In Mecca's sweltering heat, Muslims start this year's Hajj pilgrimage

MINA, Saudi Arabia — In sweltering temperatures, Muslim pilgrims in Mecca converged on a vast tent camp in the desert Friday, officially opening the annual Hajj pilgrimage

Muslims start Hajj against the backdrop of Israel-Hamas war

MINA, Saudi Arabia — In sweltering temperatures, Muslim pilgrims in the Saudi city of Mecca converged on a vast desert tent camp Friday, officially starting the annual Hajj pilgrimage

Pope meets 100 comedians at Vatican: 'You also make God smile'

VATICAN CITY — Before flying to Italy's southern Puglia region to meet world leaders at the Group of Seven summit, Pope Francis hosted a very different audience at the Vatican on Friday celebrating the importance of humor

South Africa holds off Bangladesh, remains unbeaten in cricket's T20 World Cup  

WESTBURY, New York — Spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled a six-run, two-wicket final over and South Africa held off Bangladesh by four runs to stay unbeaten in cricket's T20 World Cup on Monday

From refugee camps to World Cup glory: Inspiring journey of Afghanistan cricket

Washington — When the parents of Karim Sadiq and Taj Maluk fled a wrecked Afghanistan torn apart by the 1979 Soviet invasion and infighting warlords, they didn’t imagine their children — Karim and Taj — would return to reunite the war-torn nation thr[..]

Mick Jagger, strutting at 80, teases new album and more touring

Los Angeles — How does it feel for Mick Jagger to be back on tour singing, dancing and strutting across stadium concert stages at 80 years old? Like being on stage at 78, the Rolling Stones frontman, who has thrilled audiences for more than six dec[..]

Saudi Arabia warns of above-average heat during Hajj

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia said Tuesday pilgrims can expect average high temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) during the Hajj, which last year saw thousands of cases of heat stress

Netflix series puts Pakistani red-light district in spotlight

A new Netflix series has turned attention to a historic red-light district in Pakistan

Marian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama, dies at 86

WASHINGTON — Marian Shields Robinson, the mother of Michelle Obama who moved with the first family to the White House when son-in-law Barack Obama was elected president, has died

Hundreds in Peru mark Clown Day

LIMA, Peru — With their unmistakable red noses, extravagant shoes, colorful outfits and unique makeup, hundreds of clowns Saturday gathered in the streets of Peru's capital to mark Clown Day

All-women rock band jams out as conservative Saudi society loosens up

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Leaning into the microphone in Saudi Arabia's capital, Nora let loose a primal scream

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who skewered fast food industry, dies at 53

NEW YORK — Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America's food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald’s for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died

India determined to end World Cup title drought

NEW DELHI — In the ever-growing Twenty20 cricket landscape, India boasts the richest and most-watched league in the world

Young women in Rio favela hope to overcome poverty, to play in ’27 World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO — A 20-minute drive separates the historic Maracana Stadium from the Complexo do Alemao, the biggest complex of favelas in Rio de Janeiro and one of the most impoverished and violent

Mexico City taco stand earns Michelin star

MEXICO CITY — Newly minted Michelin-starred chef Arturo Rivera Martínez stood over an insanely hot grill Wednesday at the first Mexican taco stand ever to get a coveted star from the French dining guide and did exactly the same thing he's been doing[..]