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Afghan barbers under pressure as morality police take on short beards
Barbers in Afghanistan risk detention for trimming men's beards too short, they told AFP, as the Taliban authorities enforce their strict interpretation of Islamic law with increasing zeal.
Walmart results expected to highlight big plans for AI
Fresh off of achieving a $1 trillion market value, Walmart will report earnings Thursday as markets look for signs the retail giant can accelerate growth with the aid of artificial intelligence.
Oil prices jump on toughening US posture on Iran as US stocks advance
Global stock markets rose Wednesday as traders assessed company earnings and economic data, while oil prices surged more than four percent on a toughening US posture towards Iran.
U2 slam ICE, Putin in new 'Days of Ash' EP
Irish rockers U2 released their first collection of new songs in nearly a decade on Wednesday, featuring a collaboration with singer Ed Sheeran and a Ukrainian musician and soldier.
Global stocks, oil rise tracking company earnings, data
Global stock markets rose Wednesday as traders assessed company earnings and economic data, while oil prices barreled ahead three percent following US-Iran talks.
Polish bishop goes on trial for paedophilia cover-up
A Polish bishop went on trial Wednesday for allegedly covering up paedophilia by priests in his diocese in a landmark case for the deeply Catholic country.
Global stocks rise tracking company earnings, data
Global stock markets rose Wednesday as traders assessed company earnings and economic data, while oil prices ticked higher following US-Iran talks.
Glencore still open to 'mega-miner' deal after Rio collapse
Swiss resources giant Glencore is still open to a transformative merger with another mining group, its CEO said Wednesday, two weeks after dropping a plan to combine with British-Australian miner Rio Tinto.
UEFA to investigate alleged racist abuse of Vinicius
UEFA said on Wednesday it would "investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour" after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during a Champions League match in Lisbon.
Spanish police arrest hacker who booked luxury hotels for one cent
Spanish police said Wednesday they had arrested a 20-year-old man who allegedly hacked a hotel booking website to reserve luxury rooms for as little as one cent, in the first known cybercrime of its kind.
Germany's Merz casts doubt on European fighter jet plan
Germany does not need the same new fighter jets as France, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday, signalling that Berlin could abandon a flagship joint defence project for Europe.
European stocks rise tracking company earnings, data
European stock markets rose Wednesday as traders assessed company earnings and economic data, while oil prices ticked higher following US-Iran talks.
French designer threads a path in London fashion week
Just days before her third runway show, French designer Pauline Dujancourt was riding a wave of excitement and nerves.
Junk to high-tech: India bets on e-waste for critical minerals
Hundreds of discarded batteries rattle along a conveyor belt into a crusher in a remote plant in northern India, fuelling a multi-billion-dollar industry that is bolstering the country's geopolitical ambitions.
Struggling farmers find hope in India co-operative
Kiran Ramnath Waghchaurebeams as he plucks deep-red grapes from his vines in India's Maharashtra state, one of thousands of farmers reaping the benefits of a cooperative bringing hope to a long-suffering sector.
Asian stocks up, oil market cautious
Asian stocks rose Wednesday, while the oil market was cautious after prices dropped in the wake of Tehran's upbeat response during talks with US officials on Iran's nuclear programme.
UK manufacturers struggle under sky-high energy bills
Molten glass drops through chutes before being blown into bottles at manufacturer Encirc's northwest England plant, where intensive operations are under strain from exorbitant energy prices weighing on Britain's heavy industry.
New tech and AI set to take athlete data business to next level
From tracking the trajectory and speed of a footballer's strike to monitoring a Tour de France rider's real-time power output, performance athlete data is deepening its reach in sports, with specialised firms eyeing to score big business.
Afghan woman's boutique brightens Bamiyan
With women banned from most jobs in Afghanistan, an embroidery boutique run by 22-year-old Rahima Alavi is a surprising and treasured sight in Bamiyan.
Real's Vinicius hits out at 'cowards' after racism storm against Benfica
Match-winner Vinicius Junior hit out at "cowards" after accusing Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during Real Madrid's 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg victory in Lisbon on Tuesday.
Warner Bros. gives Paramount one week to outbid Netflix
Warner Bros. Discovery said Tuesday it will give Paramount Skydance a week to sweeten its buyout offer for the storied media giant, as the bidding war with Netflix turned into a bitter battle to win over Warner shareholders.
Warner Bros. says reopening talks with Paramount on its buyout offer
Warner Bros. Discovery said Tuesday it has reopened talks with Paramount Skydance on its buyout offer, giving the company a week to beat a rival Netflix bid.
AI 'arms race' risks human extinction, warns top computing expert
Tech CEOs are locked in an artificial intelligence "arms race" that risks wiping out humanity, top computer science researcher Stuart Russell told AFP on Tuesday, calling for governments to pull the brakes.
Oil prices rise as Trump ramps up Iran threats
Oil prices rose Tuesday after US President Donald Trump ramped up threats towards large crude producer Iran, as the two countries met in Geneva for talks over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.
EU investigates Shein over sale of childlike sex dolls
The EU on Tuesday opened an investigation into the online retail giant Shein over the sale of childlike sex dolls and what it called the platform's "addictive design".
Bangladesh's new PM Tarique Rahman takes power
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was sworn into office on Tuesday to lead the first elected government since a deadly 2024 uprising, facing a daunting list of challenges.
US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies at 84: family
Veteran US civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson, one of the nation's most influential Black voices, died peacefully Tuesday morning, his family said in a statement. He was 84.
'Made in Europe' or 'Made with Europe'? Buy European push splits bloc
Everyone in Europe agrees the EU needs to rescue its industry but the bloc is split over how far it should push a 'Buy European' approach in order to do so.
Oil in spotlight as Trump's Iran warning rattles sleepy markets
Oil prices were in focus Tuesday as US President Donald Trump ramped up threats towards Iran, shaking up markets subdued by holidays in Asia and the United States.
Doctors, tourism, tobacco: Cuba buckling under US pressure
Cuba's already shattered economy is being assailed on various fronts as US President Donald Trump has vowed to bring the communist island to its knees.
Copper powers profit surge at Australia's BHP
Australian resources giant BHP reported Tuesday a jump in half-year net profit boosted by demand for copper to meet the world's need for electrical power.
Stocks mixed, dollar up in subdued start to week
European stock markets traded mixed and the dollar advanced in thin holiday trading Monday following a subdued showing for Asian equities ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday and after Japan reported lacklustre economic growth.