World

  • NewsAFP News

    Philippines observes Good Friday with crucifixions and whippings

    Catholic zealots in the Philippines re-enacting the last moments of Jesus Christ were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped themselves bloody in extreme displays of religious devotion on Good Friday.- 'It's for my mother' -  The extreme acts are frowned upon by the Catholic Church in the Philippines and health experts.

    4-min read
  • NewsReuters Videos

    Raging fire engulfs high rise building in Brazil

    STORY: Thick smoke was rising as debris was seen falling from the towering building, reportedly under construction, in the Torre neighbourhood of the city in Brazil’s Pernambuco state.The eyewitness who captured the video and lives nearby said the blaze didn’t seem to be spreading to adjacent buildings, but debris was falling onto the construction site below.According to media reports, emergency response teams quickly rushed to the scene while authorities shut off electricity and evacuated nearb

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    Bangladesh opens mosque for transgender hijra community

    Kicked out of other prayer services, members of Bangladesh's transgender hijra community have been welcomed at a new mosque in the Muslim-majority nation with the promise of worship without discrimination.- 'Like any other people' - Hijra have been the beneficiaries of growing legal recognition in Bangladesh, which since 2013 has officially allowed members of the community to identify as a third gender.

    4-min read
  • ScienceReuters Videos

    Can dogs understand words for specific objects?

    STORY: Can dogs understand words for specific objects?A new study says yes - and that dogs picture the object in their minds when they hear its name, much like human beings.This border collie named Rohan was part of the study out of Budapest.Researchers at Eotvos Lorand University measured her brain activity, as her owner said words for objects she knew.Marianna Boros co-authored the study.“Dogs came to the lab and did not just listen to something that was not important for them but they came wi

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    US gives initial $60 mln for Baltimore bridge rebuild

    STORY: The U.S. government approved $60 million in relief funds for the state of Maryland on Thursday to begin rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The bridge collapsed Tuesday morning after a massive cargo freighter that had lost power plowed into the structure in Baltimore Harbor. The bodies of two men have been recovered while four others are missing and presumed dead. They were conducting repairs on the bridge when it was struck. "Our hearts are with their families. And we a

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    World Court orders Israel to halt Gaza famine

    STORY: The World Court on Thursday ordered Israel to end spreading famine in Gaza, demanding it take all necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies to the Palestinians there.The unanimous ruling from the International Court of Justice came as aid agencies say only about a fifth of needed supplies are entering the war-shattered enclave.The World Court judges said in their order:"The court observes that Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine... but that f

  • NewsAFP News

    Top world court orders Israel to ensure urgent aid reaches Gazans

    The world's top court has ordered Israel to ensure more food and urgent humanitarian assistance reaches Gazans, warning famine is already setting in after nearly six months of war.The International Court of Justice's order on Thursday comes after the United Nations has repeatedly said the besieged territory was on the brink of "man-made famine" and blamed Israel's restrictions on aid for causing "horrifying" levels of hunger and deprivation."Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk