Indonesia, US firms sign $48.7 billion in trade, investment deals

Deals were signed for the mining, energy, agribusiness, textiles, furniture and technology sectors.

Hamas tightens grip in Gaza as Trump pushes peace plan

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Hamas is cementing its hold over Gaza by placing loyalists in key government roles, collecting taxes and paying salaries, according to an Israeli military assessment seen by Reuters and sources in the

Australian police probe threatening letter to country's largest mosque ahead of Ramadan

SYDNEY, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Australian police said on Thursday they had launched an investigation after a threatening letter was sent to the country’s largest mosque, the third such incident in the lead-up to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The letter sent to Lakemba Mosque

Brendan Carr Defends FCC After Colbert Outrage, But Confirms FCC Is Investigating ‘The View’

Earlier this week, Stephen Colbert claimed CBS lawyers barred The Late Show from airing an interview with U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico

Watch: Thai police go undercover as lion dancers to catch thief

Wanted for multiple counts of theft, the suspect was caught outside a temple on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Sabah body parts murder: Search ongoing for dismembered victim’s arm and leg

Four suspects, a father and his three children, are still under remand to help the investigation.

Ancient drought may have wiped out the real-life hobbits 61,000 years ago

A massive, centuries-long drought may have driven the extinction of the “hobbits” of Flores. Climate records preserved in cave formations show rainfall plummeted just as the small human species disappeared. At the same time, pygmy elephants they depended on declined sharply as

Radical renovation: Abandoned Nicosia airport set to become a museum to unite Cypriot communities

Nicosia airport, abandoned and unused for more than 50 years in the Cypriot buffer zone, is on the verge of becoming a museum thanks to a group of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who have teamed for a transformational project.

Australian police probe threatening letter to country’s largest mosque ahead of Ramadan

The latest letter is the third such incident in the lead-up to Ramadan.

UN Security Council members berate Israel’s contentious West Bank plans

The security council's meeting came on the eve of US President Donald Trump’s first Board of Peace gathering to discuss the future of the Palestinian territories.

'We're still on edge': Toy firms look to US Supreme Court as tariffs hit profits

"You cannot go to sleep on this president," says one toymaker, of the ongoing uncertainty over trade policy.

Robert Duvall Remembered by Bruce Beresford, Who Directed His Oscar-Winning Turn in ‘Tender Mercies’ (Exclusive)

The Australian filmmaker remembers the American actor, who died last Sunday at 95, as "surly" and "opinionated," but "absolutely great."

Valencia’s deadly flood still haunts Spain. Would it have happened in a fossil fuel-free world?

A major study has confirmed that the flash flooding that devastated Valencia in 2024 was ‘intensified’ by human-made climate change.

French supermarkets are turning to AI to catch shoplifters - but surveillance questions loom

While supermarket owners say AI-monitored CCTV cameras are significantly helping their business, critics warn the largely unregulated tech raises serious ethical and privacy concerns.

Nearly half of Europeans cannot or will not buy a home, report says

Nearly half of Europeans who do not own their home are either unable or unwilling to buy one. The figures vary widely across the continent, largely reflecting affordability pressures.

Hungarian polls split on April election outcome as Fidesz and Tisza trade leads

Independent polls show Péter Magyar’s Tisza party clearly ahead of ruling Fidesz, while government-linked pollsters still predict a strong win for Premier Viktor Orbán.

Another Croatian destination to crack down on party tourism with alcohol sales ban

Split wants to bring in the new measures this summer to curb late-night street partying.

Belgian whiskies honoured at World Whiskies Awards

The World Whiskies Awards, one of the world's most respected whisky competitions, have recognized the "excellence" of Belgian whiskies. Judges awarded no less than six medals to products from two Belgian distilleries: Distillerie de Waterloo and Den Os Spirits. The awards are

AI breakthrough could replace rare earth magnets in electric vehicles

Scientists at the University of New Hampshire have unleashed artificial intelligence to dramatically speed up the hunt for next-generation magnetic materials. By building a massive, searchable database of 67,573 magnetic compounds — including 25 newly recognized materials that

Megan Moroney Says Women in Music Shouldn’t Feel ‘Competition for Oxygen’

“I think sometimes we're taught, subtly or not, that there's only room for a few women at the top," said the country star when accepting a Sharing the Spotlight award from Alicia Keys

Trump to preside over first meeting of Board of Peace with many Gaza questions unresolved

By Steve Holland, Simon Lewis and Samia Nakhoul WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will preside over the first meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday with unresolved questions on the future of Gaza hanging over an event expected to include

How China plans to dominate global trade long after Trump

BEIJING, Feb 19 - China sees an opening to turn President Donald Trump's tariffs to its advantage by reshaping global trade in ways that would insulate its $19 trillion economy from U.S. pressure far into the future.

Australia rejects foreign threats after claim of China interference

This comes after a media report alleged Chinese police had pressured food delivery riders in Australia.

Putin tells Cuban FM Russia will not accept recent US sanctions against Havana

Speaking with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Moscow, Putin reminded his guest that Russia “will not accept anything of the sort” when discussing the sanctions against the country.

