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Monsters, asteroids, vampires: AI conspiracies flood TikTok
From vampires and wendigos to killer asteroids, TikTok users are pumping out outlandish end-of-the-world conspiracy theories, researchers say, in yet another misinformation trend on a platform whose fate in the United States hangs in the balance.
'Kung Fu Panda' again beats sandworms in N.America box office
For a second weekend running "Kung Fu Panda 4" battled its way to the top of the North American box office, narrowly edging out "Dune: Part Two," according to industry watcher Exhibitor Relations.
Spanish farmers stage fresh protests in Madrid
Hundreds of farmers paraded through the Spanish capital on foot and by tractor on Sunday in the latest protest over the crisis facing the agricultural sector.
Vietnam faces $3bn annual crop losses from rising saltwater levels
Vietnam faces nearly $3 billion a year in crop losses as more saltwater seeps into arable land, state media reported Sunday, citing new research.
UK brass band keeps miners' legacy burning, 40 years after strike
Memories of the UK's once-mighty mining industry are fading but 40 years after an epoch-defining strike, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band still embodies the close ties that once bound the community.
US Fed to provide fresh clues on rate cuts after uptick in inflation
The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep its key lending rate unchanged again on Wednesday, as policymakers continue discussions over when to start rate cuts and launch the next phase in their long-running battle against inflation.
German train drivers union halts strikes to negotiate
Germany's Deutsche Bahn railways and the GDL train drivers' union announced they had returned to the negotiating table on Saturday after a wave of strikes demanding better pay.
Gaza truce efforts revived as first sea aid unloaded
Efforts towards a truce in the Israel-Hamas war appeared to rekindle on Saturday after a new proposal from the Palestinian militant group which also called for more aid into Gaza, where the first food shipment by sea reached shore.
Inferno destroys prestigious Arab film studio in Cairo
A major fire in Cairo destroyed one of the Arab world's most prestigious and oldest film production houses, founded 80 years ago, an AFP journalist said.
Truce efforts ongoing as first sea aid unloaded for hungry Gazans
Efforts towards a truce in the Israel-Hamas war continued Saturday after a new proposal from the Palestinian militant group which also called for more aid into Gaza, where famine threatens and the first food shipment by sea was unloaded.
UN says 5 million at risk of starvation in Sudan
The United Nations appealed Friday for Sudan's battling factions to allow delivery of humanitarian relief to fend off looming "catastrophic" hunger.
EU chief outlines more concessions for bloc's farmers
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Friday laid out a further series of concessions to EU farmers, especially for those on smaller properties, in a bid to calm rolling protests in the sector.
Vodafone sells Italian unit to Swisscom, deal angers Swiss hard-right
British telecoms giant Vodafone said Friday it has agreed to sell its Italian unit to Swisscom for eight billion euros ($8.7 billion) in a cash deal that was slammed by Switzerland's main political party.
Dutch pick France's Naval Group for submarines deal
The Netherlands picked French defence company Naval Group on Friday to build four submarines for its navy in a deal worth billions of euros that had also been pursued by Swedish and German firms.
21 migrants including five children dead in Aegean: Turkey
Twenty-one migrants including five children drowned after a boat capsized off the Turkish coast, local officials said on Friday.
Economic hard times make Swedes cut back on drinking
A slumping economy gave Swedes less to cheer about last year as alcohol consumption fell the most in nearly a decade in the Nordic country, excluding the 2020 pandemic, research showed Friday.
Nissan, Honda explore partnership in electric vehicles
Japanese arch-rivals Nissan and Honda said Friday they were exploring a strategic partnership in electric vehicles to face up to a "once-in-a-century" upheaval in the car industry.
Eyes on Bank of Japan as unions announce big wage hikes
Japan's largest trade union said Friday it had secured the highest wage hikes since 1991 in preliminary data that stokes speculation the central bank will finally shift away from its outlier ultra-loose monetary policy.
Women bus drivers, a first for Uzbekistan
Saodat Shermatova "cried with joy" after Uzbekistan, a predominantly Muslim former Soviet republic, lifted a ban last month on women working as bus drivers.
