World
- WorldReuters
BOJ survey shows wage growth spreading among small, medium Japanese firms
Momentum to raise wages has been spreading among small and medium firms in Japan this year, reflecting labour shortages and efforts to help employees tackle an inflationary squeeze, a central bank survey showed on Friday. According to the Bank of Japan's survey on regional small and medium firms, labour shortages are now perceived as being here to stay, and the need for continued wage hikes is being recognised widely. While many firms still find it difficult to pass rising labour costs to pric
1 min read - WorldBBC
Prisoners escape from Niger jail that holds jihadists
Authorities impose curfew in the volatile Tillaberi region after inmates escape from a major prison.
2 min read - WorldAssociated Press
Time is frozen in the empty bedrooms of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas
The empty bedrooms of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 remain frozen in time. Nine months into their captivity in Gaza, some hostages’ bedrooms still show signs of that day’s violence and struggle: blood-stained floors, bullet-riddled walls, scorched and toppled furniture. Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, and kidnapped around 250 — many taken from their bedrooms.
3 min read - WorldAssociated Press
UN demands Russia immediately return Europe's biggest nuclear plant to Ukraine
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Thursday demanding that Russia urgently withdraw its military and personnel from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant and immediately return the facility to Ukraine. The resolution also reiterates the assembly’s demands for Russia to immediately “cease its aggression against Ukraine” and withdraw all troops, and again reaffirms the 193-member world body’s commitment to Ukraine’s “sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.” The res
3 min read - Worlddpa international
Couple accused of spying for Russia arrested in Australia
Two Australian nationals accused of spying for Russia have been arrested in Australia, federal police said on Friday. The Russian-born married couple, aged 40 and 62, are accused of "obtaining Australian Defence Force material" with the intention of leaking it to Russian authorities, Australian police said in a statement. The 40-year-old woman is an Army Private in the Australian army, according to the police. The couple was arrested in their house in a Brisbane suburb on Thursday, police said.
2 min read - WorldAFP
French rugby players to be charged as rape accuser hospitalized
Two French international rugby players accused of raping and beating an Argentine woman -- who has since been hospitalized -- will be charged in the case, a judicial source told AFP on Thursday.French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Florian Grill, who is in Argentina, told AFP the players have "a quite different version" of events to that of the woman, with "a lot of inconsistencies."
4 min read - WorldAssociated Press
2 buses carrying at least 60 people swept into a river by a landslide in Nepal. 3 survivors found
A landslide swept two passenger buses carrying at least 60 people into a swollen river in central Nepal early Friday, and continuous rain and more landslides were making rescue efforts difficult. Nepal's rivers generally are fast-flowing due to the mountainous terrain.
2 min read - WorldAFP
Old clip falsely portrayed as 'collapsing road in India's Ayodhya city in 2024'
As reports emerged that portions of a newly built road in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya caved in due to heavy rains in June 2024, an old video resurfaced in social media posts that falsely depicted it as the destroyed road. But the video has previously circulated online in reports about a collapsed footpath in northeast Brazil in June 2022.
2 min read - USKRON
‘No indication’ Australian CEO was assaulted in San Francisco, SFPD says
(KRON) — The San Francisco Police Department is pushing back against reports that an Australian CEO was assaulted while in San Francisco. SFPD told KRON4 Thursday that there is “no indication” that Grain Producers Australia CEO Colin Bettles was assaulted or was the victim of a crime. Other media outlets have reported otherwise, such as one […]
1 min read - WorldPolitico
Stoltenberg bashes China for creeping closer to NATO
The Chinese-Belarusian anti-terrorism exercises, conducted not far from the border with NATO ally Poland, coincide with the NATO summit.
2 min read - WorldAssociated Press
'We have nothing': Palestinians return to utter destruction in Gaza City after Israeli withdrawal
Palestinians returned to breathtaking scenes of destruction in the Gaza City district of Shijaiyah after Israeli troops withdrew, ending a two-week offensive there. The ever-present buzzing sound of Israeli military drones hung in the hot summer air as people on bicycles or horse-drawn carts made their way over dirt paths where the streets had apparently been bulldozed away. Sharif Abu Shanab found his family's four-story building collapsed.
3 min read - WorldThe Inertia
Brazil’s Pantanal, the World’s Largest Tropical Wetland, Is Burning Out of Control
Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland area, is burning. As one of the most biodiverse places in the world, the fires are devastating.
3 min read - TechnologyEngadget
German Navy looks to replace its outdated floppy disk system for its frigate fleet
The Germany Navy's frigates still operate on 8-inch floppy disks.
