Iran says it is charging fees for 'navigational services' through Strait of Hormuz

Iran effectively shuttered the crucial waterway in the early days of the war and in mid-April the US responded by imposing its own blockade on Iranian ports.

Climbers race up giant bun tower at Hong Kong’s colourful Bun Festival

Contestants climbed a 14-metre tower covered in thousands of steamed buns during Hong Kong’s annual Bun Scrambling Competition, one of the highlights of the traditional Cheung Chau Bun Festival.

Resource dominance reshaping Trump’s rivalry with China

The recent Trump-Xi summit in Beijing revealed how deeply commodities have become embedded in 21st-century geopolitics. Far beyond a conventional trade negotiation, the summit effectively showcased the emergence of resource diplomacy as a central organizing principle of

Africa: No South Africa, Joburg Metro Police Did Not Arrest Foreigners With Stolen Traffic Lights - Old Video Recycled to Fuel Xenophobia

[Africa Check] No South Africa, Joburg metro police did not arrest foreigners with stolen traffic lights - old video recycled to fuel xenophobia

Cuba Gooding Jr., Luke Ford, Keith Duffy and Qymira Board Action Thriller ‘Lotus’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Hong Kong-based ACT3 and Philippine production company Blackops Studios Asia have set Cuba Gooding Jr., Luke Ford, Keith Duffy and multimedia artist Qymira in “Lotus,” an international action thriller that marks the first production under the companies’ multi-year, five-film

Gulf states prepared to give Iran a safety net that may save Trump from himself

In Tehran, the prevailing view is that the U.S. president is willing to pay a high price for the appearance of victory. But Trump may enter the next phase of nuclear negotiations without guarantees, leverage or credible deterrence

Iranians find 'peace and safety' in Mecca during hajj

Being in Mecca has been nothing short of blissful for Hassan Qadiri, where participating in the festivities of the hajj pilgrimage is a welcome relief after weeks of devastating war back home in Iran. Qadiri and his family took cover as intense Israeli and American bombing

‘Natural Wegovy’ egg recipe stirs weight-loss buzz in South Korea

The recipe is usually made with boiled eggs, extra virgin olive oil and pepper.

‘Red Rocks’ Review: Weirdo, Cliff-Jumping Kiddies Are the Focus of Bruno Dumont’s Latest Experiment

From “The 400 Blows” to “The Florida Project,” kids have made fascinating cinematic subjects. Even if they’re working from scripts, there’s always the sense that they’re not entirely acting — that they can’t help but simply be themselves. The French director Bruno Dumont, a

Two 17th-century paintings missing for nearly 100 years recovered after loan

The works were loaned in 1929 for display at the Ibero-American Exhibition in Seville, but were never returned to their owner, the Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes de Sevilla.

Malaysia govt will ensure critical medicine and medical device stocks remain sufficient: Minister

He added that there will be regular supply monitoring.

China launches crewed space flight as part of moon ambitions

China launched its crewed Shenzhou-23 spacecraft and eased it into a successful docking with a space station early Monday as part of Beijing's ambitions to send humans to the moon by 2030, state media said.

Fisherman hospitalised after crocodile attack near Malaysia’s Port Dickson

"The victim was standing on the riverbank when the reptile suddenly lunged at him", the authorities said.

Malaysia govt to keep medical supply prices stable amid global uncertainties, says PM Anwar

The Health Ministry will closely monitor any stock supply chain or pricing challenges.

Why European businesses are not using AI tools

Eurostat's 2025 data show that a lack of technical expertise, data privacy concerns, and legal uncertainty remain the main barriers to the use of AI tools among European businesses, even as most companies recognise AI’s potential value.

Iran says conclusions reached on many topics in potential U.S. memorandum but no deal imminent

May 25 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that conclusions have been reached on many topics discussed in a potential memorandum of understanding with the U.S., but this does not mean Tehran is close to signing an agreement. The spokesperson, Esmaeil

Anger grows after China's deadliest coal mining disaster in years

On China's tightly-controlled internet, people are calling for justice and questioning how this happened.

