EU prolongs sanctions on Russian individuals, keeping blacklist intact

The blacklist of individuals and entities accused of propping up Russia's war on Ukraine has been renewed for six months without changes.

Critical Role teases Campaign 4 characters, including wolfkin detective and plenty of bards

Critical Role is teasing the upcoming characters for Campaign 4 through a puzzle, and this lineup promises to be the wildest one yet

University of the Philippines students protest budget cuts

Students from the University of the Philippines walked out of classes on Friday to protest against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s government, calling for transparency and accountability.

Auto dealer Tricolor files for bankruptcy, moves to liquidate

The US Justice Department is investigating the alleged irregularities at Tricolor.

The likely upshots of Russia’s Poland drone incursion

NATO forces directly intercepted Russian drones for the first time since the special operation began after some of them veered into Poland earlier this week, with this unprecedented incident arguably being due to NATO jamming, as explained here. Some commentators on both sides

North Korea deepens repression with more surveillance, executions, UN report says

GENEVA - Repression in North Korea has deepened across many areas, with heightened surveillance, expanded use of forced labour and more frequent executions, making it the most restrictive country in the world, a U.N. human rights report said on Friday.

Presence of US Marines in Uruguay sparks controversy

Uruguay's Defense Minister Sandra Lazo engaged in a controversy with opposition Senator Javier García over the entry into the South American country of a group of six US Marines.

Gulf countries question value of U.S. protection after Israeli attack

Israel’s airstrike Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, which hosts a major American military base, is making other U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf area nervous.

Reese Witherspoon Is Excited to ‘Get the Gang Back Together’ for ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 3: ‘It’s Been a Minute… Those Little Kids Are All Teenagers Now’

Reese Witherspoon confirmed that “Big Little Lies” Season 3 is a go during an appearance on “The Tonight Show” on Thursday, telling Jimmy Fallon she’s excited to “get the gang back together.” “We might be working on Season 3. Yeah, I mean, they’re writing it,” Witherspoon

Microsoft makes commitments on Teams to allay EU antitrust concerns

The commitments made by the US tech giant to unbundle Teams from its flagship applications will bind it for between seven and 10 years.

Ukraine pleads for air defense as Russia’s strikes grow in sophistication

Kyiv fears that Europe will react to Russia’s drone incursion into Poland by keeping its air defenses to itself instead of helping embattled Ukraine.

Can Anutin revive Thailand’s flagging stock market?

Thailand’s stock market has long been seen as cheap, but the discount has deepened into something structural. This year, the SET index trades near 1.1 times book value, the lowest in decades, compared with close to two times for regional peer Vietnam and more than 2.3 times for

Brazil's Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years after landmark coup plot conviction

BRASILIA - Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced on Thursday to 27 years and three months in prison hours after being convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, dealing a powerful rebuke to one of the world's most prominent

Ukraine launches 221 drones on Russia, Moscow says

The overnight attack is the largest since May, but follows much larger bombardments from Russia.

Joel Edgerton Says ‘I Never Thought of Myself as Talented’ While Accepting Deauville Talent Award: I’m ‘One of the Lucky Ones’

Following Pamela Anderson a few days ago, Joel Edgerton was celebrated at the Deauville American Film Festival where he received the festival’s Talent Award on Thursday evening. Edgerton, who was also in Deauville with director Chris Bentley to present the French premiere of

Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Kyiv to see wounded veterans

“We cannot stop the war but what we can do is do everything we can to help the recovery process,” Harry told the Guardian newspaper of his second visit to Ukraine.

Africa: What Is South-South Cooperation, and Can It Be the Gateway to a Fairer World?

[UN News] Although developing countries often look to do deals with wealthy nations in order to help boost their economies, working closely with States facing similar challenges - so-called "South-South cooperation" - may be the key to sustainable growth and paving the way for

No time?

It’s easy to announce that we don’t have time for a new skill or a generous act. But the truth is we probably could find the time. What we don’t have is energy or motivation. Find that and you’ll probably find the time.

North Korea executing more people for watching foreign films and TV, UN finds

The report is based on more than 300 interviews with escapees from Kim Jong Un's secretive regime.

The Horrifying Paintings of Francis Bacon

Mention Francis Bacon, and you sometimes have to clarify which one you mean: the twentieth-century painter, or the seventeenth-century philosopher? Despite how much time separated their lives, the two men aren’t without their connections. One may actually have been a descendant

Hundreds of new bacteria, and two potential antibiotics, discovered in soil

Most bacteria cannot be cultured in the lab—and that's been bad news for medicine. Many of our frontline antibiotics originated from microbes, yet as antibiotic resistance spreads and drug pipelines run dry, the soil beneath our feet has a vast hidden reservoir of untapped

Uniting the light spectrum on a single microchip

Focused laser-like light that covers a wide range of frequencies is highly desirable for many scientific studies and for many applications, for instance, quality control of manufacturing semiconductor electronic chips. But creating such broadband and coherent light has been

Brazil's ex-President Jair Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years for coup plot

Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and 3 months in prison for attempting a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election.