1 min read - USBBC
Rouen cathedral evacuated after spire blaze
Smoke was seen billowing from the spire of Our Lady of the Assumption cathedral in Rouen, northern France.
2 min read - LifestyleConde Nast Traveler
Traveling to the Source of Spain's Ibérico Ham
Writer Sofia Perez journeys to southern Spain, where the harmony of the grasslands leads to the iconic jamón.
7 min read - WorldAFP
Australian marine agency data exploited to mislead on reef health
Despite scientists describing the mass bleaching of Australia's Great Barrier Reef as the worst in recent history, a climate skeptic claims a spike in carbon dioxide (CO2) has benefited the region, pushing coral cover to a record high. But ma rine authorities say data for 2024 has not yet been released -- and that it is misleading to focus solely on one metric when bleaching has wide-ranging effects on ocean ecosystems and biodiversity .
4 min read - Worlddpa international
Police suspect organized crime behind violence in western Germany
Police in western Germany are investigating a possible bloody conflict between drug dealers after an explosion in front of a commercial building in central Dusseldorf in the early hours of Thursday morning. Links between the blast and previous explosions in Cologne, Engelskirchen and Duisburg and an armed hostage stand-off last Friday in the Rodenkirchen district of Cologne are being investigated, prosecutors in Dusseldorf and the Cologne police announced on Thursday. The Cologne police have tak
2 min read - USdpa international
French firefighters stop blaze in spire of medieval Rouen Cathedral
The large tower of Rouen Cathedral in northern France caught fire during construction work on Thursday, but firefighters managed to put out the blaze at the famed landmark. The fire broke out in the spire of the landmark cathedral in the capital of the northern French region of Normandy. According to the local fire brigade, workers discovered the fire at a height of around 120 metres at midday and raised the alarm. The fire brigade arrived with numerous fire engines and around 100 firefighters,
2 min read - WorldAssociated Press
Rome's airport is named for da Vinci, Venice's for Marco Polo. Milan's Malpensa? Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi, a cruise-ship singer, media mogul and three-time premier who dominated Italian politics for three decades, is getting a new act following his death last year. Milan’s Malpensa Airport, Italy’s second-busiest passenger airport, is being renamed for the billionaire businessman-turned-politician, Italy’s transport minister announced Thursday. Italy’s civil aviation authority approved the proposal, and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said the new name will be Milan-Malpensa Si
2 min read - WorldNextShark
China takes urgent climate action amid deadly rains, flooding
China is prioritizing its climate change policy as severe torrential rains and flooding continue to affect several parts of the country. Extensive emergency responses have been put in place to mitigate the impact of the extreme weather. What’s happening: Relentless rains since June have caused flash floods and mudslides, resulting in at least 60 deaths.
1 min read - Worlddpa international
Pentagon says operations at temporary Gaza pier will soon end
A temporary dock for humanitarian aid set up by the US military on the coast of the Gaza Strip will soon cease operations completely, the Pentagon announced on Thursday. The pier broke away and was badly damaged due to rough seas in June, and was towed to Ashdod on the Israeli coast. Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said on Thursday that US military personnel unsuccessfully attempted to re-anchor the pier on the beach in Gaza on Wednesday but failed due to technical and weather-related issues. "The
2 min read - WorldReuters
Mexican president-elect taps heir of leftist icons as her chief of staff
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Thursday that she has chosen Lazaro Cardenas, a former congressman and governor and a scion of two of Mexico's most emblematic leftists, to be her chief of staff. Cardenas, 60, is the son of Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, an elder statesman of Mexico's left who co-founded the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), governed Mexico City, and ran for president three times. He is the grandson of former President Lazaro Cardenas
2 min read - USNBC News
Anne Frank statue in Amsterdam vandalized with 'Gaza' graffiti
A statue of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who hid along with other Jewish people for nearly two years in a secret annex in Amsterdam during the Holocaust before they were detained, was defaced with "Gaza" graffiti, sparking immediate outrage.
2 min read - Worlddpa international
UN warns nearly 500,000 face 'catastrophic levels of hunger' in Gaza
Almost half a million people in the Gaza Strip are suffering from "catastrophic levels of hunger," the United Nations warned on Thursday. "Limited access & supplies has meant families often don't receive the food assistance they need," the UN said in a post on X. The UN World Food Programme remains on the ground, but needs reliable access and relief supplies, the post said. After more than nine months of war and severe destruction in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation for the population
1 min read - WorldBBC
Burkina Faso's military junta bans homosexual unions
The military-led country becomes the latest in Africa to crack down on LGBT rights despite Western pressure.
