Business

Musk, China industry minister hold talks on ‘new energy vehicles’

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Chinese industry minister Jin Zhuanglong held talks on "new energy vehicles" Wednesday, Beijing said.The two "exchanged views on the development of new energy vehicles and intelligent connected vehicles," China's Ministry of Industry and Information Te...

Business

Higher rates ‘testing resilience’ of households, firms: ECB

Higher interest rates to combat inflation are "testing the resilience" of eurozone households and companies as credit conditions tighten, the European Central Bank said in a report published Wednesday."As we tighten monetary policy to reduce high inflation, this can reveal vulnerabili...

World,Front Page

UN nuclear chief encouraged by Russia, Ukraine support of 'principles'

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Tuesday he was encouraged by the reaction of Ukraine and Russia to "concrete principles" laid out by the body to prevent catastrophe at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.The safety of Europe's largest nuclear power facility, located i...

World,Back Page

Japan allows nuclear plants to operate beyond 60 years

Japan on Wednesday passed a law allowing nuclear reactors to operate beyond 60 years, as it tries to reinvigorate the sector to meet energy challenges and climate targets.The bill intends to "establish an electricity supply system that will achieve a carbon-free society", a parliament spok...

Sports,Tennis

World 172nd Seyboth Wild stuns Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev backed 172nd-ranked Thiago Seyboth Wild to break the top 30 by the end of the year after suffering a shock French Open first round exit at the hands of the Brazilian on Tuesday.As far as the mercurial Russian is concerned, he was just happy to turn his back on another roller-coaster ...

Sports,Football

‘History does not play’: Mourinho downplays Sevilla fear factor

Jose Mourinho said Tuesday that "history does not play" as he prepares his Roma team to face Europa League specialists Sevilla in the final in Budapest.The Italian side, who can finish no higher than fifth in Serie A, meet the six-time winners at the Puskas Arena, just 12 months after they...

World

Republican DeSantis begins presidential bid in Trump’s shadow

Republican governor Ron DeSantis kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign tour in Iowa on Tuesday by pitching himself as the best alternative to Donald Trump.Though he did not name the septuagenarian ex-president directly during his speech, DeSantis, 44, nevertheless evoked Trump, attempting to dra...

World

N Korea 'ballistic missile launch' violates UN resolutions: Japan

North Korea's launch of a "ballistic missile" violates UN Security Council resolutions, Japan said Wednesday, after what Pyongyang said was a failed attempt to put a satellite in space."As a ballistic missile launch like this one violates relevant UN Security Council resolutions, ...

World

US suspends Kosovo from exercises after clashes with Serbs

The United States (US) said Tuesday it was suspending Kosovo from a military exercise in its first sanction over a decision to install ethnic Albanian mayors that sent tensions soaring with the Serb minority.Western powers that have historically supported Kosovo have urged de-escalation after the mo...

Entertainment

Animated Spider-Man back with ‘arthouse’ sequel to Oscar winner

Nearly five years after the animated "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" won an Oscar with its innovative, biracial take on the beloved webslinger, a wildly ambitious sequel aims to further blur the boundaries between superhero films and arthouse cinema."Spider-Man: Across the Spider-...

Business

France to open its first electric car battery factory

France will launch its first battery factory for electric cars on Tuesday, taking a big step in its race to build up a sector dominated by China.Building up the battery industry is at the heart of President Emmanuel Macron's "reindustrialisation" plan for France, with a clutch of facto...

World,Back Page

Still hope of finding kids

Four Indigenous children lost in the Colombian Amazon since a plane crash almost a month ago are believed to still be alive, the military said as the search continued Monday in treacherous terrain.The children -- who were aged 13, 9, 4 and 11 months when they went missing -- have wandered in the jun...

World,Back Page

Russia issued 1.5m passports in occupied Ukraine

Russia has handed out 1.5 million passports in territories it occupies in Ukraine, Moscow's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Tuesday. People from the occupied regions told AFP this month that they had been pressured into taking up a Russian passport, necessary to fill out basic bureauc...

Sports,Cricket

Chennai win fifth IPL crown as Dhoni eyes return next year

Indian cricket superstar M.S. Dhoni said he will look to return for the next IPL season after he led Chennai Super Kings to a record-equalling fifth title over Gujarat Titans in what many believed to be his last match.Ravindra Jadeja hit a six and four off the final two balls as Chennai chased down ...

Sports,Cricket

'Amazing' Dhoni hailed as one of a kind

M.S. Dhoni was hailed as a superhero Tuesday after the 41-year-old's tactical acumen, cool demeanour and a crucial stumping helped Chennai Super Kings win a record-equalling fifth IPL title.Chennai edged out 2022 champions Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a last-ball thriller that started on Mo...

Sports,Football

Spalletti confirms Napoli exit after making history

Luciano Spalletti confirmed Monday that he will leave Napoli at the end of the Serie A season after winning their first league title since the days of Diego Maradona.Speaking at an event at the Italian national team's Coverciano training centre, Spalletti said that he would take time away from f...

Sports,Tennis

Djokovic courts controversy with Kosovo 'heart of Serbia' message

Novak Djokovic courted controversy Monday when he wrote "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on a camera at the French Open after clashes flared in northern Kosovo amid ethnic tensions.The Belgrade-born tennis superstar wrote the message in Serbian after his opening round vic...

Sports,Football

Mourinho targets 6th European title ahead of UEL final against Sevilla

Roma manager Jose Mourinho has never lost a European final while Sevilla are six from six in UEFA Europa League finals. Something has to give in Budapest on Wednesday.Portugal’s Mourinho has five major continental titles to his name – two Champions League wins, two Europa League trophies...

World

Israelis revive flashpoint West Bank settlement

Israelis started reviving a flashpoint outpost settlement in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, AFP journalists said, constructing a building at the site which has drawn international attention.Using a truck, diggers and an earth roller, work got underway to erect a portable building at the northern...

World

Lula hosts South American leaders’ summit in Brazil

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is hosting his fellow South American leaders Tuesday for a "retreat" aimed at strengthening ties in a region where left-wing governments are newly back in style.Eleven of the continent's 12 heads of state are due to attend the summit in Bra...