World News Hub

Once a textile powerhouse, Syria is betting on an industrial comeback

Syria once produced garments that reached Arab and European markets, but the civil war dismantled the industry over the years. With sanctions lifted and investors beginning to return, Aleppo's first major trade fair in years is testing whether that world can be rebuilt.

Urgent need for more security after physical attacks and abuse, say MPs’ staff

Exclusive: Westminster survey finds one in two staffers experiencing clinical levels of psychological distressStaff employed by MPs are calling for urgently tightened security after reports of some being physically attacked and hundreds receiving threatening calls and messages.A survey of more than 500 MPs’ staff members found that 78% had received threatening communication and nearly one in three...

Replacing gas stove can help asthmatics as much as some drugs, US experts find

Team in Ohio finds swapping to electric has ‘very large’ impact, despite study being scaled back by Trump cutsA US study has found a 70% drop in hospital admissions and days off from work or school when people with poorly controlled asthma had their gas stove and hob replaced with electric.Ohio’s publicly owned MetroHealth began the study in December 2024 but funding was terminated early by the in...

In 1938, one radio broadcast made Americans think the world was ending: The incredible true story behind the 'War of the Worlds' panic

A 1938 radio drama adaptation of The War of the Worlds caused confusion among listeners. Many Americans believed they were hearing real news of a Martian invasion. This broadcast highlighted the public's trust in radio as an authoritative information source. Historians question the extent of the widespread panic initially reported. The event remains a significant lesson in media's power to inf...

After growing plants in space for years, NASA research could help astronauts grow medicines on demand, starting with tobacco and a harmless virus

【ライブ予定】サッカー日本代表 短期続投の森保監督が会見

来年1月から2月にかけて行われるアジアカップまで、短期間での続投が決まったサッカー日本代表の森保一監督が都内で会見します。

Australia news live: eye health warning over GLP-1 drugs; Barnaby Joyce’s wife bans ABC’s 7.30 from farm

Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian exports sent to the US will be hit with a 12.5% tariff as the US president imposes levies on more than 80 nations.The Trump administration unveiled the latest tranche of tariffs for countries over their “failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forc...

UN leader candidates pitch visions to save world body in crisis

The six candidates vying to lead the United Nations stressed the importance of restoring the credibility of an organisation in crisis during a restrained debate Thursday, one week before the selection process formally starts. With the campaign struggling to generate real enthusiasm for a front-runner, the hopefuls faced nearly two hours of questions from diplomats, UN employees and civil society r...

Israel carries out blasts across south Lebanon despite ‘ceasefire’ deal

Israeli attacks come amid ongoing talks with Lebanese officials to implement framework for peace between two countries.

Spain total solar eclipse 12 August 2026: Why thousands of eclipse chasers could miss the total solar eclipse

Spain anticipates thousands for a significant 2026 solar eclipse event. The eclipse's late timing near sunset presents unique viewing challenges. Obstacles like trees and hills could block the low-hanging Sun. Careful site selection and elevation are crucial for clear views. This event begins a rare three-year series of eclipses in Spain.

Adelaide airport pulls ads from conservation groups but keeps gas and mining ads during ALP conference

Digital billboards from environmental groups, targeting Labor MPs attending national conference, cancelled with airport stating they are ‘too political’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastConservation groups have questioned why their advertisements targeting Labor politicians were pulled by Adelaide airport for breaking r...

Albanian police use water cannon on protesters over Kushner-linked resort

Police used water cannons and pepper spray as protesters clashed outside Albania’s parliament.

South Korean unions use new labour rules to push envelope on bonus demands

Barely four months into its implementation, South Korea’s new labour-friendly law is coming under growing scrutiny as workers’ demands for bonuses tied to a fixed percentage of corporate profits spread across the country. If left unchecked, critics warn, the revised Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act – commonly known as the Yellow Envelope Act – could fuel labour disputes, create unce...

