Los Angeles once used 96 million plastic balls to fight drought, creating a hidden cost

Hontiveros urges Roblox to designate PH legal representative

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros met with representatives of Roblox at the Senate on Wednesday to discuss online safety measures for children and pressed for the designation of a legal representative based in the Philippines. During the meeting, Hontiveros said the representative should serve as a direct channel for Philippine authorities in cases involving

Ninth woman's body found as South African police investigate string of deaths

South Africa police have cautioned against assuming that all the killings are linked but many women are afraid.

Indian-origin US Congressman hits back at Florida councilman’s ‘go home’ remark

South Korea to allow abortion pills for pregnancies of up to 9 weeks

SEOUL – South Korea aims to introduce medication abortion for pregnancies of up to nine weeks by the end of March 2027, beginning with a two-year period in which doctors would prescribe and dispense the drugs at major hospitals, the government said on Sept 16. If the necessary safeguards are subsequently established, the system would

Massachusetts brothers started junk business as teens with $4,000 truck; made $3.04 million in 2025

Massachusetts brothers Kirk and Jacob McKinney started Junk Teens in 2021 with a used $4,000 pickup truck while they were still teenagers. What began as junk removal and reselling has grown into a business that generated $3.04 million in revenue from more than 5,500 jobs in 2025. The brothers are now targeting $5 million in revenue in 2026.

River home to 500 crocodiles chosen as Olympic rowing venue

A river that is home to about 500 saltwater crocodiles is given the OK to host Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events at the 2032 Brisbane Games.

Where forest weddings help restore 120 acres of habitat

Discover the enchanting Bower Estate, a hidden gem located in Queensland's hinterland, perfect for a forest wedding. Here, couples can tie the knot enveloped by the stunning natural landscape, with the added benefit of supporting crucial environmental initiatives like bush regeneration. Visitors enjoy unique eco-tours and fresh local cuisine, ensuring a memorable experience while conserving the surroundings. Secure your event dates now, as bookings are open years ahead!

US again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly

WASHINGTON — The United States has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week, a source familiar with the case said Wednesday. In a separate statement that did not mention Abbas by name, the State Department say it would deny visas to members of

Ecological terrorism: Indonesia seeks tougher laws as country deals with devastating fires

Aztec document goes on display in Mexico after 186 years abroad

France's national library is lending the manuscript recounting the history of the Aztecs to Mexico.

Quote of the day by Stephen Hawking: "We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on..."

‘No basis in international law’: China rejects US tariff threat over Russian oil

China firmly rebuffs American attempts to influence nations purchasing Russian energy commodities. The US legislative proposal introduces tariffs on significant buyers of Russian oil and gas. Beijing denounces sanctions that lack a foundation in international law or UN backing. For its part, India emphasizes energy security and stays vigilant regarding US legislative actions, ready to implement measures to safeguard its trade interests.

Filipinos confident they can avoid scams, but anxiety remains high

MANILA, Philippines — Most Filipinos believe they can protect themselves from scams but are still “absolutely worried” about being scammed, a new consumer report showed. Dr. Alicor Panao, Inquirer data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, said that based on the GSMA 2026 Consumer Scam Report for Southeast Asia, “Filipinos stand

Fed hikes key rate for 1st time in 3 years, defying Trump demands for a cut

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time since 2023 in an effort to quell stubbornly-high inflation, a move that could spur a sharp response from the White House. The quarter-point increase lifts the Fed’s key rate to about 3.9 percent and, over time, could result in higher borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. In a set of quarterly projections, the Fed also signaled that its rate-setting committee expects to hike rates a second time later this year to 4.1 percent. “Today’s policy action will support a timelier return” to the central bank’s 2 percent inflation goal, the Fed said in a statement. The move comes as Americans are already struggling with high costs for groceries, gas, and housing. Affordability has taken on a leading role in the upcoming midterm elections, just seven weeks away. In a press conference following the Fed's announcement, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said that while the job market remains resilient, inflation has stubbornly remained above the Fed 2 percent target for years. "The pl

Bessent says US open to discussing shared AI risks with China, Axios reports

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States is open to discussing shared risks with China in upcoming AI talks this weekend, Axios reported Wednesday, citing a statement from Bessent. "The United States remains the leader in AI, and we are open to discussions on avoiding shared risks and avoiding bifurcation of our two systems. We expect our discussions to cover both open and closed weight models," Axios quoted the statement saying. Bessent on Tuesday said he would meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.

