Could China’s rare earth supplies dictate how long US strikes on Iran go on?
The US war against Iran may have handed Beijing some fresh rare earths leverage over Washington, with roughly three weeks until US President Donald Trump’s expected visit to China. Washington’s heavy reliance on the Chinese minerals for its advanced weapon systems means China could dictate how long US strikes on Iran can go on, according to sources and analysts. Sources told the South China Morning Post, on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, that Washington had only... [Continue Reading]
Family of teacher killed in prank gone wrong ‘supports dropping charges’
'This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.' [Continue Reading]
Junior Andre reveals his secret nine-to-five job: ‘It’s been hard’
The son of Katie Price and Peter Andre is pursuing a career in music. [Continue Reading]
Chessum starts in only change as England try to stop rot
Ollie Chessum's inclusion in the back row is the only change to the starting XV as England attempt to turn things around after three straight defeats. [Continue Reading]
Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher ‘feels detached’ after blaze destroys ‘dream family home’
The fire happened in 2024. [Continue Reading]
Long lost George Michael film and live album set for release later this year
George Michael: The Faith Tour will receive a global cinema release alongside previously unheard music from his Wham! and solo discographiesA long lost film centered on George Michael’s landmark 1988 Faith tour is set for cinema release later this year, in addition to a new album of previously unheard live performances.George Michael: The Faith Tour is being lined up for a global big screen rollout, with footage taken from a previously unseen 14 camera shoot of Michael’s performance at Paris’ Bercy Arena in 1988. A press release bills the project as a tour de force in archival film-making, celebrating Michael’s... [Continue Reading]
Woman’s hijab pulled off by three attackers who tried to steal her car
The attackers tried to get into her car, but the victim's dad stepped in, police said. [Continue Reading]
Europe’s borders under threat from Russia: Baltic states gear up for war
On Europe’s eastern flank, the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – fear they could become Vladimir Putin’s next target. After several drone incursions from Russia, the three countries are stepping up their defence strategies on the ground and in the air. This report from our colleagues at FRANCE 2 and FRANCE 24’s Guillaume Gougeon. [Continue Reading]
Pete Hegseth warns of ‘most intense’ day of US strikes on Iran yet
Pentagon chief spoke with Gen Dan Caine at a press conference and blamed Iran for civilian casualties Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxPentagon chief Pete Hegseth has warned that Tuesday would be the “most intense” day of US strikes yet, even as he blamed Iran for civilian casualties by claiming its forces were firing missiles from schools and hospitals.Speaking alongside Gen Dan Caine, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, Hegseth alleged Iran was deliberately firing missiles from schools and hospitals, describing the country’s leadership as “desperate and scrambling like... [Continue Reading]
Memory price hikes ‘the new normal’ as AI boom fuels storage demand, Seagate says
Memory price hikes are likely to become “the new normal” for the next few years, according to an executive at storage giant Seagate Technology, as the artificial intelligence boom of the past two to three years pushes the industry into what he described as a supercycle. “It’s hard to tell if it will last forever,” Ban-Seng Teh, Seagate’s chief commercial officer, told the South China Morning Post. The current cycle was “very unusual because in the past we went through cycles of shortage and... [Continue Reading]
Smartmatic Says It’s a Target of Vindictive Prosecution by Trump
The voting technology company’s new court filing signals how far-reaching the legal fights over elections will be in 2026. [Continue Reading]
Nigel Farage accused of U-turn as he says UK should keep out of Iran war
Reform leader’s latest comment contrasts with earlier statement that ‘gloves need to come off’UK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage has been accused of making a U-turn after he said Britain should not get involved in Donald Trump’s war with Iran.His comments on Tuesday contrasted with his previous assertion that the “gloves need to come off” when dealing with Iran. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
The ending of USAID — one year on
On 10 March 2025, the US announced that 83 percent of USAID's programs would be cancelled, involving over 5,000 contracts. The UK, Germany, France, Belgium and others quickly and sharply cut their aid budgets too. One year on, what are the effects? [Continue Reading]
Aramco warns of oil market ‘catastrophe’ unless strait of Hormuz reopens soon
Saudi Arabian state oil firm calls crisis by far the biggest the region has seen but firm can reroute 70% of exports and tap crude held in storageBusiness live – latest updatesHow the Iran conflict could affect energy prices – video explainerSaudi Arabia’s state oil company has warned of “catastrophic consequences” for the world’s oil markets if the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to block shipping in the strait of Hormuz.The world’s biggest oil company expects to be able to export about 70% of its usual crude output despite the stranglehold on the vital trade artery, but its chief executive... [Continue Reading]
