- Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Reuters
More than half world faces high measles risk, WHO says
More than half the world's countries will be at high or very high risk of measles outbreaks by the end of the year unless urgent preventative measures are taken, the World Health Organization has warned.
Police fire tear gas on Indian farmers marching to capital, government offers talks
Indian police fired tear gas on Wednesday to scatter thousands of protesting farmers as they sought to resume a march to Delhi after rejecting a government offer on prices for their produce, while authorities offered a fresh round of negotiations.
Dubai airport passenger numbers top pre-pandemic levels in 2023
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's busiest international hub, registered a 31.7% increase in passenger traffic last year to 86.9 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, operator Dubai Airports said on Monday.
At least 53 killed in tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea, ABC reports
At least 26 people were killed in tribal fighting in the northern highlands of Papua New Guinea, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said on Monday, citing local police. The men were killed in an ambush in Enga Province, according to the Australian state broadcaster.
With over 100 seats counted, Imran Khan's supporters lead in Pakistan - media
Supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan had the edge on Friday in Pakistan's election results from over 100 seats, local media said, after vote counts were hit by unusual delays that the government ascribed to a suspension of mobile phone services.
Early Pakistan vote results show Sharif has the edge
Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party was slightly ahead in early election results on Friday, after vote counts were hit by unusual delays that the government ascribed to a suspension of mobile phone services.
Grammys 2024: Taylor Swift makes history with fourth album of year win
Pop superstar Taylor Swift set another record on Sunday, winning the Grammy award for Album of the Year for an unprecedented fourth time as women dominated the music industry's top honours.
Forest fires kill 112 in Chile's worst disaster since 2010 earthquake
Firefighters in central Chile on Sunday battled to quell fierce forest fires that have killed 112 people so far and razed entire neighbourhoods, while President Gabriel Boric warned the country faces a "tragedy of very great magnitude".
Malaysia halves jail sentence of ex-prime minister Najib
Malaysia halved the jail sentence on Friday of former premier Najib Razak, who was convicted of graft and money laundering related to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, a move expected to raise further questions about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's commitment to fighting graft.
Malaysia welcomes new king in unique rotating monarchy
Sultan Ibrahim, the wealthy and outspoken ruler of Malaysia's southern Johor state, was sworn in as the country's new king in a ceremony on Wednesday.
UN to punish staffers involved in 'terror,' urges UNRWA funding
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres vowed on Sunday to hold to account "any U.N. employee involved in acts of terror" after allegations that some refugee agency staffers were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Mars rover data confirms ancient lake sediments on red planet
NASA's rover Perseverance has gathered data confirming the existence of ancient lake sediments deposited by water that once filled a giant basin on Mars called Jerezo Crater, according to a study published on Friday.
WHO appeals for $1.5 bln to address crises from Gaza to Afghanistan
The World Health Organization (WHO) has appealed for $1.5 billion in funding to respond to the health needs of millions of people caught up in dozens of humanitarian crises around the globe, from Ukraine and Gaza to Afghanistan.
Bangladesh PM Hasina secures fourth straight term as expected
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina swept to a fourth straight term as expected with her party winning an absolute majority in the general election, the poll body said on Monday, amid low turnout in the vote boycotted by the main opposition.
Mask mandates return at some US hospitals as COVID, flu jump
Hospitals in at least four U.S. states have reinstated mask mandates amid a rise in cases of COVID, seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses. Healthcare facilities in New York, California, Illinois and Massachusetts have made masks mandatory among patients and providers.
