World News

French politics have been in turmoil since Macron called early parliamentary elections in June last year which resulted in a deeply fragmented legislature.

Zelensky says he is ready for new elections as Kyiv prepares revised response to US peace plan

Zelensky has spent recent days in London, Brussels and Rome, meeting European leaders, Pope Leo XIV, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as Ukraine works through Washington’s plan.

France calls new US security doctrine 'brutal clarification'

The remarks from Rufo, who has previously served as President Emmanuel Macron's deputy national security adviser, are the strongest public ⁠comments to ⁠date from French officials following the release of the U.S. National Security Strategy.

Pentagon picks Google AI platform for its millions of employees

The new platform, known as GenAI.mil, is designed to usher in an “AI-driven culture change that will dominate the digital battlefield for years to come,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

Trump says Russia is stronger in Ukraine as he chides Europe

Last week, a US national security strategy document signed by the president said European governments “hold unrealistic expectations for the war.”

Zelenskyy says 'refined documents' on peace plan will soon be sent to US

In a statement, Zelenskyy said new components of the deal hashed out with the British, French and German leaders in London on Monday were "more developed" and ready for U.S. review.

Why America’s affordability crisis is turning Trump’s economy into a political headache

A split between wealthy and lower-income households is turning the economy into a political liability for the US president.

Australia’s social media ban takes effect, becomes first nation to do so

Ten of the biggest platforms were ordered to block children or be fined up to A$49.5 million ($33 million) ‌under ‌the new law, which was criticised by major technology companies and free speech campaigners, but praised by parents and child advocates.

How Chinese phonemakers are using AI to pry loyal users away from Apple

Domestic brands see an opening to lure users away from the iPhone as Beijing delays Apple’s AI rollout.

How Trump’s Supreme Court case could transform presidential power over US regulators

A long-running conservative effort to expand White House control now meets Trump’s push to remove independent regulators.

South Korea scrambles fighter jets as 11 Chinese, Russian warplanes enter air defence zone

An earlier report had said that 11 planes had entered the South Korean air defence zone.

China executes second ex-Huarong executive for taking over $156 million bribe

Bai Tianhui, a former general manager at the firm, was executed Tuesday by a court in Tianjin city following the approval of the Supreme People’s Court, China Central Television reported.

How Biden ignored early warnings and lost public trust on immigration

An inside account of the choices, miscalculations and delays that reshaped US politics and helped return Donald Trump to power.

Why does IMF keep saving Pakistan? The danger of financing a nuclear state addicted to bailouts

Pakistan’s latest loan solves nothing. It only postpones the next crisis. The IMF may have stabilised the numbers, but it has not stabilised Pakistan.

Why Nvidia and other AI giants are slipping out of the ‘quality stock’ category

A debate over what makes a company truly “high quality” is reshaping how investors judge Big Tech in the age of AI.

Trump says rate cut will be litmus test for new Fed chair

Trump responded “yes” when asked in an interview with Politico if a quick reduction of borrowing costs would be a litmus test for his handpicked central bank leader.

Paramount's bid for Warner Bros. features obscure Abu Dhabi firm

Set up relatively recently, government-owned L'imad is among financing partners supporting the Paramount bid, according to a regulatory filing Monday.

Asim Munir, Shehbaz Sharif considering treason case, ban on PTI: Why is Imran Khan now labelled a national threat?

Pakistan’s security establishment is increasingly frustrated with PTI leaders, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where provincial officials have reportedly refused to cooperate with federal security institutions.

H-1B visa applicants asked to reschedule appointments as social media vetting begins from Dec 15: How will new checks affect wait times?

The cancellations appear linked to the rollout of the updated vetting system, which requires consular officers to examine applicants’ online activity before approving their visas.

Pakistan Army DG ISPR winks at female journalist during presser, faces backlash

Chaudhry faced trolling on social media over his gesture, with people saying that it was a "new low" for the DG ISPR. "Ahmed (Not)Sharif Chaudhary," one user remarked.

Is rice the next flashpoint after Russian oil? Should India really worry about Trump’s tariff threat? Trade data has an answer

Trade data shows that the US is far from being a significant market for Indian rice, raising questions over whether Trump’s threat is more about politics than trade.

Fire breaks out at seven-storey building in Indonesia's Jakarta, 20 dead

The fire has been extinguished and efforts to find more possible victims inside the building continue, Susatyo Purnomo Condro, the head of Central Jakarta police, told reporters.

South Korea scrambles fighter jets as Chinese, Russian warplanes enter air defence zone

Seven Russian planes and two Chinese planes had entered the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) at around 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) then left

Polymarket odds soar on possible Trump release of UFO files as speculation intensifies

A sudden leap in prediction-market odds has cast fresh attention on the prospect of UFO file disclosure in the US. The spike has triggered broad debate among analysts who caution that market movement does not always reflect real policy decisions.

New fossil discovery overturns long-held belief about Neanderthal noses

A newly examined Neanderthal skull, once thought to confirm cold-climate adaptations, has challenged a century-old assumption about their large noses. According to the findings, their nose structure was simply bigger, not specially shaped to warm frigid air.

Trump’s AI czar David Sacks insists recent layoffs aren’t driven by AI

Fears that artificial intelligence is behind layoffs, as companies cut jobs around the world, are greatly exaggerated, says David Sacks. He argues human oversight remains essential and that AI isn’t the real culprit behind widespread job cuts.

