McDonald’s Japan to rehire ex-workers for flexible ‘spot’ work hours
The company aims to tap a pool of around 3 million former staff under a new programme.
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Three vessels hit by gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, crews safe
DUBAI, April 22 (Reuters) - At least three container ships were hit by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. Iran has imposed restrictions on ships using the strait, first in
Why are UK prices rising more quickly?
The war in Iran has pushed UK Inflation further above the Bank of England's 2% target.
Pope Leo XIV condemns ‘lust for power’ and inequality in Equatorial Guinea
The Holy Father of the Catholic Church made a stop in the final leg of his four-country tour of Africa. Equatorial Guinea is a secular country, with around three-fourths of its population Catholic.
Pakistan's capital holds its breath with US-Iran talks in limbo
Pakistan's capital was still locked in gear on Wednesday to host high-stakes US-Iran talks that were pushed back at the last minute overnight, but many residents began to tire of the heavy personal and economic toll of tight security restrictions. Markets were quiet, government
McDonald's boss on abuse claims: 'I don't want to talk about the past'
A BBC investigation in 2023 heard from more than 100 McDonald's workers in the UK claiming they faced sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying
Scientists stunned as JWST finds ice clouds on a giant alien planet
Scientists have discovered unexpected water-ice clouds on a distant, Jupiter-like exoplanet, challenging current atmospheric models. By directly imaging Epsilon Indi Ab with the James Webb Space Telescope, they found less ammonia than expected—likely hidden by thick, patchy
Hackers breach Anthropic's 'too dangerous to release' Mythos AI model, report
Hackers have gained access to Anthropic's Mythos, an AI the company considers too cybersecurity-sensitive to release publicly.
US-based Buddhist monks bring peace walk to Sri Lanka
The monks shot to international fame during a longer 108-day walk of 3,700km from Texas to Washington.
DNA reveals a hidden pitviper species in China
A vivid green pitviper hiding in Sichuan’s misty mountains has been revealed as a completely new species. Scientists had overlooked it for decades, assuming it was a common snake—until DNA analysis proved otherwise. Named after Laozi, it features striking differences between
All the sustainable travel habits tourists are adopting in 2026
From travelling in off-season to avoiding overtouristed destinations completely, these are the changes travellers are making now to ensure their trip is more sustainable.
AstraZeneca warns German reforms could push pharma launches and investment out of Europe
AstraZeneca CEO warns that pharma may avoid launching new medicines in Europe’s largest market. In an interview in German business paper Handelsblatt, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot reacted to proposed health reforms saying that AZ would by unable to launch some products in
Car finance compensation scheme faces challenge and delay
The move could further delay payouts to millions of drivers who were mis-sold motor finance.
Gibraltar’s monkeys eat mud ‘to avoid upset stomachs from tourist junk food’
Macaques have learned to eat soil to avert gut irritation caused by salty and sugary snacks, researchers believe Troops of monkeys living on the Rock of Gibraltar have learned to eat soil in what scientists believe is an effort to settle their stomachs after all the junk food
Fury in Cornwall over herbicide plan to tackle weeds
Council proposal to use glyphosate to tidy up pavements criticised over potential harm to humans and wildlife Cornwall is famed for its glorious gardens and verdant landscapes but a bitter row has broken out over a plan to tackle a less glamorous type of vegetation – roadside
Africa: Pomegranate May Have Promising Health Benefits, but No Evidence Fruit Can Prevent or Treat Cancer
[Africa Check] Pomegranate may have promising health benefits, but no evidence fruit can prevent or treat cancer
Why Animals Look So Strange in Medieval Manuscripts
Though you may not hear it every day, chimera remains an evocative word, perhaps even more so for its rarity. It descends from the Greek Khimaira, literally “year-old she-goat,” the name of a mythical fire-breathing creature with a caprine body, sure enough, but also the head
Seeing is believing: Smart probes reveal proteins inside living cells with unprecedented clarity
