112 stories
BBC reports that 11 people were killed in attacks on four residential buildings in Gaza City. The Israeli military said the strikes killed four Hamas security officials. Medics said women and children were among the dead.
Scientists at the Australia-hosted Square Kilometre Array have produced the largest map yet of the observable universe's magnetic web. The dataset opens new questions on the structure of cosmic magnetic fields.
The future of iconic Australian wine label Wolf Blass is unclear after parent Treasury Wine Estates said it will cull more than half its brands. The move is seen as a response to structural shifts in global wine demand.
Tensions over Somalia's elections have escalated into violence in Mogadishu, deepening the country's political crisis. Residents say daily life has been disrupted and security worries have grown.
UK construction output recorded its fastest contraction in six years. High borrowing costs, weak housing demand and delayed private-sector projects are among the factors deepening the decline.
Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said Turkey is aiming to be among the world's top five Islamic-finance markets. Reaching the target, he said, requires building resilience and stronger financial buffers.
Wall Street powerhouses including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan are hosting events to pitch SpaceX ahead of a potential listing. Elon Musk addressed institutional investors at one such gathering, with valuation and growth narratives at the centre.
President Trump said he is directing $700m to the US coal industry under wartime powers, citing the Iran war's impact on domestic energy costs. The move targets a sector that has been in long decline.
ACT Party leader David Seymour opened a debate on whether small modular reactor (SMR) technology should prompt New Zealand to revisit its 30-year nuclear-free policy. The government has instructed the Energy Ministry to conduct a formal technical review.
The UN General Assembly elected Portugal, Austria, Mauritius, Costa Rica and Bahrain to five non-permanent Security Council seats; in the European category, Germany was eliminated in the third round behind Portugal and Austria. Berlin's defeat after 14 years prompted debate in foreign-policy circles.
HSBC and AIA shares fell 4.2% and 5.1% respectively after reports that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will tighten oversight of offshore yuan accounts. The Hang Seng Index closed 1.8% lower on the day.
Kenyan President William Ruto said the US-funded Ebola quarantine facility in Wajir was critical to regional health security after two people died in protests against it. The government said the quarantine decision complied with international standards.
The UK Treasury has set out a £1.3 billion infrastructure package to support Comcast's planned Universal UK theme park in Bedford, with a new rail link and energy infrastructure at the core. The government projects the project will create more than 11,000 permanent jobs.
With World Cup 2026 opening matches approaching, trade and migration tensions among Washington, Mexico City and Ottawa are casting a shadow over the tournament's operations. The three countries are preparing new joint protocols to coordinate border crossings and security.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has invited Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang to a Senate hearing on the company's sales of advanced AI chips to the Chinese market. The invitation, sent as US export controls tighten, prompted volatility in Nvidia shares during US trading.
Israel's Supreme Court has rejected the government's ban on International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visits to Palestinian detainees, ruling that international law affirms Red Cross access. The court allowed sixty days for implementation.
A New Zealand Infrastructure Commission report has found that pausing, cancelling and delaying infrastructure projects has cost the country NZ$11.8 billion over the past 25 years. The commission recommends strengthening the strategic planning framework.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) found that Australian National University (ANU) leadership approved its A$250 million cost-cutting program without a clear analysis of the problem it was solving or the risks involved. The vice-chancellor said the process will be reviewed.
China's Foreign Ministry has announced an entry ban on two New Zealand parliamentarians who visited Taiwan. Wellington called the move 'disproportionate.'
Japan's government has put forward a plan to replace up to five aging nuclear reactors by the 2040s, projecting AI data centre and factory demand will raise electricity consumption by 20% over the next two decades. Design work will begin with three major operators.
A BBC report from Sierra Leone says the rising popularity of lab-grown diamonds is sharply reducing incomes for artisanal miners hunting natural stones. Local diggers report sharply lower floor prices.
Heavy gunfire was reported in Mogadishu after Somalia's president had his term extended by one year. The opposition rejected the move and has called for nationwide protests.
A major fire at Tata Steel's Port Talbot site in Wales has caused 'substantial' damage to a production line. Residents have been advised to keep windows and doors closed; firefighters remain on scene.
Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has written to his North American counterparts proposing the USMCA free trade pact be renewed for 16 years through 2042. The letter precedes the deal's mandatory six-year review in July.
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has agreed to plead guilty to retaining classified records before a federal court, according to MS NOW. He had asserted innocence at last year's indictment.
Blackstone restricted withdrawals from its $79 billion BCRED private credit fund after redemption requests climbed from 7.9% to 10%, reigniting concerns over liquidity in private markets.
