Afghan forces struck militant hideouts in Pakistan, Taliban says

Japan rice prices fall for first time in 3.5 years: Official

Rice prices skyrocketed in 2024 and 2025 because of supply problems linked to multiple factors.

Hayley Kiyoko’s Feature Film ‘Girls Like Girls’ Took a Decade to Make. Now That It’s Here, She Hopes It’s Just the Beginning for Sapphic Media

“Girls Like Girls” has been a long time in the making. Originally released as a music video in 2015 by musician Hayley Kiyoko, the tune with the lyrics “Girls like girls, just like boys do” quickly became a sapphic anthem, amassing 163 million views on YouTube to date. “After

Australia, last continent without H5 bird flu, detects first suspected case

SYDNEY, June 19 - Australia has detected its first suspected mainland case of H5N1 bird flu in a remote part of the country's southwest, authorities said on Friday.

CNA's Budget calculator, deep dive on Malaysia's charcoal workers win at SOPA Awards

Both stories were recognised at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards held in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Paul Biya’s Swiss clinic stay fuels fresh questions over Cameroon succession

Cameroon’s president has been treated at a private clinic in Geneva after falling ill during national day celebrations. But urgent political business – including a possible vice-presidency for his son – has followed him to Switzerland.

Tashkent turns 120 investor proposals into economic reform roadmap

Recommendations submitted by international investors during meetings held alongside the Tashkent International Investment Forum will be incorporated into a government reform roadmap covering banking, energy, artificial intelligence, capital markets and corporate governance.

Hormuz relief may not ease the economic toll that's already 'baked in,' analysts warn

Early signs of reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have lifted the most acute threat to global energy supplies but economic damages from the war will take months to unwind.

Zimbabwe MPs pass bill to extend president's time in power

The proposal would extend Emmerson Mnangagwa's term by two years and scrap direct presidential elections.

No UN sanctions lifting on Iran without France's approval, foreign minister says

PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - France wants to play a role in talks dealing with Iran's nuclear programme and will not approve the lifting of UN sanctions unless it is satisfied by the terms of a final accord, its foreign minister said on Friday. Jean-Noel Barrot, whose country is

South Korea’s Lee says Trump open to considering phased approach to North Korea nuclear issue

SEOUL, June 19 - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump had agreed to consider his proposal to prioritise halting North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes in the short term, while keeping denuclearisation as a longer-term

Scientists discover 'hyperparasite' in Malaysia Borneo jungle

Malaysian scientists have discovered a new species of parasitic fungus in Borneo's jungles that preys on "zombie fungi" known to infect insects before subjecting them to a gruesome death.

Power paradox: F-35 readiness crisis clouds US airpower over Taiwan

The US’s airpower edge faces a growing paradox: the F-35 is indispensable for a war over Taiwan, yet increasingly unavailable for such a fight. This month, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that persistent supply chain bottlenecks and flawed contractor

'All of Lebanon must burn,' Israeli minister says after IDF reports four soldiers killed

Israel's military said the soldiers were killed "in combat" when their tank was hit during an operation near Kfar Tebnit.

Indonesia to capture last-known wild Bornean rhino for IVF

Indonesia's government is racing to capture the last-known Bornean rhino in the wild in a bid to preserve the species through in vitro fertilization, a government official told AFP on Friday.

South Korea’s ex-defence minister gets 3 years for leaking military secrets tied to martial law bid

The special counsel initially sought a five-year prison term for Kim Yong-hyun.

Chad turns back to France as security threats mount

Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno is seeking French help on air power and intelligence, even as Paris looks for a new foothold in a region where its influence has shrunk.

Tata’s iPhone parts factory faces India health probe after farmer contamination complaints

Two water samples from the farms have been submitted by health officials to a state government laboratory for testing.

APOS 2026 Takeaways: IP, Sport, AI Define Asia’s New Content Era

Asia’s entertainment industry is entering a new stage of maturity. Growth remains important, but executives at this week’s APOS conference in Bali were focused on building sustainable ecosystems, scalable IP and deeper audience engagement. Here are eight themes that defined the

South Korean leader says he told Trump sanctions on North Korea are ‘ineffective’

Lee Jae Myung said Trump had told him “the time had come to pay attention to the North Korea issue”.

Malaysia reworks asset rules for officials after Azam scandal

Under the new rules, a public official can buy shares in a company incorporated in Malaysia subject to certain limits.

US-Iran talks postponed as Vance pulls out of Switzerland trip

Eighteen people and four IDF soldiers are also killed in clashes in Lebanon, officials say, despite a truce meant to be in place in the country.

US-Iran peace talks postponed, clouding prospects for lasting truce

By Nandita Bose, Yomna Ehab and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON/DUBAI/ZURICH, June 19 (Reuters) - Switzerland said U.S. talks with Iranian negotiators on a pact to end the Middle East conflict would not take place on Friday, while Vice President JD Vance dropped plans to travel there,

Africa: People Are Marrying Holograms and Making Friends With Chatbots. but Can AiIBring True Happiness?

[The Conversation Africa] Can technology really replace human relationships? As philosophy scholars who focus on human happiness and on artificial intelligence (AI), we tackle this question in a recent paper.