'We're losing control,' says AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio

MONTREAL — The Canadian computer scientist considered one of the founders of AI, Yoshua Bengio, told AFP that humanity is "losing control" of the technology and that the world needs guardrails similar to nuclear arms controls. Fears about the dangers of AI have intensified in recent weeks, as workers from major companies have resigned with warnings about potentially existential threats to human life if the pace of technological advancement is not checked. Bengio is a University of Montreal professor who won the 2018 Turing Award, computing's Nobel, alongside Geoffrey Hinton, widely known as the "godfather of AI." For Bengio, "there's a reason that companies are saying this is going too fast, that we're losing control." "People like me have been expecting this for a long time," the 62-year-old told AFP on Tuesday, saying security discussions surrounding AI have not been adequately robust. There was broad-based alarm after OpenAI disclosed that a swarm of AI agents — programs that can take actions on their own — had carried out an unauthorized breach of the open-source platform Huggin

Images show heavy damage from Iran strikes targeting US bases: report

WASHINGTON — A destroyed aircraft, shredded tents, trailers that have been ripped apart: images taken by U.S. troops show significant damage from Iranian strikes targeting American military assets in the Middle East, CBS News reported. The undated images — taken at a base in Saudi Arabia and two facilities in Kuwait — were provided to CBS by American personnel on condition of anonymity due to U.S. military restrictions, the outlet said late Tuesday. "This is major damage to our bases that hasn't been communicated to the American public," CBS quoted one U.S. service member as saying. "We're standing there with our eyes closed getting punched in the face," the service member added. The Pentagon's inspector general released a report earlier this week that said the military's Central Command (CENTCOM) — which is responsible for U.S. forces in the Middle East — had reported widespread damage to American facilities and equipment. CENTCOM said Iranian strikes "damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Om

Wall Street holds steady ahead of Fed's decision as oil prices and bond yields ease

NEW YORK — Wall Street is holding steady Wednesday as it waits to hear from the Federal Reserve , which traders expect will announce a hike to interest rates later in the day to help get the nation’s high inflation under control. The S&P 500 rose 0.4 percent was on track for just its second gain in the last eight days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 26 points, or 0.1 percent, as of 12:31 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.7 percent higher. Stocks got help from some easing for oil prices and pressure from the bond market. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 3.1 percent to $105.39. Oil had gotten to nearly $110 early this week on worries that the war with Iran will continue to clog the global flow of oil. That helped send the yield on the 10-year Treasury, which is the centerpiece of the bond market and dictates where rates for mortgages and other loans go, down to 4.96 percent from 5.00 percent late Tuesday. Earlier this week was the first time since 2023 that the 10-year yield topped 5 percent. Even with Wednesday’s easi

Iran hesitates to enforce headscarf rules amid war, economic pressures

Women sit at outdoor cafes without headscarves and wearing crop tops. Men in shorts and women in leggings exercise together in parks. At sidewalk concerts, women stop to dance and literally let their hair down. The scenes from the Iranian capital of Tehran, shared in social media videos, point to how dramatically enforcement of social restrictions has eased in the Islamic Republic in recent years. That's in part because of the mass protests that erupted after the Sept. 16, 2022, death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Security forces crushed the protests with a crackdown that killed more than 500 people, and thousands were arrested. But to keep the peace, authorities backed off on enforcement of the rules mandating the hijab, or headscarf, and modest dress for women. The question now is whether that can be reversed. Hard-liners in Iran’s ruling establishment increasingly demand a clampdown on women’s dressing habits. But top leaders caution against triggering a public backlash at a time of war, wh

Wall Street gyrates after Fed hikes interest rate to battle inflation

NEW YORK — Wall Street whipsawed on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate for the first time in over three years to fight stubbornly high inflation stemming from soaring crude oil prices during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. In its accompanying statement, the Fed said its decision was unanimous and more tightening is likely in the near future to effect a timelier drop in inflation. "As widely expected, the Fed hiked interest rates for the first time in more than three years," said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group in Omaha. "After the hawkish comments from (Fed Chair Kevin) Warsh a couple of weeks ago in Jackson Hole, he kind of backed himself into the corner a little bit." "The fact that it was unanimous is a tad surprising," Detrick added. "At the same time, it really shows that the Fed is serious about combating the broadening inflation backdrop that we're seeing." Investors will parse Warsh's comments at the press conference which is currently underway, for detail regarding the central bank's rationale behind today's decision and c

US Fed chair says inflation has been 'too high' for 'too long'

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said Wednesday that the U.S. central bank's main focus now is on inflation, in remarks shortly after its first rate hike since 2023. "Our predominant focus is on the price stability side of our mandate. The plain fact is that inflation is too high, and has been for too long," he told a press conference.

