Malaysia’s top court on Friday struck down Shariah-based criminal laws in an opposition-run state, saying they encroached on federal authority. Islamists denounced the decision and said it could undermine religious courts across the Muslim-majority nation.In an 8-1 ruling, the nine-member Federal Court panel invalidated 16 laws created by the Kelantan…

Authorities in a northern Indian town imposed an indefinite curfew and ordered police to shoot violators after clashes over the construction of a Muslim seminary and a mosque left at least five people dead and more than 150 injured, officials said Friday.The violence Thursday also led authorities to shut down…

At least 18 people were killed Friday when the bus they were traveling on collided with a truck in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, authorities said.The bus collided with the truck as it tried to make a turn along a highway leading to the N’Djili International Airport, said Anaddolu Nganga,…

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has officially won another term in office with 92.12% of the vote, the country’s Central Election Commission said Friday.Election monitors, however, have expressed concern about the vote. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Thursday that the election took place in a restrictive…

Over 40,000 children in El Salvador have experienced the detention of one or both parents as a result of President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang campaign.Bukele’s campaign has led to the detention of over 76,000 Salvadorans, with families enduring long periods without news of their loved ones.Social workers, religious leaders and Vice…

Combat exercises between the U.S. and the Philippines will remain unaffected by America’s current focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans confirmed.The Biden administration aims to bolster military alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to deter China and prepare for potential conflicts over Taiwan.Maj. Gen.…

Seven royal artifacts, looted by British colonial forces from Ghana’s Asante kingdom 150 years ago, were returned to the kingdom on Thursday.The artifacts include an elephant tail whisk, an ornamental chair, two gold stool ornaments, a gold necklace and two bracelets.They were transferred to the Fowler Museum at UCLA in…

Denmark’s defense minister is warning Friday that “new knowledge” indicates Russia could attack a NATO country within the next three to five years. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told the Jyllands-Posten newspaper that there is no direct threat against his country but “Russia’s capacity to produce military equipment has increased…

Russian leaders say the recent change-up at the highest levels of the Ukrainian military will not make a difference in the ongoing invasion.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday appointed Сol. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as the country’s highest-ranking army general of the country in a national military shake-up. “We don’t think it’s…

An airline in Ireland that mistakenly placed an innocent man on a no-fly list, and even contacted the man’s boss about the matter, has apologized for the apparent mix-up, reports show. Airline Ryanair said before Ireland’s High Court that the company “SINCERELY and unreservedly apologised” for wrongly placing Eoin Michael Cahill…