The US House of Representatives passed a war-powers resolution by 219-198 that would require President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for new strikes in the continuing military confrontation with Iran. Eighteen Republicans voted with Democrats in support of the measure.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's post-conflict plan for Gaza does not have Washington's backing. Mr Rubio said the US would prioritise 'a two-state solution and the restructuring of the Palestinian Authority'.
New Zealand's government has confirmed that some of the country's export categories could face a 12.5% additional tariff under Washington's new directive against forced-labour imports. Dairy, meat and wine sectors top the list of clearest exposures.
The South Australian government has handed down its 2026 budget, with A$1.8 billion in additional housing supply funding and A$1.2 billion of new hospital investment. The state treasury forecasts the deficit narrowing to 1.2% of gross state product by 2027.
South Korea's Democratic Party, led by President Lee Jae-myung, won 13 of the country's 17 governorships and metropolitan mayoralties in local elections. The result indicates strong domestic backing for Mr Lee's call to rebalance relations with China and Japan.
Ghana's President John Mahama said the anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by parliament must undergo further review before he decides on approval. Mr Mahama said he would hold off pending opinions from the attorney general's office and from the Supreme Court.
A new report published in the United Kingdom finds that almost three-quarters of workers are off course to secure a 'moderate' retirement income. The independent Pensions Review Commission is examining higher auto-enrolment contributions and a new framework for self-employed workers.
Hungary has indicated the first cluster of negotiating chapters for Ukraine's EU accession could be opened as soon as next week, after months of blocking the process. The government spokesperson said the compromise package put forward by the European Commission meets Budapest's demands on minority rights.
Elon Musk's space company SpaceX filed paperwork seeking a valuation near $1.75 trillion at a share price of $135, with plans to raise up to $86 billion. If completed, the deal would rank as the largest stock-market debut on record.
The Australian prime minister said there is an 'ideological disagreement' with the United States after Washington revealed plans for a tariff on Australian products linked to anti-slavery concerns. The government said it is seeking a resolution through dialogue. Exporters are assessing potential supply-chain effects.
Four people convicted of killing worshippers at a Catholic church in Nigeria were sentenced to death, BBC reported. The court announced its verdict and said the defendants retain the right to appeal. The case has reopened debate over security challenges in the country.
As an Ebola outbreak continues in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, health workers described the protective protocols they follow while treating patients. Medical equipment and vaccine deliveries to the affected region are ongoing. Regional health authorities said they are conducting continuous monitoring.
The European Union has prepared a comprehensive roadmap aimed at reducing technology dependence on foreign suppliers, according to Anadolu Ajansı. The plan targets greater European capacity in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and cloud services. Negotiations on financing and implementation will continue among member states.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that Berlin fell short of its goals in the United Nations Security Council non-permanent seat vote. Germany had been a candidate for the 2027-2028 term. Merz said the outcome would prompt a review of Germany's foreign policy positioning.
The Australian government's talks with the US on requested changes to the AUKUS defence partnership have been under way for 18 months. ABC reported that the Pentagon is reviewing the cost and timeline parameters of the programme.
At least 21 people, including foreign tourists, were killed in a fire at a hotel in India's capital Delhi. Following the casualties, authorities said they are reviewing the hotel's fire-safety inspections.
Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma has been sentenced to prison again after writing an article critical of the country's prison system. Al Jazeera reported that the ruling, coming after his 2022 pardon, has been criticised by human-rights organisations.
Online banking and mobile app services at Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, all part of Lloyds Banking Group, returned to operation after an outage lasting several hours. The banking group apologised for the disruption to customers.
A court in Tunisia has sentenced Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi to life in prison. The decision has reignited debate over the country's political climate and human rights.
ABC News Australia reports that past speeches show Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had argued against selling the HMAS Penguin land on Sydney Harbour. The Defence Department has announced the site will be divested.
South African police have launched an investigation into the killing of two Mozambican men in the north of the country. Mozambique's government has called for the case to be resolved quickly.
Documents reviewed by the BBC show Shell continued pumping oil through a Nigerian pipeline for years despite internal evidence of pollution. The company says it remains committed to environmental compliance procedures.
Official data show that the number of workers in Germany has declined while average working hours have lengthened. The euro area's largest economy faces both labor market contraction and productivity pressure.
Atlas, the infrastructure unit owned by BlackRock, has frozen renewable energy investments worth roughly $1 billion in Brazil. The decision comes amid uncertainty over the country's energy transition policies.