Fed rate hike will likely push borrowing costs on credit cards, mortgages

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve just raised the cost of money — bad news for borrowers, good news for savers. The Fed increased its benchmark interest rate Wednesday by a quarter-point, the first rate hike since the summer of 2023. The hike will likely make it even costlier to borrow for homes, autos and other purchases. But if you've been socking money away, you’ll probably earn a bit more interest on your savings. The increase boosts the Fed's target rate to a range of 3.75 percent to 4.00 percent. Here’s what to know: Why is the Fed raising rates? The short answer: inflation. Inflation has remained above the Fed's 2 percent target for more than five years. The Labor Department reported Friday that consumer prices rose 3.4 percent in August compared to a year earlier, while the monthly increase quadrupled from July to hit 0.4 percent. The Fed’s goal is to slow consumer and business spending by raising the cost of borrowing, thereby reducing demand for homes, cars and other goods and services, eventually cooling the economy and reducing upward pressure on prices. Kevin Warsh, Fed

Trump threatens EU over 'hostile' Canada association plan

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to cut trade with the European Union after the bloc proposed to make Canada its first ever associate member. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen raised the prospect a day before Canadian leader Mark Carney was due to address the European Parliament. Her pitch comes as both Canada and the European Union seek to pivot away from an aggressive United States under Trump's leadership. "I think it's laughable," Trump told reporters when asked about the plan. "If they do that, if I think it's at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe, on many things." He added: "If it's a good intention, that's fine. If it's a bad intention, we'll put very heavy tariffs on Europe, which is a possibility." Von der Leyen pitched closer cooperation on tech, defense and energy to Carney, who became the first non-European head of government to attend the annual "State of the European Union" speech. The German told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that, as democracies face a "fracture in the international rules-base

OpenAI plans regular reports on unexpected AI behavior

OpenAI said on Wednesday it would begin regularly publishing reports on unexpected or unauthorized AI behavior, while warning that the industry has yet to solve key alignment challenges as systems grow more powerful. The company released a new framework for tracking, investigating and disclosing cases of AI model misalignment, along with six reports on unexpected or concerning model behavior observed over the past six months. The announcement comes as concern grows that AI safety efforts are lagging behind the breakneck development of increasingly powerful systems. Researchers have warned that as AI agents become more autonomous, they may develop behaviors that diverge from their creators' intentions and become harder to monitor or control. OpenAI has faced increased scrutiny since its own AI agent breached systems at open-source platform Hugging Face during a test and attempted to hide its actions. Over the weekend, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei proposed a three-step framework aimed at slowing the pace of AI development and allowing more time to manage its risks. The proposal was backed by s

Trump hopes Iran war nearing end as Houthi-Saudi fighting escalates

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said he hoped an end to the war against Iran was near, as the conflict, in its seventh month, escalated with Saudi aircraft pounding Yemen and Houthi fighters launching drones and missiles at Saudi cities. The Iran-backed Houthis' lightning advance in Yemen along the Red Sea and their attacks on Saudi Arabia, along with attacks that damaged Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, have extended Tehran's reach in the war and heightened global oil-supply risks. As the war expands into a new theatre, the United States tightened its travel warning for Saudi Arabia, banning government employees from travelling within 20 miles (30 km) of the Yemen border. Still, just hours after reports of the Houthis and Saudi Arabia fighting, Trump told reporters on Wednesday evening: "Well, hopefully we are towards the end of the war." Trump says Iran wants a deal, oil price still elevated "They want to make a deal. We'll see how that works out," he said, referring to Iran, reiterating past comments. Trump also said he had heard from Iran "directly," without elaborati

From Korean to Chinese: Vietnam's language learners follow the jobs

HANOI — “Chinese is definitely the trend now.” At a Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) testing center at Hanoi University in Vietnam on Sunday, 23-year-old Vu Thi Thao had just completed the Level 6 exam, the highest level of the test. “I quit my job at a Chinese railway company and am now preparing to become a Chinese-language instructor,” she said. “As Chinese companies expand into Vietnam at a rapid pace, the market for Chinese speakers has opened up significantly.” A Chinese language boom is sweeping Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. Unlike the Korean language learning boom that accompanied the Korean wave in the past, Chinese is increasingly becoming a key foreign language for employment. The trend has been driven by Chinese companies hiring large numbers of Chinese speakers as they move production bases to Southeast Asia to avoid U.S. trade restrictions. The growing popularity of Chinese in Southeast Asia is reflected in the numbers. According to data from the Chinese Testing International, Vietnam recorded 146,000 HSK test takers last year, the highest in the

