Japan's beloved last pandas leave for China as ties fray

The distinctive black-and-white animals, loaned out as part of China's "panda diplomacy", have symbolised friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since they normalised diplomatic ties in 1972.

Man charged with throwing ‘explosive device’ into Australia Day rally

The man was charged with an attempt to cause harm and with making or possessing explosives.

Africa: World Bank Supports a Stronger and More Resilient Health System in Botswana

[World Bank] Gaborone -- The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved the Botswana Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPRR) Project, which will support the strengthening of the country's ability to withstand future pandemics, climate-related

Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp to trial premium subscriptions

Under the plan, access to the platforms' core services would remain free to use.

Whoops. Sydney Sweeney Didn’t Have Permission to Drape Hollywood Sign With Bras, Say City Officials

The actress posted the stunt to her social media in promotion of what seems to be her new lingerie line

Who really holds all the cards: Trump or the bond market?

When a Danish pension fund recently announced it would sell its US$100 million holding of US government bonds, the move was tiny in financial terms – just a drop in a $30 trillion ocean. But it touched on a much bigger issue. Foreign investors now hold around one-third of all

Mahathir enjoys quick coffee outing in KL in first public appearance since hip fracture

The former Malaysian premier fractured his hip on Jan 6 in his home.

Border patrol chief and other agents to leave Minneapolis following second fatal shooting

The Trump administration agreed to scale back federal presence after a second fatal shooting by federal officers. President Donald Trump said he will replace Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino with border czar, Tom Homan.

Netflix Shares Details on Anime Partnership With ‘Chainsaw Man’ Studio Mappa

The Tokyo-based studio behind 'Chainsaw Man' and 'Jujutsu Kaisen' will develop multiple new projects with Netflix under a newly expanded strategic alliance.

Jon Stewart Slams Republicans for Claiming Liberals are ‘Gaslighting’ the Trump Administration About Minneapolis ICE Shooting: ‘We’re Gaslighting You?’

On this week’s episode of “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart attacked Republicans for deflecting blame from federal agents for the shooting of a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis on Saturday. At the top of Monday’s show, Stewart played clips of the United States Secretary of Homeland

India’s strategic autonomy has become a liability

India’s long-cherished doctrine of strategic autonomy, once a badge of post-colonial independence, is steadily mutating from a source of flexibility into a condition of strategic drift. What was designed to preserve room for maneuver is now generating accumulating

Indonesian parliament appoints president's nephew as central bank board member

On Monday, a parliamentary commission overseeing finance had endorsed Thomas Djiwandono as the new deputy governor, eliminating two other career central bankers.

Indonesian parliament appoints president’s nephew as central bank board member

The decision was unanimously agreed during the House’s plenary session on Jan 27.

Scotland-France ferry could relaunch amid £35bn Dunkirk regeneration plan

French port’s green energy push, evoking second world war spirit of resilience, is seen as a testing ground for reindustrialisation A new cargo and passenger ferry service directly linking Scotland and France could launch later this year as the port of Dunkirk embarks on a

Footprint tracker identifies tiny mammals with up to 96% accuracy

It might be less visible than dwindling lion populations or vanishing pandas, but the quiet crisis of small mammal extinction is arguably worse for biodiversity. These species are crucial indicators of environmental health, but they can be very hard to monitor, and many species

Explainer: Why has Trump threatened to raise US tariffs on South Korea again?

Seoul pledged billions of investments into US industries in return for a 15 per cent cap on tariffs.

Explainer-Why has President Trump threatened to raise US tariffs on South Korea again?

SEOUL, Jan 27 - U.S. President Donald Trump said he was hiking tariffs on autos and other goods imported from South Korea to 25%, citing Seoul's failure to legislate a trade deal agreed last year that capped U.S. levies on the items at 15%.

Olivia Wilde’s Sundance Darling ‘The Invite’ Bidding War Narrows to A24, Focus Features as Offers Eclipse $12 Million (EXCLUSIVE)

A24 and Focus Features are locked in a heated bidding war for Olivia Wilde’s new movie “The Invite,” which debuted to raves at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. After Saturday night’s premiere at Park City’s Eccles Theater, several buyers including Neon, Netflix, Apple,

Chinese tourists flock to South Korea over Japan for Lunar Holiday amid visa ease

China-Japan diplomatic friction and Seoul’s easing of visas for Chinese tour groups among factors.

Malaysia’s health ministry assessing situation after reports of Nipah virus infections in India

The ministry is actively verifying the reports through official channels.

Philippines grounds ferry operator’s fleet after deadly sinking

The ferry’s caption, eight crew members and a safety marshal remain are among those still missing.

How political leanings affect views on academic freedom: New research

Academic freedom is often described as a cornerstone of democratic society. Politicians regularly claim to defend it, universities invoke it in mission statements and most members of the public say they support it in principle.

Snow leopard lunges at tourist in Xinjiang ski area after she gets close for a photo

The incident occurred after the woman was said to have ignored repeated warnings from fellow tourists.