SpaceX is targeting a $135 per share price in its planned IPO next week and aims to raise a record $75 billion. The offering could become the largest in US market history.
The Office of the US Trade Representative proposed fresh tariffs on 60 economies, including China, under Section 301. Greer said the actions target supply chains linked to forced labor.
According to data reported by RNZ, hospitality business closures in New Zealand rose 49 per cent over the past year. The same data show more than 130,000 people carry mortgages above 1 million New Zealand dollars; together the two figures suggest household pressure is becoming persistent.
As concerns mount over an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, three separate vaccine development programmes are under way at IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford, the BBC reports. The programmes aim to provide protection against different Ebola virus species.
Germany's Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) is set to face a deficit of more than 8 billion euros in fiscal 2026, according to a report cited by Investing.com. The figure reflects softening labour-market conditions and the burden of jobless benefits.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has announced his first senior hires at the central bank, CNBC reported. Among the appointees is economist Paul Winfree, who authored the Fed chapter of the Heritage Foundation's 'Project 2025' policy blueprint.
According to RNZ Business, New Zealand's primary care chain The Doctors will be sold for around NZ$270 million. The new ownership structure remains domestically anchored, aligning with the government's emphasis on local health services.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing to make a final decision this month on cutting the consumption tax on food to 1%, according to Nikkei Asia. The move could mark a meaningful turning point for household budgets and inflation policy.
Two people were killed during protests in Kenya against a proposed US-backed Ebola treatment and quarantine facility, the BBC reported. The unrest followed an escalation of public anger near the site selected for the project.
The White House asked US AI developers to voluntarily share early access to their frontier models with federal agencies. The order arrives amid intensifying US-China competition and is set to reshape Washington's dialogue with leading labs on safety and national security.
New Zealand Heartland Bank has announced plans to acquire regional rival TSB for $620 million. The deal marks a new step in years of consolidation in the country's retail banking sector. The Reserve Bank will review the agreement within 60 days.
The chair of Australia's Royal Commission has announced non-disclosure agreements will be waived in the ongoing inquiry into military sexual violence. The decision opens participation in inquiry hearings to former Defence Force personnel and family members. The federal government expects the three-year commission's final report in spring 2027.
The Nigeria Police Force said reprisal attacks against South Africans in Lagos and Abuja will not be allowed in response to anti-migrant attacks in South Africa. 24-hour protection has been deployed at corporate offices and individual targets. Pretoria has delivered a formal note of condolence to the Nigerian government.
The US State Department has announced the number of embassies in Africa that can process visa applications will be cut from 47 to 12. The policy change, mandated by presidential directive, will take effect on 1 September. The African Union Commission and major African governments described the decision as 'damaging to continental cooperation'.
British low-cost carrier EasyJet said a possible takeover approach it had received was 'opportunistic'. The unnamed bidder is reported to be a Middle Eastern consortium. EasyJet shares closed up 6.5% in London.
Representatives of the European Parliament, Council and Commission have agreed on a regulation that creates a legal basis for establishing 'return hubs' in third countries. The new rule allows asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected to be held in non-EU states. The regulation will be voted on first by Parliament, then by Council.
Brazil's health ministry said two patients being monitored for possible Ebola infection have tested negative in laboratory analysis. The patients had been placed under observation in Belém and Rio de Janeiro. The ministry said its border-health unit will continue screening for travel history involving the DR Congo.
ABC News Australia reports that an investigation into how AI chatbots respond to violent requests produced 'deeply disturbing' results. OpenAI denies that ChatGPT encourages crime, while a family has filed a lawsuit against the company.
ABC News Australia reports an Oxfam analysis showing Australia's billionaire count rose by 17 in one year to 178, with combined wealth exceeding 686 billion Australian dollars. The growth in ultra-wealth is reigniting tax and economic policy debates.
The court ruled that the United Kingdom does not need to pay Rwanda after pulling out of the asylum deal between the two countries. The decision eases the fiscal burden of migration arrangements debated under the Sunak and Starmer governments.
The Brussels prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the anti-money-laundering control processes of cross-border fintech firm Wise. The company said it is co-operating with prosecutors and that no specific findings have so far been shared.
Brooklyn Rivera, 73, the prominent indigenous spokesperson on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, has died after three years in arbitrary detention. Rights organisations condemned the death and called for an international investigation into the circumstances.
AI firm Anthropic said it confidentially filed its IPO S-1 prospectus with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The move clears a major step in the race against OpenAI and will gauge Wall Street investor appetite for primary-market exposure to artificial intelligence.
