In 2001, Tony Bennett and his wife opened an arts school for 250 students; how it looks 25 years later

Graft charges at home, arrest in Qatar: Former Bangladesh Air Force chief held

Brazil’s elections matter for the planet. This is why

Few national elections carry as much environmental weight as Brazil’s presidential race. And this one is being watched from far beyond the country’s boundaries. Home to the largest section of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil is guardian of a carbon sink of vital importance, making the country’s conservation policies globally relevant.  Environmentalists have already voiced alarm at Flávio Bolsonaro

European diplomats attacked by Israeli settlers in West Bank

The Israeli military condemns the violence but the prime minister's office says it is part of a "smear" campaign.

Texas Supreme Court to decide if city can seize land for a privately run golf facility

The Texas Supreme Court will examine an eminent domain case involving Westworth Village's attempt to acquire land from Jim Burgess for a golf facility. Following a previous ruling that deemed the taking unconstitutional on public use grounds, the case delves into the legality of local governments appropriating private property for private enterprise projects. This decision holds the potential to set a major precedent for eminent domain laws throughout Texas.

Zelenskyy urges support for new US sanctions on Russia put on hold by Trump

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged supporters Saturday to speak out in favor of new U.S. sanctions against Russia, hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order putting the sweeping restrictions on hold. The White House decision has heightened fears that Ukraine could be left exposed to Moscow’s escalating attacks as winter approaches. Overnight Russian attacks killed at least four people, including an ambulance driver, and wounded dozens, officials said. Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region and disrupted flights at Moscow’s airports, according to Russian authorities. In a social media statement, Zelenskyy called Trump’s decision unfortunate but avoided directly criticizing the U.S. leader despite deepening tensions between Ukraine and Washington in recent days. “A decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end,” Zelenskyy wrote. “This Act could have helped enormously – and s

Mass protests in France spiral into worst riots in years

PARIS — Rioting erupted in cities across France on Saturday as demonstrations against rising living costs and declining public services spiralled out of control in some of the worst violence the country has witnessed for decades. While hundreds of thousands protested peacefully in street marches in scores of cities, violent fringe groups targeted public buildings, looted luxury boutiques and supermarkets and attacked police vehicles and officers. In Limoges, the city hall was set ablaze; in Marseille, black-clad protesters broke into city hall and defaced the building with anarchic graffiti, and in Lyon, protesters torched the city's tourist office. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be "intimidated" by violence, and blamed the unrest on the "ultra-left" and criminals just months before a presidential election next year. "To those who clearly want to use this violence as a 'warm-up' before the presidential election, I say clearly: We will not let ourselves be intimidated. No one will impose their political agenda through violence," he wrote in a post

Japan to launch spacecraft on mission to get samples from Martian moon

TOKYO — Japan is set to launch a spacecraft on the world's first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of the two small, potato-shaped moons orbiting Mars. Scientists hope the mission, which is expected to take five years, will provide clues to how Phobos and its smaller sibling Deimos formed, and hopefully even shed light on the origins of life in the solar system. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s launch of the spacecraft Tuesday on a new Japanese mainstay H-3 rocket comes as the United States, China and others consider sending astronauts to Mars. Samples from Phobos will provide useful data for scientists to consider using a Martian moon as a base for a future manned mission to the planet, said MMX project manager Yasuhiro Kawakatsu. “Despite their potential importance, Martian moons have never been fully investigated," Kawakatsu said. “They are known as the most important unclimbed mountains in the solar system." Japan leads the international mission that includes equipment and communications support from NASA and other national space agencies. JAXA aims to stud

Major fire breaks out in Alberta after deadly incident at military base

EDMONTON, Alberta — Canada’s defense minister said Saturday that people were killed and injured in an incident at a military base in Alberta that caused a major fire. “I’m saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base,” Defense Minister David McGuinty said. McGuinty did not provide casualty figures or details about what caused the incident. He said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in the investigation and described the situation as “very, very active and delicate.” The Canadian Armed Forces and federal, provincial and local authorities were coordinating the emergency response, he said. The nearby community of Wainwright was providing hospital and firefighting support. The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire had crossed the base’s fence earlier Saturday and was spreading rapidly due to high winds. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions were responding, and no evacuation order was in effect. “Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said

Truck drives through soccer field during game in Kansas, killing 2 and hospitalizing 11

WICHITA, Kan. — A woman drove a truck through a soccer field during a youth game in Kansas on Saturday, killing two people and sending 11 other victims to the hospital, authorities said. A 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man were killed, Wichita Police Capt. Aaron Moses said. The ages of the injured people ranged from 5 to 68. Moses said the driver, a 34-year-old, was in custody. He did not say whether authorities believe it was intentional. “We are still working to determine how this happened and why this happened,” he said. Two children were also in the truck, Moses said. Police Chief Joe Sullivan said that immediately after the incident, and before first responders arrived at the scene, people “sprang into action” to provide lifesaving assistance to the victims. “It was truly amazing,” Sullivan said. “But I think it's indicative of the Wichita community.” Authorities said there was no further public threat. Mayor Lily Wu advised people to avoid the area during the investigation and said the news was heartbreaking. “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, es

Out-of-control truck kills 13 at Hindu festival in India

NEW DELHI, India — A speeding truck in India killed 13 people when it ploughed into a crowd at a Hindu festival, officials said on Sunday, with President Droupadi Murmu describing the deaths as "heartbreaking." The heavily loaded truck reportedly lost control in the early hours of Sunday and hit devotees gathered at a temple in Gwalior, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. The Press Trust of India news agency cited hospital officials as saying 13 people had died. "I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured," Murmu said on social media. India, with 1.4 billion people, recorded more than 183,000 road traffic deaths in 2025, or over 500 a day, according to the roads ministry. Many are linked to inadequate road infrastructure, ill-maintained vehicles and exhausted drivers, according to official data.

French police arrest 1,800 after violent clashes and looting mar protests

PARIS — Police arrested at least 1,800 people across France after violent groups clashed with officers and looted shops during nationwide demonstrations that drew hundreds of thousands of people who denounced rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. Authorities said masked groups on Saturday set fires and attacked public buildings, including city halls, in several cities. In Limoges, a city in central France, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse. Haute-Vienne prefect Maurice Barate told LCI television that the fire was deliberately set and nearly destroyed the building. The fire was under control Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron will hold an emergency meeting with top government officials on Sunday afternoon, before addressing the nation at 8 p.m., according to his office. “The right to protest is a fundamental right. Deliberately and collectively sowing disorder through violence is not," Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez wrote on X, pointing to the lootings of hundreds of businesses in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, St

Saudi landmark closes offices, chopper pilots killed near Yemen

RIYADH — Riyadh's Kingdom Centre skyscraper ordered remote working for office tenants on Sunday following repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi-led coalition said two pilots were killed in a crash near the Yemen border. The imposing, 99-story landmark announced "mandatory" remote working until further notice. No reason was given for the order, but it comes a week after 13 people were killed in a major Houthi attack on Riyadh's international airport. The Saudi coalition's decade-plus war with the Iran-backed Houthis has reignited during the U.S.-Iran war, with regular attacks reported by both sides. Tenants of the Kingdom Centre, which towers over central Riyadh, include financial services giant Merril Lynch, management consultancy McKinsey and the International Monetary Fund. "Please be advised that remote working arrangements are mandatory for all office employees at Kingdom Centre, effective immediately and until further notice," the building's management said in an email seen by AFP. "Kindly refrain from attending the offices during this period," it added. The mall at