Balls and parades to fete Jane Austen's 250th birthday
Bath (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ballgowns are being stitched, bonnets brushed and tea rooms prepped as the United Kingdom prepares to celebrate the 250th birthday of beloved literary icon Jane…
BP to unveil strategy shakeup amid energy transition
London (AFP) – British energy giant BP is set Wednesday to announce a shakeup to its strategy after a difficult trading year and as countries transition to cleaner energy. Issued…
Trump to sell 'gold card' US visas for $5 million
Washington (AFP) – US President Donald Trump unveiled plans Tuesday to sell new "gold card" residency permits for a price of $5 million each -- and said Russian oligarchs may…
'Extreme brutality': UN, aid groups warn Haiti unrest soaring
Port-au-Prince (AFP) – Haiti has seen a "wave of extreme brutality" in recent weeks, with numerous killings and thousands forced to flee their homes, a consortium of UN agencies, NGOs…
Nauru sells citizenship to fund climate change mitigation
Sydney (AFP) – Pacific microstate Nauru is selling citizenship to fund its retreat from rising seas, President David Adeang told AFP, opening a contentious "golden passport" scheme as other climate…
India's vast Hindu festival draws to an end
Prayagraj (India) (AFP) – India's Kumbh Mela festival wraps up Wednesday, with final ritual river bathing ceremonies ending six weeks of celebration that organisers say have been attended by hundreds…
New cocktails shake up Oscar night
Hollywood (United States) (AFP) – An exclusive menu of cocktails for Hollywood's hottest night was unveiled Tuesday, as the drinks for the Oscars after party were announced. Issued on: 26/02/2025…
Leading rare earths miner sees profits fall as prices sag
Sydney (AFP) – One of the world's largest rare earths producers outside China reported slumping net profits Wednesday, pointing to a "challenging" market for the hard-to-source metals used in renewable…
White House takes control of picking media who cover Trump
Washington (AFP) – The White House on Tuesday stripped journalists of the nearly century-old power to decide which of them cover US presidential events, with Donald Trump boasting that he…
Gaza ceasefire talks back on track after prisoner agreement
Jerusalem (AFP) – Israel has agreed to release Palestinian prisoners who were due to be freed last week in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages, Egyptian state-linked media…