India state polls test Modi popularity

Nearly three years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a sweeping national election victory with promises to develop the economy and root out corruption. But with a series of key state elections beginning on Saturday, Modi's popularity and his surprise currency decree that sparked months of financial uproar are now being tested.

Tensions flare between Turkey, Greece over islets

Turkey is once again facing off against historic foe-turned-ally Greece in one of their fiercest rows in years, though the war of words is unlikely to spill over into military confrontation.

Trump moves on Israeli settlements

US President Donald Trump is warning Israel that constructing new settlements "may not be helpful" to Middle East peace efforts, shifting toward a tougher line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

US 'preparing new Iran sanctions' over missile test

The Trump administration is preparing to levy new sanctions on Iran, US officials say, in the first punitive action since the White House put Iran "on notice" after it test-fired a ballistic missile.

Rebuilding shattered Aleppo will take billions

Fighting has ended in Aleppo, and now talk is beginning to turn to the question of how to rebuild Syria's largest city, where entire blocks have been smashed to rubble in scenes reminiscent of World War II devastation. The task will take tens of billions of dollars.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Officials, presidential guards in stand-off

South Korean special prosecutor officials withdrew from the presidential Blue House on Friday after it blocked them from searching offices there, in the latest twist in a corruption scandal that has gripped the country for months.

Romania's political crisis deepens

Romania's political crisis deepened on Friday after a key government ally said an emergency decree that would dilute the government's anti-corruption fight was not constitutional.

The road to survival

On a mountain pass outside Afghanistan's capital, trucks barreling down the highway slow down when 11-year-old Sedaqat waves his homemade sign to warn of an upcoming hairpin curve.

Aussie study backs shorter work week

A study by the Australian National University recommends the average working week should be capped at 39 hours in order to maintain optimum physical and mental health.

Eight cops killed by rogue colleague

An Afghan police officer turned his rifle on his colleagues in a northern province, killing eight, while a gunman in the country's east fatally shot a cleric and his wife, officials said on Friday.

Zoo's rare liger cub Tsar laps up royal treatment

His name is fit for a king, and he's being treated like one: Tsar the liger cub, born from an extremely rare lion-tiger romance, is proving a hit for a traveling Russian zoo.