Israel's Netanyahu warns 'we are not done yet' in Iran in break with Trump
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the country's military offensive against Iran was "not done yet", saying the operation was degrading Iran's clerical leadership, despite comments from US president Donald Trump that the war could be over "very soon". France 24's Olivia Bizot has the latest from Jerusalem. [Continue Reading]
Syrian ex-colonel in court on crimes against humanity charge
Salem Michel Al-Salem, accused of crimes committed in Syria in 2011 and 2012, has been named for the first time. [Continue Reading]
Qatari spokesman says unchecked escalation has sparked regional war
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman says years of ignored warnings about unchecked escalation have led to regional war. [Continue Reading]
'Unpredictability and instability' the biggest dangers to economy, says Estonian finance minister
At a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, the 27 EU finance ministers considered the economic consequences of the war in Iran. Interviewed by Euronews, Estonian Minister Jürgen Ligi said he believed the bloc could rise to the challenge. [Continue Reading]
Jury in murder trial hears Mayo man was stabbed 27 times
The jury in a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard a 59-year-old Mayo man met his death in circumstances of "almost indescribable savagery" after he was stabbed 27 times. [Continue Reading]
China issues second warning on OpenClaw risks amid adoption frenzy
China’s cybersecurity agency on Tuesday issued a second warning about security and data risks tied to OpenClaw, despite a rush among local governments and tech companies to adopt the artificial intelligence agent amid a nationwide frenzy. At a time when major Chinese cloud service providers were touting easy deployment of OpenClaw to capitalise on its popularity, improper installation and use of the agent had also led to severe security risks, said the National Computer Network Emergency... [Continue Reading]
Ex-Syrian colonel appears in UK court on charges of crimes against humanity
Salem Al-Salem faces landmark trial over alleged role in crackdown on protests in Damascus in 2011A former Syrian colonel has appeared in a London court to face charges of crimes against humanity in the first prosecution of its kind in England and Wales.Salem Al-Salem is charged with murder and torture, crimes allegedly committed during the Syrian government’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Damascus in 2011. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
EU eyes nuclear energy again as oil prices soar
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said Europe’s turn away from nuclear power had been a “strategic mistake”, as soaring oil prices rekindled concerns about the bloc’s energy vulnerability. Speaking at a nuclear summit in Paris, the European Commission president endorsed a return to atomic energy, saying the European Union would back investments in “innovative nuclear technologies”. “It was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emission... [Continue Reading]
Councillors oppose ferry fare rises for Hong Kong’s outlying island routes
District councillors representing Hong Kong’s outlying islands have opposed a plan to raise selected ferry fares by up to 12.8 per cent, arguing that it will discourage the elderly from travelling and harm the local economy. Members of Islands District Council on Tuesday all raised concerns that another fare increase could be sought in response to soaring fuel prices. The remarks were made as the Transport Department briefed council members on the fare adjustment proposal for six key ferry... [Continue Reading]
What is the Hezbollah-linked financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan?
Israel reportedly struck a branch of Al-Qard Al-Hassan yesterday. But what is this institution linked to Hezbollah? [Continue Reading]
New Year's Eve most popular wedding date in recent years
New Year's Eve was the most popular date to get married in recent years, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office. [Continue Reading]
Jack White clarifies comments about Taylor Swift: ‘I never said she was boring’
He doesn't do autobiographical songs. [Continue Reading]
Calls grow for Reeves to ditch fuel tax hike over Iran
Reform UK has set out further detail of how it would cover the cost of scrapping September's planned rise. [Continue Reading]
Labor MPs quietly alarmed by Albanese government’s response to US-Israel strikes on Iran
Several MPs question why the party rushed to endorse strikes that were likely in breach of international lawGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor MPs were privately alarmed about the Albanese government’s immediate response to the US and Israel’s bombing of Iran, including a statement that offered unreserved support for the legally questionable attack that sparked the war.Guardian Australia can reveal the concerns were aired during a meeting of Labor’s left faction after the first strikes on Iran in February, which triggered the conflict that has since spread across the region. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
YouTube Adds Tool to Help Public Figures Report Fake Videos
Social media companies are under pressure to crack down on so-called deepfake videos that use deceptive images of real people. [Continue Reading]
What are the Ukrainian drone interceptors sent to counter Iranian attacks?
Ukraine has battle experience with Iranian-made Shahed drones and has mass-produced cheap interceptors. [Continue Reading]
From ‘love and hate’ to nationalism, can Xi and Trump rebalance ties?
