Supermarket deliveries: Lidl tests autonomous electric lorry
Lidl is putting a driverless electric lorry on public roads in Hesse for the first time. What the technology can do and how other EU states are leading.
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Billions risk being locked out of the AI revolution due to smartphone costs
A new GSMA report finds that 3.4 billion people remain offline despite living within mobile broadband coverage, as rising component costs push smartphones further out of reach for the world's poorest.
‘Baby boss’ in China wins hearts after clip shows him playfully courting customers outside eatery
A Chinese boy with a remarkable talent for engaging customers at his family’s restaurant in central China has gone viral, drawing entertaining reactions from both domestic and international netizens. The four-and-a-half-year-old child gained overnight fame after a Serbian expat in China posted a video of him being approached in front of a diner in Huangshan, Anhui province, on his account @saitie,...
US limits visas for South African officials over alleged anti-white discrimination
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says South Africa has not addressed US concerns over racial inequality.
AI chatbots developed a secret language that baffled humans, study says
A study by AI start-up Emergence found that autonomous agents powered by Claude, Gemini, Grok and other models developed shorthand and new word meanings on their own — with up to half their messages becoming unintelligible to humans.
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NATO jets shoot down drone over Lithuania and Russian ship fires flares at Danish helicopter
NATO says its fighter jets have shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace
OpenAI boss says world 'right to be afraid' but should trust AI firms
Sam Altman and other tech CEOs say there are incentives to limit advancements in AI, as fears grow over the threats it poses to humanity.
Europe Today special: Von der Leyen gives key State of the Union amid mounting challenges for the EU
Today's State of the Union address by EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen grapples with migration, Ukraine, defence, and the continent's role in a rapidly shifting world. We cover it all from Brussels and Strasbourg, with ongoing analysis, top interviews, and our team of EU correspondents.
Canada, heatwaves, AI and Ceuta: Von der Leyen delivers State of the Union
Follow live as Ursula von der Leyen delivers her State of the Union speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Ursula von der Leyen delivers State of the Union speech
Follow live as Ursula von der Leyen delivers her State of the Union speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Al-Qaida and IS-linked violence in Africa’s Sahel belt set to hit record levels this year
Twenty-five years after 9/11, figures compiled by conflict monitor underline how Sahel region has become centre of Islamist terrorIslamist extremist violence in Africa’s Sahel region is set to reach historic highs after a series of sweeping offensives by groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State, according to new figures compiled by the conflict monitor Acled.As the US marks the 25th anniversary...
Hong Kong rated Asia’s top financial hub for fourth straight year: report
Hong Kong has retained its status as Asia’s top financial hub for a fourth consecutive edition of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), even as many of the world’s leading centres saw their scores slip slightly amid rising geopolitical headwinds. The city also ranked third globally in the 40th edition of the twice-yearly report, released on Wednesday amid a remarkably tight race at the top of...
Hong Kong rated Asia’s top financial hub for 4th straight year: report
Hong Kong has retained its status as Asia’s top financial hub for a fourth consecutive edition of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), even as many of the world’s leading centres saw their scores slip slightly amid rising geopolitical headwinds. The city also ranked third globally in the 40th edition of the twice-yearly report, released on Wednesday amid a remarkably tight race at the top of...
Runaway horse captured by police on motorbikes
The unharmed horse escaped from its owner before the start of a parade in New Mexico
Hong Kong unveils first five-year plan to cement position as global financial hub
Hong Kong leader John Lee on Wednesday unveiled the city's first five-year plan to boost its global position as a financial hub. The plan serves as a social and economic roadmap detailing the city-state's strategic priorities, including an aim to expand technology ties with mainland China.
Malaysian councillor resigns after DAP remarks at Umno assembly
A Malaysian city councillor has resigned over remarks he made about the Democratic Action Party (DAP) at the recent Umno general assembly. Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said’s resignation as a Seberang Perai city councillor took effect on Monday, according to a letter made public by state local government committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye on Wednesday. In the letter, Zaid...
European markets recover ahead of expected Fed rate hike
European markets recovered modestly as oil prices and bond yields eased, while investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s decision on whether to raise borrowing costs for the first time in three years.
Fed expected to raise rates despite Trump’s calls for a cut
The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise borrowing costs for the first time in three years as persistent inflation tests Chair Kevin Warsh’s commitment to price stability.
Russia touts candidates who fought in Ukraine for its wartime parliamentary election
Nearly 200 men who took part in the war in Ukraine are among the candidates for this week’s parliamentary election in Russia
Australian politics live: PM distances himself from Labor staffer sacked over social media posts; Lambie says AI companies ‘like dinosaurs in Jurassic Park testing fences’
Follow the day’s news liveGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastSports precinct funding report reveals a ‘pattern of behaviour’, Wilson saysTim Wilson says there are questions for Labor to answer over an ABC report which says health minister Mark Butler’s office asked an Adelaide council to put forward a $6m sports precinct upgrade for federal funding before any detailed costi...
Florida oyster reef restoration helped marine life return within 18 months
In Florida's Indian River Lagoon, restored oyster reefs have sparked impressive marine life revitalization. Species diversity reached parity with that of thriving reefs in a mere year, while overall invertebrate abundance required eighteen months for similar recovery. Notably, flatback mud crab populations surged alongside developments in reef structures and oyster density, highlighting how enviro...
US House votes to end Iran war, 7 Republicans join in favour
For a third time, the US House approved a war powers resolution, halting Trump's ability to continue military action.
Will Smith’s ‘Fresh Prince’ mansion gets 25% price cut to $22.95M, may face demolition
The iconic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mansion is back on the market with a significant price reduction. This nearly century-old estate, familiar from the popular 1990s show, is now listed for $22.95 million. The property requires extensive renovation and is likely to be torn down by its new owner. The mansion, owned by Farhad Rahban for decades, boasts Colonial Revival architecture and spacious groun...
Seoul court orders North Korea to pay $32.5m for blowing up office
Pyongyang blew up the Inter-Korean Liaison Office building in June 2020 after days of rising tensions.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected in court in The Hague
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is to make his first public appearance in more than a year after an International Criminal Court judge said she expected him to attend a pretrial hearing
Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid defeat Elche despite late scare
Real Madrid narrowly defeated Elche (3-2) in Matchday 6 of La Liga. Kylian Mbappé scored a goal and provided an assist.
Football: Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid defeat Elche despite late scare
Real Madrid narrowly defeated Elche (3-2) in Matchday 6 of La Liga. Kylian Mbappé scored a goal and provided an assist.