'Full investigation' underway for Afghan hospital bombing

An air strike on a hospital run by medical charity Médecins Sans Frontièrs (Doctors Without Borders) in Kunduz, Afghanistan, killed at least 19 people on Saturday, wounding 37 others. The US military admitted that the strikes were possible “collateral damage” in its battle to oust Taliban insurgents. The Pentagon said a "full investigation" is underway. The incident took place after Taliban insurgents invaded and captured the city on Monday. The United Nations condemned the strike as "inexcusable, and possibly even criminal".

IS takes credit for killing Japanese in Bangladesh

Masked assailants riding a motorcycle gunned down a Japanese man in Bangladesh on Saturday, five days after an Italian aid worker was killed in similar fashion. The Islamic State militant group later claimed responsibility for the killing in a statement posted on its official Twitter account. However, the government dismissed the claim, saying there was no evidence for the group's involvement and described the attack as an “isolated incident”. The police later said they had detained four people in connection with the shooting.

Russia bombs Syria for third day

Russian warplanes launched strikes in Syria for the third time in 72 hours on Saturday, targeting Islamic State militants, even as Russia President Vladimir Putin faced growing international criticism over his campaign. Russia said it would step up the air strikes in Syria and believes they are weakening the Islamic State. However, the United States-led coalition, which has been involved in a four-year civil war in the region, said that the strikes were aimed to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Hundreds feared dead in Guatemala landslide

The death toll of a landslide in Guatemala City on Thursday has reached 48, with more than 600 people reported missing. The hillslide collapse buried more than 100 homes, even as rescuers heard voices under collapsed buildings and earth as they struggled to dig people out. Around 1,800 soldiers, firemen and neighbours were involved in the rescue operations, according to a spokesman for the disaster agency.

Vatican dismisses gay priest

The Vatican on Saturday fired an official who came out as gay on the eve of a synod of bishops to discuss family issues, including the Church's position on homosexuals. Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa, 43, told Italy's Corrieredella Sera newspaper that he was gay and had a partner in an interview published on Saturday. The Vatican said the dismissal had nothing to do with Charasma's personal life, but giving the interview and his planned demonstration was "grave and irresponsible" given the timing on the eve of a synod.