As US President Donald Trump prepares for his first China trip in nearly a decade, Chinese scholars see an opportunity to steer ties away from confrontation and towards a managed coexistence. Speakers at a seminar hosted by the University of Hong Kong’s Centre on Contemporary China and the World last week were cautiously optimistic about prospects for the relationship. That was despite Washington’s strategic pullback, heightened sensitivities over the Taiwan Strait, and intensifying conflict in... [Continue Reading]
I’ll also be back as Conan: Arnold Schwarzenegger to make third Barbarian film 44 years after original
The 78-year-old has announced a return to the action hero role that made his name in 1982, promising ‘all kinds of madness’Arnold Schwarzenegger is to return to the role that launched him as a movie star in a belated third instalment of the Conan the Barbarian franchise. The original film, released in 1982 and adapted from pulpy novels by Robert E Howard, saw the then bodybuilder play the chivalric sword-wielder on a quest for revenge against James Earl Jones’ cult leader Thulsa Doom.Schwarzenegger, 78, whose acting work has slowed since he returned to the profession after his stint as the... [Continue Reading]
‘Alien-like’ AI robot can evolve and repair itself after being chopped into pieces
The machines are built from autonomous modules that can be snapped together in a variety of forms [Continue Reading]
REPLAY: Pentagon chief Hegseth says Iran 'badly losing', strikes to intensify
US attacks on Iran will hit a new intensity Tuesday and the war will continue as long as President Donald Trump decides, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said. "Today will be yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran -- the most fighters, the most bombers," Hegseth told a news conference at the Pentagon. [Continue Reading]
Enoch Burke says move from Mountjoy has no basis in law
Teacher Enoch Burke has said moving him from a Dublin prison to one in Co Roscommon has no basis in law. [Continue Reading]
More strikes hit southern Lebanon after Israeli army warning
A strike hit near the south Lebanon city of Tyre on Tuesday after the Israeli military said it would target Hezbollah infrastructure there and warned residents to leave. The Israeli military had said it would also target coastal city of Sidon. France 24’s correspondent Renée Davis has the latest. [Continue Reading]
Spain to formally pardon 53 women incarcerated by Franco regime
Thousands of girls were locked up by Board for the Protection of Women for ‘rehabilitation’ Spain is to formally pardon a group of 53 women who are among thousands who were incarcerated by the Franco regime on the grounds that they were supposedly “fallen or in danger of falling”.The women were locked up as adolescents by the Board for the Protection of Women, a collection of institutions run by religious orders. The board, which had echoes of Ireland’s notorious Magdalene laundries, was overseen by Carmen Polo, the wife of the dictator Gen Francisco Franco. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Lululemon fined $700,000 over hundreds of thousands of spam emails
The Australian Communications and Media Authority says activewear fashion brand Lululemon sent more than 370,000 emails containing marketing content without an unsubscribe option. [Continue Reading]
Ellie Goulding, 39, gives birth to ‘beautiful’ baby girl with boyfriend Beau Minniear, 28
She said the addition to her family 'fills me with so much joy'. [Continue Reading]
Cathay Pacific offers £20,000 Sydney to London flight amid disruption in Gulf
Hong Kong-based airline has business-class return listed at A$39,577, as travellers seek routes avoiding Middle EastBusiness live – latest updatesThe Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific is selling seats from Sydney to London for more than £20,000 in April, as passengers search for scarce long-haul flights without changing in the Middle East.The tickets, listed at A$39,577 in business class for returns departing in mid-April, far outstrip the usual fares charged even in the first class cabin. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Mary Robinson and U2 to receive European Order of Merit
Former president Mary Robinson and U2 are to be among the 20 first recipients of the European Order of Merit. [Continue Reading]
Europe must prepare for the age of nuclear weapons, expert warns
Michal Onderčo, a nuclear weapons expert from the University of Rotterdam who recently published the book Europe’s Nuclear Umbrella, warns that due to the threat from Russia and the US pivot away from Europe, the era in which European leaders did not have to worry about the issue of nuclear deterrence has ended. [Continue Reading]
Amazon Prime hours from dropping ‘chilling’ Nicole Kidman crime drama with serial killer case
‘The case that made her could break her’ [Continue Reading]
Eni Aluko wins Joey Barton libel case over X posts
Barton is told to pay the former England footballer more than £300k over two posts he made in 2024. [Continue Reading]
Fallout 3 Remastered release date revealed by new toy and it’s due soon
Bethesda’s keeping mum about the Fallout 3 remaster, but it may finally lift the lid on it by summertime. [Continue Reading]