The chimneys of the Liddell Power Station in New South Wales, one of Australia's oldest coal-fired plants, have been brought down in a controlled demolition. The site is set to host new-generation renewable storage and pilot hydrogen facilities. The operation is being seen as symbolic for Australia's 2030 emissions targets.
An explosion on Sunday at the Hanwha Aerospace factory in Boeun, South Korea, reportedly killed five workers. Hanwha Aerospace is a group company that plays a significant role in defence-industry supply chains; an investigation has been opened and production has been temporarily halted. Shares are expected to fall at Monday's open.
An Al Jazeera field report examines village economies around the bauxite mines in western Guinea and the shifting livelihoods of residents. The country supplies roughly a quarter of the world's aluminium raw material. Government and industry representatives say compensation and employment policies have improved; village representatives say land rights are not yet adequately protected.
Türkiye's Directorate General of Civil Aviation is launching a system to monitor all civilian unmanned aerial vehicle flights from a single central digital platform. The framework covers both commercial and hobby drone operators, with breaches subject to administrative fines. The rule, finalised after two years of industry consultation, takes effect on 1 September.
The UK government has appointed former Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin to lead its youth-unemployment strategy. The role comes as the NEET share (young people not in education, employment or training) climbs to 13 percent. Machin will coordinate sector-education partnerships and deliver recommendations ahead of the autumn budget.
Brazil's health ministry says it is monitoring two patients arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo for possible Ebola infection. The patients are in isolation at a reference hospital in São Paulo, with laboratory results expected within 48 hours. The ministry stressed that no confirmed Ebola case has yet been recorded in Latin America.
Colombia's presidential election will go to a runoff between leftist senator Iván Cepeda and right-wing lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella. Neither candidate cleared 50 percent in the first round and the two represent contrasting positions on the Petro government and US ties. The runoff is set for 21 June.
Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accepting a JFK award in Boston, urged the protection of Fed independence from political pressure. Powell said efforts to politicise monetary policy would erode the institution's credibility. The Trump administration has publicly criticised Fed decisions in recent months.
Al Jazeera's field video shows widespread destruction in the historic city of Tyre after repeated Israeli airstrikes. Lebanon's Health Ministry updated civilian casualty and infrastructure damage figures while the United Nations repeated calls for a humanitarian corridor.
New Zealand Media Minister Paul Goldsmith appointed former MediaWorks chief executive Brent Impey as chair of the board of public broadcaster Radio New Zealand (RNZ). Goldsmith said the appointments will reinforce the board over the next three years to support a financially sustainable, trusted state broadcaster.
According to ABC News Australia, the US military said its air strike on a boat suspected of carrying narcotics in the eastern Pacific Ocean killed individuals it described as 'narco-terrorists'. The total death toll in the months-long campaign has risen to 202; Latin American governments continue to question cross-border due process.
At least 45 people were killed and about 70 injured when a building storing mining explosives in the village of Kaungtup, in north-east Myanmar's Shan state, exploded around midday. The area, near the Chinese border, lies in territory controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army.
Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi delivered some of Tokyo's most pointed responses yet to the regional debate over its military build-up at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, denying militarism while sharply criticising China's 'huge arsenal'. The statement hardens Tokyo's tone in Indo-Pacific security diplomacy.
Former Nigerian Defence Headquarters spokesperson Brigadier-General (Rtd) Rabe Abubakar was taken with his wife by an armed group near his hometown of Funtua in north-west Katsina state, returning attention to the region's persistent security challenges.
Ethiopian voters headed to the polls in an election contested by parties and coalitions, with more than 50 million registered voters and significant shares of youth and women. The ballot will shape the consensus-building between the federal government and regional parties after the Tigray ceasefire.
Voters in deeply Republican Oklahoma will weigh a ballot measure to double the state minimum wage in one of the 2026 election cycle's key votes. The outcome could become an early signal of how parties read the inflation outlook and shifting voter mood.
The Trump administration signaled it will accelerate the FDA review process for psychedelic compounds like psilocybin and MDMA, targeting depression, PTSD and addiction treatment. The shift could broaden treatment options for veterans while creating opportunities for emerging biotech firms.
Ethiopia is preparing for general elections on 6 June, but security conditions in Tigray and Amhara mean millions of voters cannot reach polling stations. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's party appears to hold a wide advantage. The European Union has deployed an electoral observation mission.
