Why is the Gwangju Biennale refusing to call Taiwan’s pavilion the 'Taiwan Pavilion'?
Taiwan’s government and participating artists accuse the Gwangju Biennale of censorship after it renamed its exhibition the “NTMoFA Pavilion”.
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Chinese insurer Ping An eyes Hong Kong ETFs as Beijing greenlights cross-border investment
Ping An Insurance (Group), China’s largest insurer in terms of market capitalisation, is eyeing investments in Hong Kong-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to boost returns following Beijing’s green light for cross-border allocations, according to senior executives. “Allowing mainland insurance funds to invest in Hong Kong listed ETFs is set to tighten the ties between Hong Kong and the mainland ...
The Mistral paradox: Europe’s push for tech sovereignty relies on China’s Z.ai
On August 11, a tiny line buried in a lengthy press release from French company Mistral AI spoke volumes about the strategic and technological dilemmas facing the European Union, as the bloc prepares to navigate an autumn period full of geopolitical and trade upheaval. In a bid to roll out “European infrastructure for sovereign AI”, Mistral – Europe’s great hope in the global artificial intelligen...
In 1908, Eliza Homans donated 140 acres of land to stop future development, six years later it became a part of Acadia National Park
Eliza Homans made a remarkable contribution of 140 acres to establish Acadia National Park, incorporating breathtaking locations like the Bowl and the Beehive. This generous act marked the first significant donation to the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservation, laying the groundwork for the park's creation. In recognition of her impact, Homans Path was later integrated into the park's expa...
Russia conducts missile tests on disputed islands as Japan protests drills
The Pacific Fleet conducted a Bastion missile test just days after Putin's visit to the islands prompted Tokyo to summon Russia's ambassador to Japan and drew a US statement of support for Japanese sovereignty.
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This year's El Nino set to be strongest in more than a century, UK forecasters say
Britain's Met Office has predicted sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific will reach an "unheard-of" level of potentially more than three degrees above average, triggering severe droughts across South America and the West Pacific. Such an event would have serious knock-on effects for global food security.
Ban on goods from occupied West Bank would help protect two-state solution, says Emily Thornberry – UK politics live
Head of foreign affairs select committee urges government to adopt ban amid rising settler violence, after foreign secretary rebukes Israel over construction tenderIt is a national scandal that survivors of terrorist attacks are still being “mistreated and neglected”, campaigners have said as the UK marked the first dedicated memorial day for victims.Brendan Cox, husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, sai...
Gun stash discovered in German forest believed to be linked to Russia, say reports
Authorities believe handguns found in forest near Berlin were to be used to carry out assassinations for Russian intelligence, Sueddeutsche reportsGerman security authorities discovered handguns stashed in a forest near Berlin last year that they believe were to be used to carry out assassinations on behalf of Russian intelligence, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday.The Russian embassy...
Nord Stream bombing suspect to Hollywood fixer: Who is Volodymyr Zhuravlev?
German authorities allege that Ukrainian scuba diver Volodymyr Zhuravlev was involved in the Nord Stream explosions.
Takeover shield: Monte dei Paschi bids for BPM, Generali to forge €80bn Italian bank
Monte dei Paschi clears €34 billion twin bid for Banco BPM and Banca Generali to fend off Intesa Sanpaolo, creating a stronger, bigger €80 billion Italian bank.
Monte dei Paschi: details of bid for Banco BPM and Banca Generali
Mps has cleared a twin swap bid for Banco Bpm and Banca Generali, worth about €34 billion, to counter Intesa Sanpaolo and forge a new Italian bank with European weight.
Cybercriminals perfect 'social engineering': 'Each hack feeds the chances of the next one succeeding
Peter O'Brien is pleased to welcome Simon McGarr, Lawyer with McGarr Solicitors in Dublin, and Managing Director of Data Compliance Europe. Cybersecurity is no longer simply a question of whether governments possess adequate technical defences, explains McGarr. AI is altering those risks at extraordinary speed, placing capabilities once associated with states or sophisticated criminal organization...
Bodies of two hikers missing for decades found after Swiss glacier melts
Officials say the bodies of the two Belgians, who went missing in 1992, were discovered after the Trift Glacier receded.
Philippines floods fuel anger over alleged corruption
Weeks of monsoon rain have flooded northern Philippines, where residents are demanding answers over alleged corruption.
Cyclist Josh Tarling to compete in Tour of Spain after brother’s death
Josh Tarling returns to cycling in Spain a week after brother Finlay dies during Tour of Portugal.
