Disinformation targeting Ukraine and its leader Volodymyr Zelensky is surging as US President Donald Trump’s shift on the war frays relations with Kyiv and threatens to cripple support for the battle-worn nation.Deepfakes, specious videos of Ukrainian soldiers and false narratives about Zelensky buying luxury properties — some of which have circulated for years — have …
Trump rift opens floodgates of disinformation on Ukraine Read More »
Israel has agreed to release Palestinian prisoners who were due to be freed last week in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages, Egyptian state-linked media reported, as Washington’s top Middle East envoy said talks for a second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal remained on track.Palestinian militant group Hamas late Tuesday confirmed the …
Gaza ceasefire talks back on track after prisoner agreement Read More »
South Korea’s birth rate rose last year for the first time in a decade, official data showed on Wednesday, bucking a trend for a country battling a demographic crisis.The country has one of the world’s longest life expectancies and lowest birth rates, a combination that presents a looming demographic challenge.Seoul has poured billions of dollars …
South Korea birth rate rose last year, first time in a decade Read More »
An Australian couple have criticised Qatar Airways after a blanket-draped corpse was seated next to them during a long-haul flight.Mitchell Ring said a passenger died part-way through the 14-hour flight from Melbourne to Doha last week.”They tried to wheel her up towards business class, but she was quite a large lady and they couldn’t get …
Australian says ‘wasn’t nice’ sitting with corpse on long-haul flight Read More »
The EU is expected to roll back a slew of environmental rules on Wednesday as it charges ahead with a deregulation drive in a bid to keep up with the United States and China.The European Union’s focus has pivoted to competitivity amid concerns over sluggish economic growth — in a significant move away from EU …
Intuitive Machines made history last year as the first private company to put a robot on the Moon, although the triumph was marred by the lander tipping onto its side.Now, the Houston-based firm is gearing up for a second attempt, determined to achieve a perfect touchdown.Intuitive Machines’ hexagonal-shaped lander, Athena, is set to launch aboard …
Private US company set for second Moon landing attempt Read More »
US President Donald Trump unveiled plans Tuesday to sell new “gold card” residency permits for a price of $5 million each — and said Russian oligarchs may be eligible.Trump said sales of the new visa, a high-price version of the traditional green card, would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce the …
Trump to sell ‘gold card’ US visas for $5 million Read More »
India’s Kumbh Mela festival wraps up Wednesday, with final ritual river bathing ceremonies ending six weeks of celebration that organisers say have been attended by hundreds of millions of devotees.Despite two deadly stampedes that killed dozens, the festival in the northern city of Prayagraj has been hailed as a triumph by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s …
Pacific microstate Nauru is selling citizenship to fund its retreat from rising seas, President David Adeang told AFP, opening a contentious “golden passport” scheme as other climate financing runs dry.The low-lying island nation of around 13,000 residents is planning a mass inland relocation as creeping seas start to eat away at its fertile coastal fringe.It …
Nauru sells citizenship to fund climate change mitigation Read More »
Two sons of Joel Le Scouarnec, a French former surgeon on trial for the alleged assault or rape of 299 patients, told a court Tuesday of the devastation their father’s case had wrought on the family.Most of Le Scouarnec’s victims were children whom he is believed to have abused while they were waking up from …
French surgeon’s sex abuse was ‘atomic bomb’ for family, says son Read More »
