Philippines’ love affair with rice grows costlier amid fuel crisis

Disruptions to fuel and fertiliser supplies linked to the Middle East conflict are driving up food prices and living costs in the Philippines.

Why the hottest tech IPO of the year matters for the AI race with China and in the Middle East

"The US government should be buying the absolute best leading-edge technology from American companies at all times," Chris Buskirk said. "And Cerebras is one of those companies.”

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Featuring stories about celebrity look-alikes, siblings, desert living, philanthrocapitalism, and life inside a legal brothel.

WHO warns nicotine pouches risk hooking a new generation

The World Health Organization warns that use of nicotine pouches is expanding rapidly worldwide, with weak regulation leaving young people exposed to aggressive marketing and addiction. WHO’s report ‘Exposing marketing tactics and strategies driving the growth of nicotine

How to investigate the Tadpole Pens in Subnautica 2

Track down Zip's black box in the Hot Caves to get the door key code.

Daily song keeps cyclists connected

James Cook University researchers say a group of cycling enthusiasts who used a collaborative playlist to stay connected during pandemic lockdowns provide a low-cost model for organizations seeking to support mental health and social resilience.

Mathematical method calculates most efficient Earth-moon route yet

Researchers have developed a mathematical method that enables more precise calculations of the most economical travel routes between the orbits of celestial bodies. To demonstrate this method, they calculated a more efficient path between Earth's and the moon's orbits than any

EU activates crisis response mechanism to monitor hantavirus outbreak

The Cyprus Presidency has activated the EU’s Integrate Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements to intensify monitoring of the hantavirus outbreak that has prompted heightened vigilance across member states. “As a matter of precaution, we have decided to make use of the

Greece's budget surplus of €5bn blows past forecasts in first quarter of 2026

Greece's primary budget surplus reached €5.175bn in the first three months of 2026 — more than double the €2.298bn target — though the ministry said one-off transfers and early fund receipts inflated the headline figure.

15% of PC Gamer readers are still rawdogging their desktops, while 43% of you are wholesome full desk pad people

Do you use a mouse mat while gaming?

Salesman Trump leaves China with very little in his bag

Few things enrage Donald Trump more than being upstaged, particularly when he is on the biggest stage of both his stints as US president — in Beijing. Though Trump World will deny that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang did just that this week, he did. And global markets know it. Just as

Xi takes Trump on tour of Communist Party's seat of power in Beijing

Trump and Xi toured Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded compound where China's top leaders live and work.

Xi takes Trump on tour of Communist Party's seat of power as China visit ends

Trump and Xi toured Zhongnanhai, the heavily guarded compound where China's top leaders live and work.

Fantastic Lab Central America & Caribbean Unveils Winners at Cannes Fantastic Pavilion (EXCLUSIVE)

The winners are in. Fantastic Lab Central America & Caribbean has unveiled six finalists and one grand prize at the Cannes Fantastic Pavilion. Presented by Baby Atómica, one of Fantastic Lab’s partners, the grand prize goes to “We Won’t Let the Goat Die” (“No dejaremos que

3 Resilient Software Stocks Built to Thrive Amid AI Disruption

Trump-Xi summit: the 3 big takeaways from historic meeting in Beijing

The two-day meeting wrapped up Friday, setting the tone for further U.S.-China talks this year.

Congo, Rwanda head for showdown over Francophonie top job

DAKAR, May 15 - Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are heading for a diplomatic battle over the leadership of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), with both fielding rival candidates as fighting grinds on in eastern Congo.

Paris Outfit Pavo Films Launches With Gurvinder Singh’s ‘Rehmat,’ Starring Naseeruddin Shah (EXCLUSIVE)

A new Paris-based production company dedicated to independent and auteur Indian cinema has entered the market. Pavo Films, co-founded in by Cosmin Illes and Némésis Srour, announced its formation at the Cannes Film Market, with Gurvinder Singh’s “Rehmat” – starring Naseeruddin

Watch: Beyond Eurovision's glitter - how geopolitics became the biggest act in Vienna

Have you ever wondered what makes a hit in 2026? According to Spotify, a song should have a tempo of 127 beats per minute, a four-four time signature, and the key of F Major. But this year, the biggest hit at Eurovision is not a melody; it is the politics.

Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez 'proud' of Barcelona's Yamal in Palestinian flag row

Relations between Spain and Israel have plummeted since the start of the Gaza war, sparked by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Personally

Professionals take their work seriously. Hobbyists can take it personally. We arrive and make a promise. We do it on behalf of the client, and that promise has little to do with what we might want to do–it’s what they need us to do. And so we make our promises carefully, and

Colonial roots may explain why North and Latin America treat wildlife differently

How people view and treat wild animals can vary dramatically from one part of the world to another. In the first international study of wildlife values, research led by Colorado State University found a distinct difference between Latin American views toward wildlife and those

Coal pollution is cutting solar power output worldwide, study finds

New research led by the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) has revealed that pollution from coal-fired power plants is significantly reducing the energy output of solar photovoltaic (solar PV) installations, particularly where these are expanding side by

Discovery could reshape RNA editing with DNA-guided CRISPR

A team of engineers at the University of Florida has developed a new form of CRISPR technology that could make diagnostics and treatments safer, more precise, and more affordable, while opening the door to entirely new ways of controlling disease.

U.S. sank millions in failed mission to stem crisis in Haiti. It’s trying again.

A larger multinational security force will have broader authority to combat rising gang violence than its predecessor but could face similar funding challenges.

