Featured
Last news
Malaysia plans cloud seeding for drought-hit 'rice bowl'
Malaysia is resorting to cloud seeding to bring much-needed rain to the country's "rice bowl" north, where a drought has delayed planting of the staple crop and raised supply fears.
Where are the flash points in next week's Trump-Xi talks?
Donald Trump is poised to be the first US president visiting China in almost a decade, but an uneasy trade truce and tensions over Iran and Taiwan loom over his trip next week.
What does China want out of Trump's visit?
US President Donald Trump is due to visit China on May 14-15, where he is expected to meet leader Xi Jinping, after delaying an earlier summit because of the Iran war.
US and Iran trade fire, threatening fragile truce
The US military said it carried out strikes on Iranian military targets Thursday after an attack on three American destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran accused Washington of striking first.
Global stocks mostly fall as US rally shows signs of fatigue
Global stocks mostly fell Thursday as US indices pulled back from records while Washington awaited Tehran's response to a US plan to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Google faces new UK lawsuit over online display ads
Google faces a fresh UK lawsuit accusing it of abusing its dominance in online display advertising, the claimants announced Thursday, in the latest antitrust action against the US tech giant.
France to ban CBD edibles: sources
France will ban the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) edibles from May 15, while still allowing it to be sold to be smoked, AFP learnt from several sources on Thursday.
Hundreds paid or seeking damages over Harrods Al-Fayed abuse complaints
More than 75 survivors have been awarded "full compensation" for suffering sexual abuse at the hands of late Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, and nearly another 200 claims are being processed, a company scheme told AFP Thursday.
US oil blockade on Cuba 'energy starvation': UN experts
The fuel blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States amounts to "energy starvation", and has "grave consequences" for human rights and development, three UN special rapporteurs said Thursday.
Covid flashbacks haunt Canary Islands as hantavirus ship nears
Six years after registering Spain's first Covid case, the Canary Islands are awaiting the arrival of a cruise ship struck by a deadly hantavirus outbreak that is reviving painful memories.
IMF warns of 'inevitable' AI-powered threats to global financial system
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Thursday of the risks to global financial stability posed by cyberattacks powered by advanced artificial intelligence tools, calling for greater international cooperation on the issue.
Germany warns tax revenues to be hit by Iran war
Germany will generate less tax revenue in the coming years, in large part due to the "irresponsible" Middle East war launched by US President Donald Trump, the finance minister warned Thursday.
UK police officers probed over handling of Al-Fayed complaints
A serving officer with London's Metropolitan Police and four ex-officers are being investigated for their handling of sexual abuse allegations against former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, a watchdog said Thursday.
Defence giant Rheinmetall makes offer for further shipyard
German arms maker Rheinmetall said Thursday it had made an offer for a further shipyard as the influential defence giant deepens its push into naval systems.
Royal and Ancient Golf Club names Claire Dowling as first woman captain in 272 years
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has appointed amateur player Claire Dowling as the first woman captain in its 272-year history.
Royal and Ancient Golf Club names first woman captain after 272 years
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has appointed amateur player Claire Dowling as the first woman captain in its 272-year history.
US awaits Iran response to latest deal offer
The United States was waiting on Thursday for Iran to respond to its latest proposed deal to end the war in the Middle East and to reopen the key shipping lane out of the Gulf.
Latest evacuee from hantavirus-hit cruise lands in Europe
Another sick passenger from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship landed in Europe on Thursday, as the vessel headed to a Spanish island and health officials scrambled to map the outbreak of the potentially deadly human-to-human strain.
Shell profit jumps as Mideast war fuels oil prices
British energy giant Shell announced Thursday rising net profits for the first quarter as the Middle East war sent oil and gas prices soaring in volatile trading.
Senegal's children mourn in silence when migrant parents disappear
Fallou softly whispers that since his mother's death he has chosen to remain quiet, while young Sokhna recounts the many nightmares she has had following her father's disappearance: for the children of Senegalese migrants lost at sea, the torment of grief is long-lasting.
Australia to force gas giants to reserve fuel for domestic use
Australia will look to stave off energy shortages by forcing major gas companies to reserve 20 percent of their exports for domestic use, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Thursday.
AirAsia signs $19bn deal for 150 Airbus A220 jets
Southeast Asia's AirAsia signed a $19 billion deal to buy 150 Canadian-made Airbus A220-300 jets, the two companies said, with the low-cost carrier adding Thursday that it could double the order to meet future demand.
Tokyo leads Asia stock surge on growing Mideast peace hopes
Tokyo's Nikkei index soared Thursday to lead another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing optimism the Iran war is close to ending and the revival of demand for all things AI.
Africa's Lobito Corridor chief tells AFP business, not geopolitics, drives strategy
The chief executive of the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) project to link southern African mines to an Angolan export port says his priority is the business of the operation, not the geopolitical tussle over Africa's minerals.
Musk's SpaceX strikes data center deal with Anthropic
AI startup Anthropic announced Wednesday it has agreed to a major computing partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX, securing access to a vast data center as the Claude maker scrambles to keep pace with surging demand for its AI services.
Virus-hit cruise ship heads for Spain as evacuees land in Europe
A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak will reach the Spanish island of Tenerife "within three days", with the evacuation of passengers to start from May 11, Spain said Wednesday.
Virus-hit cruise ship evacuees land in Europe
A plane believed to be carrying a passenger from a cruise ship struck by the deadly hantavirus landed in the Netherlands on Wednesday after patients were evacuated from the vessel off Cape Verde.
Trump sees 'very good chance' of Iran deal, but threatens strikes if not
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed there was "a very good chance" of sealing a peace deal with Iran, but threatened to resume his bombardment of the country if negotiations fell apart.
EU risks financial hit if Chinese suppliers forced out: trade group
A group representing Chinese companies warned Wednesday the EU would suffer hundreds of billions of euros in losses if Chinese telecoms suppliers are banned in the bloc over cybersecurity concerns.
G7 decries 'economic coercion' in swipe at China
The trade ministers of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations Wednesday criticised "economic coercion" by powers placing arbitrary restrictions on exports, particularly critical minerals, in a clear swipe at China.
Trump threatens new Iran strikes, piling on pressure for peace deal
US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday with renewed bombing if it did not agree to a peace deal, piling on pressure after he abandoned an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz citing hopes for a breakthrough.
Disney shares jump after results top expectations
Disney shares jumped in pre-market trading Wednesday as the entertainment giant reported better than expected revenues and profits, thanks in part to growth in its streaming business.