US presses Europe to release diesel reserves ‘immediately’ as fuel prices surge
France 24 •

US presses Europe to release diesel reserves ‘immediately’ as fuel prices surge

The United States on Thursday urged European allies to release strategic diesel reserves immediately to curb prices driven higher by the US war on Iran. EU states will discuss a coordinated response on Friday, as Washington increases pressure following President Donald Trump's suggestion that he could ban US diesel exports.

Panda diplomacy: all the countries currently hosting China’s beloved ambassadors

Panda diplomacy: all the countries currently hosting China’s beloved ambassadors

SCMP •

Two giant pandas arrived in the US following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, continuing a decades-old tradition in which the beloved fuzzy ambassadors have become symbols of China’s ties with countries around the world. Zoo Atlanta announced the arrival of giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang on Sunday, saying it was “overjoyed” to welcome the pair after the zoo’s previous 25-y...

UK airlines to be banned from charging parents to sit with children

UK airlines to be banned from charging parents to sit with children

The Guardian •

Planned rule change forms part of Burnham’s bid to crack down on the ‘little charges that add up’Airlines will be blocked from charging parents extra to sit with their children on planes, according to government plans.The new rule would require airlines to seat passengers aged under 14 next to their parents or an accompanying adult free of charge. Passengers will also no longer need to pay to twea...

Tung Chee-hwa’s task as Hong Kong’s chief executive was without precedent

Tung Chee-hwa’s task as Hong Kong’s chief executive was without precedent

SCMP •

The farewell to former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa was moving because it marked the passing of a figure who stood at the beginning of a wholly new chapter for Hong Kong, a city to which he devoted so much of himself. For many, Tung will always be associated with the formidable demands of the early years after the return to the motherland – the Asian financial crisis, the bursting of the property...

Stephen King’s foundation helped heat Maine homes as radio fundraiser raised $241,820 for residents

Stephen King’s foundation helped heat Maine homes as radio fundraiser raised $241,820 for residents

Times of India •

In a generous act of support, Stephen King and Tabitha King donated $120,000 to a heating fundraiser aimed at aiding Maine families. This initiative, which garnered a total of $241,820, emerged in response to concerns regarding reduced federal assistance. Many households face the chilling threat of inadequate heating during the harsh winter months, highlighting the vital community spirit that seek...

AI deepfake of BBC report falsely links Indians to FlyDubai hijacking attempt

AI deepfake of BBC report falsely links Indians to FlyDubai hijacking attempt

France 24 •

False videos are circulating after the attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv. One fake "BBC" report falsely claims an Indian passenger was behind the incident and links him to the stabbed pilot, Smit Machchhar. The video though, is an AI-generated deepfake: the BBC never broadcast it, and its footage and audio were doctored. A second clip was also misrepresented and f...

Fake BBC report falsely implicates Indian passenger and pilot in Flydubai hijacking attempt

Fake BBC report falsely implicates Indian passenger and pilot in Flydubai hijacking attempt

France 24 •

False videos are circulating after the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv. One fake “BBC” report falsely claims an Indian passenger was behind the incident and links him to the stabbed pilot, Smit Machchhar. The video though, is an AI-generated deepfake: the BBC never broadcast it, and its footage and audio were doctored. A second clip was also misrepresented and f...

Putin warns Russia will use ‘all weapons’ in arsenal if any of its territory is attacked

Putin warns Russia will use ‘all weapons’ in arsenal if any of its territory is attacked

SCMP •

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reiterated Moscow’s long-held position that Russia is not planning to attack European countries but will respond to aggression with “all weapons” in its arsenal. In remarks at a foreign policy forum, Putin accused the West and Europe of escalating tensions by talking about preparing for a war with Moscow in the coming years, conducting military drills in the Ba...

'Fundamental demand': Saint-Denis students seek same opportunity as those in 'more privileged areas'

'Fundamental demand': Saint-Denis students seek same opportunity as those in 'more privileged areas'

France 24 •

Erin Ogunkeye is pleased to welcome a high school teacher that agreed to speak with us anonymously to share his own experience as protests intensify this week at a high school in a northern Paris suburb in the department Seine Saint-Denis. He teaches in one of the underserved communities in the greater Paris region, and what he has witnessed during the recent protest movement has brought into shar...

Hitting the sweet spot: bear treats itself to baked goods at Colorado farmers’ market

Hitting the sweet spot: bear treats itself to baked goods at Colorado farmers’ market

The Guardian •

Shoppers and vendors in Aspen surprised by unusual customer as it stretched to sample stall offeringsFarmers’ market shoppers might not usually pay much attention to the local resident devouring fresh bread and pastries at one of the stalls with extra gusto – but some certainly did last weekend when they realized it was a hungry bear.Onlookers on Saturday reached for their phones to take photos an...

Australia news live: eSafety warns online gaming can cause ‘serious harms’ to children; Atlassian to power solar farm

Australia news live: eSafety warns online gaming can cause ‘serious harms’ to children; Atlassian to power solar farm

The Guardian •

Follow the day’s news live.Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA solar farm owned by a group of community investors has secured a 10-year deal with one of Australia’s biggest technology companies to help power its headquarters, Australian Associated Press reports.Atlassian announced its virtual power purchase agreement with the Goulburn Community Energy Co-operative on Frida...

Trump vows to hit Iran ‘very hard’ if linked to Flydubai cockpit attack

Trump vows to hit Iran ‘very hard’ if linked to Flydubai cockpit attack

SCMP •

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Tehran was likely to be involved in an attack by a pilot on a Flydubai flight to Israel and that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it was. The co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain before passengers managed to save the plane from crashing. Israel’s prime minister said the man had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”. “I would say the answer,...

Trump vows to hit Iran ‘very hard’ if linked to flydubai cockpit attack

Trump vows to hit Iran ‘very hard’ if linked to flydubai cockpit attack

SCMP •

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Tehran was likely to be involved in an attack by a pilot on a flydubai flight to Israel and that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it was. The co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain before passengers managed to save the plane from crashing. Israel’s prime minister said the man had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”. “I would say the answer,...

Trump vows to hit Iran ‘very hard’ if linked to flydubai attack

Trump vows to hit Iran ‘very hard’ if linked to flydubai attack

SCMP •

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Tehran was likely to be involved in an attack by a pilot on a flydubai flight to Israel and that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it was. The co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain before passengers managed to save the plane from crashing. Israel’s prime minister said the man had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”. “I would say the answer,...