China is celebrating 70 years since it became a communist state but Hong Kong protests could overshadow the day. Chinese President Xi Jinping has made absolutely no secret of his desire to evoke memories of the country’s revolutionary founding father. His brief speech touched on

Fresh floods have been feared in parts of Murshidabad in West Bengal and in Bangladesh as India opened all 119 gates of the Farakka barrage to ensure speedy discharge of the river water. Even as the release of 2.75 lakh cusecs of water from the Indrapuri barrage across the Sone river

The Amery Ice Shelf in Antarctica has just produced its biggest iceberg in more than 50 years. The calved block covers 1,636 sq km in area - a little smaller than Scotland's Isle of Skye - and is called D28. The scale of the berg means it will have to be monitored and tracked

Jihadists have attacked a military base where US soldiers train commandos in Somalia, causing casualties, reports say. Local residents reported heavy blasts and gunfire at Baledogle airport in the southern Lower Shabelle region. The al-Shabab militant group said it had carried out

Turnout in Afghanistan's presidential election was the lowest since a coalition ousted the Taliban in 2001, preliminary data suggests. Figures from the country's Independent Election Commission suggest around 25% of the country's 9.6m registered voters took part. If

All petitions related to Jammu and Kashmir, where massive security restrictions are in place since the government scrapped special status to the state under Article 370, were today put off by a day by the Supreme Court of India, which said they would be taken up by a Constitution bench

Saudi Arabia's crown prince has warned that oil prices could rise to "unimaginably high numbers" if the world does not act to deter Iran. Mohammed bin Salman said a war between Saudi Arabia and Iran would ruin the global economy, following an attack on its oil facilities two weeks

More than 100 people have died due to flooding caused by heavy rains in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, officials have said. Dramatic images of the impact of flood water on urban life have been coming out of the affected areas. Railway traffic, vehicular movement,

A survivor of the Nigerian "torture house" raided by police has described being there as "living in hellfire". "If you are praying they will beat you. If you are studying they will beat you," Isa Ibrahim, 29, told the BBC. Nearly 500 men and boys were rescued from the building in

Wary of international interference, Myanmar insisted Saturday it wants Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled to neighboring Bangladesh repatriated to their former homes so they can live in a “more conducive environment” than the one they left.  But it said such a relocation must take

China's extraordinary rise was a defining story of the 20th Century, but as it prepares to mark its 70th anniversary, the BBC's John Sudworth in Beijing asks who has really won under the Communist Party's rule. Sitting at his desk in the Chinese city of Tianjin, Zhao

At least 36 people died and 36 others were injured in eastern China when a packed coach with a flat tyre collided with a truck, authorities have said. The bus was carrying 69 people – its maximum capacity – when it crossed into oncoming traffic and hit the freight truck on an

Voting has started in Austria's snap general election, after a video sting scandal in May collapsed the coalition government. Opinion polls suggest former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's conservative People's Party is on track to win the most votes - but will need a coalition

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined climate strike marches across Canada, with almost 100 events planned in cities and towns. Protesters are taking part in the global climate strike movement, which has seen people around the world take to the streets. The movement wants

Voting is under way in Afghanistan's presidential election, amid heavy security and threats from insurgents. Tens of thousands of Afghan forces have been deployed across the country to counter Taliban militants who have vowed to target polling stations. The twice-delayed vote is

The European Union has privately warned Iran that it will be forced to start withdrawing from the nuclear deal in November if Tehran goes ahead with its threat to take new steps away from the deal. Iran has already taken three separate calibrated steps away from the deal, and has

A British-flagged oil tanker is leaving Iran, after being held for more than two months. The Stena Impero's Swedish owner, Stena Bulk, said it was on the move from the Bandar Abbas port, where it has been anchored since July. The vessel was seized by Iranian troops in the Strait

The whistleblower whose complaint has led to an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump is a CIA officer, US media report. The unnamed officer once worked at the White House, several US outlets said. The whistleblower says senior White House officials tried to "lock down"

Saudi Arabia on Friday formally announced that tourist visas will be issued for the first time to visitors from 49 countries around the world. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) made the announcement at an event in Ad-Diriyah, an ancient city that is now a

At least six people were killed and nine others injured in a road accident in western Tripura on Thursday, the police said. A police officer said that four people, including two women, were killed on the spot while 11 others were injured after a passenger bus and a jeep collided at