Fluorescent probes have transformed modern biology by allowing researchers to tag and visualize individual molecules in living cells, tissues, and animals. Using these tools, researchers can watch viruses infect cells in real time, observe cellular trash collection, and track
Sun simulations reveal how cool prominences survive in million-degree corona
At more than one million degrees, the sun's atmosphere—the corona—is incredibly hot; but not everywhere. Time and again, huge structures of significantly cooler solar plasma—about 10,000 degrees—appear within the corona. These structures are known as prominences. They span up
Plants can sense the sound of rain, new study finds
The next time you find yourself lulled by the patter of rain outside your window, think how that same sprinkle might sound if you were a tiny seed planted directly below a free-falling droplet. Would you still be similarly soothed? In fact, MIT engineers have found the opposite
Monkeys in Gibraltar self-medicate with soil to help them digest tourists' junk food
Monkeys in a tourism hotspot have learned that swallowing dirt can quell the upset stomachs caused by overconsumption of sweet and salty snacks fed to them by holidaymakers, a new University of Cambridge-led study suggests. Troops of macaques living on Gibraltar—the only
Trump Press Sec Goes Full Cult as Damning War Leaks Humiliate Him Anew
President Trump keeps boasting that a deal with Iran is at hand. But now officials leaked word to CNN that Trump’s public posturing has hurt the negotiations. One noted that by “ negotiating through social media,” Trump implied Iran had agreed to things “they hadn’t yet agreed
Attacks and ship seizures in Strait of Hormuz imperil talks to end Iran war
Renewed Iranian attacks on cargo vessels and U.S. seizures of ships linked to Iran threaten to scuttle diplomatic efforts even as President Trump extended a ceasefire.
‘With This Tear’: New Prince single released on 10th anniversary of death
The gorgeous piano ballad has been released on the 10th anniversary of the singer's death. It may feature on a new, "never-before-released" Prince album which will come out later this year.
Europe is subsidising its way into a deeper energy crisis
Energy crisis: Governments should replace blanket tax cuts and price caps with direct income transfers for vulnerable households, liquidity support and non-earmarked tax credits for exposed sectors, writes Judith Arnal, State Economist in Spain, in an opinion piece for Euronews.
House Judiciary Democrats request information from Patel following Atlantic report
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are demanding that FBI Director Kash Patel turn over information to Congress related to accusations that he has regularly consumed alcohol in excess during his time leading the counterintelligence agency. “These glimpses of your
Soccer Couple Rebekah and Jamie Vardy Set Reality Series at ITV Four Years After ‘Wagatha Christie’ Trial
Rebekah Vardy, who infamously took fellow footballer’s wife Coleen Rooney to court over an Instagram post, is set to get her own reality show. Titled “The Vardys,” the series, from Orchard Studios, is due to hit U.K. network ITV (and its streaming platform ITVX) later this
UK inflation hits 3.3% as Iran war drives energy costs higher
British consumer prices rose at a faster pace in March, reaching 3.3% as the ongoing Iran war sent fuel prices soaring. The data has forced markets to reassess expectations for the Bank of England, with a previously anticipated interest rate cut next week now looking very
South Korean fighter jets collided due to pilots snapping pictures, report finds
One of the pilots has been fined thousands of dollars by the military to cover repair costs.
Diet Coke loses its fizz in India as Iran war hits can supply
The Gulf accounts for around 9 per cent of global aluminium production.
How do therapy costs compare around Europe?
European workers under stress often consider seeing a therapist, but can most people actually afford it? Who is most likely to get burnt out?
The tiny, defiant Nile island caught in the heart of Sudan's war
For nearly two years, Al-Shubbak watched through ancient grey eyes as Tuti, the crescent-shaped island in the heart of the Sudanese capital she calls home, emptied of its inhabitants under a punishing paramilitary siege. She refused to leave. "I didn't even move for the English
SpaceX partners with AI startup Cursor, may buy it for $60 bn
SpaceX on Tuesday announced a partnership with AI coding company Cursor and said the alliance comes with an option to buy the startup for $60 billion later this year.
