Soaring High: Indonesian Speed Climbers Race For Rare Olympic Gold
Indonesian speed climber Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi checks her harness, her brow dripping with sweat and her breaths laboured, gripping the hold and swinging her body upwards to scale a wall in mere seconds.
G7 Summit Turns To Simmering Tensions With China
G7 leaders turn their attention to China on Friday on the second day of an Italy summit, with a focus on how to protect their industries while avoiding an outright trade war with Beijing.
Iraq Counts Cost Of Stray Bullets Fired In Anger Or Joy
At weddings, football matches and other special events, some Iraqi men like to fire salvos of celebratory gunfire into the sky, worrying little about where the bullets might fall.
China Waits Anxiously For Economic Plan As Gloom Reigns
Rows and rows of partially inhabited high-rises sprawl into the suburbs of the northern Chinese metropolis of Tianjin, their empty balconies emblematic of a slowing economy that has not kept pace with the country's ambitions.
Stressed Out: How To Measure Dangerous Heat
In the hottest year on record, with scorching conditions claiming lives from India to Mexico and Greece sweltering in its earliest-ever heatwave, experts are sounding the alarm over heat stress.
Russians Shrug Off Sanctions On Dollar, Euro Trading
Russians on the streets of the capital shrugged off new US sanctions on dollar and euro trading Thursday, claiming they had no need for Western currencies in their heavily targeted economy.
Netflix To Air 'Ultimate' Hot Dog Eating Contest
US competitive eating legend Joey Chestnut will face off against a fierce rival in a hot dog eating contest, in the latest event to be aired live on Netflix, the streamer said Wednesday.
Russian Stock Market Suspends Dollar Trades After US Sanctions
Russia's main stock exchange halted dollar and euro trades on Thursday after the United States hit Moscow with a new package of sanctions over its military offensive in Ukraine.
European Stock Markets Falter
European stock markets faltered Thursday following mixed showings by Asia and on Wall Street, as traders reacted to US Federal Reserve signals that it plans only one interest-rate cut this year.
As Pilgrims Swelter, Climate Change Looms Over Hajj
From misting systems to heat-reflective road coverings, Saudi officials are trying to aid hajj pilgrims in coping with heat, but scientists caution that climate change may outpace these efforts.
G7 To Agree $50-bn Ukraine Loan At Italy Summit
G7 leaders were set to agree on a new $50-billion loan for Ukraine as they gathered Thursday for a summit in southern Italy, using the profits from frozen Russian assets.
Argentines Battle Police As Milei Reforms Clear Senate Hurdle
Argentine President Javier Milei's controversial economic reform package won Senate approval on Thursday, after police and protesters violently clashed outside Congress.
Why Are Chinese Electric Cars In EU Crosshairs?
The European Union said this week it would slap additional tariffs of up to 38 percent on Chinese electric cars from next month after an anti-subsidy probe.
Battles In Gaza's Rafah After Blinken Says Truce Still Possible
Israeli helicopters struck Gaza's Rafah on Thursday, residents said, with Hamas militants reporting street battles in the southern city after top US diplomat Antony Blinken said a truce was still possible.
King Charles III's Old School Goes On Charm Offensive
Facilities at Gordonstoun School in northeast Scotland include a climbing wall, rifle range and a five-hole golf course, while pupils can even avail themselves of bagpipe lessons.
Japan's Escargot Entrepreneur Achieves The 'Impossible'
Far from Parisian bistros serving up Burgundy snails, one Japanese man has figured out how to farm the slimy species -- a feat that has long eluded the French.
Germany Braced For Euro 2024 Kick-off With France, England The Favourites
Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday in Germany as the continent's footballing heavyweights prepare to fight it out over the next month with the aim of taking the crown away from reigning champions Italy.
'Hurricane Hunters:' Calm Science Pilots In Eye Of The Storm
When Hurricane Sally slammed coastal Florida in 2020, US pilot Dean Legidakes was aboard a scientific aircraft flying directly into the storm's core.
'Selective' UAE Courting US, Not China, On AI: Minister
The United Arab Emirates is in "complete alignment" with the US on developing artificial intelligence, the oil-rich country's AI minister told AFP, confirming a shift away from China.
NATO, Hungary Agree Orban 'Will Not Block' Greater Ukraine Support
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed on Wednesday that Budapest would "not block" the defence alliance from contributing more to Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.
UK Economy Stagnates Heading Into General Election
Britain's economy stagnated in April after emerging from recession in the first quarter of the year, official data showed Wednesday, dealing a setback to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of next month's general election.
World Will Amass 'Major' Oil Surplus By 2030: IEA
The world is likely to have a major surplus of oil by 2030 as production is ramped up while the clean energy transition tempers demand, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.
France Mourns Loss Of 1960s Icon Francoise Hardy
France mourned the loss of a singular voice and "an icon of French song" on Wednesday, as the death of Francoise Hardy took one of the last great figures of its 1960s heyday.
US Consumer Inflation Falls Before Fed Interest Rate Decision
US consumer inflation continued to cool last month, according to US government data published Wednesday, giving the US Federal Reserve some positive news shortly before it publishes its latest interest rate decision.
EU To Slap Extra Tariffs Of Up To 38% On Chinese Electric Cars
The European Union threatened on Wednesday to hit Chinese electric car imports with additional tariffs of up to 38 percent from next month following an anti-subsidy probe, a move that risks triggering a trade war.
Gaza War Rages As Mediators Study Hamas Reply To Truce Plan
Deadly fighting rocked Gaza on Wednesday as US top diplomat Antony Blinken on a Middle East tour pushed for an elusive truce and hostage release deal to end the war raging since October 7.
Pope Francis To Weigh In On 'Ethical' AI At G7 Summit
Pope Francis will address G7 leaders on Friday on artificial intelligence, an unprecedented appearance that reflects the Vatican's growing interest in the new technology, its risks and rewards.
Battle In Courts Between Italy And Migrant Rescue Charities
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's battle with migrant rescue charities is increasingly ending up in court, with judges often siding with NGOs but not yet calling the law into question.
Hong Kong Cancels Passports Of Six Democracy Activists
The Hong Kong government said Wednesday it had cancelled the passports of six democracy activists who fled to the United Kingdom, calling them "lawless wanted criminals".
Gaza War Hangs Over Hajj As Pilgrims Flock To Mecca
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have flocked to the Saudi holy city of Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage unfolding this year in the shadow of the Gaza war.