Türkiye's Capital Markets Board (SPK) has extended its ban on short-selling at Borsa Istanbul until 12 June 2026. The decision overlaps with a period of Middle East-driven volatility and pressure on the lira. SPK emphasises the goal of safeguarding market stability.
Universal Music Group, the world's biggest music company, has rejected a takeover bid worth about €49 billion from US hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman's Pershing Square vehicle. The Amsterdam-listed group said the price 'significantly undervalues' the business. The board's stance signals European resistance to US-led consolidation of catalogue assets.
The US Department of Justice has formally asked Judge Eleanor Ross of the Northern District of Georgia to step aside from the high-profile Georgia election-fraud case, citing recent reports that she was internally disciplined. The DOJ argues that the appearance of impartiality has been compromised. The judge must respond this week.
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced legislation that would deepen the integration of American and Israeli defence industries, Al Jazeera reported. The proposed bill includes joint procurement procedures and technology-transfer steps, drawing sharp reactions from Palestinian representatives and several Arab diplomatic missions.
A small change to New Zealand's vehicle tax framework being weighed by the government could trigger a marked increase in electric-vehicle sales, RNZ Business reports. The change would adjust the import-tax thresholds for low-emission cars, lowering the effective cost of EV purchases.
An Al Jazeera field report shows that women are bearing a disproportionate share of the Ebola outbreak in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Caregiving duties, participation in traditional funeral rituals and women's high share of frontline health roles are amplifying both transmission risk and the economic impact.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo 'deeply alarming,' warning that contact-tracing capacity in Ituri province is being eroded by conflict and logistics, BBC reported. The group says more medical staff and laboratory support are urgently needed to contain the Bundibugyo-strain outbreak.
Leading British chefs, including Tom Kerridge and Heston Blumenthal, have called on the UK government to cut value-added tax for pubs and restaurants from 20 percent to 10 percent, BBC reports. The hospitality industry is struggling with energy and labour costs and warns of an accelerating wave of closures.
The U.S. Treasury has confirmed plans to issue a new $250 banknote to mark the country's 250th anniversary, with the front of the bill featuring President Donald Trump's portrait, BBC reported. The decision breaks a long-standing convention against placing a sitting president on circulating currency and has drawn legal and political pushback.
More than 3.5 million people have lost access to SNAP benefits after work requirements and new state contributions in President Donald Trump's tax-and-spending package began taking effect, according to a CNBC-cited analysis. Anti-hunger groups warn the cuts could deepen food insecurity in lower-income households.
RNZ Business reports that as fuel prices rise and electric vehicle sales pick up in New Zealand, the insurance industry warns EV premiums are noticeably higher than for petrol counterparts. Industry analysts identify battery repair costs as the main driver.
ABC News Australia reports Opposition Leader Angus Taylor told the Liberal Party council that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is starting a 'war on aspiration' with the recent federal budget. Taylor urged the party base to focus on electoral reorganisation.
South China Morning Post reports China has launched a new national evaluation framework to improve accuracy, reliability and transparency standards for artificial intelligence. Policymakers are moving to establish common standards for assessing the fast-evolving sector.
Al Jazeera reports that confirmed Ebola cases in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo nearly doubled in recent days as a rare Bundibugyo strain spreads. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Bunia, the outbreak epicentre, and called for community-led response.
BBC Africa reports that Ghana's parliament has passed a bill criminalising same-sex acts and advocacy for LGBTQ+ identity. Human rights organisations have announced plans for a constitutional court challenge, while government representatives described the measure as the democratic will of parliament.
TRT Haber Ekonomi reports that Turkey's installed electric capacity reached a new peak of 125,410 megawatts at the end of April. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said 26,769 megawatts of solar capacity has been added from zero in the past 13 years.
Investing.com reports that the US and Mexico have concluded the first round of trade-deal talks covering autos, metals and border security. The publication did not detail the final text of any comprehensive deal; both sides described the talks as constructive.
Al Jazeera reports Colombian voters head to the polls on 31 May for the first round of the presidential election. Senator Ivan Cepeda leads two right-wing rivals in a campaign dominated by security concerns.
BBC Middle East reports that Israel has been added for the first time to the annex of the UN Secretary-General's annual report on conflict-related sexual violence. Israel says it rejects the allegations contained in the report.
RNZ Business reports that New Zealand's largest renewable electricity generator Meridian Energy says imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) being considered by the government are not needed for dry-year cover.
A South African public commission led by Justice Madlanga is examining alleged links between senior police officials and organised crime, BBC Africa reported. Testimony has covered alleged bribery and irregularities in narcotics operations.