Ex-Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, architect of growth, dies of illness at 98
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has died, according to state media
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How Chinese culture links 4 cardinal directions to life’s natural cycle – and why
In traditional Chinese culture, the cardinal directions – east, west, south, and north – represent more than mere points on a compass; they reveal how ancient societies comprehended life, death, and human nature. The Shuowen Jiezi, the earliest surviving dictionary of China compiled during the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220), explains the four cardinal directions in relation to the movement of the su...
Florida homeowner invites Wendy’s worker to lunch; chance meeting raises $13,000
Myanmar steps up civilian attacks with drones and paragliders, UN says
Myanmar’s military is increasingly using drones, motorised paragliders and other low-cost aircraft to attack civilians, United Nations investigators said, even as the country’s rulers seek to project stability and gain legitimacy after a military-run election. The report by the UN-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar released on Tuesday said attacks continued to rise from Ju...
Are you the travel planner of the group? You could win a free trip to Switzerland – itinerary included
New research from travel booking platform Klook reveals just how thankless the role of travel planning can be and has launched a global search for five planners keen on a chance to swap the spreadsheets for a Swiss getaway.
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Dogs can read human emotions! Scientists want you to smile
New research confirms dogs can differentiate human emotions through facial expressions. Their brains process happy faces in a unique reward region, showing emotional significance. Dogs also distinguish between fear, anger, and sadness with distinct brain activity patterns. This ability developed through domestication, aiding their social understanding of humans. Understanding these emotions do...
‘The hardest mission of my life’: A rescuer’s loss in the Lebanon War
A Lebanon rescuer’s work is shaped by the daughter he lost in an Israeli attack on his station.
Zhu Rongji, China’s chief engineer of economic reform and former premier, dies aged 97
Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, who helped engineer one of the greatest economic reforms in human history, has died. He was 97. Zhu, who served as China’s premier from 1998 to 2003, is remembered for tackling corruption, shaking up the centrally planned economy and overhauling the state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector. He was the mastermind behind negotiations for China’s World Trade Organization...
China’s chief engineer of economic reform Zhu Rongji dies aged 97
Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, who helped engineer one of the greatest economic reforms in the human history, has died. He was 97. Zhu, who served as China’s premier from 1998 to 2003, is remembered for tackling corruption, shaking up the centrally planned economy and overhauling the state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector. He also played a leading role in securing China’s entry into the World Tr...
Chinese economic reformer Zhu Rongji dies aged 97
Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, who earned a reputation as an economic reformer, has died. He was 97. Zhu, who served as China’s premier from 1998 to 2003, is remembered for tackling corruption, shaking up the centrally planned economy and overhauling the state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector. He also played a leading role in securing China’s entry into the World Trade Organization. Born in 1928 ...
Quake leaves Colombian towns in ruins as Valle del Cauca counts dead
Western Colombia hit by deadly quake as Zarzal, Roldanillo and El Cairo report widespread damage.
Trump’s secret flight switch indicates severity of assassination threat by Iran
Iran lost top leaders in the war and US ‘humiliation ... a form of revenge’, say experts, after administration’s flight ruseSince the joint US-Israeli strikes in February that killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and scores of other senior Iranian officials on the first day of the war, a revenge plot to kill Donald Trump should not have appeared far-fetched.But the US administration...
Drone footage shows rare bird’s-eye view of stingrays off New York coast
With wing spans up to 3ft, the shy cownose ray species typically arrive in Long Island waters in the warmer monthsDrone footage of dozens of stingrays in the ocean off New York has captivated beachgoers and marine enthusiasts, offering a rare bird’s-eye view of a species that scientists say has visited the area for decades.The footage was captured las`t Friday off the coast of Southampton on the L...
BTS bump? Hong Kong’s hotels set for bonanza from superstars’ Arirang world tour
The arrival of BTS’s world tour in Hong Kong next year is expected to be a sure-fire hit with the city’s hospitality sector, with hotels likely to see a similar surge in bookings to the one experienced in Seoul earlier this year when the South Korean pop superstars launched their comeback series of concerts, according to analysts. When BTS kicked off their Arirang world tour – their first since co...
