Russia's ambassador to Havana, Viktor Coronelli, pledged continued political and financial support for Cuba, despite facing its own sanctions. Events are planned to celebrate Fidel Castro's 100th birthday and Russia's role as guest of honor at the Havana International Book Fair.
France is under a severe weather warning as temperatures exceed 40C. Millions are affected by an orange heatwave alert, with a cardiac arrest death reported. Nuclear plant output may be curbed, and festivals cancelled. Spain and Germany also face extreme heat.
A brown skua found dead at Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia, has tested positive for avian influenza. Further testing is underway to confirm if it is the H5N1 strain. A second bird, a giant petrel, is also being tested. Officials urge the public not to touch sick or dead birds.
A migratory wild bird found sick in Western Australia has tested positive for avian influenza, with results for the deadly H5N1 strain expected Saturday. This is the first suspected case on mainland Australia, prompting investigations and public health warnings.
Ukraine launched its largest drone offensive in months, hitting a key oil refinery near Moscow, causing thick smoke and reports of black rain. Russia retaliated with strikes on Ukrainian cities, killing two. The attacks highlight the escalating conflict and Ukraine's strategy to target Russian energy infrastructure.
Australia has confirmed a suspected case of the H5 bird flu strain in a wild migratory bird in Western Australia. If confirmed, this would mean the virus has spread to every continent, having already killed millions of birds and mammals worldwide.
Australia has confirmed a suspected case of the H5 bird flu strain in a wild migratory bird in Western Australia. If confirmed, this would mean the virus has spread to every continent, having already killed millions of birds and mammals globally. Authorities are awaiting further test results.
The Parthenon's western side has been restored with two new marble blocks, making it appear whole for the first time in 220 years. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described the sight as 'truly stunning,' emphasizing the restoration's role in revealing the monument's unique proportions.
Western Australia will pilot real-time facial recognition cameras in police vans to scan crowds for wanted individuals, sex offenders, and missing persons. The technology will pixelate non-matches and delete data immediately, aiming to enhance community safety while addressing privacy concerns.
Western Australia Police will trial real-time facial recognition cameras in a marked van to scan crowds for wanted individuals, child sex offenders, and missing persons. The technology will cross-reference faces with a database, alerting officers to potential matches. Police aim to address privacy concerns by stating the system pixelates non-matches and deletes data immediately.
Two earthquakes, a magnitude-3.4 near Orange and a magnitude-3.2 near Wilcannia, have shaken western NSW within 150 minutes. The Orange quake occurred at the Newmont Cadia Gold Mine, with 100 people reporting feeling it, while only two felt the Wilcannia tremor.
Two earthquakes, magnitudes 3.4 and 3.2, shook western NSW, Australia. The larger tremor near the Newmont Cadia Gold Mine caused temporary suspension of underground operations for safety inspections, marking the second disruption in nine weeks. No injuries were reported.
Z.ai launched GLM-5.2, a powerful open-source AI model trained on Huawei Ascend chips, showing strong performance on benchmarks like FrontierSWE and SWE-bench Pro. The model boasts a 1 million-token context window and an MIT license, with competitive API pricing and potential for local deployment.
An autopsy confirmed an 11-year-old girl missing in France was raped before she died. The main suspect, a 41-year-old father of a school friend, had prior rape accusations that were dropped or stalled. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of death or charged the suspect beyond abduction.
At 22, goalkeeper Patrick Beach made a stunning FIFA World Cup debut for the Socceroos against Türkiye, making eight saves in a 2-0 win. His inclusion, replacing captain Mathew Ryan, surprised many but was praised by former teammates and coaches for his dedication and mental toughness.
At 22, goalkeeper Patrick Beach made an impressive FIFA World Cup debut for the Socceroos against Türkiye, making eight saves in a 2-0 win. His inclusion surprised many, but was praised by teammates and former coaches for his dedication and mental toughness.
Former EU negotiator Michel Barnier shares insights on Brexit, Boris Johnson's motivations, and the EU's future. He criticizes the 'great lie' that Brussels was solely responsible for UK problems post-Brexit and expresses concern about the rise of the far-right in Europe.
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev expressed concern over the West's inaction regarding Ukrainian strikes on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and Energodar. He stated that a plant worker was killed and another injured, along with a pensioner, due to these attacks, warning of escalating violence.
China is testing intelligent, LNG-powered vessels on a new artificial waterway in Guangxi, part of a $10 billion project connecting the region to the Gulf of Tonkin. The vessels can share real-time data and perform automated mooring, aiming to boost shipping capacity and cut costs ahead of a planned test run in September.
British Ambassador to China, Wilson, made a rare visit to Yangjialing, a former revolutionary site and communist heartland where President Xi Jinping once performed hard labour. The visit, at the invitation of the International Department, included tours of the Yanan Revolutionary Memorial Hall, a key site for Beijing's ideology messaging.
A proposed $8bn renovation of NYC's Penn Station faces scrutiny from local leaders over funding, design, and Donald Trump's potential influence. Critics prioritize service and safety improvements over aesthetics, questioning the project's ultimate cost to taxpayers and its legacy-building intentions.
Kim Yo Jong, a North Korean official, stated that Western attempts to discuss denuclearization are an attack on the DPRK's constitution and an "irreversibly finalized agenda." She asserted that nuclear weapons are a means of self-defense and a fundamental right, warning against crossing this "no retreat" line.
A mother is suing Japanese authorities after her daughter died in December, five months after an 18-day jail ordeal that left her traumatized and weighing just 20kg. The lawsuit, filed in Kobe, highlights concerns about Japan's criminal justice system, where critics argue innocence is not always presumed and "hostage justice" practices are prevalent.
Asean leaders met with Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Russia, marking 35 years of ties and demonstrating Asean's diplomatic reach beyond Western pressure. The leaders sought energy, fertilizer, and technology, signaling a desire to engage with Russia despite geopolitical tensions and doubts about Washington's commitment.