3 min read - WorldBBC
Nigeria-EU deal sparks false claims over LGBT rights
Misinformation about a European Union partnership pact has whipped up hostility towards the gay community.
6 min read - WorldAssociated Press
Israeli army acknowledges Oct. 7 failures, including slow response times and disorganization
The Israeli military on Thursday acknowledged a string of errors in its response to the deadly Hamas attacks last Oct. 7, including slow response times and disorganization, as it released the results of its first investigation into failures during the assault that triggered the war in Gaza. The report focused on the border community of Be’eri, where over 100 people were killed and more than 30 others taken hostage by Hamas. It was among the hardest-hit communities in the early morning attack,
5 min read - SportsExplorersWeb
Vadim Druelle Bags FKT on Nanga Parbat: 15h 15min
Going without bottled oxygen, Vadim Druelle of France climbed Nanga Parbat fast. Faster than anyone, it turns out. Druelle did it in a mind-blowing 15 hours and 15 minutes from Base Camp to summit. This smashes Francois Cazzanelli‘s previous record of 20 hours and 22 minutes that he set in 2022. The climb was […]
1 min read - WorldCNN
Rare genetic mutation turns green frog blue
Scientists in Western Australia have found a tree frog which is bright blue, rather than the usual green, due to a rare genetic mutation.
2 min read - BusinessWHTM
Halloween witch hats recalled due to burn hazard
(WHTM)– Claire’s and Icing stores have recalled Halloween witch hats that violate Federal Flammability Requirements. According to the CPSC, customers who already purchased the hats from Claire’s or Icing stores are eligible for a refund. Over 5,700 units were sold around the county, and an additional 450 were sold in Canada. The hats were sold […]
1 min read - WorldINSIDER
Putin's war of attrition is coming at a massive cost, with 5,000 soldiers killed or injured in the battle for one neighborhood
Russia is suffering enormous casualties by throwing troops into head on attacks for incremental gains.
2 min read - WorldAssociated Press
France's unions call for protests to pressure Macron into naming leftist government
With just 15 days before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris, a major French union on Thursday called for mass demonstrations and possible strikes to pressure President Emmanuel Macron into “respecting the results” of recent legislative elections and allow a left-wing coalition to form a new government. France has been at the brink of a governing paralysis since Sunday's vote for the National Assembly resulted in a legislature split among three political groupings: the New Popular Front lef
3 min read - WorldBBC
Ugandan TikToker jailed for insulting president
Edward Awebua was accused of posting a "vulgar" video about the president and his family.
2 min read - LifestyleGuitar World
Shania Twain presented with a stunning handmade guitar in celebration of her musical legacy and Irish heritage
The Telecaster-style guitar was handmade by Woodstock Guitars in Ukraine and adorned with intricate artwork by Irish artist David Rooney
2 min read - SportsModern Car Collector
Ultra-Rare Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport “Soleil de Nuit” Heading To Auction
A special edition Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport “Soleil de Nuit,” created specifically for the Middle East, is set to hit the auction block at RM Sotheby’s Tegernsee Auction on July 27, 2024. This one-of-a-kind hypercar, which debuted at the 2009 Dubai International Motor Show, is expected to fetch between $1.6 million and $2.15 million. Image Via RM Sotheby's The Veyron, named after the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Pierre Veyron, stunned the automotive world upon its 2005 debut. Boasting a
2 min read - WorldAssociated Press
Russian authorities put Russian opposition leader Navalny's widow on list of 'extremists'
Russian authorities on Thursday put the widow of deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on a list of “terrorists and extremists,” continuing a sweeping Kremlin crackdown on the opposition. Earlier this week, a Moscow court ordered the arrest of Yulia Navalnaya, who lives abroad, on charges of alleged involvement in an extremist group. The ruling means that Navalnaya would face arrest if and when she returns to Russia.
2 min read - WorldSemafor
Kenya’s President Ruto sacks almost entire cabinet
Kenya’s embattled President William Ruto sacked nearly every member of his cabinet following weeks of protests across the country.
