Papua New Guinea: Rescue mission for researchers taken hostage underway

A mission is underway to rescue an Australian professor and three local researchers being held hostage by an armed group in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Police chief David Manning said…

Spain: Officials resign after ordering trains that are too wide for tunnels

Two top Spanish transport officials have resigned over a botched order for new commuter trains that cost nearly €260m ($275m; £230m). The trains could not fit into non-standard tunnels in…

Turkey: Another deadly 6.4 earthquake traps people under rubble

Rescuers are once again searching for people trapped under rubble in Turkey after another earthquake hit the country, killing at least six people. A 6.4 magnitude tremor struck near the…

Nicaragua: Authorities strip 94 prominent dissidents of citizenship

A court in Nicaragua has stripped 94 dissidents of their citizenship. Among those declared “traitors to the fatherland” are award-winning writer Sergio Ramírez, poet Gioconda Belli and Catholic bishop Silvio…

New Caledonia: Australian man killed by shark at popular beach in New Caledonia

An Australian tourist has been killed by a shark in front of horrified onlookers in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. The 59-year-old was swimming about 150m (500ft) from…

Moldova: We want Russia to come, say protesters

Beneath Moldova’s soaring parliament building, a parade of its most precarious file slowly past – bussed in by the thousand from across the country, each with their private tale of…

USA: Instagram and Facebook to get paid-for verification

Instagram and Facebook users will now be able to pay for a blue tick verification, parent company Meta has announced. Meta Verified will cost $11.99 (£9.96) a month on web,…

Haiti: Three kidnapped after church service

Gang members in Haiti have kidnapped three worshippers as they left a church in the capital, Port-au-Prince, after attending Sunday Mass. Local media say the kidnappers are demanding high sums…

Panama: Bus plunges off road killing 39

At least 39 people died in Panama when a bus carrying migrants hoping to reach the US plunged into a ravine. The bus was heading north and was near the…

France: Journalist suspended in scandal linked to disinformation firm

The suspension of a senior journalist at France’s leading TV news channel has uncovered what appears to be a well-organised system of corruption and influence buying in the international media.…