Growing numbers of Syrian refugees are returning to their war-ravaged homeland from Jordan because they can't survive in exile after drastic aid cuts, can't afford to pay smugglers to sneak them into Europe or are simply homesick.

The returns, along with the increasing migration to Europe, signal that conditions in regional host countries have become increasingly intolerable, the refugees and aid officials said.

Islamic State group jihadists have blown up the Arch of Triumph in Syria's Palmyra, the country's antiquities chief said Monday, stepping up their campaign of destruction at the world heritage site.

The move was seen as the latest salvo in IS's propaganda war, and came just days after Russia launched air strikes against the extremists and other opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

A strong typhoon roared into southern China on Sunday, bringing powerful winds and heavy rain to the region after leaving more than a dozen fishermen missing in the Philippines.

Tens of thousands of people in southern China were evacuated before Typhoon Mujigae made landfall near the city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province just after 2 p.m., according to the National Meteorological Center.

The Vatican has fired a monsignor who came out as gay on the eve of a big meeting of the world's bishops to discuss church outreach to gays, divorcees and more traditional Catholic families.

Monsignor Kryzstof Charamsa was a mid-level official in the Vatican's doctrine office.

Will Smith is getting jiggy with music again.

The Grammy-winning rapper and Oscar-nominated actor appears on a remix of Colombian band Bomba Estereo's song, "Fiesta." The remix was released digitally on Friday.

Shooting has begun in Dubai on "Star Trek Beyond," the third film in the reboot of the science-fiction series.

Authorities in Dubai shut down busy Sheikh Zayed Road from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday for the shoot. A helicopter filmed along the road, lined with tall buildings and the Dubai Metro.

You've seen the images from Pluto. Now, the lead scientist of the historic NASA expedition is ready to tell the whole story.

Alan Stern, principal investigator of the New Horizons mission, has a deal with Picador for a "behind the scenes" account of July's flyby.

An unmanned Russian cargo ship has docked with the International Space Station, bringing the astronauts aboard 2.3 tons (2.5 short tons) of supplies ranging from air to garlic.

The Progress M-29M spacecraft blasted off from Russia's space launch complex in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Thursday night docked with the space station shortly before 2 a.m. Moscow time Friday (2300 GMT Thursday).

Police are seeking a robbery suspect with nice nails.

They say a man got a manicure at a nail salon on West Rockland Street in Philadelphia on Sunday and then robbed the place at gunpoint.

A leopard got its head stuck in a metal pot after venturing into a village in northern India on Wednesday.

Media reports said it was thirsty and tried to drink water.