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US official tells UN top court 'serious concerns' over UNRWA impartiality

A US official on Wednesday told the International Court of Justice there were "serious concerns" about the impartiality of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

Pakistan says India planning strike as tensions soar over Kashmir

Pakistan said on Wednesday it had "credible intelligence" that India was planning an imminent military strike and vowed to retaliate, as worries of spiralling conflict grew over a deadly attack in Kashmir.

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Pope's condition 'slightly improving' on seventh day in hospital

The Vatican reported another slight improvement in Pope Francis's condition on Thursday, as the 88-year-old spent his seventh day in hospital being treated for double pneumonia.

'Fixated' man who approached Raducanu is given restraining order

A man who showed "fixated behaviour" towards British tennis player Emma Raducanu at a tournament in Dubai has been detained and given a restraining order, police said on Thursday.

Teenager kills two women in knife attack at Czech shop

A 16-year-old boy killed two women in a knife attack at a discount shop in the Czech Republic on Thursday, police said, adding the motive remained unclear.

Luis Rubiales: Spain's disgraced former football federation chief

Spain's former football federation chief Luis Rubiales, who on Thursday was convicted of sexual assault and fined over his forcible kiss on the lips of star player Jenni Hermoso, is a combative personality whose career was marked by controversies.

Spain's ex-football boss Luis Rubiales fined over forced kiss

A Spanish court on Thursday convicted and fined former football chief Luis Rubiales of sexual assault over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso but acquitted him of the charge of coercion

Chinese workers from Myanmar scam centres start arriving home via Thailand

Hundreds of Chinese workers started to arrive home on Thursday after being freed from online scam centres in Myanmar, as authorities crack down on the illegal operations.

Hamas hands over coffins, in transfer of Bibas family and elderly hostage bodies

Hamas handed over coffins it said contain the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday, including those of the Bibas family who became symbols of the ordeal that has gripped Israel since the Gaza war began.

Singapore stays execution of Malaysian for second time

A Singapore court has stayed the execution of a Malaysian prisoner for the second time just hours before he was due to be hanged for drug trafficking on Thursday.

Hospitalised Pope had peaceful night, up and eating: Vatican

Pope Francis passed another peaceful night in hospital, "got up and had breakfast in his armchair", the Vatican said Thursday, the day after reporting a slight improvement in his condition.

Ousted South Korean president sought to stop 'dictatorship', says lawyer

Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol's bid to impose martial law was aimed at thwarting a "legislative dictatorship" by the opposition-controlledparliament, his lawyer said Thursday, as Yoon became the country's first sitting president to stand trial in a criminal case.

Chinese workers from Myanmar scam centres heading home via Thailand

Hundreds of Chinese workers were heading home on Thursday after being returned from online scam centres in Myanmar, as authorities crack down on the illegal operations.

Iran executed 975 people in 'horrifying' 2024 escalation: rights groups

Iran executed at least 975 people last year in a "horrifying escalation" of its use of capital punishment, two human rights groups said on Thursday.

Sri Lanka train derailed after smashing into elephants

A Sri Lankan passenger train derailed Thursday after smashing into a family of elephants, with no passengers injured but six animals killed in the island's worst such wildlife accident, police said.

Myanmar returns first batch of Chinese scam workers to Thailand

Myanmar on Thursday handed over the first batch of hundreds of Chinese scam centre workers who are set to be repatriated through Thailand in the coming days.

S. Korean president's lawyer says martial law bid sought to stop 'dictatorship'

Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol's lawyer on Thursday said his bid to impose martial law was aimed at thwarting a "legislative dictatorship" by the opposition-controlled parliament, as the president became the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case.

Delta offers $30,000 each to Toronto plane crash passengers

US airline Delta will offer $30,000 to each passenger on a plane that crashed as it landed at Toronto airport this week, the carrier told AFP on Wednesday.