Al-Shabaab besieges hotel in Somali capital
Sporadic explosions and gunfire rang out from a popular hotel in the Somali capital early Friday, an AFP correspondent said, many hours after Al-Shabaab fighters attacked the site near the presidential palace.
Vodafone sells Italian unit to Swisscom for 8 bn euros
British telecoms giant Vodafone said Friday it has agreed to sell its Italian unit to Swisscom for eight billion euros ($8.7 billion), completing efforts to overhaul the UK group's European operations.
Nissan, Honda to explore partnership in electric vehicles
Japanese auto giants Nissan and Honda said Friday they had agreed to explore a strategic partnership in electric vehicles and other areas.
Israel denies Hamas claim troops killed 20 Gazans seeking aid
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said on Friday that Israeli fire killed 20 people and wounded 155 waiting to receive desperately needed aid in the besieged territory, but Israel said the reports were "erroneous".
Eyes on Bank of Japan as unions announce wage hikes
The results of key wage hike negotiations in Japan will be announced Friday, with a win for workers expected to set the stage for a hotly anticipated shift away from the central bank's ultra-loose monetary policy.
El Salvador stashes $406 million in bitcoin in 'cold wallet': Bukele
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said Thursday that his country has stored more than $400 million in bitcoin in an offline "cold wallet" as the cryptocurrency forges new record highs.
Asian markets sink on rate worries as US inflation surprises
Asian markets sank in line with Wall Street on Friday after a sharper-than-expected jump in US wholesale prices dealt a blow to hopes for interest rate cuts.
Will AI save humanity? US tech fest offers reality check
Artificial intelligence aficionados are betting that the technology will help solve humanity's biggest problems, from wars to global warming, but in practice, these may be unrealistic ambitions for now.
With bites rare, experts want sharks to shed scary reputation
As the northern hemisphere edges toward spring and millions flock to the beach, headlines have dubbed the southeastern US state of Florida the world's most likely place to be bitten by a shark.
Surging nerve system disorders now top cause of illness: study
Conditions affecting the nervous system -- such as strokes, migraines and dementia -- have surged past heart disease to become the leading cause of ill health worldwide, a major new analysis said on Friday.
Al-Shabaab attacks hotel in Somali capital
Islamist militants from the Al-Shabaab group on Thursday attacked a popular hotel near the presidential palace in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, security sources and witnesses said.
Vinicius condemns racist chants before Atletico Champions League game
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior on Thursday condemned racist chants aimed at him by Atletico Madrid fans before the midweek Champions League match against Inter Milan.
IMF chief Georgieva says 'available to serve' for second term
The managing director of the International Monetary Fund has told AFP she is making herself "available to serve" for a second five-year term running the Washington-based financial institution, shortly after she received the backing of European finance ministers.
US, European stocks fall after hotter-than-expected producer prices
US and European stock markets mostly fell Thursday as the latest bout of indicators appeared to dent expectations the Federal Reserve might soon cut interest rates.
US VP Harris to make landmark abortion clinic visit
US Vice President Kamala Harris will tour an abortion clinic Thursday, highlighting a key election issue in what US media reported was the first such visit by a president or vice president.
British newspapers: Who owns what?
A UK government proposal to ban foreign states from owning British newspapers looks set to scupper plans for an Abu Dhabi-led bid to take over the Telegraph Media Group (TMG).
Retail sales in US rebound less than expected in February
US consumer spending warmed slightly in February, according to government data released Thursday, with retail sales regaining ground after an earlier hit from cold weather.
Biden opposes Nippon Steel takeover of US Steel
President Joe Biden said Thursday he is against the proposed sale of US Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel, as election year considerations appeared to outweigh the risk of angering key ally Japan.
Biden opposes Nippon Steel takeover of US Steel: statement
President Joe Biden said on Thursday he opposed the proposed sale of US Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel, in a move that could annoy Washington's close Asia-Pacific ally Tokyo.
Aid efforts intensify for famine-stalked Gaza
Efforts grew on Thursday to get more aid into the war-devastated Gaza Strip, where the UN warns of famine and desperate residents have stormed relief shipments.