Headlines

'Historic': Saudi stages first swimwear fashion show

Saudi Arabia held its first fashion show featuring swimsuit models on Friday, an envelope-pushing step in a country where less than a decade ago women were required to wear body-covering abaya robes. The poolside show featuring the work of Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal

Afghans and Tajiks mix in rare but vital border bazaar

For Afghans living under Taliban rule, a Saturday market is a rare chance to cross the border into neighbouring Tajikistan and pick up food and household goods. The popular bazaar in the small town of Kalai-Khumb -- about six hours' drive east from the Tajik capital Dushanbe --

Lebanon state media reports fresh Israeli strikes in south

Israeli air strikes hit on Friday an area of southern Lebanon far from the border, Lebanese official media said, following days of escalating clashes between Israel and armed group Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group, a Hamas ally, has traded cross-border fire with Israeli forces

First aid enters Gaza via US-built pier

The first trucks began supplying aid to war-ravaged Gaza from a temporary pier on Friday, the US military said, as fighting raged in the Palestinian territory. US Central Command said "trucks carrying humanitarian assistance began moving ashore" via the long-awaited pier, a day

Israel to hit back at 'genocide' claims at UN top court

Israel will on Friday hit back in the United Nations' top court at allegations from South Africa that it has escalated a campaign of "genocide" with its military operation in Rafah. Pretoria has urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to order a stop to the Israeli