HSBC first-quarter pre-tax profit misses estimates on wider-than-expected credit losses

Europe's largest lender HSBC on Tuesday reported first-quarter pre-tax profit of $9.4 billion, marginally missing analysts' estimates.

South Korea to probe ship fire in Strait of Hormuz, Trump blames Iranian attack

Gap co-founder Doris Fisher, who helped reshape US casual fashion, dies at 94

The iconic merchandiser is widely credited with helping revolutionise the fashion industry in the US. The company she co-founded with her husband did not disclose the cause of Fisher’s death.

Blast at fireworks factory in China's Hunan kills 21

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a speedy and thorough investigation to determine the cause of the blast.

Burned stone, child's bones, and lost jewelry hint at prehistoric mining camp high in the Pyrenees

In the past, scientists thought that prehistoric peoples only traveled briefly through high-altitude mountain areas, rather than staying to take advantage of their resources. But new evidence suggests that, starting about 5,500 years ago, a prehistoric community repeatedly

El Nino impact puts 41 Thai provinces at risk of water shortages

Areas under watch include eastern Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.

Taiwan won't give in to pressure, president says on return from Eswatini

Two people killed and two in critical condition in suspected deliberate vehicle ramming in Leipzing

Two people have been confirmed dead while two others remain hospitalised and in critical condition after a man rammed a vehicle into a crowd of people in a busy shopping district in the eastern city of Leipzig.

Taraji P. Henson Criticizes Celebs Attending Jeff Bezos-Backed Met Gala: ‘So Confused. WTF Are We Doing?’

Taraji P. Henson joined Meredith Lynch in criticizing the stars who attended this year’s Met Gala, since it is sponsored by honorary co-chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Lynch posted a video on Instagram Saturday in which she warned A-listers not to wear their “ICE

Pony.ai CEO says key pieces in place for large-scale robotaxi rollout

The Chinese autonomous driving firm is upgrading its AI systems and cutting vehicle costs as it pushes towards wider deployment.

Mamdani skips Met Gala, calls attention to fashion workers

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) may have skipped the Met Gala, but he still highlighted six fashion industry workers on Monday. “The fashion industry is made possible by the thousands of workers behind the scenes — seamstresses, tailors, retail workers, delivery

Don't downplay the risk: Iran and Trump are one step away from all-out regional war

Despite his threats to destroy Iran's national infrastructure, Trump does not appear eager to return to a full scale war. Having said that, nothing has fundamentally changed for the U.S. President, who makes the ultimate decisions

Veteran Malaysian singer-actor Jalil Hamid dies at age 69

Known for his Hari Raya songs and roles in various Malaysian films, the actor-singer died in his sleep at his home.

For Israel's Circassians, food and language sustain an ancient heritage

On a sunny afternoon, Shina Shabso was busy making traditional cheese pastries for a wedding on Israel's border with Lebanon, the celebration in the Circassian village of Rehaniya a much-needed break from weeks of war. Known as "halyuj", the fried semi-circular pastries are a

Education Department launches Title XI investigation into all-women's college

The Education Department on Monday opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College, a private all-women’s school, for admitting transgender women. In a release, the Education Department wrote that its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is opening an investigation into the

Blast at fireworks factory in China’s Hunan kills 21, Xi calls for probe: State media

Nearly 500 firefighters, rescuers and medical personnel were deployed to the scene.

Explosion at China fireworks factory kills 21 people

A blast at a fireworks factory in Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61, state media report.

India's Modi celebrates 'record' win in opposition-held West Bengal

This is the first-ever electoral victory in West Bengal for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

‘Super El Nino’ raises fears for Asia reeling from Middle East conflict

Strong El Nino conditions could spike energy demand, sap hydropower and damage crops.

Kanye West ‘Hurricane’ Copyright Infringement Trial: ‘Snubbed’ Musicians Ask for Half a Million Dollars

The musician now known as Ye is expected to testify

States across the wildfire-prone Western US are using AI for early detection

On a March afternoon, artificial intelligence detected something resembling smoke on a camera feed from Arizona's Coconino National Forest. Human analysts verified it wasn't a cloud or dust, then alerted the state's forest service and largest electric utility.

'Super El Nino' raises fears for Asia reeling from Middle East conflict

The warnings come with Asia buckling under the strain of an energy supply crunch and fears over shortages of fertiliser and other industrial and agricultural components which pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

British pubs closing at a rate of almost two per day in 2026

The British Beer and Pub Association says 161 pubs have closed in the first three months of this year.

