- Friday, 22 August 2025
BBC
From Kabul and beyond, a year of Taliban rule
They're the women who seized new spaces for education and job opportunities during two decades of international engagement which ended with Taliban rule. Taliban officials say women are still working. Those who do are mainly medical staff, educators and security workers including at the airport - spaces where women frequent.
Fear in Bangladesh after huge fuel price rise
Bangladesh, one of the world's fastest-growing economies, has raised fuel prices by more than 50% in just a week. It blames rising oil prices in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest, as another South Asian nation faces a growing financial crisis.
Salman Rushdie: The writer who emerged from hiding
The novelist is one of the most celebrated and successful British authors of all time, with his second novel, Midnight's Children, winning the illustrious Booker Prize in 1981. But it was his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, published in 1988, which became his most controversial work - bringing about international turmoil unprecedented in its scale.
India HIV patients in 'drugs shortage' pain
"But over the past few months, we started getting reports from our members in various states that they were receiving medicines for only a couple of weeks. Then that time period also began getting shorter," he alleges, adding that this is hard on people who can't afford to travel to ART centres every few days.
Drought highlights dangers for electricity supply
The ongoing drought in the UK and Europe is putting electricity generation under pressure, said, experts. Electricity from hydropower - which uses water to generate power - has dropped by 20% overall.
The new problem for 'overthinkers'
In a physical workplace, overthinkers can more easily observe body language cues, or lean over a desk to ask a colleague a question when they feel unsure about a situation. But remote work away these outlets.
India man wins 22-year court battle against railways over 25 cents
An Indian man has won a case related to an overpriced railway ticket after almost 22 years. Tungnath Chaturvedi, a lawyer, was charged 20 rupees ($0.25; £0.21) extra for two tickets he had bought in 1999.
Australia defence force suicides 'a national tragedy'
The high rate of suicide by current and former Australian Defence Force members has been described as "a national tragedy", after a landmark report.
Nitish Kumar quits alliance with BJP in Bihar
Nitish Kumar, chief minister of Bihar state, has resigned after ending an alliance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The move was not unexpected as the tension had been brewing within the coalition in the northern state for some days.
Drought hits Europe's rivers and crops (Photo Feature)
Much of Europe is baking in record heat, which has exposed riverbeds and triggered restrictions on water use in many areas. Parts of the IJssel river, flowing north, are now so narrow that a ban has been imposed on ships passing each other.
She TikToked her divorce, then her ex killed her
When she left a bad marriage, Sania Khan said some members of her South Asian Muslim community made her feel like she had "failed at life". Through TikTok, she found support and comfort in strangers - until her ex returned and murdered her.
Eight dead in Seoul amid heaviest rain in decades
At least eight people have died and 14 others have been injured as flooding caused by torrential rain hit parts of South Korea's capital Seoul. Heavy downpours on Monday night submerged roads, flooded metro stations and caused blackouts across the city and neighbouring provinces.
How climate change is changing the Commonwealths
"It has an effect on athletes too. Climate change is pushing hard in some countries and it is not possible to run for two, or three hours. It is really sad as a marathon runner. Running in hotter environments is so hard. It is scary how, at the end of a session or race, you feel all your energy has gone."
12 pilgrims dead after Croatia bus crash
Twelve people have been killed after a bus carrying Polish pilgrims veered off a road in Croatia on Saturday. All 31 surviving passengers are injured, with some fighting for their lives in hospital, officials said.
'Struggling' Bollywood's online hate problem
Bollywood is yet to recover from the massive losses it incurred when theatres were shut for months during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Even after they reopened, several big-budget movies have failed at the box office, leading some pundits to predict that the industry is staring at a major crisis.