Yoon becomes South Korea's first sitting president to go on criminal trial

Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol became the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings opened Thursday on his bid to impose martial law.

Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc. Announces the Execution of Securities Purchase Agreement

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 20, 2025 / Aspire Biopharma, Inc. ("Aspire" or the "Company"), a developer of a multi-faceted patent-protected disruptive drug delivery mechanism technology (Nasdaq:ASBP)(Nasdaq:ASBPW), today announced that it entered into a definitive Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") on February 19, 2025, pursuant to which the Company issued to the Buyers a senior secured convertible debenture (the "Debenture"). The Debenture is only convertible in the event of a default or at the Company's discretion. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur on February 20, 2025 (the "Closing Date"). The transaction will result in gross proceeds to the Company of $3.0 million. Proceeds from the transaction will support the Company's general working capital and operating expenses.

Could 'terrorist' designation lead to US strikes on drug cartels?

US President Donald Trump's decision to designate eight Latin American drug trafficking groups as "terrorist" organizations has raised speculation about possible military action on foreign soil.

No immediate ruling on 'unusual' move to drop New York mayor corruption case

A US federal judge peppered a top member of Donald Trump's Justice Department with questions Wednesday during a hearing over the office's extraordinary move to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.

Yoon to become South Korea's first sitting president to go on criminal trial

Ousted South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol will become the country's first sitting head of state to stand trial in a criminal case as hearings open Thursday on his bid to impose martial law.

Latin America's 'terrorist' cartels in Trump's sights

From Mexico's most ruthless drug cartels to Central America's most notorious street gang, these are the eight drug trafficking groups being designated terrorist organizations by US President Donald Trump's administration:

Pope's tests show improvement, Italy PM visits

Pope Francis's blood tests show a "slight improvement" as he receives hospital treatment for pneumonia, the Vatican said Wednesday, while Italy's prime minister found the 88-year-old joking "as always".

Syrian Jews say held first group prayer in decades in Damascus synagogue

Syria's tiny Jewish community said they held their first group prayer in decades Wednesday, in a synagogue in Damascus's Old City, expressing joy at the long-awaited return to public worship.

Call for 'maximum' sentence for Bosnian Serb leader

Prosecutors demanded a near five-year jail sentence Wednesday for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik for defying the envoy who oversees the peace accords that ended the country's bloody 1990s war.

UK accusers of influencer Tate urge US to stay away from case

Four British women who have accused notorious influencer Andrew Tate of rape said Wednesday they were "concerned" by reports the US government was petitioning Romania to ease his travel restrictions.

Teamwork key to smashing European doping networks: WADA investigations chief

A collaboration between the Serbian anti-doping agency and law enforcement operatives who seized 3,000 kilogrammes of performance-enhancing drugs and broke up an organised crime gang last year is "the future in the fight against doping", WADA's Director of Intelligence and Investigations Gunter Younger has told AFP.

Pope 'breathing on his own' despite pneumonia: Vatican source

Pope Francis's heart is holding up very well despite his pneumonia, a Vatican source said Wednesday, amid growing concerns over the hospitalised 88-year-old's condition.

UK govt cracks down on online knife sales

A new law introduced after a spate of high-profile knife crimes will make it harder for young people to purchase knives online, the UK government announced Wednesday.

Pope, suffering from pneumonia, had 'peaceful night'

Pope Francis, who has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, passed a "peaceful night", the Vatican said Wednesday, amid growing concerns over the 88-year-old's condition.

Peru's 12-Angle Stone vandalized, causing 'irreversible damage'

An allegedly intoxicated man vandalized a 500-year-old archaeological artifact known as the 12-Angle Stone in Peru, authorities said Tuesday.

UN watchdog chief visits Fukushima as Japan returns to nuclear power

The UN nuclear watchdog chief visited Japan's stricken Fukushima plant on Wednesday, the day after Tokyo approved an energy plan that marks a return to nuclear power to meet growing demand for AI.

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