Severe haze blankets Bangkok as PM2.5 reaches orange-level health risk

Orange PM2.5 levels mean air quality is starting to affect health.

Philippines grounds ferry operator's fleet after deadly sinking

A brief history of sugar

A few thousand years ago, sugar was unknown in the western world. Sugarcane, a tall grass first domesticated in New Guinea around 6000BC, was initially chewed for its sweet juice rather than crystallized. By around 500BC, methods to boil sugarcane juice into crystals were first

Africa: Malaria Researchers Are Getting Closer to Outsmarting the World's Deadliest Parasite

[The Conversation Africa] Every year, malaria kills more than 600,000 people worldwide. Most of them are children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. But the disease isn't confined to poor, rural areas - it's a global threat that travels with people across borders.

Q&A: Uncovering the low-temperature oxygen storage and release mechanism of Mn–CeO₂ nanoparticles

The search for better oxygen carriers has long centered on one key question: how can we design metal oxides that can reversibly store and release lattice oxygen efficiently at lower temperatures? This reversible behavior underpins clean-energy technologies such as fuel

Ranbir Kapoor Celebrates Rani Mukerji’s 30-Year Career as ‘Mardaani 3’ Marks Milestone (EXCLUSIVE)

Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor has praised fellow actor Rani Mukerji’s three-decade legacy in Indian cinema as the industry rallies around the actor with the upcoming release of “Mardaani 3.” “It is really amazing to see the entire industry come forward to celebrate 30 years of

Obesity and high blood pressure may directly cause dementia

A new genetic study suggests that obesity and high blood pressure may play a direct role in causing dementia, not just increasing the risk. By analyzing data from large populations in Denmark and the U.K., researchers found strong evidence that higher body weight can damage

Zumwalt’s hypersonic reboot adds punch but not parity with China

The US Navy’s troubled Zumwalt-class destroyer is being recast as a long-range hypersonic strike asset as the US adapts its naval strategy to intensifying competition with China. This month, multiple media outlets reported that the US Navy’s stealth destroyer USS Zumwalt

Warren calls for Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Congress should move to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if she does not resign from office. In a video posted Monday to the social platform X, the Democratic senator joined growing calls for Noem’s impeachment amid growing

China makes strides in extreme weather forecasts to help citizens stay safe

This additional time is crucial for people to take necessary safety measures, the authorities said.

5 Takeaways from Illinois Senate Democratic debate for Durbin’s seat

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) and Reps. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) went toe-to-toe in an hour-long debate on Monday night as the three vie for the Democratic nod to succeed retiring Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in March.

S. Korean teacher died ‘in line of duty’ after parent dispute, review committee decides

A team concluded that the school’s complaint response system failed to function properly.

Unlocking defect-free graphene electrodes for transparent electronics

Transparent electrodes transmit light while conducting electricity and are increasingly important in bioelectronic and optoelectronic devices. Their combination of high optical transparency, low electrical resistance, and mechanical flexibility makes them well suited for

Cruz advises Trump officials to tone down rhetoric on Minnesota shootings

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) urged the Trump administration to embrace a more measured tone in response to the officer-involved shootings in Minnesota, saying officials undermine their credibility by escalating their rhetoric before an investigation has taken place. In the latest

U.S. believes Hamas disarmament comes with some sort of amnesty, says U.S. official

New Zealand government plans inquiry into landslide tragedy

The local council has come under pressure for leaving campers exposed to the risk.

Instead of difficulty, Obsidian designer Josh Sawyer thinks in terms of 3 RPG player archetypes: 'What are they trying to get out of this game?'

I'm usually looking for a bow that shoots chain lightning or something.

China’s global leadership would be different

China is described as seeking to project global leadership and to fill a leadership vacuum left by the US under Donald Trump. This view, however, originates largely from Western sources. Chinese official discourse has remained markedly cautious on global leadership. Rather than

London-based Persian TV aims to air 'truth' about Iran protests

Journalists at the Persian-language TV station Iran International in London have been working flat out, vowing to "show the truth" about the protests in Iran, despite threats against them and their families. The private broadcaster, housed in a heavily-secured building in west

Philippines, US hold joint sail in disputed South China Sea shoal

The Philippines has pivoted closer to Washington under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Philippines, U.S. hold joint sail in disputed South China Sea shoal

MANILA, Jan 27 - The Philippine and U.S. militaries sailed together at a disputed South China Sea shoal this week, Manila's armed forces said on Tuesday, performing joint exercises to boost interoperability between the two treaty allies.

Tributes pour in for Mark Tully, BBC's 'voice of India' who died at 90

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes to Tully, saying "his connect with India and the people of our nation was reflected in his works".

Delcy Rodriguez meets Repsol, Chevron and Shell as Venezuela pushes oil law overhaul to draw investment

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez met on Monday in Caracas with representatives of oil companies including Repsol, Chevron and Shell to discuss a hydrocarbons law reform now moving through the National Assembly, as her government seeks to attract private and foreign

Immigration chief departing Minneapolis as Trump sends border tsar Tom Homan to scene

The decision may indicate that the administration is walking back more aggressive immigration enforcement.