Lee’s AI-fueled Kospi boom masks reform evasion

By one metric, Lee Jae Myung’s eight months as South Korean president have been a smashing success, with the stock market more than doubling on his watch. Before Lee’s election in June, he ran on a Kospi 5,000 platform that struck many as fanciful. At that time, the benchmark

RTS Link fares may cost around S$5 to S$7 per trip, more ‘cost-effective’ than car travel: Loke

Fares for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link are expected to be announced in the second-half of 2026, said Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

New sodium ion battery stores twice the energy and desalinates seawater

A surprising breakthrough could help sodium-ion batteries rival lithium—and even turn seawater into drinking water. Scientists discovered that keeping water inside a key battery material, instead of removing it as traditionally done, dramatically boosts performance. The “wet”

Africa: Global Fund Board Welcomes Final Eighth Replenishment Outcome of U.S.$12.64 Billion, Backs Strategic Shifts to Advance Countries' Path to Self-Reliance

[Global Fund] Geneva -- The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) welcomed the final outcome of the partnership's Eighth Replenishment - US$12.64 billion - at its 54th meeting on 12-13 February.

Geothermal energy could replace 42% of EU's fossil electricity. Which nation has the most potential?

Enhanced geothermal systems could wean the EU off fossil fuels, even in countries without volcanic activity.

Africa: African Leaders Endorse and Launch the Africa Water Vision 2063 & Policy At 39th AU Summit

[African Union] From Political Elevation to Continental Action under the 2026 AU Theme of the Year

Africa: No, Helping Strangers Use Their Smartphones Will Not Expose You to 'Ai Biometric Identity Fraud'

[Africa Check] No, helping strangers use their smartphones will not expose you to 'AI biometric identity fraud'

Pubs to open late for home nations World Cup knockout games

Football fans in the UK will be able to enjoy an extra round at the pub thanks to new rules during the men's World Cup.

Fourth impeachment complaint filed against Philippine V-P Sara Duterte

The complaint was filed hours after she tossed her hat into the ring for the 2028 election.

Float featuring Brazil's Lula comes last at Rio Carnival

See the floats from the famous festival as the city's top samba schools compete for first prize.

China widens anti-corruption net to catch ‘quasi-naked officials’

Top graft-busters are quietly stepping up scrutiny of "quasi-naked" officials with children living overseas, with some losing promotion opportunities and jobs.

New map reveals where lethal scorpions are most likely to strike

Scientists have developed a powerful new way to forecast where some of the world’s most dangerous scorpions are likely to be found. By combining fieldwork in Africa with advanced computer modeling, the team discovered that soil type is the strongest factor shaping where many

Former South Korea leader Yoon Suk Yeol faces insurrection verdict over martial law declaration

South Korean prosecutors have called for the former president to be sentenced to death.

Indian university told to leave AI summit after presenting Chinese robot as its own, sources say

The move by Galgotias University prompted sharp criticism, with social media users quickly identifying the robot as the Unitree Go2, sold by China's Unitree Robotics.

Australian presenter apologises for drinking before slurred Olympics report

Danika Mason also blamed the cold, after talking about coffee and iguanas in her live cross.

Bill Gates a no-show at India AI summit, event marred by organisational chaos

The Gates Foundation said he will not deliver his address to ensure the focus remains on the summit's key priorities.

White House says Iran would be 'wise' to make deal, as US ramps up military presence

US media reports that Trump has discussed attack options with advisers, and a strike could happen as early as Saturday.

North West Signs to Gamma — The Same Company Ye Partnered With for ‘Bully’

The 12-year-old artist recently dropped “Piercing on My Hand,” a track co-produced by her father, Ye

Trump claims US trade deficit decreased by 78 percent due to tariffs

President Trump on Wednesday claimed that the U.S. trade deficit has fallen by 78 percent because of tariffs. “THE UNITED STATES TRADE DEFICIT HAS BEEN REDUCED BY 78% BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS BEING CHARGED TO OTHER COMPANIES AND COUNTRIES,” the president said in a post on his

Bilingual courses in Europe: Proper use of language is professors' main concern

A scientific review carried out by a team in the English and German Philology Department at the UCO explores the pedagogical dimension of bilingual university programs in Europe. The implementation of bilingual education is part of an educational trend committed to

‘It’s a catastrophe’: Wellington rages as millions of litres of raw sewage pour into ocean

Abandoned beaches, public health warning signs and seagulls eating human waste are now features of the popular coastline in New Zealand A tide of anger is rising in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, as the city’s toilets continue to flush directly into the ocean more than two

Colossal's techy new HQ helps Dallas startup be 'in your face' with de-extinction mission

An animatronic dire wolf looks around then tilts its head to greet you in the lobby. An animated megalodon shark circles its prey in a conference room made of floor-to-ceiling screens before striking and "breaking" the glass.

Peru's congress names José María Balcázar interim president

Peru’s Congress late Wednesday elected José María Balcázar, an 83-year-old lawmaker from Peru Libre, as the country’s interim president following the removal of President José Jerí amid allegations tied to undisclosed meetings and suspected influence peddling. Balcázar is set

Asian markets rally after Wall St tech-led gains