Hurricane Isaias strengthened into a major category 3 storm Friday as it barrels towards the US Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center said, with landfall expected in Florida, Alabama or Mississippi in the next 24 hours. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in multiple counties in Florida, while states of emergency are in place in […]
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China, EU agree on dialogue, cars and rare earths after trade talks
China and the European Union reached an “understanding” on hybrid vehicles on Friday, as their commerce chiefs concluded talks with an agreement to strengthen dialogue, dispelling fears of a full-blown trade war. The EU’s Maros Sefcovic and China’s Wang Wentao agreed both sides would adhere to “procedures concerning company price undertakings” of hybrid cars, Beijing’s […]
EU says Turkey’s crackdown on rights hampers membership bid
The European Union said Friday it had “serious concerns” about democratic standards in Turkey, warning that a crackdown on rights was further undermining Ankara’s long-stalled bid to join the bloc. Turkey’s bid to join the EU, which began with membership talks in 2005, has been effectively at an impasse for years.”Our concerns about democratic standards […]
EU states agree beefed-up European financial markets watchdog
EU finance ministers struck a deal Friday to establish a new, more powerful European securities watchdog as part of efforts to unify financial markets and strengthen the bloc’s economy. The agreement announced in Luxembourg gives enhanced powers to the Paris-based European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), which will supervise major players. Currently the agency has […]
Stocks up, oil retreats as Trump rules out pre-vote Iran attack
Stock markets climbed Friday as oil prices dropped after President Donald Trump ruled out a strike on Iran before next month’s US midterm elections. Trump said Washington was holding “productive discussions” with Tehran after reports that the White House had asked the Pentagon to draw up plans for a possible attack ahead of the November […]
US military to livestream firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter
The execution by firing squad of convicted military base shooter Nidal Hasan will be livestreamed, a Pentagon official said, drawing sharp condemnation Friday of the plan to broadcast the killing. Hasan’s execution, set for December 3, is poised to be the first that the US military has carried out by firing squad since World War […]
Asian stocks mostly up as traders weigh AI, oil dips after surge
Asian stocks mostly rose on Friday as traders weighed the outlook for the AI investment boom, with support coming from a drop in oil prices after Donald Trump ruled out a pre-election strike on Iran. Fresh optimism over artificial intelligence has provided a boost to the tech sector in recent weeks, with investors upbeat about […]
Walking through flames: orangutans rescued in Indonesia fires
The orangutan clings to the top of a mostly leafless tree in Indonesia’s Borneo, as waves of thick smoke from the forest fires burning below waft over her. Nicknamed Novita, the ape shown in footage released by a conservation group is among dozens that have been rescued from wildfires burning across parts of Sumatra and […]
US activists deploy poll volunteers over Trump intimidation fears
US civil rights and pro-democracy groups have begun sending out trained volunteers to counter the possible deployment of armed federal agents to polling locations ahead of next month’s midterm elections. The Vote Safe initiative, launched as early voting began in Ohio this week, accuses President Donald Trump’s administration of suppressing turnout by repeatedly raising the […]