Trump’s GOP Allies Admit He’s Toxic as New Poll Stuns Analyst: “Scary”

NBC News reports that some vulnerable Republicans are privately worried about use of the slogan “MAGA majority” to describe the GOP effort to hold the House. Why? Because the term “MAGA” puts Trump “front and center,” as NBC puts it. That’s quite an admission of Trump’s

Isabelle Huppert on the Mystery of Asghar Farhadi’s ‘Parallel Tales,’ Cannes and Why ‘Hollywood Remains Hollywood’

Relaxed, witty and fresh off another globe-spanning theater tour, Isabelle Huppert was already slipping back into Cannes mode when we met at Paris’ iconic Lutetia Hotel ahead of the world premiere of Asghar Farhadi’s “Parallel Tales” in competition. In the Paris-set movie,

In northern Ukraine, it was boy vs. Russian drone. The boy won.

A soldier taught a 12-year-old how to disable the fiber-optic drones that Russia has been using to hunt Ukrainian civilians in a campaign the U.N. has labeled a war crime.

War imperils rare vultures' yearly odyssey to the Balkans

Endangered Egyptian vultures, with their vivid yellow face and white plumes, would usually be nesting across the Balkans in their dozens by April.

Death toll from large-scale Russian attack that slammed Ukraine rises to 24

The drone and missile barrage, that mostly targeted Kyiv, marked one of Russia's largest attacks in the past four years. Many EU leaders voiced support for Ukraine.

UK borrowing costs rise and pound falls as leadership drama continues

Analysts say the moves have been fuelled by concerns a Burnham-led government would increase government borrowing.

Africa: Shakira, Burna Boy Release Official 2026 FIFA World Cup Song 'Dai Dai'

[Vanguard] Global pop artiste Shakira has released "Dai Dai", the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in collaboration with Nigerian Grammy-winning Afrobeat superstar Burna Boy.

Philippines suspends Senate security chief after shootout, 'escape' of politician wanted by ICC

Dela Rosa, who had been taking refuge at the Senate since Monday, has now moved to a different location after what his wife described as an "escape" before dawn on Thursday.

Nervous Republicans weigh their options amid White House’s ballroom lobbying blitz

A key factor, however, could be a forthcoming Senate parliamentarian ruling.

Eric Cantona on His Lifelong Passion for Cinema, Being an Actor for 30 Years and Love for Ken Loach

The busiest actor in Cannes this year is a man considerably more famous for his artistry on the football field than on screen. Eric Cantona has an impressive three films in the festival, with the French soccer legend and Manchester United hero acting in two and the subject of

Asghar Farhadi Says ‘Any Murder Is a Crime’ When Asked About Iran War at Cannes: ‘It’s Extremely Cruel and Tragic’

Asghar Farhadi spoke about the conflict in his native Iran during the Cannes Film Festival press conference for his new film “Parallel Tales,” saying: “Any murder is a crime.” It didn’t take long for the Iranian auteur to be asked his thoughts on the war between Iran, the U.S.

‘Non-issue’: Malaysia PM Anwar says not opposed to fugitive financier Jho Low’s US pardon bid

This comes as the Malaysian police said on Friday that investigations are ongoing into allegations that Low had attended secret meetings in Kuala Lumpur last year.

North Korea slams Britain over sanctions on children’s camp

It accused London of seeking to tarnish Pyongyang’s image and undermine its ties with Russia.

Saudi Arabia Jacks Up Film Incentives to 60 Percent

With the war in Iran throttling tourism and business travel in the region, the Kingdom is doubling down on financial support for its film production sector.

How Indonesia’s New Film Agency Chief Plans to Turn Local Box Office Dominance Into Global Presence

Fauzan Zidni is at Cannes this year as the newly elected chair of the Indonesian Film Agency (BPI) with a program already in Critics’ Week and the agency making its first institutional appearance at the festival. “Next Step Studio Indonesia” — four short films by Indonesian

Bangladesh barrage bet holds no water for India’s diplomacy

May 15 occupies a charged place in Bangladesh’s political memory. The date is observed as “Farakka Day”, commemorating the 1976 long march led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani protesting India’s diversion of Ganges water through the Farakka Barrage. Nearly half a century

Indonesia’s finance minister Purbaya seeks to defend country’s policies after complaint by Chinese firms

In a letter to Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto, Chinese businesses said policy shifts on mining, export earnings and enforcement have raised costs and uncertainty.

Cristiano Ronaldo adds free sports streamer to his business empire ahead of the World Cup

The channel will be responsible for showing 34 matches from the 2026 World Cup, live and at no cost to viewers, including all the matches of the Portuguese national football team.

Which European countries are the largest exporters of plastic waste?

Plastic waste exports from Europe hit new highs in 2025, with Germany and the UK leading shipments abroad. Which countries are taking it in?

Japan PM to visit South Korean president’s hometown on May 19

Ms Sanae Takaichi will travel to Andong, the capital of North Gyeongsang province.

Power cuts hit millions in the Philippines

The outages are occurring in the hottest month of the year, when demand for air conditioning ramps up.

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’: First Reactions

The first 'Star Wars' film in seven years hits theaters on May 22.

Eight Pakistani troops killed in nighttime storming of border outpost

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 15 - Militants stormed a security outpost in Pakistan's northwest, ramming a vehicle filled with explosives into the camp before waging a gun battle that killed at least eight troops and injured 35 others, two security officials said on Friday.

African Producers Accelerator Announces New Partnerships, Participants of 2026 Edition (EXCLUSIVE)

The African Producers Accelerator, an initiative designed to tackle persistent industry barriers faced by mid-career African film and television producers, has selected the six participants who will take part in its 2026 edition. The producers, who were chosen from 267

14 new beaches in Italy have been awarded Blue Flags – here's where they are

There are now 525 award-winning beaches, with Liguria in the lead and growth in Calabria, Puglia and Sicily.