‘Homebody’ Trailer: ‘It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This’ Team Debuts New Ghost Story — And Ambitious Hopes to Remake it (EXCLUSIVE)

“It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This” duo Nick Toti and Rachel Kempf, who made waves by vowing to never release their word-of-mouth hit horror film onto streaming, VOD or physical media, are back with their newest indie feature. The duo is releasing the trailer for their

Trump disputes ABC reporter's account of call after WHCA dinner

President Trump on Monday denied that he called ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl to check in on him the morning after the shooting in the vicinity of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner. In a video he posted to the social platform X on April 26, Karl said

Taiwan won’t give in to pressure, President Lai says on return from Eswatini

Taiwan blamed Chinese pressure for nixing earlier plans to visit Estawini.

Taiwan president returning home after surprise Eswatini trip

TAIPEI, May 5 - Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will speak at the airport later on Tuesday on his return from Eswatini, his office said, having made a surprise trip there after his government blamed Chinese pressure for nixing earlier plans.

Why endless scrolling gets harder to stop: Three drivers of problematic internet use revealed

Why do so many people lose control over their internet use? While age limits for social media are being debated, many adults also spend hours online every day. For some, this becomes a burden, affecting mental health, daily life and relationships. A new study led by Professor

Rollicking Protest Against Bezos's Met Gala Erupts in Manhattan

The small but joyful action drew dozens of concerned, costumed citizens in a show of defiance against the Amazon billionaire.

IAEA says drone damaged equipment at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine

May 4 (Reuters) - The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Monday meteorological monitoring equipment at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine had been damaged by a drone. The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was

China's Wu Yize wins World Snooker Championship for first time

Wu Yize is the second Chinese player to win the world title after Zhao Xintong made history as the first Asian to lift the trophy last year.

Blake Lively Stuns on Met Gala Carpet Hours After Settling Justin Baldoni Lawsuit

Blake Lively made an appearance at the Met Gala on Monday night, after news of her settlement with Justin Baldoni went live earlier in the day. Lively walked the carpet at the starry New York event in an archival 2006 Atelier Versace multi-colored and layered pastel gown,

GameStop CEO baffles CNBC anchors in bizarre interview

Asked where the money will come from for his proposed eBay acquisition, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen claimed not to understand the question.

‘Heated Rivalry’ Duo and ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Singers Attend First Met Gala With Bold Fashion — See Hudson Williams, EJAE, Connor Storrie and Audrey Nuna

Fashion’s biggest night is here as the Met Gala kicks off in New York City. Walking the carpet alongside seasoned Met Gala attendees were a couple of first-timers who made their debut at the event held the first Monday in May.​Connor Storie and Hudson Williams – leads of the

Bad Bunny Transforms Into an Old Man for Shocking Met Gala Look

Bad Bunny went through the time machine for the 2026 Met Gala. He arrived at the entertainment industry’s most prestigious party as an old man, complete with a walking cane, white hair and hyper-realistic face and hand make-up. The look is an apparent nod to the Met’s “Costume

Obama says his impact would be diminished if he criticized Trump more often

Former President Obama has been selective in criticizing President Trump during the latter’s two terms in office. But he said in a recent interview that doing so more frequently would reduce the effect. “For me to function like Jon Stewart, even once a week, just going off,

Dwayne Johnson Wears Skirt to Met Gala Because the ‘Most Masculine Men Wear Skirts’ in ‘Polynesian Culture’

Dwayne Johnson rocked a black mohair tailcoat and a bow tie paired with a matching pleated skirt as he walked down the 2026 Met Gala red carpet hand-in-hand with his wife, Lauren Hashian. When asked about the look, which was custom-made by designer Thom Browne, Johnson said it

Microsoft ended MS-DOS support 20 years ago, but the latest update for the best roguelike ever made still supports it anyway

Break out the old Compaq.

Gas prices rise 30 cents in past week

Domestic gas prices have increased by more than 30 cents in the past week, as the U.S. military began efforts Monday to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The national average price of a gallon of regular gas is more than $4.45 as of Monday, according to

OpenAI’s president does ‘all the things,’ except answer a question

The strongest witness for Elon Musk's case against OpenAI so far has been Greg Brockman's journal. Brockman himself is running as a close second. Brockman was called to the stand in a rather unusual way - he was cross-examined first, followed by a direct examination - and he

Alito, Jackson spar as Supreme Court speeds up Louisiana redistricting judgment

The Supreme Court on Monday immediately put into effect its ruling invalidating Louisiana’s congressional map, leaving conservative Justice Samuel Alito and liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on opposite sides and accusing each other of lacking restraint. The order speeds

Rescuers among three dead after yacht sinks off Australian coast

Volunteer rescuers aged 78 and 62 died after their boat rolled during "treacherous" conditions.

Robots move in as waste firms struggle to find staff

Humanoid robots are being added to the automation of waste sorting.

What's stopping kids from learning useful skills? Short answer: Exams

Across Africa and beyond, education systems are shifting to curricula designed to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Britain condemns Iranian strikes on the United Arab Emirates

May 4 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned the Iranian drone and missile strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates. Starmer called on Iran to engage in diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, the prime minister's office said.