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

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

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

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".

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taiwan has said a large incursion of Chinese military jets flew into its air defence zone on Sunday. The defence ministry said 19 aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers entered its so-called air defence identification zone (ADIZ). Taipei has been compla

The last US military flight has left Kabul airport, marking the end of a 20-year presence in Afghanistan and America's longest war. Officials said the last C17 aircraft took off with the US ambassador onboard after midnight local time on Tuesday. They added that the diploma

The US city of New Orleans has lost power, with only generators working, as Hurricane Ida batters Louisiana. The storm brought 150mph (240km/h) winds when it made landfall and those people who did not flee have been advised to shelter in place. One person was killed when a

Chinese fast fashion firm Shein has launched an investigation into "false" discriminatory job adverts posted on recruitment sites under its name. Adverts seen by the BBC for factory and warehouse workers said those from certain ethnic minority backgrounds, including Uyghurs, must not appl

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the killings on its Amaq news channel Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport on Thursday, transforming a scene of desperation into one of horror in the waning days of an airlift for those fle

Japan has suspended the use of about 1.63 million doses of the Moderna vaccine due to contamination. The health ministry said "foreign materials" were found in some doses of a batch of roughly 560,000 vials. Takeda Pharmaceutical, which sells and distributes the vaccine in Japa

Madagascar is on the brink of experiencing the world's first "climate change famine", according to the United Nations, which says tens of thousands of people are already suffering "catastrophic" levels of hunger and food insecurity after four years without rain. The drought - the worst in

BEIJING: China is struggling at home to sell the Taliban as a suitable partner for a country waging a war on alleged Islamic extremism, as it prepares to embrace an Afghanistan led by the militant group. State media and diplomatic attempts to paper over the group’s past and present it as the “peo