Latest news bulletin | August 12th, 2026 – Midday
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this August 12th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
PLA holds first joint naval drill with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan
The People’s Liberation Army and Indonesian forces have held joint naval exercises east of Taiwan, signalling deeper military ties between Beijing and Jakarta. Wednesday’s drill featured the PLA Navy’s Type 054A frigate Honghe and the Indonesian Navy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai, the PLA Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement on its official social media account. The training covered mariti...
PLA to hold first joint naval drill with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan
The People’s Liberation Army will conduct joint naval training with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan, Beijing’s defence ministry announced on Tuesday. Scheduled for mid-August, the drill will feature the Chinese navy’s Type 054A frigate Honghe and the Indonesian Navy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai, focusing on communications and at-sea replenishment, according to a statement by the ministry. “Th...
Europe has officially delayed the roll out of the ETIAS travel permit indefinitely
Europe’s long-delayed ETIAS travel permit has been pushed back yet again, leaving travellers in limbo over when they’ll need to apply – and pay.
Wisconsin result dents winning streak for Democratic Party's left wing
Centrist David Crowley is projected to have beaten democratic socialist Francesca Hong, breaking a recent nationwide trend.
Wisconsin result halts winning streak for Democratic Party's left wing
Centrist David Crowley is projected to have beaten democratic socialist Francesca Hong, breaking a recent nationwide trend.
Iran war and high living costs fuel last-minute holiday bookings, Tui says
Geopolitics and cost of living crisis have cost Europe’s largest travel company €60m so farHolidaymakers are waiting until the last minute to book their trips because of the continuing uncertainty caused by the war in Iran and the cost of living crisis, according to Tui, Europe’s largest travel company, which said the war had cost it €60m (£51m) so far.In the weeks after the outbreak of war at the...
Iran war and high living costs fueling last-minute holiday bookings, Tui says
Geopolitics and cost of living crisis have cost Europe’s largest travel company €60m so farHolidaymakers are waiting until the last minute to book their trips because of the continuing uncertainty caused by the war in Iran and the cost of living crisis, according to Tui, Europe’s largest travel company, which said the war had cost it €60m (£51m) so far.In the weeks after the outbreak of war at the...
School bus crashes in Shing Mun Tunnel after driver loses consciousness
A school bus driver died in hospital and a passenger was slightly injured after their vehicle, which was carrying nearly 50 children, crashed inside Hong Kong’s Shing Mun Tunnel on Wednesday afternoon. The coach was travelling towards Tsuen Wan when it suddenly went out of control and struck the tunnel wall at around 3.30pm. Emergency responders found the driver, 71, unconscious at the scene. A wo...
School bus crashes in Shing Mun Tunnel after driver loses consciousness, 1 injured
A school bus driver lost consciousness and another passenger was slightly injured when the vehicle carrying about 50 children crashed inside Shing Mun Tunnel on Wednesday afternoon. The coach was travelling towards Tsuen Wan when it suddenly lost control and struck the tunnel wall at about 3.30pm. Emergency responders found the driver, a man in his fifties, unconscious at the scene. A female adult...
Who is Kick streamer Nanatty? Viral clip sparks backlash over alleged racist remarks on livestream
Japanese Kick streamer Nanatty is under fire after a video surfaced online, appearing to show her using a racial slur while interacting with another streamer. Viewers have also pointed out her derogatory remarks about Black individuals. This incident marks another chapter in a series of controversies for Nanatty during her livestreams, yet neither she nor Kick have responded publicly to the allega...
Trump plays down Air Force One plane switch as criticism grows over ‘decoy’ passengers – US politics live
President says Secret Service wanted him on ‘different plane’ due to threat as Democrats call for congressional briefingHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.President Donald Trump said he slipped away from Air Force One after a trip last month in Turkey because the Secret Service and military wanted him on a “different plane” due to a threat that he insisted didn’t scare him. Continue re...
Two killed in Kherson as Ukraine hits Russia's Black Sea naval base
Zelenskyy said the overnight operation hit air defence positions, piers and port infrastructure at a key Black Sea facility of the Russian Navy, as Russian missiles and drones killed two people in Kherson and disrupted port operations in Odesa.