Iran fires at cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz hours after U.S. extends cease-fire
According to the British maritime monitoring agency, the ship sustained 'heavy damage to the bridge,' and no crew members were hurt. The incident follows a U.S. seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday, for which Iran vowed to retaliate
China unveils plan to make cities more youth, child friendly
The blueprint, released on Wednesday (Apr 22), aims to deepen the construction of "youth-development-oriented cities" - with measures spanning jobs, housing, healthcare, family support and urban services.
Synthetic drugs and digital crime: Why Central Asia is emerging as a new frontline
The rise of synthetic drugs and digital trafficking methods is forcing a shift in global anti-narcotics strategies. Uzbekistan is advancing new initiatives to improve cross-border cooperation, financial oversight and public awareness.
Japan eyes using decontaminated Fukushima soil at 2027 green expo in Yokohama
The decontaminated soil has been dubbed “reconstruction and revitalisation soil”.
Spain launches €7bn public housing plan to tackle soaring rents and housing crisis
Spain's government on Tuesday approved a sweeping plan to alleviate the country's housing problem, one of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's main political vulnerabilities ahead of next year's elections.
Israelis mark Memorial Day during ongoing conflict
Israelis marked Memorial Day with ceremonies and informal tributes, reflecting on loss while continuing daily life amid ongoing conflict and uncertainty.
‘Summer of 1985’ Creators on Adaptation as Media Res Options John Ajvide Lindqvist Follow-Up Book, ‘Summer of 1986’ (EXCLUSIVE)
As the Swedish show “Summer of 1985,” based on a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist (“Let the Right One In,” “Border”), is set to make a splash at Canneseries’ competition, its production banner Media Res International is sitting on a possible sequel. According to the series
Ukraine has asked Turkey to host a Zelenskiy-Putin meeting, FM says
KYIV, April 22 (Reuters) - Ukraine has asked Turkey to host a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, its top diplomat said, as Kyiv seeks to reinvigorate stalling peace talks. "We asked the Turks about it, we asked some other
“The Most Intelligent Photo Ever Taken”: The 1927 Solvay Council Conference, Featuring Einstein, Bohr, Curie, Heisenberg, Schrödinger & More
A curious thing happened at the end of the 19th century and the dawning of the 20th. As European and American industries became increasingly confident in their methods of invention and production, scientists made discovery after discovery that shook their understanding of the
Calls for change to rules after stretch of Thames fails to gain bathing water status
Campaigners in Henley say insufficient number of bathers to qualify for status is result of poor water quality Bathing water rules in England should be improved to help drive a clean-up of pollution at a spot on the River Thames in Henley, campaigners say. In a letter to the
Drake Reveals ‘Iceman’ Release Date After Epic Ice Structure Stunt
The long wait for Drake‘s Iceman album will soon be over. The OVO Sound superstar has announced that his eagerly anticipated ninth LP — and first solo project since his high-profile rap battle with Kendrick Lamar — will be released on May 15. The release date was revealed on
Australia’s Queensland invests in biodiesel to cut reliance on fuel imports
Waste, vegetable oils and animal fats will be turned into 20 million litres of renewable diesel a year.
AI just revealed ocean currents we’ve never been able to see
A new AI-driven method called GOFLOW is turning weather satellite images into highly detailed maps of ocean currents. By tracking how temperature patterns shift over time, it can reveal fast-moving, small-scale currents that were previously impossible to observe directly. These
Central Asian leaders gather at first ever regional climate summit to discuss water crisis
The Regional Ecological Summit kicks off today in Astana.
As internal divisions simmer, Lebanese see echoes of civil war
By Maya Gebeily and Emilie Madi BEIRUT, April 22 (Reuters) - An Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, bombings in Beirut, massive displacement and rising sectarian friction. The year is 2026, but for those who lived through Lebanon's civil war five decades ago, it may as well