トランプ政権 新追加関税を発動 日本は既存税率あわせ12.5％

アメリカのトランプ政権は、日本を含む主要な60の貿易相手の国や地域を対象に、日本時間の24日午後1時すぎ、新たな追加関税を発動しました。日本からの輸入品には、既存の関税率とあわせて12.5％の関税を課すとしています。

Trump threatens to use frozen Iranian assets to pay for shipping damage

Tehran said Friday that US President Donald Trump's threat to pay for shipping damage with Iranian assets was an 'incendiary precedent'.

Christian Brothers abuse victims to get ‘full’ compensation in backdown after controversial property sales

Edmund Rice Education Australia can be sued over abuse committed by Catholic order, after receiving much of its property holdingsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe entity gifted vast property holdings by the Christian Brothers has agreed to help compensate abuse survivors in full, in a stunning reversal after weeks o...

Fresh US tariffs on 60 economies; first China duo win Fields Medal: SCMP’s 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Liberation Day 2.0? US slaps fresh wave of tariffs on China, 50-plus economies The United States imposed late on Thursday a fresh wave...

Fresh US tariffs on 60 countries; first China duo win Fields Medal: SCMP’s 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US slaps fresh tariffs on China, 50-plus countries in latest wave The United States imposed late on Thursday a fresh wave of tariffs a...

PayPayとセブン＆アイが利用者のID統合へ調整

スマホ決済大手のPayPayとセブン＆アイ・ホールディングスは、利用者のIDを統合する方向で調整を進めています。実現すれば、会員数が延べ1億人を超える巨大なポイント経済圏となり、利用者の利便性の向上につなげられるかが課題となります。

Trump imposes fresh tariffs on more than 80 countries, drawing protests from US allies and trading partners

The new tariffs will replace a 10% global duty set to expire on Friday, and comes as after the US supreme court declared many of the earlier levies were illegalDonald Trump has imposed a fresh round of sweeping tariffs on more than 80 countries to replace a 10% global duty that was due to expire, setting off a wave of criticism and protests from US allies and major trading partners.In its latest a...

島根 出雲 住宅火災で2人死亡 夫婦と連絡取れず

24日未明、島根県出雲市の住宅で火事があり、焼け跡から2人が遺体で見つかりました。警察によりますと、この家に住む70代と60代の夫婦と連絡が取れなくなっているということで、確認を進めています。

Vatican and Beijing agree on new China bishop as ordination fills 20-year vacancy

Joseph Chang Yanfeng was ordained bishop of Chifeng in China’s northern Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Wednesday, highlighting the uneasy diplomatic engagement between Beijing and the Vatican on the sensitive issue of Catholic appointments. According to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV approved Chang’s appointment on June 15, under the terms of the 2018 provisional agreement between the Holy See an...

‘Burnham bounce’ and World Cup lift mood in July, says data firm

‘Wave of optimism’ is sparked by prospect of new PM, England football team’s progress and hot weatherConsumer confidence in the UK jumped this month by its biggest margin for nearly three years as the prospect of Andy Burnham becoming prime minister became almost certain.The data company GfK said a “Burnham bounce” along with a strong run by the men’s England football team at the World Cup and sun...

Racy short story by Alan Turing offers glimpse of ‘playful, funny, cheeky’ side

Writing from year after gross indecency arrest challenges ‘isolated mathematician’ image, says Cambridge academicWhen people think of Alan Turing, they might imagine he was arrogant, isolated, humourless, tortured. A better way of remembering the father of modern computing would be, an academic argues, as “playful, funny, cheeky, literary, and someone who really liked sex”.The Cambridge University...

Rare heron seen at Somerset estate where river has been allowed to run free

Black-crowned night heron one of many species thriving at Holnicote Estate where river ‘reset’ has transformed area into lush oasisA rare black-crowned night heron has been spotted on an estate in the south-west of England where an innovative river “reset” is transforming the area into an oasis for birdlife.The heron was caught on camera in a jungly corner of the Holnicote Estate, where conservati...