World coming up short on promised marine sanctuaries
A global target of having 30 percent of the oceans become protected areas by 2030 is looking more fragile than ever, with little progress and the United States backing away, conservationists say.
Read moreSouth Korean voters weigh political divide in partisan heartlands
The top contenders in South Korea's presidential vote Tuesday have framed their campaigns as an existential fight for the country's soul, and whoever wins will have to unite a sharply-polarised society.
Read moreGreat hex-pectations: shamans divided on South Korea's political destiny
The outcome of this week's presidential elections in South Korea may still be unknown, but shaman Yang Su-bong tells AFP the winner came to her in visions years ago.
Read moreIn a hotter future, what comes after coral reefs die?
The fate of coral reefs has been written with a degree of certainty rare in climate science: at 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming, most are expected to die.
Read moreNations urged to make UN summit a 'turning point' for oceans
Nations will be under pressure to deliver more than just rhetoric at a UN oceans summit in France next week, including much-needed funds to better protect the world's overexploited and polluted seas.
Read moreECB expected to cut rates again as Trump trade war rumbles on
The European Central Bank is expected to deliver its seventh-straight interest rate cut this week as US President Donald Trump's volatile trade policies add to headwinds for the sluggish eurozone.
Read moreSnakes on a plane: Indian smuggler caught with venomous vipers
A passenger smuggling dozens of venomous vipers was stopped after flying into the financial capital Mumbai from Thailand, Indian customs officials said.
Read morePilgrims come together in Mecca under scorching desert heat
More than a million Muslim pilgrims poured into the holy city of Mecca ahead of the annual hajj, with authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal visitors.
Read moreRussia, Ukraine head to Istanbul for fresh peace talks
Russian and Ukrainian officials will meet Monday in Istanbul to exchange their plans for how to end the three-year war, Europe's largest conflict since World War II, after Kyiv says it struck dozens of strategic bombers parked at airbases deep in Russia.
Read moreChina 'firmly rejects' US claim that it violated tariff deal
China said Monday it "firmly rejects" US claims that it had violated a sweeping tariffs deal, as tensions between the two economic superpowers showed signs of ratcheting back up.
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