Civilian deaths in Ukraine in July hit highest level since May 2022: UN
At least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission said.
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Suspicious object on rail tracks in Germany did not contain explosives: police
German police said on Thursday that a suspicious object found on rail tracks in a Bavarian town did not contain explosives, as initially feared. Earlier on Thursday, buildings near the object were evacuated in the town of Treuchtlingen for the item to be moved safely by a robot. Experts had earlier taken X-ray images of the object that was found in the southern part of the town. The public ha...
Germany probes suspected explosive device on rail tracks
German police said on Thursday they were evacuating buildings near a potentially explosive object found on rail tracks in the Bavarian town of Treuchtlingen for the item to be moved safely. Bavarian police said on social media that some buildings close by were being cleared as a precaution, and a spokesperson added that two to three houses are being evacuated so that the object can be moved. Exp...
70 million years ago, Earth had 372 days a year, with days lasting 23 hours
Research into ancient shells has unveiled that Earth experienced a 372-day year around seventy million years ago. During the Cretaceous period, each day was approximately twenty-three hours and thirty-one minutes long. This study also examined the ancient Earth-Moon distance and revealed warmer ocean temperatures, with evidence of photosymbiosis. The mollusc fossil indicates it thrived for over ni...
PAS’ latest sharia law push signals its Malaysian federal power ambition
Malaysia’s foremost Islamist party has set an early pace ahead of national polls, calling on the country’s Malay-Muslim majority to endorse its renewed efforts to broaden the reach of sharia law. On Wednesday, the Kelantan state assembly – which is dominated by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) – unanimously passed amendments to the Kelantan Syariah Offences Enactment Bill, in a bid to circumv...
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Eurovision Song Contest 2027 to be held in Burgas, Bulgaria
The Black Sea location has been selected after Bulgarian singer Dara won this year's contest.
Europe facing strain on resources and services due to heatwaves
Britain is set to face it's fifth heatwave this summer while France has put 80 départements on orange alert.
Thousands of bargain hunters descend on Hong Kong’s Food Expo despite heatwave
Thousands of Hongkongers packed the city’s annual food fair for its opening on Thursday, snapping up abalone, frozen salmon, instant noodles and other products, as some exhibitors forecast a 10 per cent increase in business this year. The five-day Food Expo is among five trade fairs that opened on Thursday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. More than 1,850 exhibitors fr...
Eurovision 2027: A guide to Burgas, Bulgaria’s sunny seaside host city
Burgas has been announced as the unexpected host of next year’s Eurovision. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of a visit to the Bulgarian beach city.
Europe heatwave live: Temperatures of 40C expected in Spain; rare warning for ‘extreme heat’ expanded across England
A former UK government scientific adviser warned amid the ‘shattering’ heat that worse is still to comeMet Office has just offered an update on temperatures across the UK, with several stations already reporting temperatures above 30C – and it’s not even 11am.It’s 30.4C in Wych Cross, 30.3C in Charlwood, 30.2C at Kenly Airfield. Continue reading...
‘Melancholic fantasy’: Wong escalates Labor rhetoric against Hanson, condemning ‘monoculture’ comment
Foreign affairs minister and first Asian-Australian to serve in federal cabinet to use Lowy Institute address to criticise politicians stoking racial divisionsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor has escalated its pushback on One Nation’s surging political support, with the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, labelling Pauline Hanson’s push for a monoculture a “melanc...
How Trump’s order on vaccines is sowing confusion, doubt and fear
The order cannot affect change, and is only ‘undermining trust in vaccines’ as CDC guidance remains the sameDonald Trump’s executive order on vaccines does not change the US recommendations for the shots – but experts say it does create confusion and doubt about vaccines, which will lead to more illness and possibly deaths among children and will make it harder for families and pediatricians to pr...
Trump administration finalizes rule to end federal support for gender-affirming care
Move blocking funds through Medicaid and Chip to make it harder for vulnerable children to get healthcare, experts sayThe Trump administration finalized a rule on Tuesday to end gender-affirming care through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (Chip), a move that will make it harder for vulnerable children to access healthcare and that eschews evidence to advance an anti-transgend...