Africa: South African Scientists Make Breakthrough in Decoding Cancer's Most Effective Survival Strategy

[The Conversation Africa] In the intricate biology of the human body, organs such as the breast, the colon and the lungs are lined with a defensive barrier known as the epithelium. At the heart of this barrier sits a remarkable protein called Mucin-1 (MUC1). In a healthy body,

Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA over World Cup restrictions

The Iranian football federation said Thursday it will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming its team is being subjected to travel restrictions during the World Cup in North America. Iran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States two days before

FKA Twigs Taps Lil Yachty for Pulsating Single ‘On Your Mind’

The song follows the singer's recent albums Eusexua and Eusexua Afterglow

Africa: Why Franck Zanu Is Wrong About Africa

[African Arguments] "Well, the effort is useless because no black country would ever develop... Black countries meaning the 54 that is on the continent, the 13 black countries in the Caribbean, the Black communities in the United States... you are never ever going to develop."

Africa: Africa and Eurasia Are Working in Partnership - the World Just Hasn't Noticed

[African Arguments] In 2022, Egypt joined as a partner to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a political, economic, and security organisation of Eurasian states. As Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, prepares to host the 25th anniversary summit, the evidence shows something quiet

Africa: What Al-Shabaab Understands About Somali Authority

[African Arguments] In south-central Somalia, a trader knows what to expect at an al-Shabaab checkpoint. The rate is fixed, set out in a published schedule. The receipt allows passage through the next checkpoint without paying again. If the assessment seems unfair, there is a

Before Bill Nye, There Was Julius Sumner Miller: Watch Complete Episodes of His Classic Science Show, Why Is It So?, Free Online (1962–73)

“We are approaching a darkness in the land. Boys and girls are emerging from every level of school with certificates and degrees, but they can’t read, write or calculate. We don’t have academic honesty or intellectual rigor.” That quote may sound like a familiar lament today,

Africa: Ebola Outbreak - a Crisis of History, Not Misinformation

[The New Humanitarian] SAN Francisco, United States, Kinshasa, Democratic -- Even with a pause in the violence, communities will still need to be heard - and to be convinced that responders mean them well.

Africa: How Voluntary and Safe Are Burundian Refugee Returns From Tanzania?

[ISS] The coercive repatriation of Burundian refugees risks reproducing cycles of displacement ahead of Burundi's 2027 elections.

Cambodian court upholds opposition politician ban

Rong Chhun said he would consult with his legal team about whether to seek a royal pardon.

A cosmic tribute: Asteroid named after beloved singer Elliott Smith

More than two decades after his death, Elliott Smith has been immortalized with an asteroid named after him. The celestial honour came from a fan listening to his song ‘Shooting Star’...

UK borrowing in May surges by more than expected

Borrowing is the difference between spending and income from taxes.

At least 16 killed in Israeli strikes, Lebanese media reports

The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah operatives and sites responding to what it said were 'repeating violations of the cease-fire agreement' by the Iran-backed group

Watch Matt Damon Crash ‘Kimmel’ in a Literal Trojan Horse

The Odyssey actor and Jimmy Kimmel carried on their longtime feud after Damon tricked his way onto the late-night show stage

Africa: The Quiet Work of Becoming - Why Africa Needs Leaders Who Are More Present Than Performative

[Premium Times] As Africa continues its journey of renewal and transformation, perhaps the most important leadership question is not how much influence we have, how many people we lead, or how visible we become.

Andy Burnham wins key UK by-election, setting up Labour leadership battle with Starmer

In his victory speech, Burnham warned the Labour Party that it had a "final chance to change".

US launches trade probe into Germany over medicine prices

Washington accuses Berlin of keeping the prices it pays for new medicines too low, while the US market pays significantly more for the same products. If the investigation finds Germany's policies are unfair, the United States could impose punitive tariffs.

Fire breaks out at Tokyo primary school, injuring at least one

All children and staff were evacuated safely.

Week in wildlife: a hungry hoopoe, a hot croc and a snoozing otter pup

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Africa: Our Ocean Conference Ends with Familiar Question - Will Pledges Be Met?

[allAfrica] Mombasa, Kenya -- A new round of pledges and partnerships marked the closing ceremony of the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa. Countries and stakeholders outlined commitments to scale up ocean action, finance and innovation. The question, however, remains

Hands of our nature, hands off Albania

On 17 June, MEPs voted on the parliamentary report on Albania, highlighting the country’s progress in the EU enlargement process and the need for environmental safeguards. To shed light on the endangered natural treasures of Albania, a group of Greens/EFA MEPs will visit the

‘A Whole Person Almost’ Is a Cinematic Odyssey. And Hey, Does This Cloud Look Like Trump?! (Exclusive Clips)

Director Efthimis Kosemund-Sanidis’ debut feature, about a man arriving on a remote Greek island to claim his late father’s inheritance, world premieres in the Karlovy Vary film festival’s Proxima competition.

Celebrations as Mexico becomes first nation to reach World Cup knockout stage

Thousands of jubilant Mexico supporters celebrated across the country on 18 June after their team became the first nation to secure a place in the World Cup knockout stage with a 1-0 victory over South Korea.