Clashes erupt in Quito as protesters demand president Noboa’s resignation

Clashes broke out in Quito on Thursday as protesters rallied against President Daniel Noboa’s government, demanding his resignation over job cuts and wage reduction policies.

Mother admits to killing children in New Zealand ‘suitcase murder’, says prosecutor

The death of Hakyung Lee’s husband in 2017 sent her into a depressive spiral, her lawyer said.

Africa: Africa's Carbon Markets Deliver More Than Emissions Reductions - And the World Should Notice and Invest

[allAfrica] Africa's carbon markets are poised to transform not only the continent's future, but the global fight against climate change. Yet, as leaders gather for the Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2), Africa's achievements and leadership in this arena are too often treated as

Russian drone incursion is a threat to Europe, says Polish PM Tusk

Following a National Security Council meeting, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland would receive training from Ukraine on how best to down Russian drones.

Hakeem Jeffries’ redistricting crusade runs into resistance from fellow Democrats

The minority leader is facing internal pushback that threatens his fight against Donald Trump’s majority-protection play — and his quest for the House gavel.

A divided America and its searing spiral of violence - the new normal?

Charlie Kirk’s assassination is just the latest politically motivated killing in a country where political disagreement is turning into a matter of life and death.

Uber sued for discriminating against people with disabilities, US court filing shows

The lawsuit alleged the ride-hailing app insulted and demeaned people with disabilities and refused to serve them.

European Parliament calls for a strategy on Alzheimer's and dementia

The European Parliament has urged the European Commission to adopt a dedicated strategy to address Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, backed by clear financing and concrete timelines.

Pro-Kremlin operation weaponises investigative media to claim Ukraine uses orphans to clear mines

A group established by deceased Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is believed to be behind the false claims that Ukraine uses orphans to clear mines.

‘Claims of surrender are false’: Taiwan updates security handbook wary of China threat

The bright red-orange handbook tells people to “protect each other and safeguard our beloved home”.

'Claims of surrender are false': Taiwan updates security handbook wary of China threat

TAIPEI - Taiwan will issue new security guidelines next week in an updated civil defence handbook that, for the first time, will instruct citizens on what to do if they see enemy soldiers and clarifies that any claims of Taiwan's surrender should be considered false.

Africa: As Funding Cuts Bite, South Africa's AIDS Conference Pushes for Inclusive, Innovative HIV Strategies

[allAfrica] Johannesburg -- The 12th South African AIDS Conference opened this week at Emperor's Palace in Gauteng, South Africa, as pressure mounted on health systems in the host country and the region. The conference, which runs from September 8-11, drew about 1,400 delegates

Algae: New Commission study explores their bright future

Building a sustainable society means changing how we produce and consume, especially when faced with challenges like food security, water pollution, and climate change. Both macro- and microalgae can help to tackle these issues. The European Commission’s new Study to support a

Scrutiny on Thai zoo grows after lion attack

Explainer: Why South Korea wants the US to change its visa policies

Hundreds of South Korean citizens were detained in an immigration raid in the US.

Explainer-Why South Korea wants the US to change its visa policies

SEOUL - South Korea has ramped up calls for changes to the U.S. visa system so that its workers can visit for longer periods after an immigration raid at a battery plant in Georgia led to the detainment of hundreds of its citizens.

Rescue boat capsizes in Pakistan floods, killing at least nine

Floods triggered by intense monsoon rain and swollen rivers have killed 946 people since late June.

Philippine fishermen fear China’s nature reserve plan could lead to more harassment

Filipino boats have reported frequent encounters with Chinese coast guard vessels near the shoal.

Where in the EU do most young adults have a university degree?

Where do most young Europeans have a higher education degree? A new OECD report reveals sharp contrasts across the EU, with Ireland at the top and Italy at the bottom.

MAGA blames ‘South Park’ for Charlie Kirk death – episode pulled from cable re-runs

Some social media users are making connections between the satirical show's August 6 episode and the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The South Park episode has been removed from cable re-reruns following the shooting, but it is still available to stream on Paramount+.

Could a chlamydia vaccine save Australia's koalas from extinction? Experts say it's complicated

Researchers say the single-dose vaccine could reduce koala chlamydia deaths by up to 65 per cent.

Taiwan, China foreign ministers make unusual simultaneous visits to Europe

It is a rare alignment of schedules.

How Malawi is taking AI technology to small-scale farmers who don't have smartphones

Alex Maere survived the destruction of Cyclone Freddy when it tore through southern Malawi in 2023. His farm didn't.

EU marks 10 Years of the Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the Madad Fund

The anniversary event in Amman, Jordan, highlights resilience, achievements, and the EU’s continued support to Syrians and host communities. On 10 September, the European Union (EU) commemorates the 10th anniversary of the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian

As AI tools reshape education, schools struggle with how to draw the line on cheating

The book report is now a thing of the past. Take-home tests and essays are becoming obsolete.