World News Hub

Gold price hits three-month high amid fears over Iran war and Trump economy

Bitcoin rises above $80,000 for the first time since May amid uncertainty over US fiscal plansBusiness live – latest updatesGold prices hit their highest level in more than three months on Tuesday as continued conflict in the Middle East and ongoing political uncertainty fuelled the latest rally in the precious metal.Gold is viewed as a safe haven by investors and its price tends to rise at times ...

Global ocean temperatures hit record high as El Nino intensifies

Copernicus warns of 'unprecedented strain' on world's oceans as El Nino and climate change drive up sea temperatures.

No one held accountable one year after Israeli double strike on Gaza hospital

A year on from an Israeli double strike on a hospital in Gaza that killed 22 Palestinians, including journalists and rescue workers, no one has been held accountable.

Lego sales rise as World Cup and F1 ranges prove to be winners

Danish toymaker also scores success with KPop Demon Hunters, Star Wars and botanicals productsBusiness live – latest updatesLego sales have risen by more than a fifth as tie-ups with the football World Cup, Formula One and the hit film KPop Demon Hunters as well as its flower-based and Star Wars kits drive demand.The Danish toymaker said its revenues increased by 21% to 41.9bn Danish kroner (£4.8b...

Israel’s strikes push Syria towards Mecca defence pact membership

Israel’s escalating campaign to stop Syria rebuilding its military with Turkish help looks set to backfire, after Damascus signalled it was considering joining the new mutual-defence pact formed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Securing a Washington-mediated security deal with Israel was still Damascus’ top priority, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani reportedly told Roman Gofman, the ...

3 helpers sacked, issued warnings over use of employer data to secure loans

Three domestic helpers in Hong Kong have been sacked and issued warning letters after providing their employers’ personal data without consent to secure loans, resulting in the households being harassed by debt collectors. Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling said on Tuesday that, in each of the three cases, the names, phone numbers and addresses of employers were originally o...

Thai vendor confronts Israeli tourists, raises Palestinian flag

A Thai vendor confronted Israeli tourists outside his shop on the island of Phuket, waving a Palestinian flag.

Scientists reidentify Ireland’s “Kerry Cow” bones as bear and wild boar, challenging farming theory

Ancient animal bones from Ferriters Cove are now identified as bear and wild boar. This reclassification challenges decades of evidence for early farming in Ireland. Previously thought to be cattle, these remains are now understood differently. Modern scientific techniques revealed the true identity of these ancient specimens. This discovery prompts a reconsideration of Ireland's prehistoric trans...

Scientists reidentify Ireland’s “Kerry Cow” bones as bear and wild boar, challenging farming theory

Ancient animal bones from Ferriters Cove are now identified as bear and wild boar. This reclassification challenges decades of evidence for early farming in Ireland. Previously thought to be cattle, these remains are now understood differently. Modern scientific techniques revealed the true identity of these ancient specimens. This discovery prompts a reconsideration of Ireland's prehistoric trans...

Bangladesh-India reset stalls over Hasina: What would break the deadlock?

Analysts say an Indian commitment not to allow ousted Bangladesh PM to engage in politics from their soil would help.

Hasina spat stalls Bangladesh-India reset. What would break the deadlock?

Analysts say an Indian commitment not to allow ousted Bangladesh PM to engage in politics from their soil would help.

South Korea’s Hyundai, union agree on tentative wage deal after rare full-day strike

South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor and the union representing its workers have reached a tentative deal on wages and bonuses, both sides said on Tuesday after a rare full-day strike. Around 40,000 employees of a roughly 73,000-strong domestic workforce at the country’s largest carmaker walked off the job on Friday, according to union figures, in the first such action for a decade. The union said ...

Alan Jones and fellow 2GB host referred to SMH and reporter as ‘pigs in the media’, court hears

Jason Morrison, a former presenter at the Sydney radio station, denies ‘tailoring his evidence’ during trial of veteran shock jock JonesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlan Jones and fellow 2GB shock jock Jason Morrison often referred to the Sydney Morning Herald and its chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont as “pigs in the media”, a Sydney court has heard.The text...

Federer to play tennis at US Open but rules out Williams-like return

The 20-time Grand Slam champion confirmed he’s only going to play in an exhibition match and has no plans to return.

France to survey 10 million pupils on sexual violence

The government expects the nationwide survey to reveal the scale of abuse as authorities face scrutiny over tens of thousands of cases awaiting action.

In 1964, NASA bounced a laser off a satellite; today, it helps track melting ice

Man arrested after allegedly attacking woman and boy in Melbourne CBD – as it happened

This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNumber of NSW households in urgent need of priority housing hits highest level in over a yearThe number of NSW households in urgent need of priority social housing has reached 13,776, the highest in more than a year.The waitlist has sat [at] around 70,000 since May. Anyone reading that as stability should look at wha...

Bathla Group: major Sydney property developer collapses after ‘perfect storm’, leaving buyers in limbo

Bathla Group says softening sales and impacts from federal government’s May budget contributed it being placed in voluntary administrationFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEmbattled home builder Bathla Group has been placed into voluntary administration, leaving customers in limbo in what it says is a “perfect storm” of...

Wallabies came to New Zealand in 1912; they now threaten to spread across a third of the country

Wallabies introduced to New Zealand more than a century ago have now spread across more than 200,000 hectares in the Bay of Plenty region. The animals feed on native tree seedlings, ferns and grasses, damage plantation trees and compete with livestock for pasture. Authorities warn that unchecked wallabies could eventually occupy one-third of New Zealand by 2065 and cause $84 million in annual dama...

Premier League: Chelsea defeat Fulham in Xabi Alonso's first game as manager

In Xabi Alonso’s first match as manager, Chelsea beat Fulham 3–2 in the Premier League.

Why is Xiaomi doubling down on in-house chips amid a profit slump?

Xiaomi’s long-term push into proprietary silicon is laying the groundwork for complex artificial intelligence workloads on smartphones and cars, analysts say, as the Chinese tech giant doubles down on self-developed chips despite an earnings slump and soaring component costs. On Monday it unveiled its flagship Xring O3 3-nanometre AI processor for smartphones, which is scheduled to debut in Septem...

Why is Xiaomi doubling down on in-house chips despite profit slump?

Xiaomi’s long-term push into proprietary silicon is laying the groundwork for complex artificial intelligence workloads on smartphones and cars, analysts say, as the Chinese tech giant doubles down on self-developed chips despite an earnings slump and soaring component costs. On Monday it unveiled its flagship Xring O3 3-nanometre AI processor for smartphones, which is scheduled to debut in Septem...

Kos sets out new path for EU enlargement: Internal reforms, safeguards and gradual integration to end impasse

The EU enlargement boss sets out four areas for discussion: internal reforms without treaty changes, stronger democratic safeguards, a gradual integration methodology and encompassing transitional measures.

Controversial Malaysian professor sacked; Marcos’ US$3b estate tax: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week 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. Islamic university sacks professor who claimed Malays could fly A Malaysian Islamic university has formally distanced itself from an academic whose viral claims about anci...

Dr DisRespect vs Nickmercs controversy: Streamer threatens to assault Nickmercs in COD stream

Dr DisRespect has seemingly threatened Nickmercs during aCall of Duty Modern Warfare 4Beta livestream. After a viewer asked about streamer skins, the Doc questioned whether Nickmercs was in the game before calling him a “phony” and “wannabe tough guy.” He also made a gesture suggesting a strike to the face. In another clip, Dr DisRespect claimed Nickmercs walked away after being confronted by him ...