With ice cream and giant fans, hajj pilgrims battle searing heat

To avoid the punishing sun, Inas Gamal abandoned her ambitious plan of spending the days ahead of the hajj praying in Mecca's Grand Mosque and retreated to the comfort of an air-conditioned hotel room to perform her daytime prayers.

‘A Girl Unknown’ Review: An Understated and Aching Period Drama Set Against the Quiet Backdrop of China’s One-Child Policy

The wounds of abandonment and displacement are at the root of Zou Jing’s achingly poetic “A Girl Unknown,” a sober and quietly devastating portrayal of an adolescent girl whose identity, maybe even humanity, has been toyed with by a fractured law. That would be China’s

Pope prays humanity be saved from 'evil of war' as Catholic faithful mark Pentecost

The service, which marks the 50th day after Catholic Easter, was celebrated in St Peter’s Basilica in the presence of more than 5,000 worshippers.

Korea Box Office: Yeon Sang-ho’s Cannes Midnight Screener ‘Colony’ Rockets to No. 1 With Dominant Opening

Fresh from its world premiere in the Midnight Screenings section of the Cannes Film Festival, Yeon Sang-ho’s action-horror zombie extravaganza “Colony” re-energized the South Korean box office during the weekend of May 22–24. According to data from KOBIS, the tracking service

2 teens arrested over gold bar robbery in Tokyo

They punched four men and sprayed them with a tear gas-like substance to steal a backpack.

Zelenskyy visits damaged Kyiv sites after Russian missile and drone assault

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited damaged buildings and the Chernobyl Museum in Kyiv after a major Russian missile and drone attack that killed at least two people and wounded dozens.

17 dead, 10 injured in Pakistan as van hits parked bus

Many passengers were travelling home ahead of Eid.

Africa: Kayode Fayemi Warns Africa Against Weak Institutions, Xenophobia and Dependency

[This Day] A former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has warned that Africa risked deeper instability and democratic decline if leaders failed to strengthen institutions, tackle poverty and resist rising xenophobia across the continent.

Indian sailors risk work at sea, as Iran war grinds on

Born to landless Indian farmers, Sunil Pooniya thought a job at sea would be his ticket out of poverty, instead his first voyage saw him diving into the ocean to escape a deadly attack driven by the Iran war. For hundreds of thousands of Indians, merchant shipping jobs are a

Commission publishes guidance to strengthen Europe's resilience by clarifying the application of EU water laws

The European Commission has published guidance to ensure simpler and more harmonised implementation of EU water laws by reducing uncertainties about compliance. It aims to support Europe's overall resilience agenda, which includes water resilience. This guidance is part of the

‘De Gaulle: Résistance’ Review: Antonin Baudry’s Large-Scale Epic is a Conventional yet Consistently Engaging Wartime Biopic

Every Cannes Film Festival needs a film like “De Gaulle: Résistance,” a proudly French and massively scaled production with the energy of a vintage Hollywood blockbuster. Indeed, Antonin Baudry’s old-fashioned epic flaunts all these big-screen qualities in delicious excess,

Myanmar military steps up fight for rare earth area and border routes

The offensives come after Min Aung Hlaing asked rebel groups to enter into peace talks within 100 days.

Two Singaporeans among eight arrested in drug raid at Kuala Lumpur hotel after man dies

A 31-year-old Malaysian man was pronounced dead at Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s emergency department after being brought there on Sunday (May 24) morning.

Bad news for Star Wars as 'The Mandalorian And Grogu' becomes lowest box office opening for series

'The Mandalorian And Grogu', the Star Wars franchise’s first big screen outing since 2019’s 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker', has broken an unfortunate record. It has opened to the lowest box office in the franchise’s history.

Africa: Africa Day 2026 - Nigeria Has Obligations to Africans

[Vanguard] Six days after the October 1, 1960 independence of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa stood before the United Nations, UN. The historical mission of Nigeria he said, is to develop Africa, the continent which gave birth to

Africa: Do Ordinary Africans Have Anything to Celebrate?

