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'Survive, nothing more': Cuba's elderly live hand to mouth
With a monthly pension barely sufficient to buy 15 eggs or a small bag of rice, Cuba's elderly struggle to make ends meet in one of Latin America's poorest and fastest-aging countries.

Olympic balloon to rise again in Paris
A giant balloon that became a popular landmark over the skies of Paris during the 2024 Olympics is set to rise again, with organisers hoping it will once again attract crowds of tourists.

As sports embrace gender tests, Coventry and IOC may follow
As the gender furore that engulfed boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics rumbles on, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is weighing reintroducing testing, while several sports have already embraced testing for male chromosomes.

Europe powers urge Iran to keep up diplomacy despite Israeli strikes
European powers on Friday urged Iran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States to find a solution in the standoff over its nuclear programme, but Tehran warned it could only consider diplomacy once Israel halted its bombardment of the Islamic republic.

Big-name porn sites back online in France after age check row
Major adult websites Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube were back online in France Friday after a court here suspended a decision requiring pornographic platforms based in the EU to verify users' ages.

Oil drops, stocks climb as Trump delays Iran move
Oil prices retreated Friday while US and European stock markets gained ground as concerns over a war escalation in Iran eased.

UK probes Amazon over suspected late payments to food suppliers
Britain's grocery watchdog on Friday launched an investigation into whether online retail giant Amazon made late payments to food suppliers.

French champagne makers face prison in human trafficking trial
French prosecutors have requested two years behind bars for an employer in the champagne sector accused of human trafficking, exploiting seasonal workers and housing them in appalling conditions during the 2023 grape harvest.

Russian government, central bank spar over economic downturn
Russian officials sparred publicly on Friday over how to boost the economy, as growth slows more than three years into its Ukraine offensive.

Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave
Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher.

Australian trial says tech for social media teen ban can work
Australia's world-leading ban on under-16s joining social media sites cleared a big hurdle Friday as a trial found digital age checks can work "robustly and effectively".

Rice prices double in Japan as inflation accelerates
Rice prices doubled last month in Japan as core inflation accelerated, official data showed Friday, posing a threat to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of July elections.

QS Energy Receives Initial Order for Multi-Year AOT Technology Deployment
Multi-Billion-Dollar Program With Up To 400 Units Ordered to Modernize Crude Transport Infrastructure

Restoration rejuvenates iconic Gaudi house in Barcelona
Barcelona's UNESCO-listed Casa Batllo, a modernist architectural masterpiece by Sagrada Familia designer Antoni Gaudi, unveiled a multimillion-euro restoration Thursday that brings its rear facade and courtyard back to life.

French state leads capital increase for satellite operator Eutelsat
The French state will become the biggest investor in European satellite operator and Starlink competitor Eutelsat, leading a capital increase alongside private shareholders, the company said Thursday.

Swiss central bank cuts interest rates to zero percent
The Swiss National Bank cut interest rates to zero percent on Thursday as inflation cools and the franc strengthens, while the economic outlook has deteriorated.

Stocks drop, oil gains as Mideast unrest fuels inflation fears
Major stock markets mostly fell and oil prices rose Thursday as the Israel-Iran conflict added to fears over a renewed spike to inflation.

Kenyan LGBTQ community vogues despite threat of repressive law
Before a cheering audience, a man opened the ball in Nairobi with acrobatic moves to electronic rhythms -- a celebration of queer resistance from a Kenyan LGBT community feeling threatened by new legislation.

Shortages hit Nigeria's drive towards natural gas-fuelled cars
Motorists in Nigerian cities are spending hours, or even days, queuing for natural gas to power their cars after the government promoted its use as an alternative fuel.

Czechs sign record nuclear deal but questions remain
The Czech Republic signed a contract earlier this month with South Korea's KHNP to build two nuclear reactors, but experts question its future over complaints raised by KHNP's French rival EDF.

Justice at stake as generative AI enters the courtroom
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is making its way into courts despite early stumbles, raising questions about how it will influence the legal system and justice itself.

US stocks flat as Fed keeps rates steady, oil prices gyrate
Wall Street stocks treaded water Wednesday after the Federal Reserve met expectations and kept interest rates steady while oil prices nudged higher following a volatile session amid ongoing clashes between Iran and Israel.

Brazil says free of bird flu, will resume poultry exports
Brazil said Wednesday it was free of bird flu, paving the way for it to resume chicken exports to China and 20 other countries after a month-long suspension.

Musk's X sues to block New York social media transparency law
Elon Musk's X Corp. has filed a lawsuit challenging a New York state law that requires social media companies to report how they moderate hate speech and disinformation.

Nippon, US Steel say they have completed partnership deal
Nippon Steel and US Steel announced Wednesday they have completed a partnership deal in which the US government will essentially have veto power over significant decisions affecting US jobs.

Oil prices dip, stocks mixed tracking Mideast unrest
Oil prices eased and stock markets diverged Wednesday as traders kept a close watch over the Israel-Iran conflict ahead of an interest-rate announcement from the US Federal Reserve.

Middle Age rents live on in German social housing legacy
When German pensioner Angelika Stibi got the keys to her new home in the southern region of Bavaria this year, a huge financial weight was lifted from her shoulders.

Meta offered $100 mn bonuses to poach OpenAI employees: CEO Altman
Meta offered $100 million bonuses to OpenAI employees in an unsuccessful bid to poach the ChatGPT maker's talent and strengthen its own generative AI teams, the startup's CEO, Sam Altman, has said.

UK inflation dips less than expected in May
British inflation eased less than expected in May after surging in April, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling expectations that the Bank of England will hold interest rates steady this week.

Energy transition: how coal mines could go solar
Disused coal mines could be refashioned to place vast fields of solar panels, a new report suggests, providing an unlikely solution to a common obstacle to uptake of the green energy source.

Taiwan's entrepreneurs in China feel heat from cross-Strait tensions
Bustling Taipei-style shopping streets, majestic temples to the island's deities and thriving factories dot the eastern Chinese city of Kunshan, for years a hub for Taiwanese businesses.
Trump extends TikTok deadline for third time
US President Donald Trump will this week give TikTok a fresh 90-day extension to find a non-Chinese buyer, the White House said Tuesday, the third time he has put off a threatened ban on the popular app.