Proposed London datacentre will have annual carbon footprint of 27,000 flights to New York
Exclusive: Planning documents show datacentre in north Ockendon will be incompatible with UK net zero targetsA “hyperscale” datacentre in outer London would generate more than 1m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, equivalent to the carbon footprint of 27,000 flights from London to New York, planning documents show.The East Havering Data Centre Campus (EHDCC) in north Ockendon would be one of the lar...
Strangers in their own land: Mexicans deported from Trump’s America find refuge in ‘Little LA’
With plentiful jobs and community support, one Mexico City neighbourhood has become a haven for those who have lived much of their lives in the USWith its wide avenues lined with tall palm trees, its quaint cafes and old-school cantinas, as well as the mix of English and Spanish spoken on the street, the Tabacalera neighborhood in downtown Mexico City has a certain US feel – so much so that it is ...
Latest news bulletin | August 21st, 2026 – Midday
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this August 21st, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
China’s drone production capacity can only meet 60% of war demand: study
Even when fully mobilised, China’s industrial system would only be able to meet 60 per cent of the country’s military demand for drones in a conflict, according to a rare study looking into the expected effects of a sudden war. The estimates were produced by an artificial intelligence model that covered a multilevel supply chain linking drone assembly plants with subsystem and component suppliers....
Embrace AI to boost competitiveness, Paul Chan says at tech festival opening
Humanoid robots, 3D printers and artificial intelligence (AI) hubs are among the latest technologies showcased at Hong Kong’s annual electronics and technology exhibition, as the city’s finance chief encourages residents to learn how to use them. At the opening of the four-day event on Friday, hundreds of visitors crowded the 22nd Hong Kong Computer Communication Festival at the Convention and Exh...
Eight killed in plane crash at remote Alaskan military site, air force says
It is unclear why the civilian-contracted plane was at the radar site on Alaska's south-west coast.
Heading to Hungary? Here are 5 of its most beautiful countryside castles and palaces
For centuries, these set the stage for decisive battles and cultural crossroads, and many have undergone careful renovation to improve accessibility.
In Senegal's Saint-Louis, traces of slave-trading past fade away
A dilapidated two-century-old building in Saint-Louis, Senegal bears testament to the island's little-known past as part of the transatlantic slave trade, the traces of which are quickly and quietly disappearing from view. Located in the country's north, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Senegal River, the island is rarely mentioned in the history of the slave trade, even though it was a hub thro...
France, Germany, UK and Italy condemn Israel's 'E1' West Bank plan
France, Germany, Britain and Italy condemned on Thursday plans by Israel to open up construction tenders for a residential property project called 'E1' in the occupied West Bank. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have settled among millions of Palestinians in land captured by Israel in a 1967 war. Nearly all countries and a range of UN bodies consider that such settlements violate intern...
Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigils organisers convicted in national security case
Two former organisers of Hong Kong’s annual vigils in remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown were convicted by government-approved judges Friday for inciting others to overthrow China's communist leadership. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were charged with inciting subversion in 2021 unde...
France’s heatwaves bring bumper salt harvest in Guérande
The heatwave has taken a heavy toll on much of the agricultural sector, but it is also benefiting a lucky few. The high temperatures are providing ideal conditions for salt harvesting in the famous salt marshes of Guérande in Western France, where the harvest this summer looks set to be particularly bountiful.
Ex-Pakistan PM Khan taken back to jail after hospital checks
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was transferred back to jail early on Friday, hours after being taken to a hospital for court-ordered medical checks, the government said. The Supreme Court ordered on Tuesday that Khan, Pakistan's most popular politician, be taken to the private Shifa International Hospital in the capital Islamabad within 48 hours for treatment, after his lawyers petition...
El Niño rains in Peru disrupt access to Machu Picchu
Heavy rains linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon caused flooding in Peru on Wednesday that disrupted access to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, closed roads due to landslides and flooded homes in the capital Lima. Peruvian authorities ordered the Inca Trail, a main tourist route to Machu Picchu, closed until Saturday due to overflowing waterways and debris, according to local ...
Opatra London and Hong Kong distributor suspend local operations after arrests
The British headquarters and Hong Kong distributor of beauty product company Opatra London have suspended local operations after allegations of aggressive sales tactics triggered the arrest of local senior staff and a raid on a corporate secretarial office in Sheung Wan. In a statement issued on Friday, Opatra London continued to distance itself from the local distributor, which it said owned and ...
Trump ultra-loyal aide Natalie Harp in the spotlight
She is a near-constant presence at US President Donald Trump's side, but until recently his ultra-loyal aide Natalie Harp had managed to stay out of the spotlight. That has all changed since it emerged the 35-year-old was one of a handful of people who secretly swapped from Air Force One with Trump in Turkey after a security threat. The blonde executive assistant to the president was then mentione...