[Namibian] Africa will celebrate Africa Day on Monday. But for many Africans it is just another day off.

Africa: Rwanda to Celebrate Africa Day With Call for Unity, Home-Grown Solutions

[New Times] Rwanda will join the rest of the African continent in marking the 62nd African Liberation Day officially observed on May 25, with a high-level conference in Kigali expected to focus on African-led solutions to development challenges, regional integration, and the

Africa: Africans Communicating Africa to Launch in Accra With Call to Reclaim Africa's Narrative

[Ghanaian Times] Africans Communicating Africa (AfriComms Africa), a pan-African foundation committed to strengthening authentic African storytelling and nurturing a new generation of African communicators, will officially launch on Tuesday, May 26 in Accra.

China Box Office: ‘Dear You’ Enjoys Spectacular Surge as ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ Debuts

Jinant Film & TV’s family drama “Dear You” retained its position at the top of the China box office during the May 22–24 weekend, pulling in RMB309.4 million ($45.5 million) in its fourth weekend of release, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Directed by Lan Hongchun and

Africa: All of Africa Today - May 25, 2026

[allAfrica]

Qalibaf reelected as Iran's parliament speaker, Fars says

DUBAI, May 25 (Reuters) - Iran's top negotiator in talks with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, has been reelected as the country's parliamentary speaker, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly;Editing by Alison Williams)

'We have no time to waste': Germany launches €125M push to build Europe’s frontier AI

Euronews Next spoke with SPRIND’s Jano Costard to hear whether Europe can still catch up in the AI race and what Europe can still do differently.

Deadly snakes might be coming to a neighbourhood near you

Highly venomous snake species such as cottonmouth moccasins in North America, kraits in Asia and the black mamba in Africa could all increasingly move habitats due to rising temperatures and human encroachment.

‘One ticket, one journey’: can the EU simplify train travel? Take our poll

The European Commission has just announced a proposal to simplify train travel for Europeans. Under the ‘One ticket, one journey, full rights’ initiative, travellers will be able to book multi-leg trips with one single ticket and enjoy new rights.

Young Europeans are putting money into a pension system they don't trust, study shows

Trust in Europe's pension systems is fading among younger generations, even as contributions continue. So how do EU countries compare?

As Iran diplomacy picks up, Rubio tours Taj Mahal

As diplomacy intensifies on ending the Iran war, top US diplomat Marco Rubio was spending Monday not in negotiations but at India's world-famous monument to love, the Taj Mahal. Rubio, on his first-ever visit to India, flew to Agra and spent 45 minutes at the Taj Mahal with his

The EU-Mexico trade agreements

The EU and Mexico share a strong, stable and dynamic partnership, with annual trade in goods and services amounting to more than €100 billion. In May 2026, they further deepened their partnership by signing the Modernised Global Agreement and an Interim Trade Agreement. These

Seek consent from Pahang Sultan before military training in state, crown prince tells Malaysian Armed Forces

Malaysia’s armed forces said it recognises the importance of “strategic cooperation with the state government, enforcement agencies, relevant experts and local communities”.

First Hong Kong astronaut launches into space onboard Chinese mission

The 43-year-old police officer and mother of three serves as the team's payload scientist.

The ‘cockroaches’ India’s elite created — and can’t exterminate

When India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant compared unemployed young people to cockroaches last week, he probably expected outrage, maybe an apology cycle, and then silence. What he got instead was 15 million Instagram followers in five days, a cockroach logo on a mobile phone, and

Rubio says 'solid' Iran deal may come on Monday

The deal under discussion would involve a 60-day ceasefire extension during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, US media reports.

Hong Kong education bureau investigating principal seen swearing at security guards in S’pore

A video of the incident shows a man arguing with 2 women wearing Safra security uniforms.

A Peer Showdown Reveals Why Vistra Stands Out Vs. Other Major IPPs