Bandage on Trump’s hand sparks fresh wave of health concerns

A bandaged-hand photo of Donald J. Trump has refuelled speculation about his health by observers and the press alike. As he steps out publicly with repeated visible bruising and coverings, speculation about what's really behind those band-aids mounts.

Woman’s desperate escape from 10th-floor balcony goes viral after lover’s wife returns home

A harrowing video out of Guangdong shows a woman clinging to a 10th-floor balcony as she tries to escape her lover's returning wife. The footage has sparked outrage and a wave of online discussion about the dangers and consequences of such a dramatic escape.

Australia’s under 16 social media ban: Will it actually protect kids or just push them underground

Australia has become the first country to legally block under 16s from major social apps, shifting responsibility from parents to tech platforms, but early signs suggest teenagers, companies and courts will all test how far the law can really reach.

Why 12 ex-FBI agents are suing Kash Patel: Understanding the kneeling protest firings and the lawsuit shaking the bureau

A legal battle over a five-year-old protest gesture has escalated into a major test of the FBI’s independence under the Trump administration.

How Japan quietly built a rare earth lifeline beyond China, and why the US is now playing catch-up

A 15-year strategy of subsidies, overseas partnerships and political risk-taking shows how Tokyo slowly loosened Beijing’s grip on critical minerals while the US and Europe are only now waking up.

Why Trump’s approval of Nvidia’s H200 chip sales to China marks a major shift in US tech policy

A clear explainer on what the decision means for US–China relations, the AI race, and the global chip supply chain.

Trump denies a remark he made on camera just five days earlier

A brief exchange over a Caribbean boat strike has triggered a fresh fact-checking row at the White House.

Hermes billionaires’ family office quietly starts new offshoot

Krefeld, named after the town in Germany where ancestor Thierry Hermes was born, has created a separate company called Breithorn Holding that can oversee fund and asset management

Saudi Arabia extends alcohol sales to higher-earning residents

Residents must prove their income by showing a salary certificate to gain entry to the country’s only liquor outlet, located in Riyadh

Under MAGA fire, Indian IT lobby group publicly aligns with Trump

Facing MAGA backlash over a resurfaced video of immigration attorney Sheela Murthy, ITServe Alliance distances itself from her and publicly aligns with Trump, highlighting tensions around H-1B visas and political scrutiny.

A 2,000-year-old game: How Iran is using chess and backgammon as cultural diplomacy with India

Iran’s embassy in India invoked the shared history of chess and backgammon to underscore 2,000 years of cultural ties, blending ancient legend with modern cultural diplomacy.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis designates CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood as ‘terrorist’ groups

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “foreign terrorist organisations” through an executive order, prompting constitutional challenges and criticism, as neither group is so labelled by the US government.

Famed bear Michael Burry says he’s bullish on Fannie and Freddie

Shares of Fannie Mae rose 2% Monday, while Freddie Mac climbed 2.4%. The pair, which trade over-the-counter and are prone to volatile swings, have added about 12% since late November

Why a Chinese tourist’s visit to Kashmir and Ladakh has sparked security concerns

Chinese national Hu Congtai, detained for visiting restricted sites in Kashmir and Ladakh on a tourist visa, is under investigation. Authorities are analysing his phone for potential security breaches.

The whopping sum Netflix will have to pay if Warner Bros. deal falls through. Check what's the clause

Netflix’s $72 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery includes a $5.8 billion breakup fee, triggering a fierce contest with Paramount, whose $108 billion cash offer challenges Netflix in Hollywood’s high-stakes battle.

Behind Paramount's bid for Warner Bros: A team of billionaires, banks and Trump's son-in-law to beat Netflix

The names are notable as much for their size as well as their proximity to President Donald Trump

Pakistan played Trump the right way: Raghuram Rajan says Russian oil not ‘central issue’ in 50% India tariff

Raghuram Rajan said US tariffs on India were driven by personalities and diplomatic disputes, not Russian oil. India denies Trump’s claims of mediating the India-Pakistan ceasefire.

Paramount’s streaming size would ease US antitrust review for Warner Bros deal

Paramount, the parent of CBS, MTV and other media businesses, is offering to buy all of Warner Bros., including its stable of TV networks that include CNN, TNT and the Discovery Channel

Pakistan: TTP attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa kills six security personnel, injures several

Six security personnel were killed and seven injured in a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district. The assault follows a previous deadly TTP attack on government officials.

‘India should not be dumping rice’: Trump warns of fresh tariffs on agricultural imports

US President Donald Trump warned of new tariffs on farm imports, including Indian rice, after farmers complained of dumping and falling prices, unveiling $12 billion in fresh support for US agriculture.

Why Thailand and Cambodia’s latest fighting stems from decades of hostility

Fresh fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has erupted along their disputed border, exposing how unresolved territorial claims, failed ceasefire commitments, nationalist rhetoric and broader diplomatic and economic tensions continue to fuel the conflict.

Trump threatens 5% tariff on Mexico over delayed water delivery under bilateral treaty

Trump announced that he has approved the paperwork necessary to impose tariffs if the water is not delivered.

Trump's former lawyer Alina Habba resigns as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey

Habba, 41, was appointed in March to serve a temporary term as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, a powerful post charged with enforcing federal criminal and civil law.