World

HONG KONG : Scores of residents flocked to a cramped shop in Hong Kong's old district to bid farewell to the city's "king of umbrellas", who is retiring after spending decades repairing umbrellas at his family business. Established in 1842...

RIYADH : The Yemeni regional coalition backed by Saudi Arabia warned on Saturday that it is ready to act directly against any military challenge from separatist forces. General Turki al-Malki, the spokesman for the Riyadh-led groups, said the groups would...

NAIROBI : Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, will head to the polls on Thursday for local elections -- the first by universal suffrage in nearly 60 years -- under a complete citywide lockdown amid security concerns. The east African country is struggling to emerge from...

BETHLEHEM : Scouts marched under a clear blue sky in Bethlehem on Wednesday, as the Palestinian city emerged from the shadow of the war in Gaza to celebrate its first festive Christmas in more than two years. Throughout the Gaza...

VATICAN CITY : Pope Leo XIV is expected to renew his calls for peace Thursday when he delivers his first Christmas blessing from St Peter's Basilica at the end of a year overshadowed by conflict, but also marked by hopes for peace...

SEOUL : Two North Korean prisoners of war held by Ukraine have expressed their desire to start a "new life" in South Korea, according to a letter seen by AFP on Wednesday. "Thanks to the support of the South Korean...

BEIJING : Eight people including several children were killed when a kindergarten director lost control of an SUV and plunged into a pond in southeast China, state media reported Wednesday. The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon in Pengze county, a rural...

LOS ANGELES : A major winter storm rolled into California Tuesday, forcing hundreds of evacuations in burn areas while threatening flooding and travel delays through Christmas for much of the state, officials said. A "strong atmospheric river brings heavy rain,...

PALM BEACH : US President Donald Trump  on Monday announced a new class of heavily armed warships that will be named  after himself -- an honor usually reserved for leaders who have left office. Two of the Trump-class ships will...

GENEVA : The UN said on Tuesday Myanmar's junta was using violence and intimidation to force people to vote in upcoming military-controlled elections, while armed opposition groups were using similar tactics to keep people away. "The military authorities in Myanmar...