2 min read - WorldPopular Science
Millions of crabs scuttle across this island every year
With the onset of the rainy season, Christmas Island transforms. Roads shut down, the forest floor comes alive, and tens of millions of red crabs take over. The remote Australian territory, located about 190 nautical miles south of Indonesia, is host to one of the world’s most singular natural occurrences. There, like clockwork each year, […]
7 min read - WorldThe Accountant
Foreign Direct Investment: UK’s project total grows as Europe’s falls
The UK remains second in EY’s annual ranking of European countries by their ability to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects and was the only country in the top three to see project numbers increase year-on-year. France ranked first in Europe for the fifth consecutive year, while Germany followed in third place, according to the…
2 min read - Worlddpa international
Israel has list of UNRWA staff allegedly also active for Hamas
Israel says it has compiled a list of employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) who are allegedly also active in Palestinian Islamist Hamas. Israel had identified 108 UNRWA employees to whom this applies and presented a list of them to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, the Israeli embassy in Berlin announced. Only a small number of the hundreds of UNRWA employees are said to be employed by Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), t
2 min read - WorldYale Environment 360
China Building Twice as Much Wind and Solar as Rest of World Combined
China is erecting twice as much wind and solar capacity as every other country put together, according to a new analysis of large renewable energy projects. Increasingly, wind and solar are edging coal off the power grid.
1 min read - Sciencedpa international
Will my car run on e-fuels? German tests say yes
E-fuels may seem like a viable low-emissions alternative to fossil fuels, yet many motorists ask themselves whether regular cars can cope with the synthetics. A new study by Germany's huge ADAC motoring club, which commissioned experts at the TU Darmstadt university, has shed light on this and concluded that most modern cars can indeed tolerate e-fuels without any modifications. The test used Eco100Pro petrol, certified as 100% non-fossil, and the scientists ruled that there was no technical ris
2 min read - WorldAFP
France says needs 25 bn euros budget cuts to keep deficit promise
The French government, under EU pressure for overspending, said Thursday it needed a total of 25 billion euros in budgetary cuts this year to keep its promise of getting deficits back under control.Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told reporters that this year's total projected cuts, worth $27.1 billion, were needed for France to lower its deficit to the government's 5.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) target this year, revised from an earlier 4.4 percent.
2 min read - WorldHuffPost
'It's Tourist Hunting Season': The Street Art That's Seething About Mass Tourism
Graffiti, street art and sticker campaigns are being deployed amid mushrooming protests against overtourism in Spain.
2 min read - ScienceSpace
China plans to deflect an asteroid by 2030 to showcase Earth protection skills
China aims to launch its first planetary defense mission by 2030, to showcase the skills needed to nudge a dangerous asteroid away from Earth.
5 min read - USThe Auto Wire
Australian Man Carjacked And Run Over By His Own Vehicle
A man in Melbourne, Australia was run over by his own vehicle after a carjacker took off with it. The scary situation was caught on surveillance camera and shows just how quickly someone can take your ride when the situation is just right. Would-be carjacker holds on for dear life as victim takes off. In the footage shared by local station 10 News First, you can see the crossover sitting on a narrow street in Melbourne’s Central Business District. A man and woman had just unloaded items from the
2 min read - Worlddpa international
IDF: Two senior Hamas members killed over past week
The Israeli military has killed two senior Hamas officials over the past week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday. The IDF identified one as Hassan Abu Kuik, alleged to have carried out numerous attacks on Israel. He headed internal security operations for the Palestinian militant Hamas movement in the central Gaza Strip, the IDF said. The other was a team leader of Hamas's military intelligence, the military added. Israeli troops were continuing operations in the headquarters of U
1 min read - USAssociated Press
Small fire in towering spire of medieval cathedral in French city of Rouen is under control
A small fire broke out Thursday in the spire of the medieval cathedral in Rouen, a major landmark in northern France that was under renovation, but authorities said it was quickly brought under control. Witnesses told French television they saw smoke emanating from the spire just after midday, and recalled a devastating fire in 2019 at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris that toppled its spire and collapsed its roof. Rouen's 12th century cathedral, which is considered a Gothic masterpiece, is widely
2 min read - Worlddpa international
New Iranian president says he will support Palestinian Islamist Hamas
Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has assured the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas of his country's support, in a letter to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the FARS news agency reported on Thursday. "Iran will continue to fully support the oppressed Palestinian people until the realization of their legitimate demands and the liberation of the holy al-Quds," he wrote to Haniyeh, according to the report. Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem. In the letter, Pezeshkian accused Israel of purs
1 min read - Businessdpa international
Germany's Frankfurt airport registers June passenger increase
Germany's Frankfurt Airport, a European aviation hub, has seen an increase in passenger numbers and is optimistic about the full year, the Fraport airport operator reported on Thursday. In June, Fraport recorded a good 5.6 million passengers, 1.4% more than a year earlier, it announced in Frankfurt. This is in light of seasonal factors which affected the figures. The Whitsun holiday period took place in June of last year, boosting figures then, but occured in May of this year. The current monthl
1 min read