Japan's Takaichi keeps key ministers in cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retained her key ministers on Thursday in a cabinet reshuffle aimed at solidifying the ruling coalition and advancing a food tax cut despite concerns over how it will be financed. Prime ministers in Japan routinely shuffle their cabinets to refresh the government's public image and to distribute ministerial posts to loyal supporters and experienced lawmakers from the same party. But Takaichi — who has unusually high approval ratings nearly a year into office — kept core members of her team, according to a cabinet list announced by her righthand man and top government spokesman Minoru Kihara. They include Kihara, finance minister Satsuki Katayama, foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi and defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The prime minister also retained key economic ministers, including trade and industry minister Ryosei Akazawa, who has led Japan's tariff negotiations with the United States, and economic growth strategy minister Minoru Kiuchi, who favours active fiscal spending. Under finance minister Katayama, Japan has repeatedly inter

Three African wild dog brothers travelled 4,126 km; the longest recorded African mammal dispersal

A trio of African wild dog brothers undertook a remarkable odyssey covering 4,126 kilometers across Zambia. This unprecedented trek marks the longest documented dispersal by a mammal in Africa. Their journey through various terrains, including natural reserves and areas impacted by humans, highlights the crucial need for habitat connectivity beyond national park borders, revealing pressing conservation issues faced by species that require large ranges.

Hiker Found After Weeklong Search: 70-year-old located alive by backpackers; Coast Guard airlifts him

After being missing for a week, 70-year-old hiker Craig Berg was miraculously found alive on Isle Royale on September 12. The search efforts proved critical, with fellow backpackers aiding in his discovery despite his injuries and hypothermia. Following his rescue, he was airlifted for urgent medical care, bringing an end to a challenging multi-agency search and rescue operation.

Nicolas Cage bought Rhode Island estate for $15.7 million, sold it at a $9.5 million loss

Actor Nicolas Cage bought Rhode Island’s Gray Craig estate for $15.7 million in 2007 and listed it for $15.9 million a year later. The 27-acre property has a 24,000-square-foot stone mansion with 12 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, ocean views, a tennis court, gym and pool. Cage eventually sold the estate for $6.2 million in 2011 to Massachusetts couple Andrew and Pamela Constantine.

NASA finds 728-foot Moon crater from 2024 impact no one saw happen

Mother whale’s heartbreaking moment with stillborn calf

MELBOURNE — A never-before scientifically documented moment between a humpback whale and her stillborn calf has scientists rethinking the depth of the creatures’ inner lives. Following the death of the calf, the mother remained with it for hours and potentially days, touching it with her head and pectoral fin, swimming close beside it, and staring

Connecticut homeowner built bridge to stop erosion; judge ordered brook restoration

EU announces plan to restrict social media access for under-15s

Under the plans, only children over 15 would be able to set up their own social media accounts.

How Russian dissidents are pressing for action on Putin in DC

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Moscow-based journalist Dmitry Muratov is careful about what he says and for good reason. He was assaulted in 2022 with red paint laced with acetone, and he’s seen colleagues murdered or forced into exile and his newspaper shut down.  In a rare appearance in Washington, D.C. on Monday, he spoke...

King Charles meets AI leaders in Scotland to press human-first safeguards

King Charles meets AI leaders in Scotland to press human-first safeguards

‘War without battle’: Europe struggles to tackle mounting Russian hybrid attacks

Over the course of the summer, Russian attacks have been pushing ever deeper into European territory. On August 11, military divers destroyed two drones floating off the coast of Romania near a €4 billion (US$4.7 billion) energy project. Nine days later, Bucharest scrambled two F-16s to take out a maritime drone near the same Black Sea gas platform with hundreds of workers on board. Earlier that month, German police detected an armed UAV at Leipzig airport, while this week Nato jets downed...

Crystal Ski discount codes for September 2026

Save on your 2026/27 ski holiday with 10 hand-tested Crystal Ski discount codes and deals, including up to £200 off selected trips, £75 off solo holidays, free child places and discounted lift passes

Ninth woman’s body found in South Africa amid serial killer fears

South African police have discovered the bodies of nine women in the east of Johannesburg over the past two months