Putin watches Russian navy drills off Russia's Sakhalin Island
Russia's President Vladimir Putin observed naval exercises off Sakhalin Island on Thursday before travelling to the disputed Kuril Islands, prompting a strong protest from Japan.
AI demand drives triple-digit profit growth for Chinese chip foundries SMIC, Hua Hong
China’s top two contract chipmakers, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and Hua Hong Grace Semiconductor, saw their profits surge by triple digits in the second quarter, amid a spike in demand for domestic artificial intelligence chips free of US export controls. Net profits for SMIC and Hua Hong jumped 261.7 per cent and 385.9 per cent year on year to US$479.2 million an...
AI demand drives triple-digit quarterly profit growth for Chinese foundries SMIC, Hua Hong
China’s top two contract chipmakers, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and Hua Hong Grace Semiconductor, saw their profits surge by triple digits in the second quarter, amid a spike in demand for domestic artificial intelligence chips free of US export controls. Net profits for SMIC and Hua Hong jumped 261.7 per cent and 385.9 per cent year on year to US$479.2 million an...
China's lead in orbital data centres risks leaving Europe behind
China is racing ahead on orbital data centres while Europe still debates the concept, a new policy brief warns, and the gap is starting to widen.
Infantino's future at FIFA should be decided by election, African football chief says
Confederation of African Football head Patrice Motsepe on Thursday said that the future of FIFA's embattled president Gianni Infantino should be decided via election. Multiple world football federations have recently withdrawn their support for his leadership of football's governing body over his aborted plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Election should decide Infantino’s future with FIFA, African football chief says
The head of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, said on Thursday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino's future should be decided through an election. This comes after a barrage of criticism of his attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Infantino future should be decided by election says African football chief
The head of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, said on Wednesday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino's future should be decided through an election. This comes after a barrage of criticism of his attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Infantino future should be decided by election says African football chief
Confederation of African Football chief Patrice Motsepe says Gianni Infantino's future should only be decided by elections after Ireland became the latest federation to withdraw their support for the embattled FIFA president.
Zambians voting as president bids for second term
Hakainde Hichilema wants five more years but continued cost of living pressures have dented his appeal.
EU budget: Sweden, part of the 'frugal' camp, is about to turn even more hawkish
Sweden is part of the EU's so-called "frugal" bloc, alongside Germany and the Netherlands - net contributors pushing to rein in the bloc's next long-term budget and limit the cost for national taxpayers. But a shift to the left in Stockholm is unlikely to soften its position.
First Thing: Leavitt departs White House press secretary role with Trump’s ratings at historic low
Youngest White House press secretary in history says she wants more time to ‘be the best mom’. Plus are we losing the battle against AI slop in the music charts?Good morning. A familiar face in Donald Trump’s administration is departing, as the US president announced that Karoline Leavitt was stepping down to spend more time with her family. The president said Leavitt, who became the youngest pers...
US accuses Chinese exporters of masterminding ‘Great Transshipment Scam’
The Trump administration on Thursday released a sharply worded report accusing Chinese exporters of orchestrating a system of “illegal transshipment” through more than 40 third countries to dodge US tariffs, branding the practice “The Great Transshipment Scam.” The 25-page document claims Chinese firms have systematically diverted goods through lower-tariff jurisdictions since the US kicked off it...
Russian drone strikes passenger train in Odesa region, killing driver
A Russian Shahed drone struck a passenger train in Ukraine’s Odesa region on 13 August 2026, killing the driver and his assistant and forcing the evacuation of 340 passengers, including 67 children, in the Berezivka district.
Why are streamers calling out Twitch after ExtraEmily is named Ambassador despite backlash?
Twitch has sparked controversy by appointing ExtraEmily as a new Ambassador despite her history of unsafe driving during streams, leading to multiple suspensions. A particularly alarming incident involved her nearly colliding with another vehicle while live. This choice has prompted critics to question Twitch's commitment to its community guidelines, with many feeling that it sends a troubling mes...
Eurovision to bar countries at war from hosting: What that means
Israel, which hosted the contest in 2019, will no longer be allowed to do so - but can still compete, protesters say.