About 30 people have been taken hostage by a gunman at a mall in the Philippine capital Manila.
Armed police and negotiators are on the scene, trying to end the standoff peacefully.
The gunman, a former security guard at the V-Mall in Manila's San Juan City, is demanding to speak to his former colleagues by video call.
A SWAT team has entered the V-Mall in San Juan's Greenhills commercial district after shoppers were safely evacuated.
Arab Parliament welcomes direct municipal elections in Somalia
The Arab Parliament has welcomed the holding of direct municipal elections in Somalia, considered to be the first in the country since 1969.
Bangladesh leader considered PM frontrunner returns from exile
Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting Chairman Tarique Rahman returned from nearly 17 years in exile on Thursday, a homecoming the party hopes will energise supporters with Rahman poised to be the top contender for prime minister in February.
Syria to start currency swap on January 1
Syria will start swapping old banknotes for new ones from January 1, 2026, Central Bank Governor Abdelkader Husrieh said on Thursday, under a plan to replace Assad-era notes to try to strengthen the currency's value.
Five killed in Nigeria mosque attack, police say
At least 5 were killed and 35 others injured when a bomber detonated an explosive inside a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria's Borno state, during evening prayers, police said.
Latest With Hit
Akhil Kavalayoor live on Radio Active
Latest With Hit
Watch Dona & Jean as they grove to SakkathaGavle !
Latest With Hit
Ted X speaker, AI trainer Raul John Aju giving us AI lessons.
