Russia fire: Children killed in Kemerovo shopping centre blaze
At least 64 people have died in a fire that tore through a shopping and entertainment complex in the Siberian coal-mining city of Kemerovo.
Many of the victims are children, Russian officials say, with 10 people still listed as missing.
The blaze started on an upper floor of the Winter Cherry complex while many of the victims were at the cinema.
Video posted on social media showed people jumping from windows to escape the flames on Sunday.
"According to preliminary information, the roof collapsed in two cinemas," Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Australia condemns Myanmar violence and says offenders 'must be held to account'
Australia tells UN Human Rights Council observers needed to supervise Rohingyas’ return
Australia has told Myanmar that international observers must be allowed into the isolated Rakhine state to monitor the situation of Rohingya still living there, and to supervise the return of any of those who have fled and wish to come back.
In its strongest statement yet against the quasi-military regime, Australia condemned Myanmar’s violence at the United Nations Human Rights Council, saying anyone guilty of human rights abuses “must be held to account”.
“Australia reiterates its deep concern about events in Rakhine state, including reports of widespread and systematic human rights violations and abuses by Myanmar security forces and local vigilantes,” the charge d’affaires of Australia’s mission to the UN, Lachlan Strahan, said in Geneva. “We also note with concern ongoing clashes between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups in north-eastern Myanmar and barriers to humanitarian access.”
Capture of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont sparks violent protests in Barcelona
Five months after going on the run from Spanish authorities, Catalonia's former president was detained in Germany on an international warrant by highway police after the ardent separatist crossed the border with Denmark.
Carles Puigdemont's capture, aided by Spanish intelligence services, sparked protests of tens of thousands in Catalonia's main city of Barcelona and other towns in the wealthy northeastern corner of Spain. Some of the demonstrators clashed with riot police, leaving more than 50 civilians and police officers injured and leading to four arrests. Mr Puigdemont will appear before a German judge on Monday.
Spain was plunged into its worst political crisis in four decades when Mr Puigdemont's government flouted a court ban and held an ad-hoc referendum on independence for the northeastern region in October.
Zimbabwe's former First Lady Grace Mugabe investigated for ivory smuggling
The former first lady of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe, is suspected by wildlife officials of having smuggled ivory worth millions of dollars. The wife of ex-President Robert Mugabe was once tipped to lead the country.
Grace Mugabe, the wife of former Zimbabwean ruler Robert Mugabe, faced accusations on Sunday that she had raided the country's ivory stockpiles during her time as first lady and sent pieces as gifts to high-profile individuals in the Middle East and Asia.
Tinashe Farawo, speaking for Zimbabwe's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, said "we opened our investigations and realized that former first lady Grace Mugabe was illegally dealing in ivory."
In Egypt's election, turnout provides the only suspense
This week's presidential election in Egypt is not about who wins - that was settled long ago - but about how many people bother to cast ballots.
Authorities hope that enough people will vote for President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to lend legitimacy to an election in which the only other candidate is an obscure politician who has made no effort to challenge him.
The streets of Cairo are lined with campaign banners and posters extolling el-Sissi, most put up by businessmen or organizations hoping to advertise their support. El-Sissi has done little in the way of traditional campaigning, and has not publicly mentioned his ostensive challenger, Moussa Mustafa Moussa.
Japan modernizing workplace conditions to lure mothers back
With Japan's demographic challenges causing a workforce crunch that is proving difficult for companies to overcome, many are now offering flexible conditions to allow new mothers to return to full-time careers while maintaining their work-family balance.
As companies tackle ways to modernize Japan's work practices, some are keen to allow employees to set their own hours, or work from home.
More women, afraid their careers will stagnate while they are on maternity leave, are welcoming the new climate that makes it easier for couples to share the load.
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