Paramount Skydance has reached a settlement with a coalition of US states. This removes a major legal obstacle to its planned $110 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery. But this is not simply a corporate deal. The agreement comes with strings attached. Paramount must produce at least 30 films each year, with a growing share
Australia is heading towards a major demographic shift. The government is forecasting that deaths could outnumber births for the first time in the 2060s. For decades, immigration has helped Australia maintain population growth despite declining birth rates. But as migration slows, the country is beginning to face a challenge already confronting several other developed economies.
Ukraine has launched what Moscow officials describe as the largest drone attack yet on the Russian capital region. Hundreds of drones were reportedly intercepted, with explosions reported across the area. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said around 450 drones were shot down, calling it the city’s “most massive” attack. But what was the target? Ukrainian officials
A diplomatic dispute over Greenland has taken a surprising turn. The US and Denmark have reached a security agreement that could significantly expand Washington’s military role on the Arctic island. The deal follows months of President Donald Trump demanding greater US control over Greenland, even raising the possibility of taking the territory. The new agreement
Japan has crossed a remarkable demographic milestone: more than 100,000 people are now aged 100 or older. Health ministry figures put the number at 107,677 centenarians, with women making up 88%. The oldest woman is 114-year-old Kishimoto Fuyo, while the oldest man, Kato Hikaru, is 112. What is behind Japan’s extraordinary longevity? Experts point to
China has introduced new travel rules that could give authorities greater control over where some citizens go and what they do overseas. Under the regulations, people judged to have harmed China’s national security or interests abroad can be stopped from leaving the country. They can be stopped for up to three years after returning. Those
A Russian drone struck a train near Ukraine’s border with Poland. This happened just after former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior European security officials had travelled along the same railway. No one was injured. The drone hit the locomotive at Yahodyn, about 2km from the Polish border, and passengers were evacuated shortly before
A routine ferry journey has turned into a desperate race against time in Indonesia. Six people have died and 107 have been rescued after the Virgo Transport 8 capsized in the Java Sea, authorities say. But the crisis is far from over. Around 130 people remain missing after the ferry encountered severe weather and contact
A senior Buddhist monk in Thailand is facing serious allegations after police accused him of misusing $2.8 million meant for his monastery. Phra Wachirayan Wi, 66, the abbot of the 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan temple in Ayutthaya, was arrested on Thursday. He was arrested on suspicion of embezzlement and money laundering. A 47-year-old woman, allegedly involved
A major shift is unfolding on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Houthi fighters have reportedly seized the strategic port city of Mokha from Saudi-backed government forces. The move brings the Iran-aligned group just 75km from the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Why does that matter? The narrow passage is a crucial gateway for trade between Asia and Europe.
What would you do with an unexpected $5,000 payment from the government? President Donald Trump says Americans could get exactly that if Republicans hold Congress after November’s midterm elections. Speaking at the GOP’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, Trump promised a “Trump dividend” for every American adult. With roughly 270 million adults, however, the proposal
What do you do after stealing $245 million in bitcoin? Apparently, throw the money at supercars, luxury watches and wild nightclub parties. Singaporean national Malone Lam, 22, pleaded guilty in the US on Tuesday to racketeering conspiracy. He admitted he helped organise one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts ever recorded. According to the US Department
