on Monday morning and started shooting. Students and teachers barricaded themselves inside the university building; others were seen jumping from win
Aukus: French minister condemns US and Australia 'lies' over security pact

France's foreign minister has accused Australia and the US of lying over a new security pact that prompted Paris to recall its ambassadors. In an interview with France 2 television, Jean-Yves Le Drian also accused the countries of "duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt".
Aukus: UK, US and Australia launch pact to counter China
The UK, US and Australia have announced a historic security pact in the Asia-Pacific, in what's seen as an effort to counter China. It will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US. The Aukus pact, which will also co
International community announces over $1.2 billion in pledges for Afghanistan humanitarian crisis

The U.N. chief emphasised that “it is impossible to provide” humanitarian assistance inside Afghanistan "without engaging with the de facto authorities of the country" The international community has announced over $1.2 billion in aid for the Afghanistan humanitarian crisis, with U.N. Secreta
UK’s National Health Service starts world's largest trial of Galleri blood test

The United Kingdom’s state-run National Health Service (NHS) has commenced the world’s biggest trial of a blood test where they will detect more than 50 types of cancer. The world's largest trial of Grail Inc's flagship Galleri blood test will find out different types of cancer even before the sympt
Why is there a food emergency in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has experienced long queues to buy essential items amid tight lockdown measures to control the spread of Covid-19. Shelves at government-run supermarkets have been running low - some even empty - with very little stock remaining of imported goods like milk powder, cereal and ric
Lebanon gets new government amid deepening crisis.

A new government has been announced in Lebanon over a year after the previous administration quit following the devastating Beirut port explosion. Najib Mikati - Lebanon's richest man - becomes prime minister, a position he has held twice before. His appointment, along with the
Afghanistan: US concerned by new Taliban government

The US has said it is concerned after the Taliban unveiled Afghanistan's new all-male government with figures linked to attacks on American forces. The interim cabinet is led by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, who is on a UN blacklist. Another figure, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is wanted